Radio Heads

This is a post by JBFC Marketing Intern Stacy Zakalik

A very special part of the JBFC’s Sounds of Summer series screens August 18 with the film, I Am What I Play. From first-time director Roger King, it tells the story of the radio format in its heyday and four very important DJ’s from four big cities that changed the face of rock and roll.

These four DJ’s–Charles Laquidara (Boston), Pat O’Day (Seattle), Meg Griffin (New York City), and David Marsden (Toronto)–all brought their own personalities and quirks to the scene and helped establish a golden age of radio. This film is an in-depth look at what radio was like in its prime, before the days of corporate stations, when DJs had the power to play and say what they wanted.

Charles Laquidara, of WBCN, was one of the highest-paid radio personalities in the US at the time, but still decided to use his popularity to speak out about serious topics like the Vietnam War and Apartheid. Pat O’Day, at KJR, represented some of the biggest names in the music business, including Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles and Elvis Presley. Meg Griffin, of WRNW and later WNEW, introduced people to the music of Patti Smith, The Ramones, and Talking Heads, among others. David Marsden, of CHUM-FM and CFNY, pioneered one of the United States’ first alternative rock stations.

The film takes a close look at all four of these personalities and the impact they had on the music industry.

After the film screening at the Burns, there will be a Q&A with film subject Meg Griffin and Rita Houston, of WFUV

So, come relive the days of the golden age of radio! Tickets are on sale now!

[youtube width=”600″ height=”365″ video_id=”n8BZBT9EGLk”]