Skip Wilkerson, WTIX New Orleans August 5, 1964 (24:02)

. . . how did a little four-legged cat, from the wrong side of the track, penetrate the lives of five wanton women? . . .

[Description by Uncle Ricky]

On August 5 1964, The Beatles had been known to America for less than a year but had already hit #1 on the Hot 100 five times! Beatlemania was fully entrenched in U.S. popular culture. Lots of familiar PAMS jingles on this aircheck, including a few from the Beatles package — multiple contests — and WTIX and Skip Wilkerson are offering a chance to win tickets for the upcoming Beatles concert in New Orleans on September 16.

In 1953, WTIX became the second station to be acquired by Storz Broadcasting, and this recording demonstrates several of the gimmicks and gadgets that were mainstays of the Top 40 format. Charlie Ray concludes this genuine Crescent City classic with a complete Essential News broadcast.

Somewhere over the years, or perhaps when originally recorded, this one picked up several gallons of very ugly high-frequency splatter and distortion. I wish it wasn't so, but am delighted to have this exhibit nonetheless. Our thanks to Jay Bermo.