The documentary “WBCN and the American Revolution” chronicles the founding of Boston’s groundbreaking rock station that combined late-1960s countercultural politics and music in way that influenced freeform radio to come. Directed by journalist and former WBCN employee Bill Lichtenstein, the film will premiere on GBH 2 in the Boston area. It will air nationally on PBS stations this coming fall.
We talked with Bill Lichtenstein about the documentary a year ago on episode #241 of our podcast. We discussed how even though it was a commercial station, WBCN operated more like a community station, such New York’s WBAI, which was also blazing a freeform trail of music and politics.
Ahead of the film’s broadcast debut a group of station alumni will participate in a free online panel this coming Monday, April 26: Celebrate WBCN and the American Revolution. Panelists include:
- Tommy Hadges, WBCN program director and announcer
- Charles Laquidara, WBCN announcer
- Bill Lichtenstein, producer and director of WBCN and The American Revolution
- Eric Jackson, host of GBH’s Eric in the Evening and former WBCN host
- Debbie Ullman, WBCN’s first female announcer
- Moderator: GBH midday host Henry Santoro
