Serenade In Blue - 1967

The military used commercial radio stations for recruiting in a big way starting with WWII.  Most of the programs were good entertainment.  Sometimes these shows would end up broadcast by AFRTS.  That puzzled me.  Although there were places like Germany and the Canal Zone with many dependents, most of our stations were on ships or in non-command sponsored areas.  Was there a purpose in playing an Air Force recruiting show on a Navy ship?  

Serenade in Blue was quality music from Air Force bands.  Here's a 1967 visit:

Serenade In Blue - 1967

A Chat With Mark Moss

Mark Moss had quite a career, Army, Air National Guard, tours at SEB Italy, AFKN Korea, Desert Storm and was a DINFOS instructor... 

A Chat With Mark Moss

Country Music Time

Country Music Time had a long run for USAF recruiting.  Today Perry Bullard features Leroy Van Dyke.

Country Music Time

More Country Music Time

Is it spring yet?

I did want to thank Steven for making a contribution to the blog.  They help a lot.  There will be some acquisitions that I think we can all enjoy.  If you'd like to help, just click the "Donate" button on the left to start.  I won't be naggy.  Have a wonderful day!

Off the Wing Tip - 1967

We ran filler shows.  Prior to 1971 many of the DJ shows were 45 minutes.  With five minutes of news it left a ten minute hole.  "Off The Wing Tip" was a ten minute show.  I had assumed it was a recruiting program but I don't think so.  On this one from New York they spend some time with the pilots of the NYPD.

Off The Wing Tip - 1967

AFTN - Captain Madrac 1973

Before they made him use his real name, Ralph Gebes was Captain Madrack on AFTN Odapau, Thailand.  

AFTN - Captain Madrac1973

There's a really great website with AFTN memories click here.

Mike Webb - FEN Okinawa - 1992

We now join our affiliate station...

I thought you may have some fun with this.  Airchecks from the field

AFN Europe

AFVN Vietnam

AFKN Korea

FEN

AFTN Thailand

AFRS Alaska

AFRS Iceland

AFN France

SCN Panama

Mosquito Network

Did you save any airchecks?

AFN Ted Northrup Z-FM 1995

The Z-FM sounded slick.

AFN Ted Northrup 1995

So who knew Ted, what was AFN like in then?

)

Cruising commercial free!

I took the ads down, didn't care for how it looked.

Yank Bandstand - 1946

In WWII many of the top US bands were in uniform for the war effort.  Yank Bandstand would present these bands.

Jimmie Grier - Yank Bandstand 1946

GI Jive 1944

Armed Forces Radio's first heartthrob was Martha Wilkerson.  During WWII she started doing GI Jive and kept doing the show into the 1950s.

GI Jive 1944

Link to us

Do you have a website?  Is it related to radio, military or were you an AFRTS vet?  I would like to link to it on the link page Just let me know afrts@live.com

Music From Around the World - 1967

We did "World Music" when?  Irwin Frankel made a career of promoting music from around the world.  From 1959-1972 he promoted it on a radio program on WABC-FM New York.  In 1967 the network ran a lot of Local New York programming, probably having something to do with our relationships with the networks.

Music From Around the World - 1967

AFN Frankfurt - Derrick in the Morning 1994

1994 and Derrick Brennell starts your day

AFN Frankfurt - Derrick in the Morning

Banners of Faith - 1971

Every Sunday, the Armed Forces Chaplains Board presented "Banners of Faith", a potpouri of faith based programs.

Banners of Faith -1971

Billy Pearl - 1975

Billy was one of the jocks hired by Roger Carroll enterprises to do Army recruiting shows.  Very Talented.

Billy Pearl - 1975

Music From Your Hometown - 1947

One of the nicer things about being the Voice of Home were things like this.  Stations would send acetates of broadcasts to the network.  These would be made into new shows.

Leo Reisman - 1919

From roughly 1947 this is a "Music From Your Hometown" with Leo Reisman.  Reisman had been around since the early 20s.  By then he had a hotel band playing sweet music.  So from 1030 WBZ Boston, here's Leo Reisman:

Music From Your Home Town - 1947