Scoped - 3:00

UNscoped - 20:49

Don Geronimo - First Show - 03/17/80

The war with Q107 was well underway by early 1980. ABC had spent an unfathomable quarter million dollars on TV spots in the Fall of 1979 featuring Chuck Blore's 'Remarkable' campaign with a model lip-syncing to an aircheck of the station designed to buy itself an audience. While curiosity cume did sample them, for the most part, WPGC weathered the storm. With a heritage Morning Show in place with Elliott & Woodside, Shannon's most important move was bringing in Don Geronimo to combat attrition by fickle Teens at night with no real allegiance to the station who flocked to Q's Uncle Johnny.

Don's impact upon arrival in March of that year was immediate and memorable. It was not uncommon for Shannon to call in from another studio posing as a listener as a set up for comedic bits. Likewise, Dave Foxx often did the same in an effort to prime the pump, encouraging Geronimo's 'Not Ready For Prime Time Players' to call en masse. And that they did, with one oddball caller after another wanting to be part of the show.

A native Washingtonian having once worked at WINX in Rockville, he arrived from WDRQ in Detroit and stayed for only about 18 months before departing for KIIS-FM in LA. But during that time, WPGC slowly regained the Top 40 crown due in large part to his resuscitating nights and his work as Music Director of the station. His legacy at WPGC would play a large role in his returning to Washington several years later for mornings at WAVA and WJFK as well as National syndication.

 

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