In 1968, Jerry Williams returned to Boston and joined WBZ Radio, talking with and to America over the powerful 50Kw night time signal of WBZ which reaches into 38 states and Canada. WBZ's powerful night time signal reaches into 38 states. Before the Internet, this was one of the most far reaching media available to interact in real time with experts in specific fields. Jerry was expert in leading the conversation and moderating the callers, though he was far more able to entertain than most hosts of this type of program.
JW and a Watergate Caller
(4 Minutes) | Here's a dramatic caller…a Marine who is disenchanted with our political system due to Watergate. Jerry's genius is to let the caller emote and capture the sympathy/empathy of the audience. |
New Year's Eve 1970 with JW and Larry Glick
(54 Minutes) | It's an open forum night, the first night of 1970 and Jerry is in rare form. In the middle of this hour, Jerry is joined by Larry Glick and they explore the differences between Boston and Chicago. |
JW with Energy Experts
(22 Minutes) | Jerry tackled the most important topics of the day and in early 1974, America was in the midst of an oil crisis. Christopher Rand was an expert in the Middle East and their stranglehold on the world's oil supply and was the lead guest on this program. |
JW and Robert L. Green
(48 Minutes) | Robert L. Green was the fashion director for Playboy Magazine. This type of interview shows a side of Jerry Williams that is the antithesis of his usual issue-oriented, political conversations. It is fun and entertaining and informative. |
Consumer Credit, Part 1
(32 Minutes) | Jerry's guests during this hour were Addis Williams of the New England Collectors Association, Lewis Tanner of the American Collectors Association, Bill Rose, a former collection agent, and Bill Martin, an advocate for the poor. Jerry was a champion of the common man. In this broadcast, he's offering insight into the process of consumer credit and collections. |
Consumer Credit, Part 2
(25 Minutes) | See above. |
JW and George Frazier, Part 1
(12 Minutes) | George Frazier was one of the finest editorial writers in Boston for many years through the 1980's. This conversation is about TV news anchors, politicians, and other public figures and how "Middle America" reacts to them. |
JW and George Frazier, Part 2
(5 Minutes) | More of Jerry Williams and George Frazier, this segment is about George McGovern and how he became the 1972 Presidential nominee. This interview takes place the same day that the news of Thomas Eagleton's shock treatments was released and Frazier opines on why this damages the McGovern campaign beyond repair. Frazier, a colorful personality, also skewers the Herald Record American. |
JW and George Frazier, Part 3
(1 Minutes) | See above. Another minute of burying the Herald Record American. |
JW and George Frazier, Part 4
(3 Minutes) | See above. A brief bit about Frank Sinatra and why Teddy Kennedy is not the Democratic nominee. |
JW and George Frazier, Part 5
(3 Minutes) | Some of the same clip as Part 4, but with a great Channel 4 TV news commercial: the beginning of the "Eagleton" newscast. |
JW and Clark Mollinhoff
(37 Minutes) | Clark Mollinhoff was Special Council to Richard Nixon for a year in 1969-1970. He then left the White House to write best sellers about organized crime in America. This is the beginning of the second hour of this interview in 1972 on WBZ. |
JW Last WBZ Broadcast, 10/1/76
(16 Minutes) | This short segment is a rare, prepared speech during the last program that Jerry broadcasted over WBZ. Jerry's contract was not renewed by WBZ in 1976 and it would be five years before he would come back to Boston and rule the talk radio roost again. |
JW on Cleveland Circle, 1970
(70 Minutes) | In 1970, Jerry would follow Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics games on WBZ. Here's an "off the cuff" hour about the worst traffic circle in Boston at the time. |
JW with George McGovern, 1/18/72
(26 Minutes) | This interview with George McGovern occurred in the midst of the primary campaign in 1972. Jerry used this opportunity to play the famous "Vietnam Veteran" caller to his show for McGovern, who later used a tape of the call on campaign stops in 1972. |
JW with authors of "See Parris & Die", 1972, Hour 4
(63 Minutes) | This was part of a 5 hour show - the first time Jerry went past his time slot's end to continue a topic - about Marines and their treatment of recruits at Parris Island. It was a VERY controversial and arguementative session with the authors of the book and others. |
JW with authors of "See Parris & Die", 1972, Hour 5
(60 Minutes) | This is the last hour - from midnight to 1 AM - of this program. As a footnote, one of the guests was a Marine who at the time was WBZ's sales manager. An interesting and lively broadcast. |
JW with Richard Ney, 1969
(57 Minutes) | Richard Ney was an actor who left show business to concentrate on the world of investments. He was an outspoken and controversial figure on Wall Street. Just the kind of guest Jerry loved to have on his program; this one is from 1969. |
JW with Fr. John McLaughlin, 1973
(57 Minutes) | A galvanizing hour with Richard Nixon's former assistant and the editorial chief of the Manchester Union Leader, who stunned Jerry with the visciousness of his personal attacks. Very compelling listening! |
JW with Mel Allen, Art Linkletter and others
(63 Minutes) | This was one hour of a week long celebration of WBZ's 50th Anniversary. During this hour, Jerry talks with former play by play men, Mel Allen and Art Linkletter, among others. How about that! |
Where are the Black Callers?
(58 Minutes) | Jerry was always keenly aware of his audience. He wants to know where the minority callers are as he's on the topic of ________. |
Jerry and Tiny Tim
(73 Minutes) | A classic interview with this icon of the late 60s. Jerry tiptoes through the tulips with Tiny. |
Post Tiny Tim
(41 Minutes) | Jerry had just finished an interview with Tiny Tim; here are the callers and their reaction. |
Jerry Williams w/The Proposition
(79 Minutes) | This is an interesting hour - Jerry plays straight man to Fred Grandy (of Love Boat fame) as he interviews this Cambridge, MA based improv group. |
Jerry Williams w/The Proposition, Part 2
(39 Minutes) | Callers react to the spoof perpetrated by Jerry and the Proposition. |
Jerry Williams w/George McGovern
(26 Minutes) | This interview with the 1972 Presidential candidate was pre-taped for a later broadcast. |
Anti Semitism, Part 1
(33 Minutes) | Somethimes, the callers dictate the topic. On this night, it gets ugly. |
Anti Semitism, Part 2
(20 Minutes) | A continuaiton of the previous clip; as Jerry says, "They're out there." |
Anti Semitism, Part 3
(60 Minutes) | Another hour, another subtle Anti-Semetic caller. And Jerry "sniffs them out". |
Jerry Williams w/Fr. John McLaughlin
(55 Minutes) | Father John McLaughlin was a trusted member of the Nixon camp. Callers (and Jerry) challenge him on all matters Watergate. |
1976 Presidential Primary Talk
(31 Minutes) | Jerry lets the listeners know about his lack of comfortablity with Jimmy Carter, who ultimately became President in 1976. |
Late Night TV - 1969
(53 Minutes) | This "change of direction" was prompted by a caller who wanted to talk about Johhny Carson. It's interesting, entertaining, insightful, and 100% Jerry Williams. |
WBZ 50th w/Gale Gordon & Harry Vonzell
(63 Minutes) | WBZ was celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Jerry got to interview many of the greats including these two fine entertainers. |
Jerry Williams w/Hunter Thompson, Part 1
(58 Minutes) | This is a terrific interview with the late Hunter Thomspson. He was touting his new book, "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail". |
Jerry Williams w/Hunter Thompson, Part 2
(56 Minutes) | A continuation of the Hunter S. Thompson interview. |
Jerry Williams w/Richard Ney
(56 Minutes) | Richard Ney was an actor turned financial guru and Jerry would have him on the air to help us all "make a million". |
Tax Reform in Massachusetts
(75 Minutes) | A more serious show on the nuts and bolts of tax reform in Massachusetts. |
Jerry on Bank Americard
(56 Minutes) | Consumer credit was always an important topic for Jerry, who championed the average guy. Here's an hour he did on that subject. |
