Dick Sinclair - 1957

You can still find the occasional polka radio show, but in the 1950s and 1960s Dick Sinclair was the voice of polka, with syndicated radio and television shows everywhere.  Dick was also one of the first AFRS jocks, during WWII at the Guadalcanal station.

Polka Party - 1957

More Dick Sinclair

Charlie Williams - 1972

Charlie Williams didn't host the show for very long but he brought a big piece of rural America worldwide.  Charlie had the show between Joe Allison and Gene Price.

Country Corner - 1972

More Charlie Williams

Rebel Randall - 1951

Rebel Randall (l) with Shemp

Rebel was in several Three Stooges shorts.

Arabian Nights (1942), Booby Dupes (1945), Where The Pest Begins (1945) Society Mugs (1946).

By 1951 she was doing Jukebox USA for our Korean War era troops on AFRS.

Jukebox USA - 1951

More Rebel Randall

Charlie Tuna - 1991

So where were you in 1991?

The first Gulf War, Soviet Union crumbles, Princess Diana and Prince Charles split up. Topicality was a big piece of the Charlie Tuna show:

Charlie Tuna 1991

Get your breakfast serial at:

http://www.charlietuna.com/

More Charlie Tuna

Chris Noel - 1969

Chris Noel was at Rolling Thunder for Memorial Day.  A life of service.  In 1969 that service was with AFRTS.

Date With Chris - 1969

More Memories with Chris Noel

Roger Carroll - 1972

Roger is still playing for the troops.  About a year ago he sent a bundle of his shows.  We've heard a lot of them since.  A few weeks ago he found another stack and sent them along.  I'll always be grateful.  Here's a memory...

Roger Carroll - 1972

More Roger Carroll

Gene Price - 1974

I had a break in service, went to Panama, was waiting in the temporary barracks.  Turned on the radio and there was Gene.  Life was gonna be pretty good.

Gene Price 1974

More Gene Price

Joe Allison - 1971

Joe Allison did it all.  Songwriter, Producer, Jock and more.  It was 1971 and a Monday.  Joe's in the Country Corner.

Country Corner - 1971

More Country Corner

Wolfman Jack - 1976

Wolfman did some great shows for Air Force Recruiting and Roger Carroll's company.  I ended up running these too.. 

Wolfman Jack - 1976

More Wolfman Jack

Hey Don!

There's a fellow with a name of dont1961 over at www.archive.org who has made a lot of early AFRS available.  Take a look:

Dont1961 collection over at archive.org

Don, I've got some questions about some of the great things you've posted.  Thanks!

Email Thom

Roland Bynum - 1982

This would have been a disk that I would have played way back when.  Roland Bynum soulin through a Wednesday in 1982... Good Bynum!

Roland Bynum - 1982

More Roland Bynum

Coast Guard on Parade - 1967

This kind of puzzles me.  I understand running Navy recruiting shows on a ship.  I understand any of the services running recruiting shows for their primary command.  This is a nice show.  WTIC in Hartford produced it at the Coast Guard Academy.  It went out on AFRTS labels to all stations.

Coast Guard On Parade - 1967

Jim Ameche - 1961

Jim Ameche had two shows in the early 1960s, The Jim Ameche Show and Pop Concert.  Both programs had the best in orchestral music.

Jim was one of the first to figure out how to successfully syndicate a DJ show.

Jim Ameche Pop Concert- 1961

More Jim Ameche

Thank you Roger Carroll!!!

Roger Carroll sent over another wonderful bundle of memories.  

More great radio, coming up!

Chris Noel - 1969

Chris Noel was the voice of home to a lot of troops, halfway around the world and counting the days back to the real world.It's a Wednesday in 1969 with Date With Chris.  Please help fellow vets by making a contribution to Chris's "Vetsville Cease Fire House" Click here...

Chris Noel - 1969

More Chris Noel

Panorama - 1961

Panorama was produced at AFN for AFRTS by Sp Mickey Klein.  It sounds suspiciously like Weekend World..

Panorama - 1961

Gene Price - 1974

Welcome back Mr. Pierce.  So... I can go in the Army, work in Public Affairs AND go to Panama?  There is no downside.  Thank you, Gene!

Gene Price - 1974

More from Gene Price

Ira Cook - 1965

Ira Cook was part of the KMPC that brought so many great shows to AFRTS.  On this 1965 show Ira has the New Christy Minstrels and more.

Ira Cook - 1965

More Ira Cook

Roger Carroll - Lawrence Welk Radio show

In the 1980s, our friend Roger Carroll was announcing the Lawrence Welk Radio Show, take a listen:

Charlie Williams - 1972

It's Friday with KFOX's Charlie Williams and the Country Corner.

Country Corner - 1972

More Charlie WIlliams

Bill Finch - 1968

In the late 50s, Bill Finch was producing a bigband show in Colorado Springs. By the late 60s The "Finch Bandwagon" was on AFRTS, with a mixture of the Big Bands and smooth jazz. 

Finch Bandwagon - 1968 More Finch Bandwagon

Shilling for Luck - 1944

In 1944 the troops were curious about the British.  AFRS assembled an all star cast to tell a storyin "Shilling for Luck",  Gene Kelly is a sailor from Liverpool, Ohio.  He meets a sailor from Liverpool, England. They compare the Liverpool's. Multiple stories are tied together with a one shilling coin. The coin is passed to Gene's grandson who gives it to Shirley Temple, who also learns about the British. The all-star cast focusses on the similarities of our cultures.

Shilling for Luck - 1944

More Old Time Radio

Rebel Randall - 1951

Rebel Randall has a fairly short run during the Korean War, but was popular.  At the time they thought her a little too sultry, but it was the biggest mail getter at AFRTS.  Great show.

Jukebox USA - 1951

More Rebel Randall

AFPN Hitmakers - Complete

Richard Clemmons AFPN 

"Hitmakers" was completed at the Far East Network Philippines in 1975 and required 20 hours to air. We realized that “19 Years of Hit Music” had outdated itself as soon as it aired, but the response to the show was an overwhelming approval.  I began immediately writing “The Hitmakers” to replace it. The first task was writing intros and closes and coming up with the "sound" that would be the program. The opening explosion is from an AFRTS sound effects recording of an atomic bomb.  The deep voice saying “The Hitmakers”  is mine, slowed down by wrapping the tape deck capstan with scotch tape until the desired effect was reached. Next, obviously, are the Rolling Stones “It’s Only Rock & Roll.” The open  ; close announcer is Vic Pinzon followed by Bill Haley  ; The Comets “Rock Around The Clock,” kept from “19 Years” as a recognizable tie to the previous show.  The voice of the song intros and outros is mine. The theme music for “World Headline News  ; Sports” is “Baroque Hoedown” from the LP “Kaleidoscopic Vibrations” by Perrey Kingsley. The Announcer introducing the news and sports is Steve Bagget (Marine Sergeant), somehow left out of the closing credits, I really don’t know why. The news inserts were written by Sandy Dellar, Air Force dependent wife, voiced by Jim Estep. Sports inserts were written by Rich Yanku and voiced by Charlie Kemplin. Gene Pickett was still the radio supervisor.  The closing theme is “Storefront Lawyers” by the Ventures. Originally broadcast on AFPN (FEN Philippines) January 1, 1975 it is revived now for AFRTS Archive.  Thank you Thom Whetston.  Your dedication to keeping alive the incredible efforts of AFRTS alumni worldwide is deeply appreciated.  I hope everyone enjoys hearing “The Hitmakers” now as much as I, in retrospect,  and everyone involved in the production, enjoyed creating it.

Richard Clemons
AFPN Subic Bay    1970-1972
AFPN San Miguel 1972-1973
AFPN (FEN) Clark 1974-1977

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1955

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1956

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1957

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1958

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1959

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1960

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1961

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1962

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1963

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1964

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1965

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1966

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1967

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1968

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1969

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1970

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1971

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1972

AFPN 19 Years of Hit Music - 1973

Jerry Lewine was vacationing in the Philippines in 2011 and went looking for Clark AFB

Hi Thom,

It took a lot of scouring around what used to be Clark Air Base to find where AFPN was. Unfortunately there is nothing left at all. According to what I was able to find out, all the buildings were destroyed by the eruption on Mt Pinatubo and when the ash was cleared, so were the remains of the AM/FM/TV station. There is even a building on top of where the tower used to be. Attached is a shot I took the other day of what is on the site now. So much for my trip down memory lane…

Jerry

Chris Noel - 1967

Hard to think of such a thing as a personality that left such an impact after being off the air for such a long time.  Chris stopped doing the show in the early 70s and still has so many fans that remember like it was yesterday.  

Date With Chris - 1967

More from Chris Noel

Roger Carroll - 1969

It's another visit with RC on a Friday get together.  It swings and Frank Sinatra has more of "A Man And His Music".

Roger Carroll - 1969

More Roger Carroll

Jubilee - 1944

The program originates from New York City. The first tune is, "Jumping In A Gin Mill." Colonel Stoopnagel appears. The announcer mentions Una Mae Carlisle as being in the cast, but she is not heard. Claude Hopkins and His Orchestra, Dorothy Donagan Mel Allen (announcer), Pigmeat Markham, Ralph Cooper (m. c.), The Stuff Smith Trio. 

Jubilee - 1944

More Jubilee

Rocketing Rhythms - 1961

Jack Brown is back with Rocketing Rhythms. our 1961 show with tunes for the kids.  Today Jack has the top hits and visit with Kay Starr...

Rocketing Rhythms - 1961

More Rocketing Rhythms

Did you save stuff?

We now have probably half of the W library 1964-80.  Some great listening and several nice program disks 1971-72.  If you do have some of these packed away please let me know.  If you saved any airchecks, they're always welcome.

Thanks!!

Thom

Email Thom

Johnny Bond - 1961

In 1961 the shows came to the network usually recorded somewhere else.  Generally this worked well but I'm very curious where these were actually recorded.   Johnny is great, the music is wonderful.

Johnny Bond - 1961

More from Johnny Bond

Herman Griffith - 1968

This was nice, last year I had done some Herman Griffith transfers that didn't turn out as well as I would have liked.  I couldn't locate the cd to redo it.  Well,  Garry had the shows and sent them... nice..

Herman Griffith - 1968

Wolfman Jack - 1976

A good party would sound a lot like Wolfman Jack.  It's the weekend...

Wolfman Jack - 1976

More Wolfman Jack

Charlie Williams - Country Corner - 1972

After Joe Allison left the Country Corner in the early 70s the show went to KFOXs Charlie Williams.  In 1972 Charlie moved to Nashville, managed Bobby Bare and did a talk show on WSIX.  Charlie passed away in 1995.

Charlie Williams in 1990

It was Charlie who suggested to Gene Price that he get down to McCadden Ave and try for the gig..

Charlie Williams - 1972

More from Charlie Williams

Adventures In Good Music - 1972

Karl Haas was perfect for AFRTS.  He made classical music accessible for young troops that had never heard such a thing and gave a gift.  He did the same thing on Detroit radio for decades.  His show was syndicated all over the country and is probably still being aired somewhere.

Adventures in Good Music - 1972

More Adventures In Good Music

Jay Jasin - 1971

Jay with Joi Lancing

So sometimes it's still a surprise.  I just received a bundle of disks and in there was "Jasin Street".  Never heard of it.  Jay Jasin (Herman Jasinski) started jocking in the late 40s, mostly through the Midwest.  By 1962 he had teamed with Jim Ameche to syndicate a jazz show.  Around then he started acting and was in Spinout and Hillbillies in A Haunted House. In 1971 it was traditional jazz on AFRTS.  We lost Jay in 1984.

Jasin Street - 1971

More Jasin Street

Chris Noel - 1969

While Chris was doing the show, she did a lot of tours to see the troops.  They look back wistfully...

Chris Noel - 1969

More Chris Noel

AFN Berlin - Mark White 1980-83

We lost Mark White last year.  Mark did well over three decades in Berlin keeping the highlight on the big bands.  After he retired he stayed in Germany and was a legend.

AFN Mark White 1980-83

More Mark White

Roger Carroll - 1969

Young Roger Carroll

Roger was an important part of AFRTS for well over three decades, it was more than playing records.  Here's some 1969 gold..

Roger Carroll - 1969

More Roger Carroll

Al "Jazzbo" Collins - 1969

Jazzbo was the swinging jock on WNEW New York.  Hard to explain, but in 1969 he brought the Purple Grotto to AFRTS.

Purple Grotto - 1969

More from the Purple Grotto

Jimmy Wakely - 1969

Jimmy Wakely was a huge star in the movies, on US radio, television even the Grand Old Opry and we were lucky to have him on AFRTS.  Here's a 1969 visit.

Jimmy Wakely - 1969

More Jimmy Wakely

Spectrum USA - 1971

In 1971 the Marine Reserves presented the stories of the presidents in Spectrum USA.  

Dick Stark was a child actor in silent movies.  He worked in radio from the 1930s-60s.  He was on active duty in the Pacific during WWII and went back on active duty to Vietnam in 1966, later running the NY PAO shop for the Marines until retiring in 1973.  Today we have the story of Grover Cleveland.

Spectrum USA - 1971

More Spectrum USA

Sports Interviews - 1943

Joe Hassle is back with Sports Interviews talking with early 1900s baseball legend Honus Wagner.

Sports Interviews - 1943

More sports

Tom Campbell - 1971

Tom Campbell is back with what's happening stateside.  Today we see what's going on in Honolulu from KPOI.

Tom Campbell - 1971

More Tom Campbell

Joe Allison - 1969

Songwriter, producer and a wonderful talent.  Must be zero dark thirty and time for Joe Allison and the Country Corner.

Country Corner - 1969

More Joe Allison