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

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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

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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

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

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Panorama - 1961

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

Panorama - 1961

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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