WPGC was one of the original 7 stations that carried American Top 40 when it debuted on the July 4th weekend of 1970. In 1982, Watermark, the production company responsible for 'AT40' was acquired by ABC Radio who proceeded to take the show away from long time affiliates in markets where ABC owned stations. In Washington, the show as taken from WPGC (which was running it twice each weekend by then) after 13 consecutive years (the only remaining station of the original 7 and the longest running affiliate at the time) and given to Q107 for this reason in 1983.

Casey Kasem has recently retired but is still heard countin' 'em down on the original shows from the '70's & '80's in rerun syndication through the Premiere Radio Networks.

Fans of the original show should check out Walt Bailey's (a frequent contributor to this site) tribute site to 'AT 40' at OldRadioShows.com that has complete chart lists for all the programs in its various incarnations over the years.

The original shows, now restored digitally are also available from CharisMusicGroup.com where many of the chart lists can also be found.

Two excellent books on the history of the show are Rob Durkee's, 'American Top 40, The Countdown Of The Century' and 'American Top 40 With Casey Kasem (The 1970's)' by Pete Battistini.

Read more on the history of the show and its evolution. See which stations are airing re-broadcasts of the original shows nationally.

 

 

AT 40 Guest Host, Dave Roberts writes:

Nice site! I'm Dave Roberts, the fill-in for Casey reading the WPGC mention below on 06/21/80. (I guest-hosted a total of 4 times until I became host of "The Hot Ones" on the RKO Radio Network in the 80's.) I was at (AT 40 affiliate), KYA in San Francisco at the time.

Interestingly, and not related to being tapped to guest host, I was also one of the first 7 Sunday morning jocks to rack up those 10-inch reels (AT 40 was not distributed on vinyl LP until 1971) and debut that first AT 40 episode back on the Fourth of July weekend, 1970 on KPOI in Honolulu.

BTW, Tom Moffett, the General Manager of KPOI was also one of the Watermark partners, which is why we were one of the first seven stations (besides WPGC) to carry the show.

When I was working at KYA, (AT 40 Producer), Don Bustany sent us a request for auditions. At the time, I was the afternoon drive DJ, Research Director, and "station voice" for the FM side. The Production Director asked me as I was wrapping up our daily session why I hadn't set up a time for my audition. What audition? I hadn't gotten the memo (literally). So, he said, "Here's the script, why don't you give it a try because I have to send these out today".

So, I cranked it out quickly and ran off to do my air shift. A few week's later, it was announced to the staff that I had been chosen to sit in. The cut with the WPGC mention was from that first show I guest hosted. I did the show three more times (although Don called me at least 2-3 other times, but since I was host of the RKO syndicated show, he said ABC wouldn't go for that.)

What's interesting, is that neither Don Bustany or anybody else including AT 40 co-creator, Tom Rounds (who I had met at KPOI when he came in to do one of those anniversary shows) knew I had worked for their partner Tom Moffett in Honolulu. (I'd do a Long Distance Dedication to "Tom in Honolulu" if I could...he was a terrific boss and a radio guy through and through).

 

'Every week, American Top 40 is heard coast to coast and around the world on great radio stations like....'

According to Pete's aforementioned book, here is the complete listing of American Top 40 shows during the '70's (plus a few from the '80's) in which WPGC was identified as one of the stations carrying the show.

Click on the dates below to see the cue sheets from the show or any of the songs to hear the WPGC mention for that week. Don't miss the 20 minute medley of all the mentions below the individual cuts.

An extra special Good Guy salute to Pete Battistini who compiled the majority of the below. All clips are © Watermark, Inc.

 

'Letter From Elaina' - Casey Kasem

Issued on 10/03/64 while Casey was working on the air at
KEWB in Oakland, CA, the song did not chart nationally.

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