So, a question for non-Bostonian USAans

[xiphias]

So, as many of you know, today is the United States Thanksgiving.

Here in Massachusetts, radio stations play Arlo Guthrie's song "Alice's Restaurant" at noon, because it's a Thanksgiving song.

It's set in Stockbridge, at the other end of the Mass Pike, and is therefore a Bostonian anti-war Thanksgiving song.

Is this a Boston/Massachusetts/New England thing, or is this done in other parts of the country, too?

You can get anything you want
At Alice's Restaurant. ('ceptin' Alice)

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

WNEW-FM in NYC, the local classic-rock station, used to do this, too, in the 1980s. That's where I first heard the song.

[redbird]

If I'd thought of it at the time, I'd have tuned in the web stream from WFUV and see if they've picked up the tradition (since Pete Fornatale, Dennis Elsas, and Vin Scelza are all working there now).

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

wow, it's been a *very* long time since I've heard those names.

[redbird]

It was something of a surprise to turn the station on and hear Dennis Elsas and Pete Fornatale. (I had come across them in the first place because womzilla wanted to listen to Idiot's Delight one Saturday when he and I were up in Pleasantville together.)

[mattblum.livejournal.com]

I've heard the song on the radio here in the DC area on Thanksgiving several times, though I don't recall it being played at any particular time.

[hangedwoman.livejournal.com]

I seem to recall them playing it on the radio on Thanksgiving when I was younger, but I don't listen to the radio much these days. Especially since my stereo receiver died a couple of years ago, and nothing else I own gets decent reception.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

At least one station in San Diego played it when I was a teenager.

[jehanna.livejournal.com]

I'm not familiar with this being done in PA, but I'll ask Ari. She'll know.

[jehanna.livejournal.com]

Ari says they do.

[gilmoure.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they play it in the Bay Area (Tampa, that is), on the classic rock stations. Seems like they show it on some movie channel as well.

[delerium69.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's played here as well. We already heard it today. And I've heard it in Cleveland as well.

Just waitin' for it to come around on the guitar...

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

I haven't been listening to the radio today, but now I have that song stuck in my head.

[kyra-ojosverdes.livejournal.com]

Z100 (KZOQ) in Missoula plays it at noon and 5pm.

[querldox.livejournal.com]

KFOG in the SF Bay area plays it (and followed it up one year with I Wanna Be Sedated, which struck me as another T-day song given tryoptrin (sp?) turkey effects and the lyrics about having to get somewhere). Way back when, stations in the NC Triangle played it.

[felis-sidus.livejournal.com]

If enough radio stations do this, they may think it's a movement.

Lyrics for the uninitiated, if any exist.

WFUV

[aldon.livejournal.com]

We listened to it at noon on WFUV out of New York City, so I guess felis_sidus is right, it is a movement

[jjblum.livejournal.com]

Well I thought it was just a New England thing. I wish I knew they played it here in DC..Thanks for telling me dear! It's a part of my Thanksgiving tradition in MA that I miss!

[burgundy.livejournal.com]

Two of the Austin stations played it at noon today.

[paper-crystals.livejournal.com]

It is done in upstate.

[momomom.livejournal.com]

Plays here in DC.

[florafloraflora.livejournal.com]

I heard it once driving through Charleston, WV on Thanksgiving Day.

[eeka13.livejournal.com]

Stations in Seattle, Minneapolis, and Walla Walla played it when I was a kid.

[bluepapercup]

I live in SF and they play it here! It was on at noon, but I just missed it 'cause I got out of the car at 11:45.

[ron_newman]

The Somerville Theatre in Davis Square used to show the movie Alice's Restaurant on Thanksgiving Day. That was a long time ago, probably back in the 1980s when Garen Daly still ran the place.