Posts
The Memorial Day weekend is here. Let's go back to a Friday in 1970 and celebrate with Chris Noel and A "Date With Chris"
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Joe Ferguson 1983
It's still one of the coolest AFRTS moves ever. In the early 80s the network reached out to jocks around the country to cut shows. Joe Ferguson was at KUPL in Portland OR and shared this with us:
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
AFKN Ken Hissong 1968
Back to Yongsan, 1968 with "Vagabond on the Go". I was there in 1976. Every picture looked exactly the same.
AFKN - Ken Hissong - 1968
By way of background.... the Air Force made me a cop after I enlisted in Jan '66. After humping around the SAC "Looking Glass" aircraft I applied to DINFOS in November '66 (hated Nebraska winters at Offutt AFB) and was accepted. Went to DINFOS in Apr. '67 and got orders for Korea and AFKN in Dec. '67. Between DINFOS graduation and transfer, I was neither fish nor fowl nor good red meat to my squadron. I was still a cop but not a cop, Weird.
After AFKN I was assigned to a PIO office at Vandenberg AFB, CA. and was discharged in May '69 due to the Nixon drawdown. I went back to the job I had before enlistment at WWJ-AM, FM-TV in Detroit.
Became a writer producer and retired in 1999 after working for all three network afils, plus Fox in Detroit as a news producer (in spite of what Capt. Joe Malloy thought at AFKN).
I could not have bought the experience I gained at AFKN for a million dollars. Besides being on the air, I operated camera, "starred" in a daily kids TV show we produced and was FM program director for Radio Vagabond.
To be honest, I envied my buddies who had gone on to college, but after I got out I was so far up on the employment chain I never looked back. As for the total experience... it was the most fun you could have without taking your clothes off.
Ken
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Charlie Tuna 1992
Andrea Bowen, who plays Teri Hatcher's daughter "Julie" on the "Desperate 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"
Joe Allison 1965
Joe Allison had a lot to do with modern Country music. He was a talent, writer, producer and record company executive. In this broadcast he talks a bit about that.
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Wolfman Jack 1980
So can you help but remember the station you first heard these on? I would have just arrived in Panama, and the Wolf howled supreme around the world...
Roger Carroll 1979
RC with Robert Wagner
I really wish I had the chance to see McCadden place in it's glory. In 1979 Cherie McQueen was there:
I was on two days worth of his program from October 1979, and maybe into November 1979. My visit home to the L.A. area took me to the McCadden Place AFRTS studios, where I was asked to appear on the shows with Roger. I was stationed at SEN/SEB Vicenza, Italy at the time
It would have been incredible to be there while these were being done.
I will go through what I have, must have been special. Here is Roger from 1979.
Mary Turner 1985
Mary Turner today
Mary Turner really rocked the house. Normally when any of the jocks got a reaction, it'd be split. The ones that were really liked would draw complaints. I never remember fielding a complaint about Mary. I remember the barracks rocking. Thank you Mary. Continued success!
Friday, September 13, 2024
Issues and Answers 1967 George Wallace
Former Alabama Governor George Wallace discusses why he may run for President in 1968
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Vance Graham 1973
KMPCs Vance Graham sees Amelia Earhart off.
Latino! A special program, presented five times a week. With Victor, at your service.
"Victor" was Vance Graham. An announcer who's career went back to WWII when he was doing news at KMPC. Later he worked at KFI. Prior to Latino, Vance did the "Bolero Time" program for AFRTS. "Vance Graham Bolero Show" was a daily feature at KTYM Los Angeles in the 1950s.
We ran TWO Latin shows at the same time? I didn't know this. The other show was Viva!
Herman Griffith 1967
Herman with Jim Pewter and Roger Carroll
Feeling brave? If you're young or old Herman Griffith is here with the Records Caravan. Bold? If you
Herman was at KGFJ in Los Angeles in the early 60s, was with us into the 1970s and not much else is known.
Tom Campbell AFRTS demo 1971
Tom Campbell is one of the AFRTS-LA friends that's been great in keeping this whole thing running.
After serving in the United States Air Force, Campbell was hired for his first radio job, at KEEL in Shreveport, La., by Al Hart, who would later become a newscaster and radio personality in San Francisco. Campbell subsequently worked in Minneapolis, Minnesota and at WONE in Dayton, Ohio before his move to KYA San Francisco in 1967.
In 1971 was one of the periodic restructurings of AFRTS. They were concerned we'd be rocking too hard.. AFRTS sent a demo...
Command Perfomance 1945
Donna Dae sings, "On The Sunny Side Of The Street." Herb Shriner is introduced as "Sgt. Shriner." Orson Welles (m. c.), Donna Dae, Larry Stevens, Herb Shriner, Ken Carpenter (announcer), Theodora Lynch
Roland Bynum 1973
Roland Bynum at KJLH
Roland Bynum has had a lengthy and successful tenure with us. His talent is undeniable, and he continues the magic in Los Angeles. Back in 1973, he hosted a show for us while also working on a show for Air Force Recruiting through Roger Carroll's company. It was all good stuff, featuring great music. That was The Roland Bynum Show.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Jim Pewter 1973
Welcome back Jim Pewter, we did go to different high schools together (I live about 5 miles from where Jim grew up). Jim was in the Army, was at AFKN and then the magic began.
Don Tracy 1993
Don earned his due in Connecticut radio, through WPOP, WNHC and WAVZ then to win in Los Angeles.
KGFJ, KDAY, KABC-TV, KNX as a sales executive, his own ad agency and editor of the R&B Report.
Chris Noel 1971
It's Friday and you have a Date With Chris. As the years went by, Chris being responsive to the troops played more and more rocking music. Such a talent.
Joe Ferguson 1983
Joe Ferguson from KUPL Portland, OR did a series of shows for us in 1983. For a while the network had jocks from all over the country doing shows for us. It was some great radio.
Pete Smith 1971
Pete Smith continued the tradition of easy listening pioneered by John Doremus, becoming a Los Angeles radio legend. His career included stints at KNX, KDAY from 1956 to 1958, KRKD from 1958 to 1961, KNOB, KPOL, and notably KMPC from 1961 to 1988. He was also part of "Music of Your Life" and worked at KJQI/KOJY from 1993 to 1995 and KGIL in 1998. At KMPC, he held the enviable position of full-time standby, making it one of the coolest gigs around.
Sunday, September 8, 2024
Ira Cook 1961
In the early 1960s, they weren't really recording at McCadden. Recordings were done at the stations, usually but it was haphazard. Here's Ira Cook recorded at KMPC in 1961.
IRA LEIGH COOK Passed away on May 15, 2007 at the age of 90. Ira was a disc jockey in Hollywood for over 25 years working at KMPC the majority of the time. He also broadcast over the Armed Forces Radio Services. He was a beloved husband of Virginia for 58 years who predeceased him.
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Charlie Tuna 1975
Charlie wrote in a few years ago to clear up a mystery I had been wondering about:
"I guess whoever tagged that photo at AFRTS didn't check the spelling on my name. The photo is one of a series of shots that world famous photographer Henry Diltz who's done a bunch of magazine covers of every music star in the world took that day at in Topanga Canyon, and I remember him commenting at the end of the session "We got lucky today, no snakes crawling around in the grass this time"! Thanks Henry:)"
Friday, September 6, 2024
Joe Allison 1965
Joe was an exceptionally successful songwriter, performer, record label executive, producer, and DJ, among other roles. He served as the voice of country music on the AFRTS program "Country Corner" during the 1960s. Joe and his music were polished and sophisticated, marking a transition from the hillbilly era. Here's a visit to the Country Corner...
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Wolfman Jack 1974
You're never gonna believe this. Wolfman has heard about what could be your perfect career opportunity, in the US Air Force!
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