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Dedicated in memory of Jim Collins



 

Here's another WPGC 'Sound Off'!

History of the Sound Offs

In an era long before deregulation, when Public Service commitments still counted, Sound Offs provided an effective means of fulfilling the station's obligations for license renewal purposes while simultaneously served to reinforce its localism in the Washington metro area.

Each week, half a dozen or so one minute Sound Offs (or, 'Bitch Offs' as they were known internally) usually ran once an hour, 24x a day, 120x a week.  Plus another 48 over the weekend added up to nearly three hours of programming devoted in the public interest and greatly reduced the length of similar material buried early on Sunday mornings.

Listeners were encouraged to submit their pet peeves about seemingly anything under the sun (see table below).  Perhaps best remembered was the infamous Sound Off about, of all things, Sound Offs themselves and the declining importance of topics addressed in them!

The best Sound Off of the week was awarded a cash prize.  Initially, the amount was a whopping $10.  Gradually, the amount increased over the years to $20, then in 1972 to $30.  Why the prize wasn't an obvious $15.80 or $95 is anyone's guess, but suffice to say, there was rarely a shortage of submissions for consideration.

Originally voiced by the anonymous, 'Mr. Sound Off', (in actuality, General Manager, Bob Howard), newsman Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller) would periodically fill in for him as 'Lieutenant Tweety', took over permanently in 1974 and continued until his departure with The Great Strike That Struck Out in May of 1977.  Thereafter, the voicing duties rotated amongst the air personalities (and Public Service Director Sherry Berger), with each jock usually doing one a week.

With the advent of the first wave of deregulation in the early '80's and the reduced requirements to carry Public Affairs programming, Sound Offs, which by then had become a fixture on the station, were gradually phased out and disappeared altogether with the station's tragic abandonment of its heritage TOP 40 format in 1984.

 

 

BD Howard writes:

My Dad (General Manager, Bob Howard) once tried to parlay the minor celebrity of being Mr. Sound Off into a laughable, failed effort to run for Congress during the mid '70's. Had he sought my advice… While very few people ever thought about anyone associated with the station other than the on-air talent, occasionally I'll mention in passing that my Dad ran WPGC during the '60's and some baby boomers still seem impressed all these years later. But on the rare occasion that I reveal that he was Mr. Soundoff, many immediately remember him still to this day. And I am often told that my voice sounds very much like his did.

All I can say in reply to this is, 'Your response is welcome!'

 

 

Print Materials

The White House 'Sounds Off' on WPGC

Read the rebutal letter the
White House sent to Mr. Sound Off!

 

 

Sound Files

Misc. Audio

 
WPGC Play Audio Button 1994 Jack Alix from WXTR on:
Bob Howard & 'Mr. Sound Off' - :27
WPGC Play Audio Button
08/28/06
Cousin Duffy on: Sound Offs - :30

 

Hear the various Sound Off Open & Close over the years:

WPGC Play Audio Button 02/04/67 - :15

Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)

WPGC Play Audio Button 01/01/77 - :11 Jim Collins
WPGC Play Audio Button 05/24/79 - :09 Scott Carpenter
WPGC Play Audio Button 03/19/80 - :15 Dave Foxx
WPGC Play Audio Button 12/31/80 - :09 Unknown Talent

 

 

Click below to hear the Sound Off indicated or go to that person's page.

 
Topic
Date
Talent
WPGC Play Audio Button
Kids Smoking
01/06/65
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Can't Get Thru On Phone
1966
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
 Noisy Dogs
07/10/66
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
 Lack of Sidewalks
08/30/66
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Banged Up Car Doors
12/24/66
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Kids Staying Up Late
01/01/67
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Boys Shooting Birds
02/04/67
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Construction Noise
03/25/67
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Littering
August 1967
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Phoney Phone Calls 08/09/68 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Excessive Road Speeds 08/10/68 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Kids Gorging Themselves 08/11/68 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Sirens At Night 08/12/68 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Beltway Signs 08/13/68 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Kid Vandalism 08/14/68 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Post Office Blues 08/15/68 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Dentist Appointment
12/31/68
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Bad Fad
1969
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Mud Flaps
1969
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
 Abandoned Pets
1969
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
School Supervisors
1969
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Bank Security Guards 07/20/69 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Radar Speed Traps 07/20/69 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Washingtonians' Hospitality
09/07/69
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Unattended Children
09/11/69
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Accident Sideshow
12/31/69
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Model Rocketry Ban
12/31/69
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Washington Birthday Sales 03/11/70 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Draft Lottery
01/01/71
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Lousy Guidance Counselor
April 1971
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Hospital Parking
08/12/71
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Overworked Waitress 10/11/71 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Abortion
12/31/71
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Veterans Hospital
12/31/71
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Weekly Winner
12/31/71
Bryan Lawrence
WPGC Play Audio Button
Give Blood
01/01/72
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Parking Problem
01/01/72
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Big Words 04/10/72 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Trash Troubles 04/12/72 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Permanent Stickers 05/01/72 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Name Calling
08/27/72
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Speed Bumps
08/27/72
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Spoiling Movies Oct. 1972 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Wax Poetic
01/01/73
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Weekly Winner
01/01/73
Columbus
WPGC Play Audio Button
Movies On Too Late On TV 01/31/73 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Machines Taking Over
1973
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Jumping Through Articles
09/30/73
Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Weekly Winner Fall 1973 Big Don O'Bryan
WPGC Play Audio Button
Inoperative Brake Lights Nov. 1973 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Health Care 11/21/73 Mr. Sound Off (Bob Howard)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Metro Bus Drivers
1975
Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)
WPGC Play Audio Button
New Vice President
1975
Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Cooking Classes
01/01/76
Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)
WPGC Play Audio Button
No Governmnet Heat
02/08/76
Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Personal Property Tax
11/11/76
Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Holiday Gripes
01/01/77
Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Opening Car Doors
01/01/77
Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Redskins Season
01/01/77
Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Samples Not For Sale
01/01/77
Bob Raleigh (Bill Miller)
WPGC Play Audio Button
Supermarket Doors May 1977 Bill Prettyman
WPGC Play Audio Button
Weekly Winner
03/10/78
Don O'Day
WPGC Play Audio Button
Georgetown Parking
May 1978
Jim Elliott
WPGC Play Audio Button
Golf Course Vandals
May 1978
Scott Carpenter
WPGC Play Audio Button
Police Codes
May 1978
Liz Kiley
WPGC Play Audio Button
Metro Fare Cards (partial) Feb. 1979 Liz Kiley
WPGC Play Audio Button
Apt. Managers (partial) Feb. 1979 Lee Logan
WPGC Play Audio Button
Marriage Tax Penalty Feb. 1979 Dave Foxx
WPGC Play Audio Button
Marriage Tax Penalty 02/15/79 Scott Carpenter
WPGC Play Audio Button
Oil Prices 05/24/79 Dave Foxx
WPGC Play Audio Button
Speeding 05/28/79 Scott Shannon
WPGC Play Audio Button
(partial)
1979
Sherry Berger
WPGC Play Audio Button
Preferential Coaching 03/19/80 Scott Carpenter
WPGC Play Audio Button
Capital Punishment
1980
Shauna
WPGC Play Audio Button
Female Draft
1980
Sherry Berger
WPGC Play Audio Button
Redskins Plays
1980
Dave Foxx
WPGC Play Audio Button
Debri From Trucks
1980
Shauna
WPGC Play Audio Button
Slow Drivers
1980
Waylon Richards
WPGC Play Audio Button
American Cars
Summer 1980
Waylon Richards
WPGC Play Audio Button
Metro Troubles
Summer 1980
Waylon Richards
WPGC Play Audio Button
Mentally Competent Cases
12/31/80
Loo Katz
WPGC Play Audio Button
Yoko Not To Blame
12/31/80
Shauna
WPGC Play Audio Button
Weekly Winner 07/21/82 Dude Walker

 




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