Let's Meet Gary!
Gary F. Frascarelli (known on radio as Gary Francis) was born on August 31, 1952 in Lowell, Mass. He attended public schools in Lowell through the 6th grade. Junior High took him to St. Margaret's School and high school was at Keith Academy. He then went on to St. Thomas College in Bloomfield, CT and Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg, NY. While in high school, Gary worked part-time at WCAP Radio in Lowell as a producer and announcer. He also worked part-time for Glennie's Ice Cream, the originator of the road-side ice cream stand concept in the 1930's.
After college, Gary went into full-time radio working at stations including: WRKO, Boston - WBZ, Boston - WMEX, Boston - WDRC, Hartford - WOTW, Nashua - WSMN, Nashua - WVBF, Boston and was the voice-over person behind many commercials and audio presentations on the east coast.
In 1973, Gary's family purchased an out-of-business ice cream shop on the Lowell/East Chelmsford boarder. The shop opened on August 9, 1973 and quickly become known for it's excellent ice cream in large portions at fair prices. The store is now in it's 33rd season.
In the late 80's, Gary went back into radio again - this time filling in for Gene Burns on WRKO's Dining Around show on Sunday mornings. Gary did this for 4 years and continued hosting the show for a time after Gene Burns left Boston. In 1993, Gary went to work at New Hampshire's WNNH, Oldies-99 as production director and mid-day disc jockey (10am - 2pm) playing the hits of the 50's - 70's.
In the late 80's, Gary also opened a store at Salisbury Beach, Mass. Over the next 5 years he expanded from just a Gary's Ice Cream shop to the operator of a candy store, t-shirt shop, temporary tattoo shop, a game of chance and was the foodservice coordinator for Shaheen Enterprises (one of the major operators of Salisbury Beach).
During his tenure at Salisbury Beach, Gary's life took a major unexpected turn back into entertainment. One night, a Salisbury Beach merchant hired a local mobile deejay to host a "record hop" type show in the center of the beach amusement area to attract people. It was fairly successful. Gary's landlord Roger Shaheen noticed this and knowing Gary's radio background asked if he could do this every now and then. Gary said sure, he had some old equipment that he had used to do "hops" in the 70's, so he gave it a try - thus was born The Saturday Night Sock Hop on Salisbury Beach.
The Saturday Night Sock Hop finished its 18th season on Salisbury Beach in September of 2007 - and will be starting its 19th season in June of 2008. The show was held at the top of the "Mall", an outdoor area surrounded by amusements, arcades, food shops and the ocean and beach. The show featured antique cars on display many weeks from groups like The Chrome Roamers, Gate City Corvette Club, NH Mustang Club, North Shore Old Car Club and more. The show attracted upwards of 1,000 people each week for the hits of the 50's, 60's and 70's. The Sock Hop also featured dance contests (Twist, Electric Slide, Chicken Dance and more), along with Trivia questions. During a 1994 Saturday Night Sock Hop a couple from Haverhill, Mass were married at the show by Gary, who had been given the power to act as justice of the peace for the day by Governor Bill Weld.
Starting in 2000, The Saturday Night Sock Hop came home to Gary's Ice Cream in Chelmsford. From May thru Labor Day the show took place in the Gary's Ice Cream parking lot and was broadcast live on WCAP radio, AM-980 every Saturday night from 7 - 10 p.m.
In 2002, Gary began a new daily talk show on WCAP Radio called Afternoon Live. In 2004, Gary left the daily co-hosting duties of Afternoon Live, but continues to be the Saturday News Anchor of WCAP, and he now is the Traffic Reporter - keeping the Merrimack Valley up-to-date with Traffic on the roadways Monday thru Friday during morning drive time.
Gary is also an active ham radio operator - KB1PNT.