The American Revolution

WBCN advertisement, February, 1971

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"The American Revolution" is a feature-length documentary film produced for festival, theatrical, and broadcast release. 

Long before Facebook and MySpace, "progressive rock" radio was a powerful cultural, political and social medium that connected its listeners.  

"The American Revolution" chronicles free-form, progressive rock radio station WBCN-FM, in Boston, during the years 1968 to 1975, examining the station's role in both covering and promoting the profound cultural, social, and political changes that took place during that era.

"The American Revolution" will show a new generation of young people, how, in the late-1960s and early-1970s, powerful social change was facilitated through the convergence of media, politics and culture, including music, creating a movement that helped end a war and drove two unpopular sitting presidents from office. The story of "The American Revolution" is particularly important at a time when young people, and the public in general, report a growing sense of disconnection from the media, and as we witness the decaying of the role that the media plays in serving as a watchdog of government and providing a platform for social criticism and change. 

The production will incorporate the actual sights, sounds, stories, news clips, and first-person accounts of those who worked at and ran the radio station during those years, as well as the musicians, photographers, writers, listeners and others who were a part of WBCN's extended interactive universe. The film will highlight for today's young people how the use of media combined with the efforts of social activists and artists, particularly musicians, helped promote positive social, political and cultural change.

The film is also designed to be the first "open source" documentary, as part of its core mission, by engaging listeners and others who may have photos, audio tapes, film, memorabilia, and first-person accounts regarding that era, both in Boston and nationally, to share them for possible use in the film.  By doing so, the film, like the station itself, will provide a chance for creative collaboration between producers and viewers.   

Please support the non-profit production of "The American Revolution" documentary film by making a tax-deductible contribution through our secure web site. 

"The American Revolution" will be accompanied by a major educational outreach campaign to be carried out in conjunction with leading organizations involved in promoting the use of media for social change, in order to engage today's young people and assist them in using the media and the arts for social activism.

The film has chosen Boston, and Cambridge "across the river" as its focus, as the area was a major "crossroads" of 1960s culture.  During this period, virtually every major political, social, cultural and musical figure had some significant contact with the city.  At the same time, WBCN was the major artery of music, culture, politics and social change in Boston, and all of the leading cultural and political figures of that era passed through its doorway or ended up on its airwaves. 

The film is being produced by LCMedia, Inc., in association with The Fund for Independent Media, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose mission includes the production of films, TV, radio and new media to facilitate public discussion and education regarding social issues.  

Bill Lichtenstein, director and producer of the film, worked at WBCN-FM first as a volunteer at the age of 14, and then as a newscaster and announcer from 1971-1978.  His subsequent work as a journalist over the next 35 years includes producing investigative reports for ABC News “20/20,” “World News Tonight” and “Nightline” for seven years, and since 1990, Bill has been president of LCMedia, an independent media production company based in Cambridge, MA.  LCMedia has been the recipient of more than 60 major broadcast honors, including a George Foster Peabody Award, TV and radio's highest honor; a United Nations Media Award; Guggenheim Fellowship; eight National Headliner Awards; and four Gracie Awards from American Women in Television and Radio. 

Bill is a graduate of Brown University and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.  Since 1979, he has been a member of the faculty of the New School University, where he taught "Investigative Reporting for Television" and "Documentary Filmmaking."  Bill's documentary film,West 47th Street, aired on the PBS series "P.O.V.," and won "Best Documentary" at the Atlanta Film Festival.  It was called "must see" by Newsweek and "remarkable" by the Washington Post.  Bill's company, LCMedia, also produced the national, weekly public radio series, The Infinite Mind.  LCMedia has also become one of the leading media companies working in the emerging, 3-D virtual on-line community, Second Life.

(c) 2009 The Fund for Independent Media

Comments

[Sean (from Marshfield)]

Hey-

Back in the summer of ’91 or ’92 (not sure which) I was just starting at Stonehill College and my summer job was working at Fenway Park for the concessions company, Harry M Stevens. When the team was on a road trip a few of us would go in to Fenway and work at getting the park ready for the next home-stand. We would take deliveries, stack beer kegs, put away boxes of cups, stuff like that. One particular summer me and another guy were responsible for popping and bagging all the popcorn for the next home-stand. (You may remember the big yellow bags of corn that were dumped into the warmers at the concession stands) It was a fairly monotonous job and we were stuck in a very little room with two large kettles…..and a radio. That radio only got one station and lucky for us it was ‘BCN. So for one summer at least, every kernel of popcorn consumed at Fenway Park was popped to the tunes of WBCN. Not sure how it effected the corn but it kept us going……

Good luck on the project,

[Andy Beck]

I arrived in Boston in the fall of 1969 finding this radio station that knew what to play and when to play it. Late at night, early morning, mid afternoon somehow BCN had the vibe of the city and opened doors and windows that brought new life into a city that was rapidly changing.

November 1970 after the Grateful Dead played a gym at BU – 2 am BCN has Jerry Garcia, Duane Allman, Pigpen and Bob Weir from the Dead playing acountic music and singing gospel tunes (with a totally out of control Charles Laquadara trying to get some sanity in the studio) I have a not so good copy of that night somewhere…

April 1974 10 am or so Bruce Springsteen shows up an unknown with his band and does 45 minutes of music (most from his just released first album) with Clarence on the tuba and Maxanne interviews in between a lot of banter and songs. I taped this not knowing who Bruce was really and years later – I think it was the 15th anniversay – in typiclaly BCN fashion Charles or Ken Shelton annoucne they never taped all those great moments. I brought my tape into the Big show and gave it to BCN and for years later you could hear it - commercials and all if you wanted to from the archives.

A radio station that had a strike supported by the community. Where else but BCN – who could have imagined a community so strong that we the listeners would support the on-air talent and staffers from BCN as corpoaret America reached into our cultural heritage. I went to the Orpheum fund rasier – even bought a t shirt. Soemwhere I may have that too…

Anyway, later on BCN boke the Police, U2 and Elvis Costello, etc but for its time , my time, our time BCN was a radio station that lived in our hearts, that was fun, vibrant, creative, a pulse of our city,.. BCN gave us far more than we could ever give back.

[Al Jason]

In 1969-1970 as a student at emerson and inside my haunted apt at 180 Marlborough St., my source of music came through a Hitachi wood frame box monoraul table radio tuned in to 'BCN. There were no produced commercials, just an incredible selection of music and soothing voices lifting my spirits and keeping me company for hours upon hours through the nights with the light of day just ahead. Upon awakening, Danny Schecter the news dissector always kept me grounded with current events of the day in which I could identify. To me, the original spirit of 'BCN went off the air in the early '70's when it began airing produced jingles and commercials. I'd love to sit back in a time machine, set it to 40 years ago and re-engage.

[Eli Sherer]

Bill, if there's anything I can do to help. (photographs and assorted paraphernalia from 1978~1990 and a few more), please let me know

[Sal Baglio]

WBCN goes off the air in August. I haven't gone near that end of the dial in decades, but at one time...

This was the station where I first heard Dr. John, Blue Cheer, The Velvet Underground, Zappa, Doo Wop and Coltrane's Love Supreme.

Charles, Mississippi, Sam Kopper, Little Walter and later Maxanne!!! Sometimes we'd hook school and go on over to watch them after they had moved to the Pru. Max was the Queen. She turned me on to Big Star, Rock n Roll Love Letter [the original by Tim Moore], New York Dolls and so much more.

Late one night, I think it was December 1970, I heard John Lennon sing the word 'fuck' on the radio. That was a big deal! That was the revolution, baby. Now it's boring.

Another December night I had heard that John Lennon was shot and killed. What to do? Where to go? What happened?? Is it true??? I called the station from the phone booth in front of Jonathan Swifts and Oedi, who was doing a show then, told me that it was indeed true. "Do you want to come up?" "Yes. I'd like to be where the music is..." The rest of that long, long night my friend and band mate Steve Gilligan and I sat in the studio listening, numb, getting records out of the library [records are made of vinyl and smell good] and talking, talking, talking. It was light out when we left 'BCN.

There was a time in the 70's & early 80's where your band could make a TAPE and get it on the radio. We made many of them and they ALL got played in heavy rotation. As did our records. Ken Shelton most championed our band. It was long ago when the world was different.

Thanks for the ride 'BCN

Ever been phoned in Upton Mass. for being a lucky nice guy?

- Sal Baglio

[Michael J. Andrade]

Hello Everybody - I’m the new kid on the block. Podcasting from the
City Of Woonsocket, Rhode Island up here in New England.
I would like to say thanks to Uncleshag & Mike Pell for posting my shows on WLSO.FM.

What you’re going to find on this Podcast is an Eclectic intelligent rock, programmed by Michael J. Andrade. Programming is a cross between
Classic Underground & AAA Radio format. You’ll find strange oddities whether it be sound bites, radio station I.D’s and jingles and comedy.

Sometimes there are a string of themed selections. Hopefully I can
keep the genuine expertise that Unc & Mike has and make you the audience keep coming back for more. Updates will most likely be on Tuesdays & Fridays

What else can I say? You will see I have a love for music 1929 through the years of 2009. I also have a love for radio - Especially the days of the classic Underground Rock Radio. So Enjoy, Pass, & Rock On.

I got to put aside the 360 Format for this one, because we are gonna visit the years 1968 & 1969 for the next 80 minutes with a program called An American Revolution. Here is a program I recorded way back off the airwaves March 15th,1988. WBCN was doing an anniversary show on the last 20 years BCN as we know it was on the air as a rock radio station. (Today its been 41 years and one month) Great stuff from this show which includes hippie laced radio commercials and of course the broadcast of the transition and first rock song played that night at 10PM.

A lot of great stories and clips and stories from the early days with Charles Laquidara ( your host & who was still on air with BCN in 1988 ) Tommy Hadges —– Joe Rogers aka. Mississippi Harold Wilson — Ken Shelton —- Eddie Gordesky Ron Della Chiesa —–Tammy Heidi —- Peter Wolf ——Frank Zappa —–Captain Squid —– Devine —– This show was originally broadcast and placed on cassette. I re-recorded / and segued the music from Cd’s to the original broadcast and put on to CD. Nobody likes that background hiss & static. The aircheck part of the show is really not that bad. Then I transfered to the MP3 format for this Podcast .

Music includes ::::: Crown Of Creation - Jefferson Airplane Itchycoo Park -The Small Faces I Feel Free - Cream Ballad Of A Thin Man - Bob Dylan Hurdy Gurdy Man - Donovan ( note to Charles >>>> Jimmy Page on Guitar not Jeff Beck ) Max Yasgur Going Up The Country - Canned Heat
Here’s a short story about WBCN’s beginings…. Before the middle 1960s, a radio station which was called WBCN played classical music exclusively. The call letters stood for the Boston Concert Network.

One of the on-air personalities at that time was Ron Della Chiesa, who also served as music host and program director. Della Chiesa is still active in classical music broadcasting on WGBH. The station slowly began to change to an ‘underground’ music format on the night of March 15, 1968. The first song played that evening to usher in the new format and slogan ‘American Revolution’ was “I Feel Free” by the rock group Cream. At first the new ‘ American Revolution’ format was only heard during the overnight hours, but by the summer of 1968 it encompassed the entire 24 hour programming day. As a part of their new format, WBCN began supporting non-mainstream investigative reporting and such novel concepts as a show oriented toward prison inmates, health warnings about the hazards of street drugs, and live updates on the traffic problems at Woodstock.
These Podcast can be found here. Also check out rest of RockRoll360 on WLSO.FM for great soundbites and music from the Classic Underground Radio Era.

Part 1--
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1343

Part 2--
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1345

Subscribe to RockRoll360 by Email
or find complete RockRoll360 on this Url.
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/category/rockroll360

[Bob Young]

WBCN was a huge part of my life right up until it changed and lost all the great DJ's and feeling it had had. I could barely receive it when it first came on in 1968 here in a small town right outside of Worcester, MA and was only 15 but as I got a little older and had a little better equipment I realized what a great station it was and also now realize that I will never experience an attachment to any other station like I had to that one. That was MY station, the second I got in the car, it was on, when I got home, it was on. I had WBCN T-shirts and black WBCN bumper sticker on my cars and another which is still on the wall of my old bedroom at my parent's home. WBCN was THE radio station of Eastern and Central MA during that period. I miss all the jocks: Charles, Ken, Marc, Matt, Danny the New Dissector, The Cosmic Muffin, and anyone whom I missed, the night gut's whose name I can't remember who got fired (I believe) during the strike.
I especially miss Dwayne Ingalls Glasscock, Charles's alter ego on Saturday mornings. I didn't care how late I had stayed out Friday night and what I had done, Duane was on in the morning and I was rolling on the floor. Dwayne was funnier than Howard Stern ever was and ever will be. WBCN was radio at it's finest and I hope that this documentary comes to fruition. I would love to see it.

Bob Young
Millbury, MA

[JJ Rassler]

As one who was there then, it would be an honor to, as Richard Alpert said, "Be Here Now".

My memories and assitance are offered for the good of the cause.

[Dan from Concord]

As 'BCNs first advertiser (Stop, Look and Listen in Concord) count me in for help.
Dan Beach

[Charles Laquidara]

Makes my mouth water
makes my eyes water
Go for it and let me know how I can help.
Will be in Boston first three weeks of June