The Pop Chronicles are two radio documentary series which together "may constitute the most complete audio history of 1940s–60s popular music.

[7] Also performing interviews were Dick LaPalm, Lew Irwin, Harry Shearer, Mike Masterson, and Richard Perry.

[17] The Pop Chronicles of the 1940s was produced by John Gilliland and broadcast on KSFO while he worked there beginning in 1972[13][18][19] for a total of 24 episodes.

[20] To promote the show, KSFO "had a 40's month celebration with a dance remote and a jitterbug contest at Union Square.

[31][32] After his death, Gilliand's sister donated the Pop Chronicles tapes to the University of North Texas Music Library where they form the John Gilliland Collection.