Welcome to RadioTapes.com
For more than 20 years, RadioTapes has been dedicated to preserving and showcasing historic airchecks from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN)-area radio stations, with recordings dating back to 1924. Operated by radio historian Tom Gavaras, the site features content contributed by a network of over 100 collaborators. With more than 2,500 audio recordings, RadioTapes covers a wide variety of formats and significant event—including major news broadcasts.
RadioTapes is committed to providing free access to all users. Although the site primarily serves radio enthusiasts, anyone interested in broadcast history will find value here. You can listen to or download the recordings; while some files are large, they can be accessed easily with a high-speed connection. The site aims to be an educational resource for anyone interested in the history of Twin Cities radio and American broadcast history as a whole.
This site respects copyright rules limiting the inclusion of full songs, focusing instead on personalities, news, commercials, and more. Public reposting of airchecks and other materials from this website is not permitted without the permission of RadioTapes, Inc. and the originating source.
As always, we welcome your comments and feedback. RadioTapes remains free of charge and contains no intrusive pop-up ads. If you enjoy the website, please consider making a donation—no matter the amount—to help cover our annual operating costs.
FEATURED STATIONS: KDWB, KLBB, KQRS, KSTP, WCCO, WDGY, WLOL, WWTC, WYOO (U100), and Unlicensed.
AIRCHECKS +: More stations and airchecks to enjoy.
SPORTS AIRCHECKS: Highlights and interviews from Gopher, Twins, Vikings, MN North Stars, MN Lakers broadcasts and more.
SPECIAL POSTINGS: Major news events as heard locally including tornado and severe weather, JFK and RFK assassinations, 35W bridge collapse, Apollo flights, Watergate and more.
VIDEOS: 200 videos of Twin Cities radio station.
MUSIC SURVEYS: Nearly 1,500 surveys from 1957 to 1988.
NEW SECTION: The host of this website, Tom Gavaras, was an active shortwave listener primarily from the 1970s through the 1990s. He tuned in to radio stations such as the BBC, Radio Moscow, and many others. You can view the QSL verification cards and letters he received from stations in more than 210 broadcast countries.
With so many files on this website, if you come across any broken links, please contact us.
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Recent postings are featured on this page.
RAY CHRISTENSEN INTERVIEW ON WCCO RADIO IN 1993
WCCO-AM (830): Ray Christensen interviewed about his Golden Memories book by Dave Lee and Ruth Koscielak on November 7, 1993. Ray's co-writer, Stew Thornley, was also in the studio. Ray served as the play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Golden Gophers sports teams from 1951 to 2001 and worked for WCCO-AM beginning in 1963. The recording includes a news update with Telly Mamayek and listener calls. - 16 MB (Provided by Keith Schad)
KSTP-AM "THE MUSIC STATION" AIRCHECKS FROM 1977/1978
WWTC-AM BUDDY HOLLY SPECIAL FROM 1981 WITH ARNE FOGEL
WWTC-AM (1280 - The Golden Rock) Buddy Holly Special hosted by Arne Fogel that aired in February 1981 - 19 MB (Provided by Family of Raymond and Muriel Harrington)
Includes commercials for the WWTC Valentine's Day Record Hop at the Leamington Hotel, Senior T's Restaurant, Nautilus Waterbeds, Ford, Spray & Wash, Quaker State Motor Oil, and Avis.
WCCO RADIO JOE McFARLIN FROM EARLY 1970s
REMEMBERING STAN TURNER
KLBB-AM (1220) Stan Turner on Flashback Twin Cities with Tom Oszman on Dec. 1, 2012. - 23 MB
KLBB-AM (1220) Roger Erickson (WCCO Radio's Boone and Erickson) daughter, Tracy Anderson, appears on the Stan Turner Show on Nov 1, 2017 - 11 MB
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)
More than 100 airchecks of Stan Turner's Show on KLBB-AM - LINK
Stan Turner - MN Broadcasters Hall of Fame - LINK
TV Coverage of Stan Turner on KLBB-AM in 2018 on KSTP-TV and KARE-TV.
Stan Turner passed away on September 21 at age 81. His career in broadcasting goes back to 1965, when he joined the news department at KDWB-AM. He moved to KSTP Radio News in 1966, but rejoined KDWB as news director a year later. He returned to Hubbard Broadcasting in 1968, taking a job as government reporter for KSTP-TV followed by positions as associate news director, weekend anchor, news director, and then weekday co-anchor. In 1989 Stan helped launch the CONUS / All News Channel. Afterwards, he worked at MNN Radio Network and hosted a program on KLBB Radio.
TV Report of Stan Turner's Passing (KSTP-TV)
BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE OF THE ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC CHURCH SHOOTING
WDGY-AM 2015 SPECIAL ON THE BEATLES 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR ONLY MN CONCERT
On August 21, 1965, The Beatles performed their only concert in Minnesota at Metropolitan Stadium. In 2015, WDGY-AM aired a special program hosted by Dennis Mitchell (Breakfast with The Beatles), featuring an extensive recording of The Beatles' press conference as heard on WDGY hosted by Johnny Dollar, a recreation of the songs performed, interview with an unhappy police inspector, and more. Listen to the program HERE. (Provided by Jacob Hammond)
Cedric Adams
GEORGE WENDT INTERVIEW ON KQRS IN 2004
George Wendt passed away on May 20, 2025. He was best known for playing Norm Peterson on the NBC sitcom Cheers from 1982 to 1993, which earned him six consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
KQRS-FM (92.5) George Wendt interview on the KQ Morning Show on January 8, 2004 (provided by Tom Oszman of TCMediaNow)
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF FDR'S DEATH 80 YEARS AGO!
April 2025 was the 80th Anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's death.
Thanks to broadcast historian Todd Kosovich, you can listen to the news as it broke on April 12, 1945 on the CBS World Today as it would have been heard on WCCO Radio. Plus, coverage of the funeral procession on April 14, 1945 as aired on CBS Radio with Bob Evans, Cliff Allen and Arthur Godfrey.
TWIN CITIES TORNADO OUTBREAK COVERAGE FROM MAY 1965
Sixty years ago, on May 6, 1965, was one of the worst tornado outbreaks in Minnesota history. Six tornadoes affected six counties around the Twin Cities with 13 fatalities, more than 500 injured, and $51 million in damage. Listen to five hours of continuous coverage as heard on WCCO Radio. Plus another six hours of WCCO’s coverage the day after including helicopter reports. WCCO won multiple awards for their coverage including the Society of Professional Journalists Award, the Dupont Award, and the Peabody Award. It's the only time that feat has ever been accomplished. CLICK HERE.
REMEMBERING HAL HOOVER
Hal Hoover passed away on April 8, 2025, just four days short of his 74th birthday. A native of Minneapolis, Hal began his career at KDAN. From there, he worked at several stations, including KTOE in Mankato, KSTT in the Quad Cities, WQXI-FM in Atlanta, and numerous Twin Cities stations: KQRS, WDGY, KDWB-FM (Stereo 101), and KJJO (Hot Rockin' 104). He also worked at WHMH in St. Cloud, and KTCO and B-105 in Duluth, both country stations.
After leaving radio, Hal pursued his passion for all things automotive and worked in that industry for a time before retiring about nine years ago. All airchecks courtesy of Jay Philpott.
WQXI-FM Sean Kelly (Hal Hoover) 1976
KQRS-FM Hal Hoover 4-27-1978
KQRS-FM Hal Hoover 2-23-1979
KQRS-FM Hal Hoover DXed in La 7-17-1980
KQRS-FM Hal Hoover November 1980
WDGY-AM Hal Hoover June 1981
KDWB-FM Stereo 101 Hal Hoover 1st show August 1981
KQRS-FM Hal Hoover October 1985
KJJO-FM Crankin' Cross and Hoover
KARE-TV Report on KJJO-FM and Hal Hoover 1988
KQRS-FM Hal Hoover - Classic Jock ID #1 2018
KQRS-FM Hal Hoover - Classic Jock ID #2 2018
REMEMBERING PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER
Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away on December 29, 2024. The following are airchecks that President Carter appeared in on WCCO-AM (830).
Boone & Erickson skit: "The Carter Family" - 1976 - 2 MB
Carter appears at Farmfest - September 15, 1976 - 10 MB
Carter wins Presidential Election - November 3, 1976 - 1 MB
Carter Inauguration coverage - January 20, 1977 - 22 MB
Carter appears on the Boone & Erickson Show - April 26, 1985 - 21 MB
Carter appears with Gil (Roger Erickson) & Fin (Dave Lee) - January 12, 1994 - 1 MB
Carter appears on the Ruth Koscielak Show - January 12, 1994 - 2 MB
MINNESOTA NORTH STAR GAME BROADCAST FROM 1972 WITH AL SHAVER AND STEVE CANNON
WCCO-AM (830) - Minnesota North Stars vs Montreal Canadians - February 24, 1972 with Al Shaver and Steve Cannon. Part 1–36 MB - Part 2 - 40 MB
The aircheck features the entire game broadcast includes Fan in the Stands with Steve Cannon and Al Shaver, Sid Hartman with North Stars coach Jack Gordon, news headlines with Joe McFarlin (President Nixon was in China at this time), and post-game. Includes commercials for Lancer, Schick, Ski-Doo, Bob's Produce Ranch, Bridgman's, Midwest Federal, Minnesota Blue Cross/Blue Shield/MII, Western Airlines, White Bear Dodge, Grain Belt Beer, Dodge, and Cloverleaf Milk.
This game was digitized off of a very slow moving "logger" reel-to-reel tape kept by 'CCO. As a result, the audio is not studio quality, but more like what it would have sounded like listening with a 1960s small pocket AM transistor radio.
KDWB-AM AIRCHECK FROM 1966 WITH JAMES FRANCIS PATRICK O'NEILL
KDWB-AM (630) James Francis Patrick O'Neill from September 28, 1966 - 17 MB (provided by Curt Lundgren)
This aircheck features good audio quality and impressive production work. Includes newscast with Donald K. Martin, Spotcheck on Sports with Don Riley. Jingles, and commercials for Grain Belt Beer, Red Wing Pottery, Buerkle Buick, The Gables, CC Tap, Pepsi Old Style Beer, Sussel, Royal Tire Sales, Dale Carnegie, Coca Cola sung by Petula Clark, St. Paul Auditorium with Sammy Davis Jr, and Count Basie Orchestra, Hamm's Beer, Crown Auto, Chevrolet, Fantastic Voyage (movie), STP, and First National Bank of St. Paul.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS PLAY-BY-PLAY FROM 1969 WITH RAY CHRISTENSEN
WCCO-AM (830) Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams in a Western Conference Championship game at Metropolitan Stadium on December 27. 1969 with Ray Christensen and Paul Giel. The aircheck includes the entire second half starting when the Rams were leading 17 to 7 with the Vikings responding to win 23 to 20. - 29 MB
TIM RUSSELL ON WCCO-FM IN 1974
WCCO-FM (102.9) Tim Russell on March 2, 1974 - 46 MB
Aircheck includes the station's sign-on, some of Tim's voice impersonations including Richard Nixon, John Wayne, and Howard Cosell. Plus UPI newscasts and local news with Rick Olson - this was the day before maximum speed limit was reduced nationally to 55 mph due to an oil embargo. Watergate was also in the news.
Commercials included the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Morrie's Imports, Ridgedale Mazda, and Northwestern Bell.
DAN DONOVAN KOOL 108 COMMERCIAL FROM 1998
KQQL-FM (107.9) KOOL 108 commercial that aired on KMSP-TV in 1998 featuring Dan Donovan.
(click on the photo to view the video)
MINNESOTA GOPHER FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS WITH RAY CHRISTENSEN 1970 to 2001 INCLUDING HIS FINAL GAME BROADCASTS
WCCO-AM (830) - More than 100 Gopher Football and Gopher Basketball game play-by-play highlights spanning from 1970 to 2001 with Ray Christensen including his final game broadcasts and more!
WCCO RADIO COVERAGE ON THE SINKING OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD
WCCO-AM (830) - WCCO Radio and CBS Radio news coverage on the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on November 11, 1975 - 3 MB
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a storm on November 10, 1975, with the loss of the entire crew of 29 men.
MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS PLAY-BY-PLAY FROM 1960 WITH RAY CHRISTENSEN
WLOL-AM (1330) Minneapolis Lakers vs. St. Louis Hawks playoff game at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis with Ray Christensen from March 22, 1960. Aircheck includes the last six minutes of regulation plus most of the overtime. After this season, the Lakers moved to Los Angeles. 14 MB
WCCO-AM (830) - AUGUST 26, 1966 - 5:00 AM-11:00 PM
RadioTapes is winding back the aircheck time machine. Here is a rare opportunity to enjoy approximately 17 hours of continuous programming as heard on WCCO-AM on August 26, 1966, from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm. You will hear Roger Erickson and Maynard Speece in the morning, Howard Viken filling in on the national Arthur Godfrey Show, Boone and Erickson, MN Vikings vs. the Washington Redskins with Ray Christensen and Paul Giel, MN Twins vs. the Chicago White Sox with Herb Carneal, Ray Scott, Halsey Hall and Sid Hartman. Plus many commercials (including lots of cigarette ads), Jergen Nash Show, an address by President Johnson and much more!
These recordings were digitized off of a very slow moving "logger" reel-to-reel tape kept by 'CCO. As a result, the audio is not studio quality but more like what it would have sounded like listening with a 1960s small pocket AM transistor radio. We hope you enjoy this wonderful audio journey back in time. File sizes range between 23 MB to 30 MB. Music has been scoped.
Here is a LINK to the page with all the hourly airchecks and detailed descriptions.
THE START OF U100 ON AUGUST 26, 1974
On August 26, 1974, U100 (WYOO AM/FM) began at the Minnesota State Fair. Even though the format only lasted two years, it is still fondly talked about today. Listen to the first minutes, last minutes, and many more hours of airchecks at the following LINK.
REMEMBERING BOB NEWHART
Bob Newhart, legendary comedian and sitcom star, passed away on July 18, 2024 at age 94.
WCCO Radio's Howard Viken was the first to give significant airtime to a comedy album by a young Bob Newhart. Thanks to Howard and WCCO Radio listeners, the album took off in this market, which attracted the attention of programmers in other markets. Soon the album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, was a big success. Newhart always gave credit to Howard for helping him get his first big break.
WCCO-AM - Bob Newhart appears on the Howard Viken Show on February 18, 1983 - 16 MB
WLOL-FM COMPLETE SCOPED HOT HITS COUNTDOWN FROM 1982 WITH JAY PHILPOTT
WLOL-FM (99.5) Complete scoped Hot Hits Countdown from October 17, 1982 with Jay Philpott. - 25 MB (provided by the family of Raymond and Muriel Harrington)
Playlist provided by Jay Philpott.
Click to Enlarge.
VIDEO OF MEDIA AT THE 1985 MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
Video of media at the 1985 Minnesota State Fair including WCCO-AM (Howard Viken and Chuck Lilligren), WDGY-AM (John Pratt), KDWB-FM (Lisa Carr), WLOL-FM (Bob Lange) and more. Plus local television stations.
KRSI REQUEST RADIO AIRCHECK FROM 1971 WITH TAC HAMMER
KRSI-AM/FM (950 / 104.1) - Aircheck of Request Radio with Tac Hammer from August 29, 1971 - 16 MB
The aircheck include newscasts (ABC Radio and local), music requests, and commercials for the Burnsville Bowl, Groom & Clean Hair Spray, Team Electronics, Living Water, Guthrie Theater, McDonald's, Greenleaf Townhomes by Orrin Thompson, Charlie's Restaurant, and General Motors. Note the customized KRSI singing intro by Three Dog Night for their song Liar at 9:52 into this aircheck.
Lance "Tac" Hammer started his radio career in Duluth, MN at WEBC and WAKX. This was followed by radio positions in the Twin Cities at KDWB-AM, KRSI-AM/FM, KQRS-FM, and WLOL-FM. Afterwards, Tac created Hammer Communications, a radio consulting company. Tac passed away in 1993 at age 52 due to complications from cancer.
THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST RADIO PLAY-BY-PLAY TAPE OF MINNESOTA TWIN CESAR TOVAR'S GRAND SUNDAY IN 1968
Star Tribune article written by sports columnist Patrick Reusse about the search for the lost radio play-by-play tape of Minnesota Twin Cesar Tovar's Grand Sunday when he played all nine positions on September 22, 1968. Tom Gavaras, who is featured in the article, is the operator of RadioTapes.
LINK to the Star Tribune article published on August 16, 2022
JPEG of the article (in the event you are unable to access the Star Tribune website)
Edited aircheck - Herb Carneal and Halsey Hall, with play-by-play of Tovar playing all nine position on September 22, 1968 (mp3)
We are always looking for historic airchecks of Twin Cities radio stations. If you enjoy this website, a financial donation would be appreciated (though not required). Donations will be used to help cover website-related expenses, including making more than 2,500 audio files available, maintaining equipment used to digitize airchecks (with more than 1,000 tapes waiting to be digitized), and more. In addition, discussions are ongoing to eventually provide copies of RadioTapes’ extensive archives to local and national broadcast museums and the Library of Congress.
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 the Assassination Attempt on George Wallace (1972)
- 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 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)
- Coverage of the Shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School (2012)
- Boston Marathon Bombings (2013)
- Coverage of the Death of Prince (2016)
- Election Coverage (2016)
- Minnehaha Academy Explosion (2017)
- Coverage of Disappearance and Location of Jayme Closs (2019)
- Election Coverage (2020)
- Storming of the US Capitol (2021)
- Coverage of Minneapolis Annunciation Catholic Church Shooting (2025)
File sizes listed next to the airchecks are approximate and have been rounded.