'On the Gentleman Jim Swing Thing.....'

'Gentleman Jim' Madison was a house name used by several different jocks. One of these was Bob Benson (he's best remembered for using the 'It's him, Gentleman Jim' slug line). In fact that very verbiage can be heard at the beginning of this aircheck in his Jock Jingle.

Jingle usage was widespread on the station in the mid sixties, but not limited to any one company. Though many of the cuts heard on this tape were from previous packages by PAMS, in 1966 new WPGC Program Director, 'Cousin' Warren Duffy began using the 'Funtastic' package from Spot Productions in Dallas (where else!). That same company jumped on the Bat-craze sweeping the nation with a thinly disguised package called, 'That-man'. Listen for Walt's interplay with his own Bat-jingle!

'Cousin' Duffy's arrival put a sequence of events into motion which resulted in some changes in the station's line up. Perhaps most significantly was moving Good Guy DJ, Marv Brooks to Production Director for the station. This accounts for his voice being heard in virtually every stopset on local spots such as the Route 301 Drive In Theatres, Anacostia Chrysler-Plymouth, Charlie Cooper's Cheverly Citgo and most notably, Glen Echo Amusement Park (go ahead and sing along with the jingle if you like!).

National commercials are also well represented on this tape. It may not have been the cola wars per se, but Pepsi's 'Teem' soda and Canada Dry's 'Wink' soda are both in hot rotation during the Summer of '66! So too were seasonal spots for Pond's Dry Skin Creme and Coty's 'Entre Vu' perfume.

In an age when Disc Jockeys were still revered, interaction with the station's teenage core is evident with numerous 'Request-o-matic' solicits as well as a listener 'Swimming Pool Report' on the temperature in his backyard watering hole!

And let us not forget the time-tested (if not water-tested) contesting vehicle, the WPGC 'Good Guys Swimming Derby' in which listeners would guess the pre-determined outcome of a fictitous race between the DJs on the station (with a prize of a bathroom scale!). Although the solicit is heard on this tape, sadly, the actual game itself is not. General Manager, Bob Howard (also the voice of the mysterious, 'Mr. Soundoff') was known to do the vocal talents on these elements too. And yes, that's him as Ed Sullivan on the tease for Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller).

As was the practice on every weekend during this time, the station presented the 'Sunday Spectacular', featuring an oldie every other song. Despite catering primarily to Baby-Boomer teens, even as early as the mid sixties the station attempted to lure in Adults with vintage titles from years gone by ('More Solid Gold, More Often!'), a strategy that would pay off handsomely as the years ensued.

On the flip side of the musical coin however, listen for the 'Best Bet of the Week' featuring 'Come Share The Good Times With Me' by Julie Monday, her only charting song which ultimately stiffed at a not so good #96!

Special thanks to Ed Brouder & Skip McCloskey for this tape!

 

Small Print Dept.: This non-profit historical site is not affiliated in any way with WPGC Radio today or CBS Radio, Inc. Use of copyrighted material is consistent with the "fair use" provisions contained in §107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 due to the following characteristics: Use of copyrighted material is of a nonprofit, educational nature, intended for the sole purposes of research and comment and does not significantly negatively affect "the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work(s)." Use of registered trademark material is not subject to civil action or injunction as outlined in §1114 and §1125 of the Trademark Act of 1946 (the Lanham Act) due to the following characteristics of this work, and the registered marks published herein: Use of reproductions of registered marks is not for the purpose of commerce, nor is the use connected with the sale, offering for sale, or advertising of any goods or services. Use of reproductions is not likely to cause confusion, mistake, or deception as to the affiliation, connection, or association of this work with owners of published registered marks, nor as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of this work by owners of published registered marks. Wherever possible, the copyright or registered mark owner's name has been noted near the copyrighted work or registered mark; however, all material used in this site, including, but not limited to, newspaper articles, syndicated themes, promos, commercials, photographs, playlists, press releases, ratings, airchecks, newscasts, traffic reports, sports reports, 'sound-offs', sweepers, bumperstickers and station logos, should be considered protected copyrighted material or registered mark with all rights reserved to the owner, named or unnamed. So there!