WKGF Presents: The Witching Hour

WKGF Presents The Witching Hour is a fully scripted podcast series disguised as a late-night radio call-in show from the 80s, hosted by the fun-loving rock 'n roll DJ Max Thorn, straight from the corner booth at WKGF Bakersfield. Each episodes blends character-driven storytelling with a nostalgic feel, as Max opens the phone lines to listeners desperate to share their brushes with the bizarre - from haunted arcades and cursed VHS cassettes to impossible memories and vanishing children. Some calls are intense, some are absurd, some seem to hit a little too close to home, but Max wants to hear them all. Between phone calls, the broadcast sometimes shifts without warning, the frequenncy distorts, the dial turns, and you're plunged into fully produced audio-dramas that exist within the world of the show. These short form dial shifts blur the line between fiction and transmission - as if the radio is picking up something it shouldn't, giving YOU the real story! Whether you're here for creepy midnight confessions, cheap laughs, audio dramas ranging from creepy to uplifting to straight up campy, the ongoing mystery of the show itself, soaked in analog delight, or just a good ol' fashion good time, WKGF Presents The Witching Hour is for you! Season 1 premiers August 29th, 2025... In the world of the show, that date is August 25th, 1989, with new episodes following that same timeline coming every Friday night through Halloween. Each episode will feature nostalgic, in-world ads direct from 1989, but other than that, The Witching Hour will be completely AD FREE! Follow the show on Instagram @wkgf.thewitchinghour WKGF Presents The Witching Hour Season 1 is fully produced and written by Grant Fieldgrove, author of Meet Me at Jimmy's Arcade, and The Archie & Elise Mysteries. *Season 2 of The Witching Hour is currently In Production*

Coming to Your Town, August 1989!

A brief introduction to WKGF Present: The Witching Hour. The Witching Hour is a fully-scripted podcast series in the guise of an old late-night radio call in show from 1989, where rock 'n roll loving DJ, Max Thorn, takes calls from listeners about their encounters with the eerie and their brushes with the bizarre.  The show is fully produced and written by Grant Fieldgrove, author of Meet Me at Jimmy's Arcade, and The Archie and Elise Mysteries. The episodes are chock full of stories Grant has either published, scribbled down on scrap paper, or kept stored away in his brain for years.  Season One of WKGF Presents: The Witching Hour debuts on August 29th, 2025, with new episodes every Friday night through Halloween. (In the show's timeline, the date will be August 25th, 1989.)

06-20
04:29

9/19/1985 WKGF Breaking News

Breaking News from Septemeber 19th, 1985, with WKGF reporter Nora Holloway.

06-27
02:58

Fourth of July, 1989

Max Thorn and The Witching Hour - coming to YOUR airwaves this August! Enjoy this clip from Fourth of July, 1986!

07-04
09:26

August 25th, 1989

Show Notes: Series Debut It's August 25th, 1989, the moon is in its Waning Crescent phase, Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx is at the top of the charts, Little Monsters and The Adventures of Milo and Otis open in a theater near you, and The Witching Hour is hitting the airwaves nationwide! Season 1 - Episode 1 THE NIGHT BLADE Cast List: Grant Fieldgrove Riss Halbwachs Emmanuel Fernandez Annie Armstrong Follow the show on Instagram @wgkf.thewitchinghour

08-29
01:02:27

September 1st, 1989

Its Friday night, September 1st 1989. The moon is in a Waxing Crescent phase, Parenthood is the number one movie in America, and the phone lines at WKGF are open, ready for your calls! Guest starring: Savannah Gregg Haleigh Anderson Julie Fieldgrove

09-05
01:05:45

September 8th, 1989

It's Friday night, September 8th, 1989. The moon is in its First Quarter phase, Hangin' Tough by New Kids on the Block is the number one song on the radio, and Max Thorn is on the air, taking your calls. Scoopy's Ice Cream / FB's Toys / The Maze Craze This week's guest stars: Katia Hernandez Michelle Battan Beth Faulkenberry Julie Fieldgrove

09-12
39:39

September 15th, 1989

It's September 15th, 1989. The moon is full, 'Don't Wanna Lose You' by Gloria Estefan is at the top of the charts, Sea of Love and Night Game hit theaters, and Max Thorn is on the air, waiting for your call! The Midnight Cemetery Guest Starring: Riss Halbwachs Sarah Queen

09-19
32:56

September 22nd, 1989

A Funny Thing Happened to Jimmy Rosenblum It's Friday, September 22nd, 1989. The moon is in a Last Quarter phase, alternating at the top of the Billboard Chart this week is Girl I'm Gonna Miss You by Milli Vanilli, Heaven by Warrant, and If I Could Turn Back Time by Cher. Black Rain and Erik the Viking are arriving in a theater near you, and Max Thorn is on the air discussing a wild case from late last year at a popular Hollywood comedy club! Starring: Tyler Senatore as Jimmy Rosenblum Savannah Gregg as Jessica Katia Hernandez as Nurse Elizabeth Wurster as Gina Grant Fieldgrove as Everyone Else

09-26
50:49

September 29th, 1989

It's Friday night, September 29th, 1989. The moon is New, Milli Vanilli still have the top song on the radio, Johnny Handsome and River of Death are opening at a theater near you, and Max Thorn is on the air! VHS Guest Starring: Barbie Scarazzo Martinez Chelsea Dunaway Julie Fieldgrove  

10-03
48:11

October 6th, 1989

It's Friday night, October 6th, 1989. The moon is in its Waxing Crescent phase, Janet Jackson hit the top of the radio charts, An Innocent Man and Drugstore Cowboy are opening in a theater near you, and Max Thorn is on the air! Lily / Synesthesia / Parachute Guest Starring: Mila Ramos Eric Duhart Michelle Battan Melissa Melançon 

10-10
59:08

October 13, 1989

It's Friday, October 13th, 1989. The moon is full, the number one song on the radio is Miss You Much by Janet Janet, Look Who's Talking and Halloween 5 are opening in theaters, and Max Thorn is on the air, taking your calls! Transmissions / Chuckie G / Camp McClane Guest Starring: Riss Halbwachs

10-17
46:44

October 20th, 1989

Episode Notes: The penultimate episode of Season 1! It's October 20th, 1989. The moon is in its Wanning Gibbous phase, the number one movie in America is Look Who's Talking, Next of Kin and Gross Anatomy open today at a theater near you, and Max Thorn is on the air! The Hanged Man Starring: Riss Halbwach Michelle Battan Melissa Melançon  Samantha Korich Jordan Rain Mendez Deb Snitser Ledina Lily Ewald ...and as always Grant Fieldgrove  

10-24
01:01:38

October 27th, 1989 (Season Finale)

Show Notes: Season 1 finale. It's October 27th, 1989. We're only a few days away from the last Halloween of the decade! The moon is in its Waning Crescent phase, Janet Jackson is still topping the charts, Wes Craven's Shocker and Ted Dansen's Dad open in theaters today, and Max Thorn is on the air! Starring: Riss Halbwachs Andy Heller Stephanie Cordero and as always Grant Fieldgrove

10-31
29:33

JuDe

Super enjoying this show. Love the idea of the call in community being created, the "commercial breaks" are such a fun blast from the past, and it's a unique way to share scary (and some heartwarming!) stories.

10-11 Reply

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