Andy continues his tribute to Glenn Miller, here's part four.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
End of the year
We need your help at the end of the year. Your memories, the things you saved make this into the special place it is and I thank you.
You can help right now by putting a few bucks in the kitty. Over the year it helps with getting recordings, hardware and the internet things to make it happen to make it available here. The easiest way is the PayPal link on the left. That link isn't there if you're using a mobile device, click "donate" to help.
Your help makes this a nicer place. Thank you.
If you don't like PayPal, just drop me a note and I'll send the street address. It's not a secret just best to not post it on the internet. email Thom, click here
Thank you for visiting. Be sure to tell a friend!
Happy New Year!
Thom
Roland Bynum - 1984

Here's the Roland Bynum show, from 1984 recorded in Iceland.
Nowadays Roland works at Stevie Wonder's station in Los Angeles, KGLH
Roland Bynum - 1984
Labels:
1983,
1984,
Roland Bynum
Saturday, December 26, 2015
12 Days of Christmas on the Isthmus
In the Panama Canal Zone, this was kind of a big deal. Every Christmas on the Southern Command Network, Christmas on the Isthmus:
Cal Hackman and Pete Franquet recorded this song in the SCN studio in 1969 or 1970. The song was written by a young girl named Carrie Ellis. Pete played it on his radio program and it became a hit. I'm trying to locate a copy of the tape. We were still playing it ten years later.
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
a pico feo in a mango tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
two crocodiles...
two crocodiles...
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
three kinkajoos...
three kinkajoos...
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
four screaming buzzards...
four screaming buzzards...
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
five coconuts...
five coconuts...
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
six gato solos...
six gato solos...
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
seven golden frogs...
seven golden frogs...
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
eight boa constrictors...
eight boa constrictors...
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
nine armadillos...
nine armadillos...
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
ten green iguanas...
ten green iguanas...
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
eleven traipsing tapirs...
eleven traipsing tapirs...
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me —
twelve fat conejos...
eleven traipsing tapirs, ten green iguanas, nine armadillos,
eight boa constrictors, seven golden frogs, six gato solos,— five coconuts —
four screaming buzzards, three kinkajoos, two crocodiles
and
a pico feo in a mango tree!!
More from SCN
twelve fat conejos...
eleven traipsing tapirs, ten green iguanas, nine armadillos,
eight boa constrictors, seven golden frogs, six gato solos,— five coconuts —
four screaming buzzards, three kinkajoos, two crocodiles
and
a pico feo in a mango tree!!
More from SCN
Friday, December 25, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Boston Pops - 1957
Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops and AFRTS had a long relationship. From WWII well into the 1970s they shared the same stage. Here's a 1957 visit, with works of Ferde Groffe.
Labels:
1957,
Arthur Fiedler,
Boston Pops
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Command Performance - Christmas 1942
So AFRS did run on US radio. As a special treat, the Christmas 1942 show ran on all of the US networks. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Labels:
1942,
Christmas,
Command Performance,
OTR
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Gail Anderson - AFN Berlin - 1994
In 1994 an era was over, AFN Berlin was shut down. Gail Anderson had the last morning show.
Labels:
1994,
AFN,
Gail Anderson
Friday, December 18, 2015
Chris Noel - Christmas 1969
She worked hard. Chris would have had a lot of frequent flier miles. She brought home to troops all over the world. It made the world a better place. Now Chris is a prolific writer. She just completed a new book about the making of "Beach Ball", you should read this. Click here
Here's a Christmas 1969 visit.
Labels:
1969,
Chris Noel,
Christmas,
Date With Chris
Jimmy Wakely - Christmas 1968
Jimmy Wakely wishes you a very Merry Christmas 1968.
Labels:
1968,
Christmas,
Jimmy Wakely
Monday, December 14, 2015
Spectrum USA - 1971
Dick Stark is back with the music of Millard Fillmore. Not really, but in 1971 he did a great series of shows for Marine Reserve Recruiting. Soft music and great stories, Spectrum USA.
Labels:
1971,
Dick Stark,
Recruiting,
Spectrum USA,
USMC
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Stay in touch!
One of the best ways to stay in touch is to "like" the blog facebook page.
There's also a periodic email list, rarely more than once a week. Drop me a note to be added.
Roger Carroll - 1972
There must be a story on this...
Roger has the first half of a Happy Hour from 1972. He has found even more shows and it's going to be great listening. I know what I want for Christmas!
Labels:
1972,
Roger Carroll
Friday, December 11, 2015
Roland Bynum - 1973
Roland Bynum has "Soul in Motion" from the Creators Workshop. It's coming up on Christmas 1973. Roland is still making magic on the radio, in Los Angeles.
Labels:
1973,
Roland Bynum
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Jack Spector - WMCA - 1969
Back to the Coke shows! No one seems to know what the story is on these. In 1969 AFRTS had some sort of arrangement with some of the great jocks in the states and shows were pressed. These disks did not have AFRTS labels, most had commercials. Coke paid the have the albums distributed. WMCA NY seems to have been represented the best. Here's a visit with Jack Spector. Jack mentions the Coke funding.
Labels:
1969,
Coke,
Jack Spector,
WMCA
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Martin Block - Christmas 1954
Christmas time is coming, Martin Block did his show for AFRTS-NY (Hi Jim!). Christmas was a special time in the Make Believe Ballroom...
Labels:
1954,
Christmas,
Martin Block
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Hold High The Torch - 2nd Marine Division - 1947
In the late 1940s AFRS did many shows to explain the mission. A lot of why and how. Glenn Ford had spent WWII as a Marine. He stars in this production highlighting the Marines in Tarawa. Take a listen.
Labels:
1947,
Glenn Ford,
USMC
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
AFVN Billy Williams - 1972
“Here's part one, Thom. I started in Vietnam as a Signal Corps bench technician at AVEL Central (Avionics/Aviation Electronics) in 1971. While on the bench repairing helicopter radios at AVEL, most of us also had a radio tuned to AFVN 540 KHz in Saigon. 10 hour shifts--sometimes days and sometimes nights if the backlog justified double shifts. I heard a "cattle call" on AFVN 540 one day. A few weeks later, I arrived at AFVN Saigon and trained on the "backboard" in AFVN television master control for a week or two. Then up country to Qui Nhon AFVN on Vung Chua Mountain to run the TV station mounted in a van. Qui Nhon detachment closed after Tet 1972 when Vung Chua Mtn signal site (where AFVN was co-located) came close to being overrun. Then on to Da Nang AFVN on Monkey Mountain to work TV master control. Also did TV news/sports there and the C&W afternoon show--they must have been very short-handed. When Capt. Webb went to Saigon, I filled in on DDB. Then he came back as Army Spec. Brett Webb and DEROSed not long after. They were daring me to send out "One Monkey" to a General at the bottom of the hill--but no thanks. A few weeks later...on to Saigon. Did Nightbeat and then Orient Express overnight show until returning to U.S. in late Sept. 1972. More on the historical web site that I maintain for the local Amateur "ham" Radio group.
Labels:
1972,
AFVN,
Billy Williams,
Danang
Friday, November 27, 2015
Silhouette - 1969
Sunday mornings AFRTS ran chapel shows. Silhouette was contemporary music and stories. Jerry saved this one. He was in Thailand and AFTN ran this one was focused on the Vietnam war. It's a powerful show.
Labels:
1969,
chapel,
Silhouette,
Vietnam
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Roger Carroll - 1979
Roger and Beverly Carroll
Roger's back! It's a Friday in 1979 and time for the best sounds in town, with the happy hour! Thank you Roger for sharing these.
Labels:
1979,
Roger Carroll
Monday, November 23, 2015
Dan Daniel - WMCA - 1969
Dan Daniel
In 1969 the Coca Cola Company and AFRTS somehow arranged for a series of albums to be recorded to be distributed to the troops. I can't find documentation of the project. Some of the top jocks in the country recorded them. These are hard to find. Dan Daniel was a mid 1950s AFRTS vet in the Navy. Last week Neil found this one. Enjoy!
Labels:
1969,
Coke,
Dan Daniel,
WMCA
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Andy Mansfield - 1963
Here's part 3 of America's Popular Music, Andy Mansfield continues his tribute to Glenn Miller.
Labels:
1963,
America's Popular Music,
Andy Mansfield,
Glenn Miller
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Chris Noel - 1969
Chris did so much for us, The Date With Chris show, toured all over the world, particularly in the hotspots and has been one of the most outspoken advocates ever. Today Chris has a homeless shelter for veterans. Take a look Click here Please do what you can. Here's how it sounded in 1969.
Labels:
1969,
Chris Noel,
Date With Chris
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Roger Carroll - 1980
In 1980, singer Leslie Gore popped to the Happy Hour with Roger Carroll. She talked about her career, Brother Michael had just done "Fame", Roger gets us some neat stories. We lost Leslie back in February.
Labels:
1980,
Leslie Gore,
Roger Carroll
Friday, November 13, 2015
Benny Brown - AFN
Benny Brown went from AFN to great career in European radio, including Radio Luxembourg blasting all over Europe. In February we heard a different part of this broadcast. Benny Skype'd be to talk about AFN and Radio Lux. He explained that the breaks sound sloppy in this because of he was feeding the rest of the network.
Welcome back Benny, thanks for great radio!
Labels:
1995,
AFN,
Benny Brown
Andy Mansfield - 1963
In 1963 the loss of Glenn Miller was still fresh. Here's part two of Andy Mansfield's tribute. He did a great job and talked with a lot of the people that knew Glenn.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Roland Bynum - 1979
Roland brings the dancing! It's 1979 and in the Creators Workshop there's Stephanie Mills, Donna Summer and Michael Jackson.
Labels:
1979,
Roland Bynum
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Roger Carroll - 1972
In all of the stations we had promo photos of the AFRTS-LA talent. Roger really didn't like his. It wasn't a bad photo, but a very 1970s haircut. Here's something we can all agree on from 1972:
Labels:
1972,
Roger Carroll
One Night Stand - 1959
The great big bands continued touring well into the 1970s. In the 1940s, 50s and 60s AFRTS aired remote broadcasts of the best on One Night Stand. On this night in 1955 it was the music of Charlie Barnet from the Hollywood Palladium
Labels:
1959,
Charlie Barnet,
One Night Stand,
OTR
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Chris Noel - 1967
Chris did one of the most popular shows ever. A pretty girl, great music and caring. She brought "home" everywhere.
Labels:
1967,
Chris Noel,
Date With Chris
Friday, October 30, 2015
Spectrum USA - Halloween 1968
Dick Starke brings us the stories of Halloween in a 1968 "Spectrum USA" for the Marine Corps Reserve.
Labels:
1968,
Dick Stark,
Halloween,
Spectrum USA
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Roger Carroll -1971
Roger is getting ready to visit AFN with another great Happy Hour
Labels:
1971,
Roger Carroll
Monday, October 26, 2015
Andy Mansfield - 1963
In 1963 it really hadn't been that long since we lost MAJ Glenn Miller during WWII. Glenn entertained the troops and cut a lot of exclusive music for AFRS and V Disc. Andy Mansfield did a five part tribute.
Labels:
1963,
America's Popular Music,
Andy Mansfield,
Glenn Miller
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Most Popular
51 | |
49 | |
46 | |
38 | |
37 |
Those are the top five for this week... 10/25/2015
Roland Bynum - 1981
Roland Bynum opens the Creators Workshop and your favorites on a Tuesday in 1981.
Labels:
1981,
Roland Bynum
Stay in Touch!
To get all of the updates, join the facebook group "afrtsarchive.blogspot.com" or connect with Thomas Whetston on linkedin. Get on the email mailing list at afrts@live.com
Monday, October 19, 2015
Chris Noel - 1969
Chris Noel in Pleiku 1968
Chris really stepped to the plate, did a wonderful show and went to the troops. Today she still supports the troops in need with her homeless shelter for veterans. Vetsville
Labels:
1969,
Chris Noel,
Date With Chris
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Inner Sanctum - 1949
This disk was played may times on our stations in Canada. A great mystery program never really ages. We still ran them in the 1970s and 80s. This program was originally broadcast in 1949 and rebroadcast on AFRTS may times.
"The Unburied Dead". A good story about a woman who first finds out that she's not who she thinks she is, then, that she's been dead for six years, and finally, that she's wanted for murder!
Labels:
1949,
Inner Sanctum,
OTR
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Roger Carroll - 1978
Today it is Roger, with the Happy Hour and memories of 1978.
"Thom there was a young attractive production lady who worked on a TV show I announced her boy friend was an artist at Disney . They both listened to me on KMPC It was a birthday gift I can not remember what show it was or her name .I now walk a little slower , memory is not what it used be also repeat things Dad get a hearing aid (you want something at Rite Aid ) BUT I sure do remember she was very attractive I think many of the attractive production ladies maybe were hand picked may be some of those ladies are on FB they would be old today the ones I worked with."
And it has a place of honor at Roger's
Thank you once again RC!
Labels:
1978,
Roger Carroll
Monday, October 12, 2015
Date With Chris - 1968
Memories of 1968. Chris Noel takes us home with "A Date With Chris"
Labels:
1968,
Chris Noel,
Date With Chris
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
WBG - Fort Bliss
Part of our history that seems to be gone was the stations in the United States. A lot of posts had radio, Seemingly supported by AFRS. In El Paso, presumably Fort Bliss was WBG. Many of the big country acts performed there.
Peter Birch was a dancer, choreographer and musician who most famously directed Captain Kangaroo for 25 years. In January 1949 he performed at WBG.
Labels:
1949,
Fort Bliss,
Peter Birch,
WBG
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