Jim
Elliott came to WPGC from WEAM
(where he was Program Director), for middays & Music Director
duties in 1975. He had previously worked in Washington doing late
nights at WRC.
In 1977, he moved to mornings.
In the Summer of 1978, Scott
Woodside joined him for morning news.
Elliott
& Woodside
left the station in late 1981, accepting a then staggering offer
from Q107.
Jim later did mornings at B106,
middays at WAVA
& eventually became VP of Pop Promotion at Arista Records
in NY. Today
he runs his own airplay consulting firm while Scott
resides in Atlanta.
What
makes this aircheck
so remarkable is the short amount of time Jim
Elliott & Scott
Woodside (they would not officially be
billed as 'Elliott
& Woodside
until 1980) had worked together. The pair had been assembled by
Program
Director, Dan
Mason when morning news
guy, Don O'Dea
left WPGC to return to sister station KAYK
as its Program Director in the Summer of 1978, roughly one year
after the 'Great
Strike That Struck Out' and his arrival at the station.
Dan
brought in morning news
guy, Scott
Woodside from WQXI
in Atlanta.
Elliott &
Woodside
had an immediate & natural chemistry which struck a chord
with many listeners. Scott's background in improvisational acting
lent itself well to spontaneous goofiness on the morning
show at any given moment and as any situation warranted.
That
talent is clearly heard in this theatre of the mind production
in many of the alleged, man on the street descriptions of the
floats in this fictitious parade. Topical references to key figures
in the news at the time created a comical premise that found infinite
variations including the improbable appearance of Ricky Ricardo
& Lucy on a float, All The President's Men on
another, Billy Carter (who also sings a song for Jim
Elliott) on one, Liz Ray belly dancing on another and
Tong Sung Park handing out money on his float like it was
going out of style.
Complimenting
this cornucopia of hilarity are cameo appearances by overnight
DJ, Liz Kiley
interviewing Turkey Mogul, 'Frank Purdull' on the White
House South Lawn, Scott
Carpenter's description of the Mummers participation
in the parade in front of the YMCA (they in fact hum if not mum
to 'Stayin' Alive'), Waylon
Richards' one man band float, and Dave
Foxx (who produced the pre-recorded elements) who has a run-in
with the law.
One
of those prerecorded elements contained inside humor only station
staffers or acquaintances would appreciate. Various station personnel's
names were attributed to several committees who had planned the
parade. Of note was the Clean Up Committee behind the horses
consisting of 'Dan', (Dan
Mason, Program
Director), 'Bill', (Bill
Prettyman, General
Manager) and 'Glenn', (Glenn
Potter, President of WPGC owner, First
Media).
Long
time listeners of the station knew immediately however the name
mentioned in the funniest bit on the tape in which Dave interviews
a confused old man on the parade sidelines who thinks that Harv
Moore & The
Redhead were still doing mornings
on WPGC (they had in fact left the station over three years earlier!).
Keeping
everything together and running smoothly, ringmaster, Jim
Elliott also contributes several recurring Holiday themed
features including a Thanksgiving Day Quiz and Things
to be Thankful For comedy bits.
Embellishment
was the word of the day in this presentation. Wild claims such
as President Carter giving his okay for the parade to circle
the White House and Channel 7 Eyewitness News giving
WPGC all 15 of it's mini-cams to use in the parade (really necessary
for radio!) were the norm. The joke was perpetuated with numerous
disclaimers such as 'No need to go out to the parade; we're
bringing it to you on the radio'. (The station did in fact
receive calls as to the parade's route and viewing areas!).
Localization
made the picture all the more believable. Whenever generic marching
band music was heard between floats, mentions were made of various
high schools in the area supposedly appearing in the parade including
Bowie, Crofton, Suitland, Annandale, Walter Johnson, West Springfield,
Montgomery Blair & Gaithersburg High Schools. Even the
Army & Navy bands get in on the act plus a
purported appearance by the Redskinettes & the Redskins
Marching Band (the 'Skins faced Dallas that
afternoon).
Commercials
on this tape
were not included but a few seconds entering & exiting stopsets
are heard. Jingles
in use were from JAM's
'Positron' package which had been ordered earlier in the
year.
As
to the '2nd Annual' reference, if anyone remembers a parade
from the previous (or successive years), please contact
the webmaster.
Special
thanks to contributor, Steve Willet for this piece of radio
history!
Listen
to the parade in its entirety or click on any of the
links below to
hear the various bits used throughout it.
WPGC Thanksgiving Day Quiz - 1978 |
1) |
The Pilgrims had corn at the first Thanksgiving because? |
a) |
Henny Youngman crashed the party. |
b) |
They just learned, ‘A-Maize-ing Grace’. |
c) |
They needed a yellow vegetable. |
d) |
The Indians forgot to bring Brussels sprouts. |
|
|
2) |
The Indians were invited to the feast because? |
a) |
It was a National Holiday. |
b) |
The Pilgrims had already been over to their place. |
c) |
A recent Federal ruling outlawed discrimination. |
|
|
3) |
Plymouth Rock was? |
a) |
An English singing group. |
b) |
The 1978 top of the line Chrysler product. |
c) |
Rock, Plymouth’s listing in the telephone directory. |
|
|
4) |
The Pilgrims came to America? |
a) |
To escape the summer reruns. |
b) |
To open a Rolls Royce dealership. |
c) |
Because there was no room at the Inn. |
|
|
5) |
The Mayflower was? |
a) |
A big furniture truck. |
b) |
Something that caused hay fever in Canadian rats. |
c) |
What April showers bring. |
|
|
6) |
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the
4th Thursday of November because? |
a) |
It was the only day the Indians had off. |
b) |
That’s when all the football games are. |
c) |
Macy’s had already reserved 5th Ave. and
couldn’t get a parade permit for any other day. |
|
|
7) |
A Pilgrim is? |
a) |
A bitter pill to swallow. |
b) |
Anyone carrying a candle. |
c) |
Grim, Pill’s listing in the phone book. |
|
|
8) |
It was easy to tell a Pilgrim from an Indian because? |
a) |
Indians couldn’t afford buckles for their moccasins. |
b) |
Pilgrims always paid with travelers’ checks. |
c) |
Pilgrims’ names were shorter on the mailboxes. |
|
|
9) |
The first words uttered by the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock were? |
a) |
This is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. |
b) |
Sure doesn’t look like the pictures. |
c) |
Okay, where are the girls? |
|
|
10) |
The Pilgrims crossed the ocean in a boat because? |
a) |
The Concorde was sold out. |
b) |
It was too far to walk. |
c) |
They didn’t have to be in America until
Thanksgiving and they figured it would be relaxing. |
|
|
11) |
According to legend, Indian maiden Pocahontas
had her father spare John Smith’s life because? |
a) |
Hiawatha couldn’t get through the frozen Gitche Gumee. |
b) |
John owed her a thousand bucks
from the previous night’s strip poker game. |
c) |
Pocahontas was super ugly and she
didn’t want to blow her last chance to get married. |
|
|
12) |
Turkey in the straw is? |
a) |
A hard act to follow. |
b) |
A tight fit. |
c) |
The Weight Watchers new low-calorie drink. |
|
|
13) |
A typical Pilgrim spent his or her Thanksgiving? |
a) |
Watching the football games. |
b) |
Watching the parades. |
c) |
Watching the Indians. |
d) |
Watching the Indians play football after the parades finished. |
WPGC Things To Be Thankful For - 1978 |
1) |
I’m thankful that I’m not Jimmy Carter’s
1980 Presidential campaign manager! |
2) |
I’m thankful that I’m not
Farrah Fawcett’s acting coach! |
3) |
I’m thankful that when I applied for my car loan,
I did not list Bert Lance as a personal reference! |
4) |
I’m thankful that the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers
hasn’t decided to put up a dam in my bathtub, yet! |
5) |
I’m thankful that I never ever wrote a book about
Evel Kneivel, after all, his problems seem to run in cycles! |
6) |
I’m thankful that none of my relatives has
entered politics or otherwise disgraced the family! |
7) |
I’m sure that Jimmy Carter is thankful
that Billy wasn’t born twins! |
8) |
The citizens of Philadelphia are thankful that
this show only reaches as far as Baltimore! |