Eric Rhoads started his radio career in 1969 at the age of 14 working as a DJ in Fort Wayne, Indiana at WITB and WLYV, and in Kalamazoo, Michigan at WYYY. At age seventeen, Eric's "big" break came when he joined the inaugural staff of Heftel Broadcasting's Y-100 (WLQY and later WHYI) in Miami, Florida working for Buzz Bennett, John Rook and later Bill Tanner. He went on to Bartel's WMYQ Miami which became 96X and was music director for Jerry Clifton. He briefly worked with Tom Birch at WQAM Miami. (Birch and Rhoads were air talent together at Y100). Rhoads' first programming gig was in Fresno, California where he beat legendary programmer Bill Drake with K104 (KIOY). Soon thereafter Rhoads and programmer Jerry Clifton formed New World Communications, a program consulting firm. Rhoads and Clifton programmed about 25 stations.

Rhoads owned his first radio three stations at age twenty-five, in Salt Lake City (KLRZ), Provo (KEYY) and New Orleans (KHAA). Rhoads sold the properties in 1986. He then founded Streamline Communications Corporation, which manufactured The Giant Boom Box, remote radio studios for stations around the Globe.

In 1987, Eric Rhoads purchased The Pulse of Broadcasting magazine. He changed the name to The Pulse of Radio only to find the magazine's reputation issues could not be overcome, so at the suggestion of mentor Dwight Case, he changed the publication name to Radio Ink.

In 1997 Rhoads published his first book: Blast From The Past: A 75 Year Photo History of Radio.
Rhoads was featured on CBS, USA Today, The New York Times and hundreds of media outlets. Rhoads is also a published author in the Columbia University Media Studies Journal. Rhoads was the featured subject of an episode of the NBC sitcom NewsRadio.

The scope of Streamline expanded beyond Radio Ink with the launch of Streamline Press, a publisher of radio industry books and DVDs. Reacting to the start of the Internet Radio Industry, in 1999 Rhoads founded e-Radio magazine, the first publication dedicated to radio and the Internet. The scope of the publication was refocused in May 2000 and the publication was called STREAMING Magazine, which was later broadened to the title Digital Media. In 2004, the company launched its first non-industry related title: Plein Air Magazine, targeted to artists. In 2006, they launched Fine Art Connoisseur which targets affluent art collectors.

Today, Streamline also publishes web sites, and conferences including The Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference, Forecast '07, held annually at the Harvard Club; and Convergence '07 (formerly called the Radio Ink Internet Conference).

In November of 1999, Rhoads caught the dotcom bug and founded RadioCentral Networks, Inc., an Internet radio network of custom radio stations for the web's leading destination sites. Rhoads raised $18 million and created custom radio for many leading brands, including Earthlink, Lycos, About.com, A&E Television, and others. In 2002 the company was the most listened to online radio network. Rhoads maintained his involvement with Streamline throughout his tenure at RadioCentral. Rhoads was also an initial investor in SuperRadio Networks, which was sold in 2004.

Rhoads is a collector of antique radios and microphones and is an accomplished photographer and oil painter. His photographs and paintings have been represented in art galleries in Seattle, Washington; Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Palm Beach, Florida.

Eric is pleased to share selections from his aircheck collection at REELRADIO.

 Chuck Williams, WNHC New Haven CT., 1970 (07:18)

. . . How do you like me so far? . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

If he sounds familiar, you've probably heard his 1971 WLS exhibit, or his outrageous 1975 CKLW performance (as Chuck "Hot Ticket" McKay.)

The "fidelity", such as it is, is atrocious. Too many airchecks sound like this, blown out and distorted, and they were supposedly recorded by "broadcast professionals!" This one is "splattered" to death. Nice editing though, and this aircheck must have sounded great when brand new, before it was copied, and copied, and copied...

Chuck was a great jock! It would be easy to predict his acension to the majors, but not necessarily his 50KW breakdown five years later.

Williams, (real name Jim Welch), died of natural causes in Phoeniz, Arizona, in 2008. He was 59.

 Bob Sievers, WOWO Fort Wayne, IN February 20, 1971 (05:37)

. . . Please, please, do not call us to ask what is the matter . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Bob Sievers Bob Sievers was on WOWO in Fort Wayne for more than 50 years, retiring in 1987. At one time, Sievers was heard in 28 states as host of The Little Red Barn Show and The Bob Sievers Show. Sievers passed away September 3, 2007. He was 90.

On February 20, 1971, Sievers was on the air when the Emergency Broadcast System was activated. A system operator "accidentally played the wrong tape" during a regularly scheduled test. In this rare recording, we hear Sievers' confusion and concern, and finally, his relief when the activation is declared a mistake. This incident highlighted major flaws in the nation's emergency broadcast procedures, and the EBS was eventually scrapped.

 Frank Kingston Smith, WABC New York, April 1973 (31:25)

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (10:46)

. . . OK, we'll try it with a pretzel, makes it more interesting . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

This exhibit of Frank Kingston Smith on WABC doesn't offer much fidelity — it's Cassette Radio, but it was a good day for AM, no static, just narrowband with painful clipping.

For that reason, we recommend the 'scoped exhibit, because this is our first exhibit of Frank Kingston Smith, one of the Mike Joseph trainees from Philadelphia who earned some time in the Big Apple with Big Mama WABC. Here, we hear him filling in for Dan Ingram, a serious assignment, but Smith does it well.

 Dick Orkin ToothFairy Demo, 1973 (15:10)

. . . If you loved him as a flying chicken, you'll love him as a grounded fairy . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

From Dick Orkin's Radio Ranch Website:

"At the suggestion of Ken Draper, WCFL Radio Program Director in Chicago in the late 60's, Dick Orkin conceived and wrote the Chickenman and Toothfairy series while he was Public Affairs/Production Director at the "Voice of Labor" radio station... In the early 70's, Dick created this 325 episode radio serial that told of Newton Snookers... The episodes dramatize the mishaps of Newton — who in his attire of lavender dental smock and sequined high hat and mask — visits the homes of children who lose their growing teeth. The series has aired on more 2,500 radio stations wordwide and remains in syndication. In recognition of his creation of these series — as well as his radio advertising work — Dick was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in April 2002 by the National Association of Broadcasters."

 Y-100 Miami First Day, August 3, 1973 (09:50)

. . . We are now 43 minutes and 36 seconds old . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

REELRADIO and The Eric Rhoads Collection send Birthday Greetings on the 35th Birthday of Y-100, August 3, 2008. Roby Yonge, newsman John Emm and Bill Steadman are featured in short samples of Miami's Y-100 on their first day — August 3, 1973.

35 years later, with the August 3, 2008 presentation of this recording on REELRADIO, Y100 is still a successful music radio station in South Florida.

Most interesting in this exhibit is the opening newscast. It perfectly places the aircheck in time, with stories about Watergate, Cambodia, Nixon, Skylab, John Paul Getty III and the confiscation of a Braniff airliner that transported drug dealers.

 Wolfman Jack, WNBC New York, August 23, 1973 (26:57)

. . . When the saints go marchin' in, I wanna be doin' a number, when the saints go marchin' in . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Wolfman Jack, 1979 This 'scoped aircheck of Wolfman Jack is extremely rare! There are very few airchecks of Wolfman and his live show circa 1973-1974 on WNBC. We know of only one other — a 1973 aircheck from Programmer's Digest that generated lots of comment back in the "someone else paid for it" days. What's really great about this almost half-hour is that it includes most of Wolfman's first two hours of the evening.

The fidelity of this recording is nothing exceptional, but the content is hard-core Wolfman. And he has a problem. Apparently, he was expecting the new Rolling Stones album for his program this evening. (History tells us the LP was released on August 31, 1973.) The best he can arrange is 40 Angie singles, and he says he will give those away to the first 40 people who meet him at the entrance to NBC on 49th Street, at midnight (standing in an orderly line, of course.) Do you wonder if that went OK?

 Brother Bill Gable, CKLW Windsor-Detroit, April 6, 1974 (01:00:11)

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (22:47)

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

A classic unscoped hour of straight-ahead CKLW from Spring, 1974, Brother Bill Gable does that boss jock thing with dual time-checks. He is SO BOSS! And, we get to hear spots for both K-Tel AND RONCO hit compilation albums!

They're giving away giant inflatable Wrigley's Spearmint gum packages, while celebrating Stevie Wonder with hundreds and hundreds of Stevie Stuff.

Many will agree that the music of 1974 could be painful, even more so here with Can Con? — so the 'scoped version is included so you won't miss the incredible commercial sets, promos, jingles and 20/20 news from John Belmont.

 Big Jim Martin, KING Seattle, April 12, 1974 (31:16)

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (09:44)

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Big Jim Martin has a great voice - it's naturally warm and friendly, but he has a few "prep" problems on this Friday AM morning drive shift at Seattle's KING. The format required him to keep moving — whether he was ready, or not. He also seemed unfamiliar with some of the well-worn hits he was playing!

Promotionally, KING was taking their Music Machine to local high schools, and was driving around the ever-expanding Seattle metro, giving money to young women. The playlist here would also be acceptable to young female listeners, but that's the way many Top 40 stations sounded in 1974, especially in morning drive.

This recording must have been made at some distance from the KING transmitter. The high noise level is just that - AM noise (without any electrical interference.) — very little of it is the typical tape hiss. Also, listeners to the unscoped version will notice a 2.6 second gap after 6:30 AM which sounds like an antenna or transmitter change.

 G. Michael McKay, WGNG Providence, RI May 22 1974, Pt.1 (45:37)

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (14:33)

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

G. Michael McKay,
December 2003 G. Michael McKay is joined by his alter-egos Peter O'Toolbox and Rock Nootknee (of Bishop Gelding High School) on his morning show of May two-dee tooth, 1974. WGNG had a good signal in New England on 550Khz. In 1974, the station was consulted by John Rook and licensed to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, a suburb of Providence.

Mike Cabral reports WGNG news, which features a musical underscoring, multiple voices and formatics similar to those heard on Rook-consulted WCFL. Part One of this aircheck includes the half-hour ID, so you'll have to wait for Part Two to hear the infamous Pawtucket! babe that was wedged into the jingle for the hour ID.

G. Michael McKay has been a successful voice talent in Miami, Florida for many years. Most recently, he has re-located to Los Angeles, California.

 G. Michael McKay, WGNG Providence, RI May 22 1974, Pt.2 (41:11)

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (20:35)

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Part Two of this aircheck with G. Michael McKay on WGNG features a lot of low-frequency noise in the control room along with McKay's cast of characters. WGNG was licensed to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, a suburb of Providence. In this part, you'll hear the infamous "hidden" city-of-license ID, with a solo Pawtucket babe buried between a full group sing of the call letters and "RHODE ISLAND!"

As usual, McKay is accompanied by Peter O'Toolbox and sports reporter Rock Nootknee, plus Boorwinkle J. Moose, Hardly Reasonable and Howard K. Jones reporting the ABCD Morning News. Genuine newsman Mike Cabral is included with two WGNG newscasts.

G. Michael McKay has been a successful voice talent in Miami, Florida for many years. Most recently, he has re-located to Los Angeles, California.

 Jay Marks, Y-100 WHYI Miami, FL December 24, 1974 (01:10:11)

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (10:46)

. . . Wait a minute, I don't want to hear that one again . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Long-time REELRADIO buddy Jay Marks hits the wrong button twice, but recovers quickly both times, in this restored warbly aircheck from Y-100 (WHYI-FM) in Miami, Florida. It's Christmas Eve Afternoon, December 24, 1974, and Jay has lots of enthusiasm and seasonal cheer. Two big contests are underway, one for a stash of ALL the Beatles albums, and another for $2000 if you answer your phone I listen to the new sound of Y-100.

The original cassette aircheck was unscoped — but splattered, fluttered and warbled. The speed varied from beginning to end, requiring several corrections along the way. This restoration was intended to make an enjoyable exhibit for all, but it does represent the highly-compressed sound of 1974 Top 40. Jay's performance is first-class and a great example of the steamlined, jingle-less music-oriented format that launched decades of success for this radio station. Jingles? These guys didn't need no stinkin' jingles. On the other hand, they didn't play records back-to-back with no ID. They had too much goin' on.

Note the chance to Call In and CONTRIBUTE, not WIN, but GIVE. Wow, a chance to call in and GIVE. Wrapping up, Robert W. Walker gets the last word. Two restored Christmas selections are included. Thanks to Eric for the tape and Jay for the show, and Merry Christmas!

 Don Cox, Y-100 (WHYI) Miami FL 1974 (30:27)

. . . I sometimes do it 'til I'm satisfied, sometimes . . .

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (02:58)

This stereo exhibit boasts excellent separation, great fidelity and the inimitable Don Cox, who always had fun on the radio. Cox passed away in September of 2003, while visiting his family in Georgia.

In addition to WHYI, Don's career included stops at WKTQ/13Q in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, WEFM in Chicago, KHJ in Los Angeles, and WPOW and WKIS in Miami.

 Shaving Cream Composite, Benny Bell 1946, Y-100 1975 (05:24)

. . . shave every day and you'll always look keen . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

This exhibit was created for REELRADIO in 2007 from recordings contributed by Eric Rhoads. It was not broadcast as heard here, though all of the elements were on the radio at one time or another. It begins with the ZAP! used by KCBQ in the early '70's, followed by the original 1946 recording of Shaving Cream vocalized by Paul Wynn, as written by Benny Bell.

Dr. Demento made the song popular again in 1975, and it was re-released. The 1946 recording is followed by one of those "Drake Tympani" effects, and then, a 1975 re-sing of Shaving Cream, created by Benny Bell for Y-100. The lyrics include the names of the Y-100 jocks at the time. Jay Marks went into the woodshed, and he writes that these special shaving songs were also created for other stations to promote the record. The exhibit concludes with a generic Good Evening, Friends.

Bell was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1906. His dad wanted him to be a rabbi, but instead, he was making records for cocktail parties at the age of 40, when Shaving Cream first hit the charts. When he did the promotional Y-100 song heard here, he would have been 69. He passed away in 1999 at 93 years of age.

 Lee Logan, WMYQ-FM Miami, Devil's Triangle (16:32)

. . . we're still trying to establish communications . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

WMYQ's Lee Logan reports that Greg Austin is lost in the Devil's Triangle off the coast of Florida. The "Marine Operator" is alerted to the problem, though listeners with "multi-band radios" are receiving messages from Greg, but woe is us - is he lost, or not? The General Manager says helicopters are standing by, and the North Miami Police Department is standing by.. Or is the entire thing a hoax? (Note that despite this critical situation, promos for the ongoing Pick Up The Pieces promotion continue...)

Was this 1975? Anything notable, or just a goofy promotion? COMMENTS?

 Kid Curry, Y-100 Miami, March 1978 (01:01:36)

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (13:29)

. . . get that thing out of your mouth . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Kid Curry went on to play and program contemporary music at Miami's WPOW in the 1990s — and into the new century. This hour from Y-100 in 1978 demonstrates his early experience in that venue. There are a couple of somewhat rare R&B faves here (Miami favorites), but much of this hour consists of the hit songs that some feel killed Top 40 radio. The fact is, these were powerful contemporary hits of the era and yes, they were mostly about dancing.

A young lady opens this recording, and hands it off to The Kid. Anyone know who she is? And while presented as stereo, it's really only two-track mono, but the recording had enough fidelity to warrant the higher encoding rate. Let's dance!

 Dr. Demento, Show #78-38, Hour 1, September 1978 (50:19)

. . . three people more than enough for a quartet anyhow. . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Dr. Demento With the retirement of American Top 40's Casey Kasem in July 2009, and the induction of Dr. Demento into the Chicago Radio Hall Of Fame on November 7, 2009, Dr. Demento is now the longest-running syndicated DJ heard on Top 40 radio!

This hour, essentially a random selection from almost 40 years of Dr. Demento programs, came from an original 7" reel distributed for broadcast in September, 1978. It demonstrates Demento's genuine love for the "demented" music he plays, his original and wacky air presentation, and the support of his audience, long before the convenience of the Internet. To make a request, you had to pay the long distance charges!

In addition to some very funny records (which we are prohibited from listing by the terms of our music license), Demento features selections from comedy albums by Steve Martin and Flip Wilson.

 Bill Tanner, Y-100 (WHYI) Miami FL 1978 (01:01:43)

. . . judging by past performance, maybe you won't have to worry about whether you get the thousand dollars or not . . .

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (24:29)

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Ouch! Long-time Y-100 morning man and PD Bill Tanner opens this hour with a shot at competitor 96X and their latest promotion.

In addition to a visit from some regular characters, Tanner welcomes tennis pro Bobby Riggs, in town to play in a women's team tournament. Captain Y is featured with traffic. A complete newscast from Jim Reihle is also included.

Tanner's peppy, friendly style goes well with giggly phone bits, muffled drops and silly gags. It's all very non-pretentious and real-time. There are no (serious) jingles or recorded promos. There is nothing behind the curtain - this is Miami FM Top 40, just as it was.

 Joe Nasty, KITY San Antonio April 25 1979 (46:44)

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (06:42)

. . . I was givin' away t-shirts, I didn't last 15 minutes, everybody's listenin' to us these days, they love us . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

World-Traveler DJ Joe Nasty celebrates The Mariachi Festival at RiverWalk with the Jerry Clifton format in the absolute height of the disco era - and I mean, they played the LONG versions of all your favorite disco hits! Continuous, (continuous) Music, (music) — a Clifton Original is included, along with a little news from what sounds like Fran Boyd.

Lots of contest promotion in this aircheck, and please note that Mr. Clifton insisted on something to identify the station between each musical selection, a format basic lost to nearly all music programmers in the new century.

KITY is no longer in San Antonio, Texas. As of the publication of this exhibit in August, 2012, a Spanish-Language station, KROM, is assigned to 92.9 in San Antonio.

Joe Nasty passed away in San Antonio in August, 2016. He was 68.

 Bob West, KGGI-FM, Riverside CA. March 19, 1980 (01:00:27)

. . . Your Free gas station . . .

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (10:29)

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

For those not familiar with Southern California (like the majority of REELRADIO subscribers) the Google® map above shows a suggested route (approximately 192 miles) from Neverland Ranch (A) to Riverside, California (B), the home of KGGI-FM, where consultant Jerry Clifton installed one of his first rhythmic CHR formats.

On this aircheck, we are treated to an official Clifton bounced-whisper layover (Continuous CONTINUOUS music MUSIC), a standard feature of his consulted stations. And, sadly, there are some music-to-music segues here as well. Nothing to say? What station was that? Well, lots of recurrents and oldies, and in early 1980, that was nice.

Bob West is your PM drive host. Bob went on to program one of the last gasps of KROY-FM (Sacramento, CA.) in the later 1980s, and WPGC (Washington, D.C.) after that. In more recent times, Bob has continued to work with Mr. Clifton programming Hispanic Hip-Hop formats in Texas.

On this day in Riverside, Bob was helping his listeners connect with The Sheik to win gasoline. What a helpful guy! Bob had a friendly, energetic delivery, but as a PD and consultant he did very little air work after KGGI. He mostly taught baby deejays how NOT to talk between records.

 Brian White, KGGI-FM, Riverside CA. March 21, 1980 (01:19:15)

. . . More MPG - Music Plus Gas . . .

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (12:10)

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Just a couple days after our premiere KGGI aircheck (directly above), here's Brian White on midday with lots of continous (continuous) music (music). The oldies depth is interesting, as is Brian's very relaxed and casual rap, limited as it is.

Later on, Brian was known as the Blind Owl, but I am not sure why. By this time in 1980, he had already been in radio for ten years, working at WDRQ/Detroit, WXLO/New York, KDAY and KIIS in Los Angeles, and quite a few other stations.

The major promotional activity again involves The Sheik, the commercial load is light and the music is targeted to young women. The man behind the curtain was, of course, Jerry Clifton.

 Dan McKay, WQUE New Orleans, April 1986 (44:28)

. . . for a small fee, we will perform at any social or bodily function . . .

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (23:45)

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

In this 45 minutes, there are three spots for TV stations! What better testament to the once-great advertising value of regulated radio? The stop sets are too long, however, and this station had succumbed to the iPod format already.

What's the Stealing Radio Is A Crime promo about? They say it's "National Disc Jockey Day", but there's a conflict with the now-published date of that and the 1986 NFL Draft reported in the news. Best bet for the date of this broadcast is April 30, 1986. If you can better pinpoint the date, please do so!

 Paul Shaffer Live from The Hard Rock Cafe, WLS June 1, 1986 (44:42)

. . . What would Dave Letterman do, in a situation like this . . .

This Exhibit 'SCOPED (27:03)

Paul Shaffer

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by Eric Rhoads]

Yes, the Musical Director for David Letterman did a monthly radio show from The Hard Rock Cafe in NYC. It was syndicated by NBC, but it was broadcast on Chicago's WLS (ABC), so it must have been that '80's detente thing. Paul Shaffer hosted "Live from the Hard Rock Cafe" once a month, from June 1985 to August 1986. And is that John Landecker doing the live read on the TWA spot, and the unscripted Casey imitation? If this program pre-empted the Landecker show, he would still be the "announcer on duty."

The late NBC staff announcer Bill Wendell (d. April 14, 1999) sets up the opening gag with Letterman, and his hearty laughter is heard in the background (just like on TV.) Michael J. Fox and musical guest Lou Reed also join Paul in this nutty, crazy radio show.