Matt Spero first discovered Radio as a teenager when he peddled his bike down to the local radio station transmitter and studio — KSRO in Santa Rosa, California. The DJ showed him around and even let him play in the Production studio. He was hooked.

Shortly after that visit, Matt built his own little studio in a corner of his parents' garage and would do shows on tape. He even broadcast a few blocks with a very small AM transmitter.

Matt at AFRTS

It was about this time he started to record a few airchecks, picking up stations like KFRC and KYA in San Francisco and KEWB in Oakland. When he entered the Navy in 1965, he was stationed in San Diego and made friends with the Program Director at KCBQ, where they adopted KTTY on board the carrier USS Kitty Hawk as a sister radio station. He worked in Special Services at both the Radio & TV stations. As Tom Post, he had the morning shift from 9 to 12 on KTTY Radio, broadcasting to the crew of over 5000.

When Matt got out of the Navy, he worked at KDAC in Fort Brag, CA and eventually moved down to Los Angeles to refine his craft at the Don Martin School of Broadcasting. He then worked at KKDJ Los Angeles, where he was an engineer. As much as he loved working in Radio, he decided that he wanted to settle down in LA. So, he pursued his second ocupational choice and became a Motion Picture Projectionist.

These days, Matt does freelance work in video editing and audio production. All through the years he recorded various radio airchecks, and he is glad to be able to share some of them here.

Gene Weed, KFWB Los Angeles, March 27, 1959 (47:35)

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The spots have been edited, and it sounds like all the classic hits were very nicely restored to this crisp recording of The Weedy One, the late Gene Weed (d. 1999), filling in on the Elliot Field frolic for Friday, March 27, 1959.

If you listen carefully, the clarity of this recording reveals cue burns and scratches on the jingles and spots! Evidently, most everything was on Electrical Transcriptions (acetates?). The KFWB engineers must have been plenty busy, juggling discs and cueing up a team of turntables. That's right, no cart machines, certainly no computers!

There's a Sports Scoreboard and a weather forecast, but the announcer isn't identified. However, Gene does promote John Babcock as "coming up" with a newscast at the end of the hour, so maybe he is the mystery announcer.

Charlie Tuna, KKDJ Los Angeles, Rewind 73 Pt.1 (01:07:29)

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There's a ton of Tuna-quips, editorials from legendary L.A. news guys, and the hits of 1973 in monthly order. It's not a countdown - it is a slick and swift chronological Review of 1973 on KKDJ (FM), just before New Year's Day, 1974.

Part One of this three-part exhibit is mostly about hits from late 1972, since these songs dominated the format in early 1973.

Charlie Tuna adds his unique personality to a presentation that includes Paul Oscar Anderson and J. Paul Huddleston with powerfully-voiced editorial summaries of the year.

One song was restored.

Charlie Tuna, KKDJ Los Angeles, Rewind 73 Pt.2 (01:18:19)

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Charlie Tuna never quits - every set brings a smile, as he continues to musically move through the months of 1973 on KKDJ (FM), just before New Year's Day, 1974.

Part Two of this three-part exhibit brings us to June, 1973. Paul Oscar Anderson and J. Paul Huddleston get deeper into the Watergate scandal.

The first song was restored.

Charlie Tuna, KKDJ Los Angeles, Rewind 73 Pt.3 (01:20:05)

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In the third and final part of the KKDJ (FM) Rewind 73, the initimable Charlie Tuna continues his witty remarks as he moves into August, and then back to March. Apparently, the recording was interrupted, and then resumed some time later.

And because of that interruption, there's a little extra of Paul Oscar Anderson and J. Paul Huddleston editorializing on the Watergate scandal.

A couple of songs were restored due to technical issues, and two 1973 hits were substituted to avoid repeating songs played in an earlier segment.

The Birth of KPLS, Santa Rosa CA. April 19, 1964 Pt.1 (01:19:47)

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This is Part One of a Three Part presentation of The Birth Of A Radio Station - KPLS, Santa Rosa, California, the newest addition to the Polaris Broadcasting group. This historic event took place on Sunday, April 19, 1964 at 12Noon - and YOU are there!

Nearly everyone of any importance has recorded a greeting for "The NEW KPLS" on the first day, including a muffled California Governor Edmund G. Brown, the Mayor, a State Senator, even a Beach Boy, though his name was, unfortunately, the only piece missing from Part One.

The Polaris execs are very busy patting themselves on the back and offering congratulations from affiliates all over the country. The "Six Swinging Gentlemen" are all here (in coats and ties, we are sure) and we hear half of them in this segment. Michael C. Allen, Program Director Les Thompson and Bruce Allen all take turns at a short DJ shift.

The PAMS jingles are very much a part of the new format, and are used liberally. The playlist seems designed for modern adults, the records are sometimes distorted, and there's some splatter, but otherwise, this is a remarkably well-preserved archive of The Birth of a Radio Station.

The Birth of KPLS, Santa Rosa CA. April 19, 1964 Pt.2 (01:18:08)

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This is Part Two of a Three Part presentation of The Birth Of A Radio Station - KPLS, Santa Rosa, California, the newest addition to the Polaris Broadcasting group. This historic event started on Sunday, April 19, 1964 at 12Noon - this segment continues immediately following Part One.

The special congratulatory and welcoming messages continue in this segment, which features Swinging Gentlemen Bruce Allen, Pete Gross, Phil Dark and Paul Stewart.

And, you will hear the FIRST commercial announcement of the new station - It's a Ford dealer selling the new Mustang. Anyone want one of those?

The Birth of KPLS, Santa Rosa CA. April 19, 1964 Pt.3 (01:10:16)

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This is Part Three of a Three Part presentation of The Birth Of A Radio Station - KPLS, Santa Rosa, California, the newest addition to the Polaris Broadcasting group. This historic event started on Sunday, April 19, 1964 at 12Noon - this segment continues immediately following Part Two.

Paul Stewart continues with his program, featuring Program Director Les Thompson with news, and then Michael C. Allen continues with music before Thompson returns as the host.

More local flavor in the form of commercial announcements in Part Three, representing an impressive roster of local business, ranging from a Beauty Shop to a Chevrolet dealership. And, a Weather GIRL (sounds like Marcia Yarkey) from WTVW, another Polaris station (in Indiana) offers her congratulations and promises no more mud baths.