Laurie Allen

Haven't had the chance to present Laurie Allen yet. These are great. Laurie's another Minnesotan, like Jim Pewter and was a LA radio star. KIIS, 1982; KNX/fm, 1983-84; KMGG, 1984-86; KPWR, 1986-94; KKGO, 2008-10. For 11 years, Laurie worked at the Bright AC format at Dial-Global (Westwood One Radio Networks) until late 2008. She does weekends at KKGO, "Go Country."

Laurie played a lot of great gold from the 70s and 80s.



Laurie Allen 1598W

Happy Birthday AFKN 1969 with The Southern Gentleman

A few weeks ago Pat said that he had a friend with some reel tape he had recorded in Korea. No idea what was on it, or even if it were still playable. Of course I'm interested. The tape gets here and I send it out to get transferred (Gabe you did a great job!). I touch it up a little and hear someone who sounds pretty good. Doesn't use his name, calls himself "The Southern Gentleman". After checking around, I get a name Tony Booth. He has a pretty decent career.

KAYC [Beaumont TX] 1966
AFKN Good Morning, Korea [Seoul, Korea] 1968
KDOK [Tyler TX] 1970
KLIF [Dallas TX] 1970
KBBC [Phoenix AZ] 1974
WFBG [Altoona PA] 1977 - Nat PD, Gilcom Corp
WLEE [Richmond VA] 1984 - GM
WHJB [Pittsburgh PA] 1990 - GM
WLEE [Richmond] 1992 - GM
WRCL [Richmond] 1999-2002
WCHV [Charlottesville VA] 2004
WBBT [Richmond] 2007-date

So from September 1969 (OJ Simpson is still in the AFL) AFKN presents "Tempo"



AFKN 1969 Tempo

If you're in Richmond hear Tony Booth on WBBT.

Don Tracy

1983 was a great year for me, I finished up at SCN and withing the year had made it onto Boston radio (part time). Don Tracy had the happy music. Whatever happened to him? Where is he now? Let's take a listen.


Don Tracy 1983

Greetings Laurie Allen

Last week I had located some Laurie Allen shows that are on their way here, so the hunt began once again, to say hi and ask if it'd be okay. She's still working in Los Angeles radio and sent some nice emails. Hear Laurie as soon as the programs arrive!

Beginnings of FEN

Jose Fritz over at 10watts has a really interesting story about the beginnings of the Far East Network and how to make a 'foxhole radio'
click here

Gene Price 1980

Just got this in, thanks Bernard!!! Gene Price with another show of magic. Gene was one of the first to say okay when I asked if we could share these memories and is still a great guy!


Gene Price 8/80

A jingley day

Thought you might like this, the next part from the Totalsound jingle package. Have you ever listened to an entire, full jingle package? I'm always left with "Who thought THAT was a good idea?" and gems that made stations sound bigger. What do you think?

Totalsound part 3

Someone saved some jingles... what do you have?

AFN Pat Boone

Because it was Europe, AFN had a lot of chances to speak with the stars. Movie stars making movies, bands doing shows. In 1981 Pat Boone chatted with Pete Pittman.







AFN Today 1981 guest: Pat Boone

Ticket scan: Pete Pittman

afrtsarchive worldwide

Daily I get the numbers of visitors and where they came from. It's an interesting perspective. I don't quite agree with the hard numbers, but the percentages should be close. Wherever you are, thanks for listening!



United States (US) 512
Germany (DE) 185
Japan (JP) 72
United Kingdom (GB) 47
Morocco (MA) 14
Netherlands (NL) 12
Australia (AU) 11
France (FR) 10
Philippines (PH) 7
Canada (CA) 6

It helps a lot when you tell a friend!! Thanks!

Roger Williams AFN

Let's take a look at the greatest hits of 1975 with AFN and Roger Williams.
Direct Download

Is this the same Roger Williams who's the PAO at AFN?

Welcome newbies!

A lot of people are seeing this blog for the first time. I hope that you enjoy it. Almost 5 years ago this webpage started to share some war stories and audio. Nothing quite like listening to what the radio was like in our glory years. There were a lot of similarities between being in the army at AFN in 1960, Navy at AFVN 1970 and Air Force at AFKN in 1980. Jim Pewter used to talk about having went to different high schools together and that's kind of what it's like. In 1943 AFRS started sending network shows and there were DJ shows at the stations. That system was largely in place until 1996 when the AFRTS-LA jocks were let go. They still provide programming, but it's largely the same satellite radio that were get at tiny stations here. The AFRTS-LA jocks were special and set a bar that I strived for. If you know someone who may appreciate this, drop them an email! Thanks for listening.

Pete Smith

Earlier, I posted part one of this Pete Smith show. This week it's time for easy listening and cool stories...

Pete Smith 947F part one

Charlie Tuna 1974

Our Breakfast Serial continues with this visit with Radio Hall of Famer Charlie Tuna. A lot of people started their duty day with Charlie. He started with us in 1972 and was there until the end of originated network programming in 1996. Visit Charlies website for updates http://www.charlietuna.com/ and be sure to say hi! This is from 1974


Charlie Tuna 1974 download
In the picture, Charlie with Loni Anderson.

BDN AFN in Austria

Blue Danube Network in Austria. BDN was initiated shortly after World War II, and the first station went into operation in Salzburg July 10, 1945.

 

The unit opened its first permanent station in Salzburg under the call letters KZCA. The Salzburg station was followed by BDN Vienna, when the capital city became the command's headquarters. Next came the Linz outley, thus creating a trio of stations spread across Austria.

The quality and originality of BDN production increased gradually and soon augmented AFRS "canned" shows. Two of the original productions were "Hospital Request Show" and "Man On The Street."

Located At Klessheim

When USFA Hq moved from Vienna to Salzburg in 1950, BDN Salzburg became the main station. In 1955 BDN was shut down as the Americans were asked to leave Austria.

Here's a variety of airchecks and interviews about BDN

Blue Danube Network Direct Download

 

Here's an Austrian webpage that celebrates BDN

Ed Tooma 1980 AFKN

It's AFKN's 60th anniversary. Ed Tooma has some memories of 1980 "I kept some of my old airchecks which are all telescoped from my days at AFKN 80-81. I was the NCOIC of Network Radio at that time and the CO was LTC Pete Barrett. I was stationed there when (we lost) Ed Masters. He was the civilian boss under the commander."


Ed Tooma AFKN 1980 Download

Wolfman Jack 1974

Just transfered another Wolfman box for the Air Force. The AFRTS shows were always mono. These are stereo, they were done at Watermark for Roger Carroll's company.

Wolfman draws emotion, when he's posted a LOT of people listen. He's the only talent I've ever received complaints about. Why do you think that is?



Wolfman Jack USAF 1974

Direct Download

Kaiserslautern Germany, May 1977

Here's another great chunk of tape. Charlie Tuna explains the command, piece of a newscast and a piece of AFN Today... Not very long but neat.





AFN Kaiserslautern May 1977 Download

Una Mejora Locutora, Maria Elena Barro

There's always been latin music on AFRTS. Chiquita during WWII and many others well into the 1990s. Mary Helen Barro held down the fort in the early 1980s. Finally I've located an aircheck. Thanks Bernard!!!





Mary Helen Barro 1980

Direct Download

AFN to drop over-the-air signal in 2 countries

Once again it's the end of an era..


WIESBADEN, Germany — Some American Forces Network viewers in Germany and Belgium could soon be seeing nothing but static when they turn on the TV.

The Army’s 5th Signal Command, which is responsible for over-the-air TV transmitters that broadcast AFN, plans to turn off over-the-air signal in the two countries starting next month. The change will affect only those who receive the broadcast via a television antenna. Viewers who own AFN decoders will not notice any change, AFN officials say.
Original story

Harry Newman

Harry had a big career in country radio in Los Angeles KBLA, 1965-66; KBBQ, 1967-68; KLAC, 1970-84. Harry retired in 1995 and was living the good life in central California.




Harry Newman 1987
Direct Download

Thanks Bernard for making this available!!!

Jim Pewter

Now that it's the 4th of July there just can't be enough BBQ music. Here's Jim Pewter from 1967. 30 years??? Never aged a day.




Jim Pewter 1967

Direct Download

Wolfman Jack

It was 15 years ago that we lost the Wolfman and that piece of a great radio heritage. Wolf, you're missed.



Wolfman for the USAF 12/74

Direct Download

Wolfman's family has put out a new oldies cd, from a list of his favorite oldies..

take a look

Adventures in Housekeeping

Last week there were some storms here in the heartland. I still haven't figured out exactly what happened but it did take out my office PC that I do updates on. It's pretty hectic getting back online.

I was going through the visitor logs from the server. There seems to be someone using a Morocco Internet provider visiting almost every day. Who are you?

If you enjoy the blog/airchecks, be sure to tell a friend!!