Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Jubilee - 1942


Here's the first Jubilee show.  I've never heard one of these that didn't have amazing music.

Rex Ingram is the host.  The program was recorded at a small studio in Hollywood in October 1942 with Duke Ellington, Ethyl Waters and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson
Ethyl Waters and Duke Ellington with Vicente Minnelli during the filming of Cabin In The Sky.  Thank you Kurt!



Monday, December 29, 2014

Jim Ameche - 1965





Jim Ameche has another hour of the most beautiful music of the best orchestras from around the world.


Sunday, December 21, 2014

Wake Island - 1953




Hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Wake Island was also assaulted.  In 1953 the bodies were re-interred in Hawaii at the National Cemetery at Punchbowl.  Lt Edward Fernandez explains. 



The families were sent a recording of the ceremony.  This is from one of those sets.

Wake Island ceremony - 1953

Bonnie Gilbert has been researching Wake Island civilian contractors and Marines Click Here

Spectrum USA - 1971



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.

In 1971 LTC Stark was producing a show for Marine reserve recruiting.  It's pretty good.


Negro College Fund - 1961

In the 50s and 60s the United Negro College Fund presented a series of choirs from member universities of the fund.  This time, the choir of St. Augustine's College. The series was run on the ABC radio network, hosted by Metropolitan Opera host Milton Cross.  AFRTS picked up the series and ran it worldwide.



Thursday, December 18, 2014

Spread the word

If you like what you see, I'm pretty sure you have a friend that would like this website.  An email, Facebook share, Twitter link they all help.

If you haven't already, you should be on the mailing list.  About once a week get updates of what has been added. afrts@live.com

There were a lot of us at the stations, listening in the barracks or people that lived in the host countries.  We shared this then.

Tell a friend,

Other ways to help

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Downbeat 1943


In 1943 the military hadn't totally decided how to do broadcasting but there were a lot of entertainers that would perform for the troops.  Initially boxes of 12" were sent out.  One of the most popular programs was "Sound Off".  Here's bandleader Xavier Cugat.



Thursday, December 11, 2014

AFN - Rik Delisle - 1977

Another great memory from Hans Knot, here's Rik Delisle with "Old Gold Retold".  Rik had done AFRTS hitches with Thailand and Portugal. By 1977 it was AFN Berlin.  By 1984 he was at RIAS and made a lot of great radio.



 "I'm Air Force Sergeant Rik de Lisle - reminding you, did Rock'n Roll is just a state of mind".


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Independent Radio Station - 1951

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So how did they show the overseas troops what radio can do?  Films like this. A behind the scenes look at WMCA, New York.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Carl Reese Obituary - 2014


Carl Reese was a 1940s AFN talent that went on to be a legend in Cleveland

Carl Reese - obituary

Brian Hartzell: I think I met Carl Reese back in the late-60s.  Living in Cleveland at the time.  I was looking for advice on a broadcast career just prior to heading off to DINFOS.    

Christmas in Vietnam - Bruce Blackburn AFVN 1971



I couldn't find a biography for Bruce, he may have went to KLAW after his hitch.  But it's early morning Christmas 1971, recorded in DaNang and time for the Orient Express.


Thursday, December 4, 2014

Country Style USA -1961

Pee Wee King

In 1961, we were (largely) between wars but the Army recruiting command was doing it's job.  Country Style USA had new recordings of top country talent.  Sergeant Tom Shaw was our host.  The program went to hundreds of US stations and AFRTS.  Here's a visit with Pee Wee King and Del Woods.



Breakfast Club - 1961

Don McNeil was a Chicago tradition with the "Breakfast Club".  The show went on in 1933 and ran until 1968.  AFRTS ran it most years from WWII until the end.

Don McNeil with comedian Sam Cowling


All around the table, it's 1961...

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Sugar Report - 1946


Joan Edwards has a full plate of the Sugar Report.  The program touched on the news from the entertainment world and played clips from current shows.  We only have part one.  Each of these shows are unique.  They were one of a kind disks for one time airings on the AFRS shortwave station.  The closest I can come to dating this is Wayne King started up his post-war band in 1946.



Friday, November 28, 2014

AFN SHAPE Bob Switcher 1977

It's a summery night in Soesterberg, 1977 and Bob Switcher has Music Off The Record..
Thanks Hans Knot!!



AFN SHAPE - Bob Switcher 1977

Hans says that this is really Bill Swisher.  This sounds like the makings of a good story...




Saturday, November 22, 2014

American Country Countdown - 1977



Before Bob Kingsley took over ACC it was hosted by Don Bowman on this special, Johnny Cash is the guest host on this 1977 visit.




Monday, November 17, 2014

Jon Rivers - Countdown Magazine 1990

Jon Rivers was a Marine in Vietnam that came back and worked for a ton of great stations.  His radio ministry was heard everywhere on  “POWERLINE” , “COUNTRY CROSSROADS, “MASTER CONTROL”, “THE BAPTIST HOUR”, “GOSPEL AMERICA”  and “TWENTY THE COUNTDOWN MAGAZINE”.

Jubilee - 1943

I certainly wish I had both parts of this.  In 1943, Art Tatum, Billie Holiday, Red Allen and an All-Star cast were part of Jubilee.

Los Angeles 10/April/1943  Henry Allen Sextet
Henry ‘Red’ Allen(t), J.C. Higginbotham (tb), Don Stovall (as), Alfred Williams(p), Benny Moten (b), Alvin Burroughs (d), Billie Holiday (v)
NBC Studios in Hollywood, and dubbed March 22. The broadcast took place on April 9 or 10, as they were normally transmitted on a Friday night.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Join us on facebook

The afrtsarchive.blogspot.com facebook page is great way to stay updated and share your memories and requests.  click here and be sure to "like" the page.

Thanks!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Thanks John!

Longtime friend of the blog John just made a contribution. A bunch of really great early 60s shows will be finding a new home. I'd like to say thank you!  When you click the "Donate Via PayPal" button it does two things, it allows us to get better things.  Many times thing come up and I'm just a few dollars short of being able to make it happen. It says that this is important to you.  You never have to but I'm very grateful if you choose to do it.  Thank you for visiting!

We Who Fight



This was a great show from WWII with the troops telling their stories.  I've located a few partial shows, recently transferred.  Take a listen:


Monday, November 10, 2014

Chris Noel 1968


Chris Noel was very important to Vietnam era troops.  Her show A Date With Chris was the girl next door to thousands.  Today Chris still serves with her shelter for homeless veterans.  She needs you help, please click here.

But here's how it sounded in 1968


Army Hour - 1970

The Army Hour had a long run.  PAO shops all over the country getting the message out.  Aired on hundreds of stations in the US, most of the time it was also aired on AFRTS.




Top Pops


Between 1962 and 1975 the weeks new hits would ship on special albums, the "TPs" would have this weeks 45s in a handy place.  These 650 albums were a wonderful, easy to find oldies library.  After 1975 they made similar disks but they'd be filed at random in the regular library.  

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Jill's All Time Jukebox 1944


Martha Wilkerson did the GI Jive show.  Starting near the end of the war was the "All-Time Jukebox", memories with GI Jill.  Here's a 1944 visit



Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Invitation to Learning - 1950

"The Voice Of Information and Education", over the years the network took that very seriously.  Part of that was being done by stateside radio and part of it was an obligation to the troops.  In 1950 "Invitation To Learning" had a panel discussion about the writer Cicero.  I wonder if such things will ever find a mass audience again.  The program continued well into the 1960s


Walt "Baby" Love - the Countdown - 1990


Walt "Baby" Love has spent almost four decades in radio.  In 1990 he was doing "The Countdown", which ran every weekend.


While still making great radio, Walt practices his ministry, visit his website:


AFVN PSAs 1970-71


Duke Miller at AFVN

We pause for Command Information.  These are from 1970-71.  Primary voices are Doug Jennings, Phil Davies and Bob Kohtz


FEN - Frank Knauer 1980


Chip Barris recorded this on Kedena AB. Frank Knauer was running the AFKN Taegu station 1977.  This is the second hour of an East Of Midnight that was posted a few years ago.



Friday, October 31, 2014

Chris Noel - 1969


Chris Noel has your Date With Chris.  It's 1969, a Thursday show and the weekend starts a lot nicer.



Monday, October 27, 2014

Robert Q Lewis - 1958


By the late 1950s network radio was pretty much done.  Robert Q. Lewis was still doing great radio from New York on CBS    Take a listen.


Thursday, October 23, 2014

FORSCOM Update - Dan Rook - 1976


The services did their own shows, run Sunday mornings nationwide.  The Army's Forces Command had "Update".  Army Sergeant Dan Rook with memories of 1976.


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Chris Noel - 1967


Kinda hard to do a show when the only thing you really know is what day it is.  The ETs could be aired at noon or midnight.  Could be a hurricane or a drought.  These guys did great.  It's a Monday in 1967 and Chris Noel is the Voice of Home...



Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Michael Brown AFRS Adak Alaska 1971

Thanks again to Michael Brown for sharing his AFRS memories.  Today it's almost three hours of the request show.


We went to different high schools together...

Chad Johnson on the board in Adak


Friday, October 17, 2014

Melody Roundup - 1944


Lum and Abner were a good fit for the Melody Roundup.  Today they bring a piece of the Jot em Down Store to the troops with Texas Jim Lewis.



Monday, October 13, 2014

SCN-FM Panama 11/83

This is a photo of the  automation from AFVN in the 60s, 15 years
later it was exactly the same in Panama




Friday, October 10, 2014

Craig Miller - 1975


In 1975 Craig Miller talked with a lot of stars on AFN.  Today Rob Bachman from Bachman Turner Overdrive on Nightside.



Sunday, October 5, 2014

We Who Fight - 1943

Billboard Magazine - 1943

We Who Fight, a half hour in the We, the People style only for and with servicemen.  This one uses men from all the services of all the nations and aims to keep the men in the Pacific posted on what their allies and comrades are doing on other fronts produced before an audience drawn from people with men in overseas service, uses an army band and a name emcee, who will soon be replaced by a man in uniform.  At the moment there are plans to air We Who Fight for domestic consumption.




This was just recently located



Saturday, October 4, 2014

AFVN Paul Bottoms 1969

It's the summer of 1969 and Paul A. Bottoms is rocking Saigon on the Orient Express.






Tuesday, September 30, 2014

AFRTS Parade of Sports - 1991

I remember the games, when I was in Korea or Panama we were using very lo-fi network lines (probably 1 or 2k).  In 1991 AFN had a better line and Ric Crawford filling in the breaks. 


March 3, 1991 Bradley takes on SW Missouri State

Ric Crawford - Radio News Manager for AFRTS

Sunday, September 28, 2014

AFN Thurndorf


Last year I didn't win an eBay auction, the seller had a second one of these.  AFN Thurndorf?
This has been driving me crazy for a while.  AFN Historian John Provan clears it up a bit:
 
I checked my files and AFN never had a place called Thurndorf. Whoever made this goofed AFN had a location at Thumsdorf, which belonged to AFN Bayreuth. It began in October 1945 and probably operated until November 1946. It is even listed on many German radios as being a real station. It was not, rather it transmitted the AFN Munich programming.

AFN Bremerhaven PSAs 1989-90

Do you remember the package from the PAO?  In 1989-90 the crew at AFN Bremerhaven did some wonderful work.  Every week all of the stations would be tasked with "command information".  Sometimes it could be fun....




Saturday, September 27, 2014

AFN Berlin - Mark White

The late Mark White spent over three decades with AFN Berlin.  He was a legend. 


Here are some big band memories from 1980-83

Friday, September 26, 2014

Mystery Theater - Cary Grant




Mystery Theater was a repackaging of classic radio mysteries. In one form or another it started in WWII and continued well into the 1970s.  AFRTS still had the rights to the best.

In 1950 Cary Grant starred "Suspense" and On a Country Road. A couple is stranded during a storm, with a murderer on the loose! In the early 1970s the program was edited into this Mystery Theater broadcast.


Thursday, September 25, 2014

Chris Noel - 1970


Chris always made the music sound better.  This is a 1970 visit.  The voice of home...



Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Randy Stone - 1969




As a SP5, Randy was assigned to AFVN for 15 months during 1968-70.  His duties were far-ranging.  In addition to hosting the "Go" show, he often filled in on "Orient Express," along with covering the JUSPAO press briefings.  Then, in what might otherwise have been spare time, he did production work, and he learned to edit film using a razor blade and a splicing bar with the skill of a surgeon.  Although he was based at the Saigon headquarters station, he was often called upon for fill-in excursions to the detachments.

Returning to the Nashville area after his Army service, Randy worked at a number of major broadcasters across the South, including WMAK in Knoxville, WKDA in Nashville, WQXI in Atlanta, and KLIF in Dallas.  He eventually retired from the lifestyle and settled into the life of an automobile repair shop owner for a number of years.

In retirement, Randy and wife Melinda moved from Nashville suburb Gallatin, Tennessee to Bixby, Oklahoma in the Tulsa metro area.

Biography from macoi.net


We lost Randy in March 2015, he was 68 years old.


GI Jive - 1944



GI Jill with another Jive Session, your favorites by request,





Thursday, September 18, 2014

Monday, September 15, 2014

Simple Gifts - 1972

Simple Gifts was a 1972 bizarre set of 5 minute filler shows.  It was shipped as a MISC so it was to be saved for later use.


What is that all about?

Sunday, September 14, 2014

We get these things...


Thanks for stopping by.  There are a LOT of different stories behind how this material became available.  Sometimes the talent has made their copies available, thanks again Chris Noel, Roger Carroll, Joe Ferguson and several others.  Sometimes a bunch of disks get rescued on their way to the dumpster and sometimes there's a box of disks have been in storage for decades and sometimes something will show up in a junkshop or on ebay with no story.  If you can help or share material it's always very appreciated. Here's how you can help.


Small World - 1965

Small World was a potpourri of music, comedy and the occasional interview.  Sort of like Monitor, hosted by George Church


Chris Noel made her AFRTS debut on a Small World which I would really like to hear.