Jim Shelton

Jim Shelton worked at WIBC Radio in Indianapolis for 50 years. He is best remembered for his widely popular “Pick-a-Pocket,” a 15-minute game show airing from the Circle Theater marquee that ran for 21 years. For many years, he was also one of the announcers on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Network.

Shelton was born May 23, 1919, in Loveland, Ohio. His full name is James Shelton Undercoffer; however, he used the name “Jim Shelton” on the air.

In 1940, Shelton obtained his first radio job working for WCMI, a radio station in Ashland, Kentucky.

In 1941, he began working at WIBC Radio in Indianapolis as a news editor and worked there for fifty years. Shelton famously created “Pick-a-Pocket,” a 15-minute game show segment which ran for 21 years, ending in 1968. For the segment, Shelton dressed in an apron, asking the audience to pick a pocket in order to answer questions and win prizes. The show was the most listened to program in Indianapolis for 19 years.

Photo Courtesy of Indiana Broadcast Pioneers

A notable segment of “Pick-a-Pocket” came out in 1957, when Shelton broadcast from an iron lung in order to raise awareness about the Salk polio vaccine.

Shelton also hosted an evening show, “The Platter Party,” as well as the television show “What’s Your Bid?” on WRTV-6. In addition, he co-hosted the Grand Ole Opry shows in Indianapolis.

As well as hosting shows, Shelton was also the sales account executive at WIBC from 1961 until retirement. For almost a decade, he was the top salesperson.

From 1948 to 1978, Shelton was an announcer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network, which debuted in 1952.

In 1989, Shelton was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Hall of Fame for his decades of service to the radio industry. Shelton retired in 1991, and passed away February 11, 1993, while on vacation in Mexico.

February 2025

By Lily Saylor