The Steve Bleecker Collection

Picture Of
Steve Bleecker, WAXC 1975
Picture Of
Steve Bleecker, WFLY 1982
Picture Of
Steve Bleecker, 2008
 Steve Bleecker writes that he was the luckiest kid in the world!

In the Summer of 1963 , I already knew what my life's career would be... and I was only 12! You see, my family never stopped moving — from town to town, from state to state. My Dad was a pretty damn good discount department store manager — SO good that he kept getting promoted — a new store, another location. I was up-rooted again & again! 

In 1963 , we had just re-located to Vestal, N.Y. (Binghamton NY area). I was bored, no friends, and nervous about starting at ANOTHER new school , as "Summer Vacation" was quickly drawing to a close. The ONLY thing that had kept me occupied all summer was "That Radio Station" in Endicott, just across the Susquehanna — and it was only a quick bike ride to get there. I was at WENE, in the lobby, at least a couple times a week where I could look through the glass partitions and actually SEE the guy on the air. I won a contest and got the chance to get "inside" to pick up my prize, and meet "Sherwood", who I had been carefully watching all summer! The prize was a RADIO!! I knew what my "calling" was!

I'm retired now, in Palm Springs, Ca. I've had a "blast" doing what I love! I've worked at some great medium market stations in my career, including 98 JBQ, WGY-FM (Oldies 99.5), WFLY, WROK, WAXC, to name a few. I finished up at WSSV, Saratoga N.Y. , where I did fill-ins, and sales. I hope you enjoy my contributions. Remember — life is best — ON TAPE !

The Repository thanks Steve Bleecker for sharing!
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Steve Bleecker, WJBQ-FM Portland, ME. July 1983 (0:08:38)

… Bleecker in the speaker …
Here I am in morning drive . Harry Nelson had only been at WJBQ as Program Director for 5 months or so, after having left “the Big Time” at KFRC, San Francisco. I got his call while I was in Albany, N.Y. doing afternoons at 92-WFLY. Although it took me awhile to “get it together” and leave the place I really loved, I finally arrived in Portland in late June ’83. I had originally met Harry in ’72, through a mutual friend (John Sherman, WRKO Board Op.) when Harry was doing afternoons in Boston. So, I thought “everything was peachy” — working for and with a friend, of many years! Unfortunately for me, Harry split for Fargo, N.D. just 6 weeks into my JBQ “Honeymoon” ! Brian Pheonix (P.D. before Harry) was called back to re-assume programming duties and “the Honeymoon” was over! This aircheck is from the “NO P.D. DAYS” between Phoenix and Nelson — late July ’83 — I was gone by mid-January of 1984. I was out of the business until 1992, when I joined WGY-FM (Oldies 99.5) in Schenectady, N.Y. More to Come from The Steve Bleecker Collection, established May 20, 2012!
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Greaseman, WAXC Rochester NY, 1972 (scoped) (0:01:40)

Scoped
… You best have strong woofers and tweeters …
Well, here’s the guy who WAS all the Talk! He Talked it, He Walked it… right out of WAXC’s front door to WRC in Washington DC!

It’s quite amazing to hear this aircheck of “Grease”, when PD Larry White had him on from 9 PM to 1 in the morning. Of course, it wouldn’t be long before he OWNED morning drive in DC. History was being made at WAXC late nights, and you’ll hear a too-brief “piece of it”, right here!

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Greaseman, WAXC Rochester NY, 1972 (0:10:42)

Unscoped
… . . . You best have strong woofers and tweeters . . . …
Well, here’s the guy who WAS all the Talk! He Talked it, He Walked it… right out of WAXC’s front door to WRC in Washington DC!

It’s quite amazing to hear this aircheck of “Grease”, when PD Larry White had him on from 9 PM to 1 in the morning. Of course, it wouldn’t be long before he OWNED morning drive in DC. History was being made at WAXC late nights, and you’ll hear a too-brief “piece of it”, right here!
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Robert Craig Savage, WAXC Rochester NY, 1972 (restored) (0:28:11)

Unscoped
… One of the World’s Greater Voices and more modest too …
Robert Craig Savage was part of the original WAXC air staff, but more than that, I’m quite sure he was somewhat instrumental in “guiding” Program Director Larry White to even more blossoming young talent, that goldmine down in New York’s Southern Tier — Endicott, Binghamton, Elmira. Savage had just “been there” himself. This is an excellent clip of a Growing WAXC. Notice that Savage did the Top of the Hour ID. He had a great voice, and it wasn’t long before he caught the attention of CKLW and left WAXC for weekends at the BIG 8. Talk about a huge “Upper” for those aspiring WAXC Jocks, Wow — to hear Savage “skipping” across the Lake at nite — I sat glued to the car radio in FREEZING Watertown , N.Y.
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Robert Craig Savage, WAXC Rochester NY, 1972 (scoped) (0:03:31)

Scoped
… One of the World’s Greater Voices and more modest too …
Robert Craig Savage was part of the original WAXC air staff, but more than that, I’m quite sure he was somewhat instrumental in “guiding” Program Director Larry White to even more blossoming young talent, that goldmine down in New York’s Southern Tier — Endicott, Binghamton, Elmira. Savage had just “been there” himself. This is an excellent clip of a Growing WAXC. Notice that Savage did the Top of the Hour ID. He had a great voice, and it wasn’t long before he caught the attention of CKLW and left WAXC for weekends at the BIG 8. Talk about a huge “Upper” for those aspiring WAXC Jocks, Wow — to hear Savage “skipping” across the Lake at nite — I sat glued to the car radio in FREEZING Watertown , N.Y.
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Greaseman, 1983 DC-101 Composite (0:55:05)

… . . . the sun is out there, baking the winos into an overripe state of fetid existence . . . …

Description by Uncle Ricky

In this expansive composite of 1983 Greaseman bits and gags from DC-101, we learn what might happen if Grease liked Clint Eastwood in more than a manly way.

Greaseman also offers a story about Liz Taylor and Mallomar, performs Beef It and The Velcro Blues, and leads an uplifting devotional song before revealing his dream about Mary Lou.

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Welcome to the new ReelRadio!

This site is now operated by the North Carolina Broadcast History Museum. 

We want to thank the board of ReelRadio, Inc. for their stewardship since the passing of the founder Richard Irwin in 2018.  It has not been easy and they have maintained the exhibits for future generations to enjoy.

I met Richard Irwin, aka Uncle Ricky, when we were freshmen at East Carolina University.  We both had worked at local stations in our hometowns.  No one was more passionate about radio, especially Top 40 radio, than my friend Richard. 

Our goals with this site are to preserve the exhibits and make them available free of charge for people to enjoy.  Over time, we hope to add some airchecks to the site.  This will not happen immediately.  Time and resources will determine the future of new exhibits. 

Many thanks to the web folks at the Beasley Media Group for countless hours of work.  Again thanks to the board members of ReelRadio, Inc. for their faith in us. 

Richard Irwin’s hope was that his site would live on long after his passing. He said, “I hope REELRADIO will survive as my contribution to the ‘radio business’. The business is allowed to forget me, but the business should never forget the great era of radio that we celebrate here”.

We remember Richard and we thank him. If you enjoy this new site, we would appreciate a contribution. We hope you enjoy the new ReelRadio!

Carl Davis
Trustee
North Carolina Broadcast History Museum