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On March 19, 1976, the
ownership of WCAS
officially changed to Wickus Island Broadcasting Corp. During
the
preceeding 3-4 years, the station had twice been scheduled to be sold
to owners with plans to use the station for religious
broadcasts.
Comments from community groups were filed with the FCC protesting the
prospective format change, and the FCC delayed approval of the sale
until the prospective buyers withdrew.
With the completion
of the sale
to Wickus, that particular threat
subsided. On the morning of March 19, 1976, Rick Starr signed
the
station on the air, noted the change of ownership, and played a most
interesting song to begin the day and the years of Wickus
management. Click
here for the WCAS
signon of March 19, 1976. Later that morning, the "music news" was preempted for a summary of the history and sale of WCAS. The segment was produced by Rick Starr and includes an interview with the new owner, Dan Murphy. |
Apart from the music, WCAS was known for a rather unusual set of public service programs. Sunday morning was the usual time for stations to air such programs back when the FCC actually required some evidence of service to the community of license, and WCAS was no exception. However, our programs were created and produced by members of the local community and represented at least some of the diversity of that community. Here is the weekly Sunday morning lineup:
7:15 "On the Outside" - prison program; discussion of living conditions, prison reform, rehabilitation, legislation. Produced by Self Development Group, Boston. 7:30 "Point of View" - interview and discussion by political leaders and newsmakers. Produced by Neila Smith, WLVI, Boston. 8:00 "Future Earth" - ecology discussion; alternative energy, environmental legislation. Produced by Konrad Schults, Sierra Club, Boston. |
8:30 "Boston Folk Scene" - music and talk from local musicians. Produced by Jim Chevallier. 9:00 "Peacework" - 3rd world, liberation, and freedom discussion. Produced by Arthur Fink, American Friends Service Committee, Cambridge. 9:30 "N.O.W. We're Talking" - feminist program; news, interviews, music, poetry. Produced by Beth Wallace, National Organization For Women, Boston. |
10:00 "Black Light" - black and other 3rd world discussion; interviews, music, news. Produced by Toni Lewis. 10:30 "Closet Space" - gay program; news, calendar of events, skits, interviews. Produced by Ellen Davis, Gay Community News. |
A brief excerpt from "Reggae Bloodlines" hosted by Peter Simon. Peter showed up at our door one day offering to do a reggae show. It didn't hurt that his sister was Carly Simon, so we signed him up for "Reggae Bloodlines", a one-hour slot on the weekend. Peter was also a contributing photographer for the Village Voice, the Phoenix (Boston, Cambridge), Rolling Stone, and others. To date, he has published ten books, including "Reggae Bloodlines" and his latest, "I and EYE". |
On January 1, 1980, WCAS
broadcast the "WCAS TOP 74" songs
of the 1970s as ranked by
WCAS listeners and staff. During December, WCAS asked
listeners
to vote for their favorite 5 WCAS songs. From several hundred
responses, plus staff input, we compiled this list of the WCAS TOP 74
and counted down the entire list on January 1.
At
the
conclusion of the TOP74 countdown and just before signoff, we credited
the many WCAS staff members who had added their talents and efforts to
the station up to that moment. Click
here for the audio.