Welcome to RadioTapes.com, the home of more than 2,000 recordings of Minneapolis/St. Paul radio
stations from 1924 to the present.
RADIOTAPES AT A GLANCE:
FEATURED STATIONS: Airchecks from KDWB, KQRS, KSTP, WCCO, WDGY, WLOL, WYOO (U100) & Unlicensed Stations.
AIRCHECKS +: More stations and airchecks to enjoy.
SPECIAL POSTINGS: Major news events as heard locally including tornado and severe weather, JFK and RFK assassinations, 35W bridge collapse, Apollo flights, Watergate, Twins World Series celebrations and more.
VIDEOS: Almost 200 videos of Twin Cities radio station.
MUSIC SURVEYS: 1,200 surveys from 1957 to 1988.
If you have Twin Cities recordings/airchecks you can share, please contact us. Thank you to more than 100 contributors who have provided airchecks and materials to this website.
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DATE POSTED
3/31/2018
SAYING GOODBYE TO KLBB-AM (1220 AM STILLWATER, MN)
KLBB ceased broadcasting on March 31 as the 3.6 acres of land in Stillwater, which has been the location of the station's radio tower, has been sold.
KLBB-AM (1220) - Stan Turner's final Wolf Brewing All Request Show
broadcast on March 30, 2018 #1#2#3#4(25-28 MB files)
KSTP-TV Coverage
KARE-TV Coverage
KLBB-AM - Final minutes before the station signed-off including an announcement by the owner, Dan Smith - March 31, 2018 - 5 MB
1/16/2018
MINNESOTA VIKINGS - "MIRACLE AT THE MET" - 1980
WCCO-AM (830) - Ray Scott and Grady AldermanMinnesota Vikings play-by-play call of Tommy Kramer's "Hail Mary" pass to Ahmad Rashād resulting in a dramatic win over Cleveland on December 14, 1980 - 1 MB (provided by Steve Aggergaard).
Steve Aggergaard writes:: "As I recall the story, Grady jumped out of his chair and dropped his headset on the press box's floor. The thumping sound you hear is Grady fishing around for his headset while trying to watch the field."
1/14/2018
With the false alarm of a missile heading to Hawaii that took place on January 13, 2018, we are reminded of the Big EBS (Emergency Broadcast System) mistake that took place in 1971.
WCCO-AM (830) -EBS False Alarm - A rare recording - as it sounded on WCCO during the Howard Viken Show on February 20, 1971 with follow-up reports and coverage on 'CCO Radio and CBS Radio. See below for more details. - 6 MB
On the morning of Saturday, February 20, 1971, Wayland S. Eberhardt, a civilian teletype operator, was going about his routine duties at the National Emergency Warning Center at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado. One of the functions of “the Mountain” during this era was to send out the weekly Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) test directive to the nation’s radio and television stations. They were also responsible for sending out the real warning. When stations received these messages they compared it against a card to determine what action to take. At 7:33 a.m. local time on that fateful Saturday, Mr. Eberhardt, a fifteen-year veteran of his job, fed the wrong tape into the transmitter. He was later quoted by the New York Times as saying “I can’t imagine how the hell I did it.” Text source.
1/6/2018
Below are breaking news airchecks of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings as heard on WCCO Radio. Twenty children between six and seven years old and six adult staff members were fatally shot. These recordings are very difficult to listen to, which is why they were not previously posted. Due to many requests, and for historical purposes, they are posted below. President Obama's news conference can be heard near the end of audio segment #3.
WCCO-AM (830) - WCCO and CBS breaking news coverage of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012. #1#2#3#4 (mp3 file sizes between 26 to 29 MB)
11/26/2017
WDGY-AM (1130) - Bill Diehl Show from January 6, 1958 - 9 MB (provided by Helen Diehl and Tom Oszman
Includes commercials for Hi-Spot Lemon Soda from Canada Dry, Dodge Dealers and Red Devil Soot Remover.
A wonderful tribute to Bill Diehl has been posted on RadioTapes' Facebook page by Richard Bann.
11/5/2017
REMEMBERING CHUCK LILLIGREN(1928-2017)
It is with sadness that we report the death of former
WCCO Radio personality and farm director, Chuck Lilligren. Chuck passed away on November 3, 2017. Chuck’s career included nearly 24 years at WCCO-AM as their Farm Director. Afterwards, Chuck worked at KSTP-AM and KLBB-AM.
WCCO-AM (830) - Chuck Lilligren with the Pioneer Seed Spotlight, live from Farm City Day broadcast in
Hutchinson, MN on November 22, 1982 - 5 MB
WCCO-AM (830) - Complete Farm City Day broadcast from Hutchinson, MN on November 22, 1982
including Chuck Lilligren,Roger Erickson, CurtZimmerman, Bill Endersen, Dean Spratt, Denny Long, Joyce Lamont, Ray Christensen and others including #1#2#3#4#5#6 (mp3 files range 21-28 MB)
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WCCO-AM (830) - Morning show with Chuck Lilligren on Feb. 2, 1984 -13 MB (provided by Todd Kosovich)
It is with sadness that we report the death of former
WCCO Radio personality, Roger Erickson. Roger passed away on October 29, 2017.
The man who made school closing announcements an art form, Roger Erickson may be best remembered as a member of one of the most successful partnerships in Minnesota radio. He grew up on a farm near Winthrop and studied speech and theater at the University of Minnesota, where he appeared in productions such as Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and wrote and produced programs for in-school listening at the university station, KUOM. He joined WAVN Stillwater in 1951, served two years in the US Army, returned to WAVN, and moved to WCCO-AM in 1959, serving as an announcer, and also appearing as "Bozo the Clown" on WCCO-TV. For many years listeners woke up with his 5:00 AM program. In 1961 he hosted an afternoon show airing just before Charlie Boone's program. The two began to chat and trade jokes on each other's shows, and a great radio team was born. "Boone and Erickson" was a perfect vehicle for his storytelling, acting, and writing talents, and for many years was one of the most popular programs in the region. After years of getting up before 4:00 AM, Roger retired in 1998, but remained active in numerous community activities and events. (Roger Erickson tribute courtesy of the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting).
Services have been set for longtime WCCO Radio personality Roger Erickson, who died at age 89.His daughter, Tracy Anderson, says his memorial service will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, at the Lafayette Club in Orono. She expects people who worked with him will be speaking. It will be open to the public. Erickson died of natural causes at his home in Plymouth on Monday after fighting dementia for around 10 years. He ruled Minnesota’s morning airwaves along with on-air WCCO partner Charlie Boone for 38 years before he retired in 1998. The Erickson family requests that instead of flowers, memorials go to the theater or agricultural departments at the University of Minnesota, or a department of the donor’s choice. (Associated Press)
All airchecks/recordings from WCCO-AM (830) unless noted.
Roger Erickson announcing school closings on Jan. 18, 1996 (audio of the above video)#1 16 MB #2 20 MB
Roger Erickson and Charlie Boone- Ma Perkins skit - Charlie and Roger crack up in this aircheck - 6 MB
(provided by Todd Kosovich)
October 1987
Minnesota Twins 1987 World Series Victory Paradeincluding Charlie Boone and Roger Erickson
broadcasting live from the WCCO Radio van at the front of the parade, Howard Viken, Ruth Koscielak, Herb Carneal, John Gordon, John Rooney, Harmon Killebrew, Bruce Hagevik, Eric Eskola, Jan Jirak, Dean Spratt, John Lundell and others. #1#2#3#4 (mp3 files range from 26 to 29 MB)
1990
Boone & Erickson - The Iron Ranger skit (The Iron Ranger was a parody on Minnesota Governor
Rudy Perpich) - 3 MB (provided by Mark Durenberger)
The Round Mound of Sound, The Swami, Howard Cosell and Willie Griffin are just some of the names that were synonymous with the very talented talk show host and leader of the Don Squad, Don Vogel. Don worked at KSTP-AM from 1984-1987 and 1992-1995. Don passed away in 1995.
1987
Don Vogel - Final show before leaving for Chicago - #1 22MB - #2 22 MB (provided by
Irwin "Irv" Schreiner) - #3 30 MB (provided by Brian Veys)
1992
Don Vogel & Tom Mischke - #111 MB - #211 MB (provided by David Ocar)
Announcement of the death of Halsey Hall with Bill Diehl interviews with Calvin Griffith, Paul Giel, Charlie Johnson, Rollie Johnson and
Dr. E.W. Ziebarth.#128 MB - #228 MB (provided by Bill Lund, Digital on Location, Woodbury, MN)
Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and WCCO-AM featured on NBC's Sunday Today Show broadcast on March 5, 2017 (click on photo to play video)
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WCCO-TV Mark Rosen and WCCO-AM Sid Hartman commercial broadcast during Super Bowl programming on WCCO-TV on February 7, 2016 (click on photo to play video)
Including commercials: Super America, K-Tel 20 Dynamic Hits, Coke (Quincy Jones & Orchestra), Cycle Rama at the St. Paul Armory, Kawasaki Motorcycles, Clairol, Ford (Pintos, Mavericks and Mustangs), Earl Brown Farm Apartments (remote with Michael J. Douglas), Milk, Certs, and Purple Barn.
2/6/2017
REMEMBERING RAY CHRISTENSEN
It is with sadness that we report that Ray Christensen, the longtime voice of Gopher football and basketball, has passed away.
It is with sadness that we report that Johnny Canton has passed away, apparently after suffering a stroke.
From The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting website: When Johnny Canton visited a Warrensburg, Missouri, radio station as a teenager, it inspired him to begin a broadcasting career that has lasted nearly fifty years and has made him an important figure in Twin Cities radio and television. He got his first on-air job at age 16 at KLEX AM in Lexington, Missouri, and for the next several years worked in radio at stations in Colorado, Kansas City, Pennsylvania, Rochester, and Cleveland. In 1966 he joined the staff of WDGY as music director and became a much-loved and widely popular rock ‘n’ roll disc jockey and concert emcee. After 11 years at WDGY, he moved to WCCO FM (WLTE 102.9 Lite FM). The former host of Bowling for Dollars on KSTP TV and Bowlerama! on KMSP TV, he has appeared in numerous national and regional television and radio commercials, as well as such films as Airport and Mad Dogs and Englishmen. He has participated in many charity golf tournaments and other community events, and has been president of the advertising and production firm Canton Communications. One of his many claims to fame is that he was the first DJ to play John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
A video and photos of Johnny Canton, who was inducted into the MN Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006, can be found on the Pavek Museum website.
1959: KCMO-AM (Kansas City, MO) - Johnny Canton with actor Eddie Bracken, singer/actor Johnny Desmond - 3 MB
1962/1963: WRAW-AM (Reading, PA) - Production elements voiced/produced by Johnny Canton - 3 MB
1963: KUDL-AM (Kansas City, MO) - Johnny Canton - 1 MB
1964: WHAM-AM (Rochester, NY) - Johnny Canton - 1 MB
1965 : WHAM-AM (Rochester, NY) - Johnny Canton interview on Dick Clark's American Bandstand - 2 MB
1966: WIXY-AM (Cleveland, OH) - Johnny Canton - 1 MB
The Following Airchecks are Featured on the Special Postings Page. Check them out!
WCCO-AM Severe Weather Coverage (1939 to 1991)
Hubert H. Humphrey Recordings/Airchecks (1946-1978)
WCCO Radio Civil Defense Announcements (1961)
Coverage of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (1963)
Coverage of the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King (1968)
Coverage of the Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (1968)
Coverage of the Apollo 1 Tragedy (1967)
Coverage of the Flights of Apollo 11, 12 & 13 (1969-1970)
Coverage of Watergate and the Fall of President Nixon (1973-1974)
Coverage of the Vietnam War (1964-(1975)
Coverage of the Death of John Lennon (1980)
Coverage of the Shooting of President Ronald Reagan (1981)
Coverage of the Falklands War (1982)
Coverage of the Challenger Shuttle Disaster (1986)
Coverage of the Twins World Series Celebrations and Victory Parades (1987 & 1991)
Coverage of the Start of Operation Desert Storm (1991)
Coverage of 9/11 Attacks (2001) and Death of Osama bin Laden (2011)
Coverage of 35W Bridge Collapse (2007)
Coverage of the Death of Michael Jackson (2009)
Coverage of the Tucson Shootings (2011)
Coverage of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011)
Boston Marathon Bombings (2013)
Coverage of the Death of Prince (2016)
Election Coverage (2016)
File sizes listed next to the airchecks are approximate and have been rounded.
We are pleased to have the opportunity to highlight so many great Twin Cities radio stations and personalities, past and present. We are occasionally contacted about donations to this website. As mentioned above, we are always looking for more airchecks. As for monetary donations, we prefer that they be given to the the Pavek Museum. Located in St. Louis Park, MN, the Pavek houses one of the world's finest collections of antique radio, television, and broadcast equipment and also provides educational seminars and workshops for children and adults. We encourage
you to visit their website, or better yet, stop by and tour this wonderful
museum. This website is not operated by the
Pavek Museum – we are just fans of the museum.
Ownership/copyright
of airchecks, videos and printed materials posted on this website remain
with the radio and television stations that produced them. The purpose of
RadioTapes.com is educational and is intended only for private,
non-commercial use.
RadioTapes.com is a part of RadioTapes Inc., a non-profit company registered with the State of Minnesota.