On Jerry's third tour of duty in Boston, he was called upon to be the centerpiece of WRKO in its transition from a music station to a talk station. For 13 years (1981-1994), Jerry was Boston's number one afternoon drive talk radio host.
JW as guest on WRKO, 1982
(62 Minutes) | Harry Sobel did a psychology show as a lead in to Jerry Williams in the early days of WRKO's transition to the talk format. In this revealing hour, Jerry is interviewed on Harry's show. |
JW in Washington DC, April 1994
(54 Minutes) | This hour was broadcast live from Washington DC. Guests include Carol Nash, the Director of the National Association of Talk Show Hosts, a group Jerry helped found. Other guests: Haley Barbour, Chairman of the Republican Party, Peter Blute, then a Republican Congressman from Mass., Peter Torkildsen, 6th District Mass. Congressman (R), Bill Zellif, Congressman (R) from Jackson, NH and Charlie Bass, Congressman from NH Dist. 2(R). Remember Newt Gingrich?...and the Contract with America?... |
Grace Queen of the Cockamamies
(10 Minutes) | Grace was a regular contibutor to the Jerry Williams Show from 1957 through the end of Jerry's days at WRKO in the 1990's. Her stock in trade was that "her hearing isn't what it used to be" so she'd bring her special insights to Jerry and he would attempt to understand them. This was always "off the cuff" and at times, comic genius. This call took place during the O.J. Simpson trial. |
Grace Queen of the Cockamamies, again
(8 Minutes) | Another call from Grace, Queen of the Cockamamies to Jerry. Just try to follow along… |
JW monologue on Talk Radio
(56 Minutes) | In 1985, Jerry went 60 years back to show how Berthold Brecht, in is book "On Theater", predicted the mechanics of talk radio. This hour shows the mastery of Jerry Williams within the genre of talk radio, and it is basis of the final chapter in Jerry's biography titled, "Burning Up The Air - Jerry Williams, Talk Radio and the Life In-Between". |
JW's Pop Culture Survey, 1993, Part 1
(13 Minutes) | Jerry would occasionally look to speak with "first time callers" and younger callers who were not particularly likely to call a talk radio show dedicated to deep discussions of one topic. Here's an example of this type of program. |
JW's Pop Culture Survey, 1993, Part 2
(12 Minutes) | A continuation of a "first time caller" show on WRKO, Boston circa July 1993. |
JW's Pop Culture Survey, 1993, Part 3
(7 Minutes) | More from a "first time caller" show which Jerry would refer to as a Pop Culture Survey |
JW's Pop Culture Survey, 1993, Part 4
(5 Minutes) | The final segment of this Pop Culture Survey show on WRKO. |
JW with Roger Ebert, 1994
(13 Minutes) | Jerry knew Roger Ebert from his Chicago days in the mid 1960's. This interview took place near the end of Jerry's days on WRKO when he was shuttled off to weekends. |
JW with Teddy Kennedy, 1990
(12 Minutes) | The "Senatah" from Massachusetts sounds a bit strange during this interview with Jerry on WRKO in 1990. Perhaps he thought he should act in the style that he perceived that Jerry was acting. A strange and delightful interview! |
JW post-election, 1992, Part 1
(18 Minutes) | Just after Bill Clinton's election - and Jerry was NO Clinton fan! |
JW post-election, 1992, Part 2
(6 Minutes) | More from "the day after the night before", as Jerry would say. |
JW post-election, 1992, Part 3
(7 Minutes) | Another segment with caller reactions to Clinton's election (the first time). |
JW post-election, 1992, Part 4
(9 Minutes) | A final segment from just after Bill Clinton's victory in 1992. |
Jerry Williams Sex Survey 6-20-92, Part 1
(13 Minutes) | Twice a year, Jerry would conduct a sex survey - Women only, please, with questions from Cosmopolitan magazine. Here's a sample. |
Jerry Williams Sex Survey 6-20-92, Part 2
(18 Minutes) | More sex talk from Jerry and the women of New England. |
Jerry Williams Sex Survey 6-20-92, Part 2
(8 Minutes) | Jerry wouldn't let men respond to the survey because men lie. |
Jerry w/Chip Ford and Seatbelts, Part 1
(14 Minutes) | For a good portion of a year (1986) Jerry Williams and Chip Ford talked about the rights of drivers and the new Massachusetts mandatory seatbelt law. This show, four years after the law was repealed, was a last hurrah for that issue. |
Jerry w/Chip Ford and Seatbelts, Part 2
(8 Minutes) | A continuation of the previous clip. |
Jerry w/Chip Ford and Seatbelts, Part 3
(12 Minutes) | Buckle up for safety, Buckle up. |
Jerry w/Chip Ford and Seatbelts, Part 4
(4 Minutes) | This time, the law would not be repealed. |
