Mrs. Moore's little boy Harv here, the boy next door...'

Harv Moore 'The Boy Next Door' is a native of Pelham, New York but came to WPGC from Frankfort, Kentucky in March of 1963. Initially, he did nights till sign-off but within a few months was moved to mornings when Jerry G left for KYW in Cleveland, starting just days before the tragic JFK assassination.

Harv was also Program Director when Dean Griffith (Dean Anthony) left in 1964 for WMCA in NY until the arrival of Cousin Warren Duffy in 1966. He also served as Music Director from 1971 when Davy Jones left for WMAL-FM but was promoted to Program Director again in 1972 when big Wilson vacated the position.

Harv continued in mornings until early in 1975 when he accepted an offer from former WPGC General Manager, Bob Howard to do mornings in Buffalo at WYSL. Today, Harv is retired in Buffalo.

Heard on this aircheck recorded off the Program channel (not off the air itself) just months after joining the station, Harv fills in for the vacationing Dean Griffith (Dean Anthony) in afternoon drive. Even at this young age, hallmark characteristics of his developing sound are present such as the use of character voices in comedy bits. Included on this tape are two bits from 'Gramps' and one from an unnamed character that we would come to know as 'Orville' in the ensuing years.

The vast majority of the commercials heard on WPGC during this time (coinciding with the Kennedy 'Camelot' era) are of (very) local origin. Not a single spot is heard for any place in Virginia. Most establishments are in Princes Georges County or the District, reflecting the station's then-colloquial nature. It's rise to being a Metro DC powerhouse was yet a year away with the arrival of the Beatles in '64.

Speaking of spots, if you grew up in Greater Washington then commercials for Eddie Leonard's Sandwich Shops & Glen Echo Amusement Park were an integral part of your childhood. Examples of each are heard herein. Many local spots (such as the Springlake Restaurant which opens this tape) are voiced by then-morning man, Jerry G. That's his voice on the top of the hour stager ('As modern as tomorrow...'). His departure for KYW in Cleveland 90 days after this tape paved the way for Harv's move to mornings.

Live-read commercials were very much in vogue at the time. You'll hear Harv do ones for Curtis Brothers Furniture and Smitty's Steakhouse. The lone agency produced one on this tape comes from the 'who cares what the Surgeon General says' period for Newport Cigarettes. And typical of the Cold War era, listen for a spot Harv recorded for the Ranch Drive In Theater featuring the latest Rock Hudson flick' 'Gathering of Eagles', a salute to the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command.

At the time of this tape the station was referring to itself as 'The Big PG'. The first instance of 'Good Guys Radio' is heard in a jingle from PAMS Series 22, 'Sono-Magic'. Also by this time the station had instituted wall to wall (((((((reverb))))) on the audio chain.

Aircheck of an Aircheck!

Here's a rarity; an aircheck of an aircheck! On December 31st, 1971, Harv played the above aircheck on the air as part of the Rock & Roll Generation, featuring 1963. He proceeded to comment on the tape as it was playing. Though most of his remarks are self deprecating in nature, he also mentions Jerry G (the 'Morning Mayor' before Harv) and several other facets of the station. It begins playing immediately after the above aircheck concludes.

See the WPGC Playlist from the same week as this aircheck.

 

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!