1945 Vox Pop visit at AFRS

1945.  The war is ending and CBS gives us a tour of AFRS "The World's Largest Radio Network" on the Vox Pop show.  Fabulous history.  Thanks Jilly for sharing this.

Vox Pop 1945 visit at AFRS

AFN Latin Tempo

1980 was HOW many years ago?  Anyone know who was doing the Spanish show on AFN in 1980?  Good stuff.

AFN Latin Tempo 1980

Wolfman 1974

Ready to howl?  Time for another visit with the Wolfman for the Air Force.

Wolfman Jack -1974

AFPN The Hitmakers - 1959

The Hitmakers continue with 1959.  Pictures from space, Dalai Lama leaves Tibet and Happy Birthday Barbie.  The music gets better and better.

AFPN The Hitmakers - 1959

March 23rd AFVN anniversary

This day in history -- thirty nine years ago on March 23, 1973 AFVN signed off the air at midnight, ending years of radio and television service to the American fighting man and woman -- "From the Delta to the DMZ".

The American Forces Vietnam Network -- and its predecessor - Armed Forces Radio Service -- had seven men killed in action during the war. Revisit them now and our other honored dead at http://www.reocities.com/afvn/taps.html

Bob Morecook
AFVN Yahoo List Moderator

AFN Craig Miller interviews Geordie

Sometimes I wish I went to AFN.  The stars did tour and there were lots of interviews.  In the 1970s Craig Miller did a lot of them, and did them well.  Here he is with Geordie.

AFN Craig Miller interviews Geordie 1974

Lajes Field

Tony Mollica at Lajes Field

Thom -

Thanks for the fantastic site covering AFRTS. It's so nice to hear the recordings and the program hosts. For example Roger Carroll, who at Christmas time introduced himself as Roger Records” who played "carol’s"; Herman Griffith who started his show with a BIG EXPLOSION. If I remember correctly he ended his show with "Well the clock on the wall says that's all for excitement in sound and musical motion". Nice memories for me.

I always search any AFRTS Site for information or pictures of CSB83 Radio, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal. I was there during the era of mid 1967 to December 1968. I very seldom see anything for CSB83 covering that time frame. In an effort to generate interest and hoping someone else will send in information of CSB83 in that period here is a 1968 picture of me working the 4 to Midnight shift. Unfortunately I have no other pictures to pass on.

My first overseas air base was Clark AFB in the Philippines. I went there assigned as an Air Policeman. I had previous radio experience so within two days I was knocking on the door of the "American Forces Philippines Network" (AFPN) and shortly I was working there as a volunteer. I put in many hours on the radio and eventually earned a secondary AFSC (A job classification number similar to the Army MOS) for Broadcasting. After 18 Months I left the Philippines for Pane Field, Washington State, as an Air Policeman. However while there AFRTS advertised for volunteers to attend their Broadcasting school. I cut an audition tape and answered questions. My application was submitted. In about a month I received information I was selected but was not assigned to the school. I was sent directly to a radio station. That's when I went to CSB83 Radio.

Thanks again for the wonderful Internet site. I hope you can use this picture and if you have any questions about CSB83 Radio I will be pleased to answer them.

Tony
AFPN 1965 to 1967
CSB83 1967 to 1968
(Photo enclosed)

The Hitmakers 1958

And on the radio, some really great music.  AFPN continues "The Hitmakers"

AFPN Hitmakers 1958

Jazz Beat 1986

Jazz was an important part of the network, even into the 1980s.  Laura Lee kept it alive with The Jazz Beat.

Jazz Beat - Laura Lee 1986

Bob Kingsley 1975

Bob Kingsley visits SCN in the Panama Canal Zone 1972 (photo: Gerry Fry)

Somehow it still amazes me.  Bob Kingsley was a really good rock jock.  He was one of us.  He'd done a tour at our Iceland station.  Bob later went on to be the voice of country music on American Country Countdown.  Bob is still doing the country countdown, different company different different name "Country Top 40" http://www.ct40.com, same magic.  In 1975, it was time to rock.

Bob Kingsley 1975

Charles Goyette remembers that picture " I was also more than a little surprised to see myself on the page in a photo with Bob Kingsley at SCN.  That was in summer of ’72.  Also in the shot are LtC. Dan Maguire (our CO and a very fine man), Tom Colvin, John Fisher, Bob Rupp, Paul Warhanik, and Phil Lane.  I’m surprised the talented Lee McGowan wasn’t in that shot.

We were good hosts to Kingsley during his visit to Panama.  And some time later Bob was an equally good host when Lee, Gerry Fry, and I visited him in L.A.  As I recall, Robert Fuller, the actor in TV westerns like Wagon Train, was Bob’s brother-in-law.  Among other things, Bob took us on the lot for a shooting of the series Emergency that Fuller was starring in. 

Great seeing that picture again!"

AFN Lunchbox - Lou Biel

Time for another visit at the AFN Lunchbox

AFN Lunchbox - Lou Biel - August 1980

Country Express - Bob Tate 1968

Before Gene Price was doing the Country Army recuiting show, SGT Bob Tate was recording it over at Ft Meade.  Any more information about the Sergeant?  Take a listen:

USAREC Country Express - Bob Tate

Charles Goyette had some more information " After listening to him, I pretty sure he was an instructor at DINFOS when I was there in the spring of 1970.  I remembered him as being quite capable as both a broadcaster and instructor."

Adventures in blogging

My old workstation gave up this week.  There was a bunch of material that hadn't been backed up.  Managed to get it off the harddrive and dodged another bullet. 

On a lighter note (whew).  I have set up a page/group/whatever over at facebook.  It'll be the fastest way to find out what's going on and say hi to some friends.  Look for "afrtsarchive.blogspot.com" in the searchbar.

The Hitmakers 1957

The Drifters

Our journey through almost 20 years of America's top music gets us up to 1957. From Marty Robbins to Paul Anka to The Drifters, the music is starting to get good.

AFPN The Hitmakers - 1957

Thanks again to Richard and Clark AB for making it happen

AFTN 1971 "The Torch Is Passed"

The 1971 crew put this together to celebrate their tour.  Take a listen

1971 AFTN tape

AFRTS 20th Anniversary 1962 with Glenn Ford

Reykjavík Redux part two

Jim Rourke found some scans from the base paper which are great!

Charlie Tuna 1992

Andrea Bowen, who plays Teri Hatcher's daughter "Julie" on the "Despevistrate Housewives" TV series, joins Charlie with the latest scoop from Wisteria Lane (photo from charlietuna.com)

Time for another visit with Charlie.  He worked at every great station in Los Angeles during the week, but weekly we had our "Breakfast Serial"

Charlie Tuna 1992

If you haven't checked in at Charlie's website you're missing a treat http://www.charlietuna.com

Your calls are welcome!

Your phonecalls are more than welcome!  612-356-2377

If you leave a name and number I will call you back.

Mary Turner 1992

Mary Turner

It was a scandal.  In the early 80s when the network started the Mary Turner show.  Loud Rock and Roll.  What will the generals say?  We'll find out.  Mary brought her KMET show to the world and it was a very good thing.

Mary Turner 1992

Charlie Tuna 1981

Charlie Tuna

I sure hope that you've visited Charlie's website Click here! It's a really interesting compilation of the the things that make a great morning show.

This week we lost singer Davy Jones.  He was working on a project with Charlie for the kids.

Take a look

Charlie Tuna 1981

LaRita Shelby

Larita Shelby

Last week, LaRita was invited to a special luncheon at AFRTS-BC to celebrate Black History Month.  She had had a Powerpoint presentation about her years with the network and is sharing that with us.

LaRita Shelby

If you don't have a Powerpoint viewer (or Office installed):

Powerpoint viewer

Be sure to visit her blog:  http://bealadyfirst.wordpress.com/

Hello and welcome! I am LaRita “Jazzy Rita” Shelby, the co-writer of the new song Mr. President’s Girl and the creator of the Lady FIRST campaign. This a good will mission to show love & support for our First Lady Michelle Obama. Kicking this off in Women’s History Month is the perfect time because the song also celebrates this defining moment in history, and promotes comeraderie among women. We seek to empower women to be first in their own lives and to encourage them to continue to be (FIRST) Fascinating, Intelligent, Realistic, Stylish and Tenacious in all that they do.

AFKN Taegu 1971, pictures from Bob Maddox

SSG Bob Britton NCOIC

Radio Kilroy

Bob Maddox

Nate Oesser

Robert Zimmerman

ssg bob britton, ncoic radio kilroy 1970-71 afternoons, also  sp4 nate oeser, early evening,  morning man sp5 robert zimmerman,  afkn antenna, afkn log page,  two pictures of "Lord Byron of Stratcom", (sp4 b maddox) evening jock.

AFRS Turkey - Ed Autry

SGT Ed Autry 1981, cueing up a record at TUSLOG DET 124, Incirlik (pronounced IN-jur-lick) Air Base, Turkey, European Broadcasting Squadron.

Hitmakers - 1956

Our AFPN tribute to great music continues with 1956

AFPN Hitmakers 1956