The BT Memories Sound Vault
Hidden in a secret compartment deep beneath the false bottom of a 100-ft well dug through the heart of a remote, barely-noticed, heavily-wooded mountain about three miles northeast of Ranlo, NC, this massive vault is often compared to the one used to store the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Project 60

Heard every weeknight at 8:00 p.m, and hosted by Clyde McLean, Project 60, over it's nearly 20-year run, was normally a serious effort featuring classical music, drama and documentaries. But not on April 1, 1964. On this night, Clyde narrated (with tongue firmly in cheek) the story of the infamous Glick family of Belmont. You'll be surprised to learn of the Glick ancestors' exploits throughout recorded history. It was probably Loonis McGlohon's uncompromising research and unparalleled writing that prevented this production from winning a coveted Peabody Award that year. Like it or not, you'll hear again some of the sound clips featured in the Remote Pickups section above. Part 1 (27:45) and Part 2 (30:14).

Gunsmoke

This 30-minute show from CBS Radio ran on WBT from 1952 until 1961, even after it was eclipsed by the TV version. Radio drama can sound dated and even dreadful in these jaded times, but you might enjoy photos of the cast and the story of the unconventional rehearsals they held on what was called "dirty Saturdays." In fact we have a recording of an entire run-through for an episode that aired on February 19, 1956. There are links on the story page, or you can listen from here to Part 1 (10:52), Part 2 (8:32) and Part 3 (3:09).

Fairly Contemporary

Hello, Henry
For 16 years, from late 1979 to 1996, Henry Boggan lit up WBT's nighttime with his "Hello, Henry" call-in show. Sometimes he would have guests in the studio to help while away the hours. A couple of times a year his guests would be the Briarhoppers, the WBT country-western group from the '30s and '40s. Here are portions of their final appearance on the show (and on radio) on the night of July 2, 1996, not long before Henry himself said goodbye to WBT. There is a story and pictures at "Hello, Henry" in the Articles section. Or listen from here to Part 1 (13:58), Part 2 (19:09) and Part 3 (14:00).

Chainsaw
Over fifteen years have passed since Hurricane Hugo kicked our butts, but we have James K. Flynn's magnum opus to remind us what a chaotic time it was. WBT was a credit to the broadcasting industry during those weeks in late 1989, going all out to keep the community accurately informed. For some detail and observations about WBT's role during Hugo, click over to Jame K.'s article "Ol' Hugo Was A'messin'." To hear his famous "Chainsaw": Listen (3:20)

Promo
The Yellowjacket was a twice-weekly five-minute feature on WBT's afternoon drive time with Bill Curry, sponsored by Zenith radios and tvs. Around 1967, after the demise of the Belmont Tunnel series, several of us around the shop had withdrawal pains and came up with something closely akin to--but more outrageous than--ABC-TV's Batman (then the current rage), and heavily influenced by The Green Hornet, Peyton Place, Bob & Ray and Nation Lampoon. In this cut, Rex Mundane (Bill Curry), the lead character of the drama, is recording a promo with the assistance of Sandy Claysoil (Jim Scancarelli), ace reporter of the Daily Clarion. Listen (1:20)

The Yellowjacket Song
Candy Ferrell insisted she couldn't sing worth squat, but of course we paid no attention. What did she know? The intervening years have proven her right: she was awful! We don't remember who wrote the lyrics (probably Loonis McGlohon), but--for your reading pleasure-- here they are (along with a very abbreviated biographical sketch of the Yellowjacket). Willie Nelson, if you're tuned in, take these lyrics with our blessing and make yourself another hit. Listen (2:21)

Episode: Dry Cleaning Man
If it isn't one thing, it's another. Rex's leotards aren't back from the dry cleaners (the pressing machine was broken--oh, the iron-y of it all) and there's crime-fighting to be done. Just another exciting day in the Mundane household. Rex is, of course, played masterfully by Bill Curry. The hand-cupped-behind-the ear baritone of announcer Kelton B. Goodfellow belongs to Reno Bailey. Shirley's is the voice of Leslie Wright, who in real life was the secretary to WBTV Sales Manager Tom Cookerly. The name of the "actor" portraying the dry cleaning man is, fortunately, lost to the ages (unless he steps forward). Listen (4:35)

Episode: Jack Oakie Film Festival I
No pun is let unturned as Rex and his confidant Calvin go to the Bijou Theater looking for clues as to the wherabouts of Mr. Big. We continue to dig through the archives to find who played Calvin. Production note: Listen to the background sounds in the movie theater. Unable to find an actual movie soundtrack, the producer used an old recording of the U. S. Senate's Army-McCarthy hearings. You may even be able to hear attorney Joseph Welch say, "Have you no shame, Senator?" Listen (4:09)

Oldtime radio sounds

Birth of WBT
From April, 1957, here's one of J. B. Clark's Profile programs. Here he interviews the lady who, as a little girl in 1922, spoke the first words into a WBT microphone. You'll also hear the voices of Charles H. Crutchfield and broadcast pioneer Earl Gluck. Read the story here. Listen (9:47).

Heartaches
This old recording from the '30s was resurrected in 1947 by WBT's Kurt Webster. Its new-found popularity brought bandleader Ted Weems out of retirement. Read the story here. Listen (2:43).

Golden Gate Quartet
A featured group on WBT for over two decades was the Golden Gate Quartet. In 1942 they recorded a special show for WBT's 20th anniversary, of which a short clip survives. The announcer sounds like Tony Marvin, who went on to become Arthur Godfrey's announcer. Listen (11:03)

WBT Sign Off
Here's a brief sign off announcement made late one night during World War II by an announcer who identifies himself as Alan Burke. Could this be the same person as the controversial talk show host of the sixties? Listen (:58)

Breakups and Screwups

David Brinkley
In 1958, about the time David and Chet Huntley became white hot network stars, David was still rotating on NBC Radio's News on the Hour. One day there was an incredible story that put David away. Listen (2:28)

Grady Cole
WBT's morning man had a popular (to farmers) noontime farm report. Here, in the 1950s, he's recording a commercial for a manure loader. He finishes, then is astonished by what he just read. He's talking to the recording engineer. Listen (2:13)

Dallas Townsend
Every weekday morning at 8:00 CBS Radio had a 15-minute World News Roundup. Townsend, not to be confused with the WBTV engineer with the same name, was its regular anchor. This was one of those rare days when nothing seemed to go right. Listen (1:03)

Gospel Singers
The spokesman for this unidentified Sunday morning singing group got the words wrong but kept on going. Listen (:36)

Frank Blair
For years Frank, a native of Greenville, S. C., was a regular news reader on the Today Show and also did radio news for NBC. As luck would have it, one day Frank's nagging cough was scheduled adjacent to a cough syrup commercial. Listen (:17)

Lowell Thomas
Many of the old bloopers you hear are recreations, but these from the 1950s and 60s by CBS Radio newscaster Lowell Thomas are the real deal. About once a month Lowell would break up, sometimes unable to continue his newscast.