WNBC New York Billion Dollar Show, August 28, 1952 (0:27:36)

… The richest person cannot buy for himself what the poorest gets free, by radio …
[Description by Larry Ware]
WNBC celebrates 30 years of commercial broadcasting with Bob Elliot and Ray Goulding, (otherwise known as Bob & Ray), and Fred Allen. This historic broadcast was a look back over WNBC’s then 30 years of broadcasting since the first commercial announcement on August 28, 1922. A portion of that first commercial is featured, along with many transcriptions and songs of the era.

Bob and Ray put in their wry humorous slant on the progress of broadcasting and advertising. Fred Allen gives a lighthearted spoof on the first WEAF radio listener without which, he says, radio would have never been successful.

Fred Allen: “If the first little man had not listened to WEAF and told his friends that the air was fraught with music, news, and entertainment, the work of the mighty executives and the various talented stars would have been in vain.” . . . “Has the name of WEAF’s first listener been mentioned here tonight? No!”
This aircheck came from aircheck collector Bob Gilmore.

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!

Board of NCBHP
North Carolina Broadcast History Project