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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Charlie Tuna - 1991

So where were you in 1991?

The first Gulf War, Soviet Union crumbles, Princess Diana and Prince Charles split up. Topicality was a big piece of the Charlie Tuna show:

Charlie Tuna 1991

Get your breakfast serial at:

http://www.charlietuna.com/

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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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Roger Carroll - 1972

Roger is still playing for the troops.  About a year ago he sent a bundle of his shows.  We've heard a lot of them since.  A few weeks ago he found another stack and sent them along.  I'll always be grateful.  Here's a memory...

Roger Carroll - 1972

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Gene Price - 1974

I had a break in service, went to Panama, was waiting in the temporary barracks.  Turned on the radio and there was Gene.  Life was gonna be pretty good.

Gene Price 1974

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Wolfman Jack - 1976

Wolfman did some great shows for Air Force Recruiting and Roger Carroll's company.  I ended up running these too.. 

Wolfman Jack - 1976

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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

Roland Bynum - 1982

This would have been a disk that I would have played way back when.  Roland Bynum soulin through a Wednesday in 1982... Good Bynum!

Roland Bynum - 1982

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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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Thank you Roger Carroll!!!

Roger Carroll sent over another wonderful bundle of memories.  

More great radio, coming up!

Panorama - 1961

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

Panorama - 1961

Gene Price - 1974

Welcome back Mr. Pierce.  So... I can go in the Army, work in Public Affairs AND go to Panama?  There is no downside.  Thank you, Gene!

Gene Price - 1974

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Roger Carroll - Lawrence Welk Radio show

In the 1980s, our friend Roger Carroll was announcing the Lawrence Welk Radio Show, take a listen:

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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Roger Carroll - 1969

It's another visit with RC on a Friday get together.  It swings and Frank Sinatra has more of "A Man And His Music".

Roger Carroll - 1969

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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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Rocketing Rhythms - 1961

Jack Brown is back with Rocketing Rhythms. our 1961 show with tunes for the kids.  Today Jack has the top hits and visit with Kay Starr...

Rocketing Rhythms - 1961

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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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Herman Griffith - 1968

This was nice, last year I had done some Herman Griffith transfers that didn't turn out as well as I would have liked.  I couldn't locate the cd to redo it.  Well,  Garry had the shows and sent them... nice..

Herman Griffith - 1968

Wolfman Jack - 1976

A good party would sound a lot like Wolfman Jack.  It's the weekend...

Wolfman Jack - 1976

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Adventures In Good Music - 1972

Karl Haas was perfect for AFRTS.  He made classical music accessible for young troops that had never heard such a thing and gave a gift.  He did the same thing on Detroit radio for decades.  His show was syndicated all over the country and is probably still being aired somewhere.

Adventures in Good Music - 1972

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Jay Jasin - 1971

Jay with Joi Lancing

So sometimes it's still a surprise.  I just received a bundle of disks and in there was "Jasin Street".  Never heard of it.  Jay Jasin (Herman Jasinski) started jocking in the late 40s, mostly through the Midwest.  By 1962 he had teamed with Jim Ameche to syndicate a jazz show.  Around then he started acting and was in Spinout and Hillbillies in A Haunted House. In 1971 it was traditional jazz on AFRTS.  We lost Jay in 1984.

Jasin Street - 1971

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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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Roger Carroll - 1969

Young Roger Carroll

Roger was an important part of AFRTS for well over three decades, it was more than playing records.  Here's some 1969 gold..

Roger Carroll - 1969

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Al "Jazzbo" Collins - 1969

Jazzbo was the swinging jock on WNEW New York.  Hard to explain, but in 1969 he brought the Purple Grotto to AFRTS.

Purple Grotto - 1969

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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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Sports Interviews - 1943

Joe Hassle is back with Sports Interviews talking with early 1900s baseball legend Honus Wagner.

Sports Interviews - 1943

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