Posts
Al "Jazzbo" Collins was doing a show for us in 1967. Neat feel. Big talent from the Purple Grotto..
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Thursday, December 29, 2016
CFN - AFRS Canal Zone 1954-55
I’m Tom Moore ex-CFNer. Enjoyed your blog and work re: CFN (as I knew it in 1954-55) I was at the radio station (no TV yet) for about a year. I was a part of the bunch you list: Maj. Morrissey, Gary Hannes, Jim Anderson, Dick Heymeyer, Al Lohman Jr., Ski from Chicago, Timmy Coombs, and some other guys of the day. Want to read my story?
I was an Airman 2nd class (read NO class) sent to Albrook AFB in 1954. I had been a crash-rescue fireman at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas… I volunteered one day to go to Panama, CZ , to fight crash fires, and just to get out of the hell hole that was SAFB. At this point my good luck and the intelligence of the military system will dictate the story.
I arrived in the paradise that was the Canal Zone. Remember? I had been stationed in Wichita Falls Texas at the time, hardly a paradise by any stretch of imagination... scorching heat and freezing cold. My word, how wonderful those stately Royal Palm trees looked with the bright green plastic looking upper trunks lording over the main street of Albrook Air Force Base. Especially after a 12 hour prop plane ride from Montgomery, Alabama, my debarkation point in the states.
I reported in for duty at Albrook. The 1st Sgt. at receiving and transit told me there must have been a mistake to transfer me to Albrook AFB.
"Oh, really?" I said, “Well here I am Sarge, ready or not!”
His response was ( he was a tropical laid back Dude), “But we don’t need any firefighters or Flight Rescuemen. We don’t have aircraft or any flights here .”
I reminded him that I had just arrived on a flight. His answer, “But that was not our aircraft, we don’t have any aircraft. And besides it didn’t crash… did it?”
I was getting worried about my whereabouts and sanity at this point. “Not our aircraft? But the plane said United States of America on the side in black paint.” I wondered aloud, “What if it HAD crashed on landing. Would there have been no one with my untried skills but loads of knowledge willing to save the victims? Like me.”
The 1st Sgt. replied, “That would been against regulations, son. Air Force pilots are ordered to not crash the aircraft we let them fly.”
I liked this guy. He thought he owned and was the boss of all the aircraft. The 1st Sgt. directed me to the transit barracks and told me to report each morning to check on a possible assignment, and arranged a first-class pass, told me where I could catch a bus (Chiva) to Panama City after a 5 day quarantine, "if I wanted to go down to that hell hole,” he said. And he told me where to get a “partial payment”. ($$ now we’re cookin’) So I wandered around Albrook AFB $40 in my pocket and saw the base bowling alley. Met some guys sitting around smoking and drinking beer waiting out their quarantines. So I did too.
After two weeks of reporting in and getting no assignment for work, except duty, policing up fallen leaves. Most mornings I had only one fallen plam leaf to pick up. I was beginning to really love the military, bowling, palm leaves, and beer. After leaf duty I explored the crown jewel of the Republic, Panama City. Every day for a couple of weeks I bowled for 5 cents a game and drank beer 20 cents a bottle on base (legal for 18 year olds). Boy, so far, I loved Panama. I loved the Air Force. I loved transit status at a sort of Air Force Base, especially this one with no planes to crash and no people to save from fire.
But after too short a time the assignment Sgt. smiled when I arrived one morning for my morning check-in. “Okay, Airman Moore, I’ve got it sorted out. Your 201-file reads that you once worked as a radio announcer (very young and very part-time when I was at boarding school). There is an AFRS radio station here in the Canal Zone, just up the road at an Army Post, Fort Clayton. You want to go over there and see if they need an announcer?”
I was out of partial payment money, tired of bowling and riding the bus down to Panama City in the Republic and walking Central Avenue’s more naughty side streets. “Yes First Sgt. I will go over to see if the Army wants to give me a job.” I was 19 years old at the time and not much of an announcer… The program director at CFN (Maj. John P. Morrisey) gave me an audition and seemed a little dubious as to my not-very deep voice, but perked up when I said I would be happy to help around the station… re-type the news stories they recorded from other sources (one news announcer was ‘Air Force Airman Bob MacDonald’) and outlets for their own announcers to re-read, put recordings back in the library..etc Besides, I told him, no body else wants me down here. I related my insane binge with bowling and thoughts about defecting to the San Blas Indian Air Force.
The Major was sympathetic... “OK Moore, you can come on staff as a News Writer and a standby announcer.” The classification Sgt. at Albrook was very happy. I was very happy. Then I went to CFN, the Caribbean Forces Network at Ft. Clayton. Moved into the three story barrack/studio/office. Stayed there until I went home for discharge.
That is my military history, and my contribution to the military might of the USA in a nut shell. I must have been of some help… we had no crashes at Albrook or Fort Clayton and no one in the Caribbean declared war on us while I was in uniform.
I was discharged in 1956, a few months before my regular time as an early-out compassionate discharge. My father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and I needed to return home to enter the family business. Since I had a non-essential job classification, and the Air Force was trying to give early discharges at the time to save peace time dollars. I returned to the USA to enter the newspaper business. My wife's family owned two small weekly news papers in Forrest City, Arkansas. I returned to help with the family business. After a year I returned to the broadcast field with jobs at various radio and television stations in the south and southeast. I eventually began work for TelePrompter Corp. in New York. TelePrompter had contracts with the Army Guided Missile Command and NASA at Redstone Arnsnel. I worked as a Producer-Writer-Director for 5 years. During this time I heard from Gary Hannes (from the ol’ CFN days). Gary was a TV producer in Mexico City and contacted me and offered a job as Director of the Mexican version of the TV show “To Tell The Truth”. I was thrilled for the offer, but it was a bad time to make such a big international move. But, Gary and I did keep in touch for a time. That was nice.
I was offered a job to work in East Africa as a commercial director for Radio Tanzania. This job I took, and moved to Dar es Saalam, Tanzania where Beverly and I had our third child. It was a great experience but when we were offered another contract, we decided that the International life was too much and we returned home (USA) to Texas and TV work. Thru these years I was a TV announcer and a film producer living in Dallas and visiting Hollywood. I eventually made several theatrical films as Producer and/or Director. Actually that rounded out my career as a Director. I guess I am retired now (you get a clue when the pay checks stop rolling in ;). We still live in Dallas. Two of the kids also live here and a third in Huston. That’s about it Thom… That’s all for Uncle Jim/Tom and Tinker!
If you get in touch with Gary Hannes, as you gather all this information, tell him to WRITE ME!!!!! Jeez, that Mexico country living in Juan-a-what-toe must be the bees knee’s. (At least it's slower than Dallas!)
Hope all this rambling has helped. Let me please have a copy of all you gather or publish as a report/bathroom-book/important paper… or what ever.
Cheers, Thom. Ciao. Feliz Navidad y Prospero Nuevo Ano.
Truth or Dare. Sincerely,
Tom Moore
Dallas, Texas, USA
December 2016
ATC anniversary - 1952
1952 was the tenth anniversary of the Army Transportation Corps. Must have been a big deal. Both Mark Warnow and Lynn Murray were huge at the time. They recorded this song:
Sunday, December 25, 2016
If Freedom Failed - 1951
If Freedom Failed is back with Program 11 of the series. This time starring Raymond Burr and Mala Powers. Years later Mala showed up on several Perry Mason shows.
Roland Bynum - 1973
Roland Bynum at KJLH
Roland Bynum had a long run with us. Talent is talent and he's still slamming out the hits in Los Angeles for many years to come. In 1973 he was doing the show for us and doing a show for Air Force Recruiting, for Roger Carroll's company. Good stuff, great music. The Roland Bynum Show.
Jim Ameche - 1961
Jim Ameche played the most beautiful music. The voice of the Longenes Symphonette was the first to successfully syndicate a DJ show. We had him for many years on AFRTS.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Jim Pewter - 1980
Jim Pewter brings the memories in this 1980 broadcast. We went to different high schools together.
Don't bunch up!
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
AFN - 1993 Schedule
AFN POWER NETWORK - MONDAY TO FRIDAY
------------------------------------
0005 Jim Pewter - Oldies
0030 Radio Theatre
0105 Mary Turner Rock
0205 LaRita Shelby - Urban
0305 Harry Newman - Country
0405 Gene Price - Country
0505 Local Program/AM Edition
0600 News Sports and
Word in The World
0610 Local Program / AM Edition
0700 News, Sports, Weather
0730 Local Programs / AM Edition
0905 AM Country (AFN)
1105 Charlie Tuna
1200 AFN News, Sports, Weather
1210 NPR Morning Edition
1305 Power Lite - Easy Listening
1505 Local Program / Don Tracy
1605 Local Programs / Country Roads
1800 AFN News, Sports, Weather
1905 Power Traxx - Urban
2105 Laurie Allen - Classic Rock
2200 AP News, Sports, Weather
2211 Armed Forces Digest
2217 Paul Harvey
2230 Jazz Beat
2305 NPR All Things Considered
2357 Sign On
AFN POWER NETWORK - SATURDAY
----------------------------
0005 American Dance Traxx
0305 The Countdown - Urban
0505 Dick Clark
0805 NPR Car Talk
0905 Sports Wrap-up
0910 Saturday Gold
1200 News, Sports, Weather
1210 Local Program / Paul Harvey
1230 Dvorak on Computers
1305 American Country Countdown
1705 NPR Weekend Edition
1905 The Countdown - Urban
2105 American Top 40 (thru 0100)
2357 Sign On
AFN POWER NETWORK - SUNDAY
-------------------------
0005 American Top 40 (cont'd.)
0105 American Country Countdown
0505 Cross Country - Religion
0530 Heralds of Christian Science
0605 Lift your Heart - Religion
0630 East of Eden - Religion
0705 Sounds of Sunday - Religion
0855 AFRTS Sports
0905 Amen Corner - Religion
1005 All That Jazz
1105 Doug Ordunio - Classical Music
1200 AFN News, Sports, Weather
1220 Paul Harvey
1230 Focus on the Family
1305 American Top 40
1705 The Comedy Show
1805 Dick Clark's Rock, Roll and Remember
2105 David Sanborn - Jazz
2305 Golden Days of Radio
2357 Sign On
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Joe Ferguson - 1983
It was a discussion we had many times ""There's no one good in Milwaukee, Miami, Dallas or anywhere else?" In 1983 the network bid out contracts with talent from all over the country. Joe Ferguson from Portland OR was with us for a while. On this show, Joe talks about being a dependent and in the radio club at AFN.
AFN On The Scene - Santa Claus interview
Richard Amaral was at AFN Frankfurt in 1960-62. He wrote "AFN-On the Scene--Santa Claus Interview". (produced either Dec '60 or '61) Interviewer played by the Late and Great Sp/4 Marshall Pengra. Santa played by Airman Chuck Lindsay. (Have lost contact with Chuck since I left AFN in '62) It's a spoof that caused some consternation and was banned from air. But on a late night comedy show, "The Cave" I believe I slipped parrts of it into the two hour mix.
Richard went on to do great things in Boston Television.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Merry Christmas from the Record Library
Every year we'd get a shipment of these... Along with the Christmas DJ shows a bunch of library stuff for the DJ shows....
Golden Days of Radio - Christmas 1982 - part two
Frank Bresee is back with hour two of his 1982 Christmas show. Many classic stars performing live for Christmas.
John Doremus - 1967
I remember John Doremus and his overnight show, syndicated on some of the biggest AMs in the states, when there was such a thing. In flight music, without the flight. We had him on AFRTS.
Gene Price - 1990
Friday, December 16, 2016
Jazzbo Collins - 1967
Jazzbo Collins
Here's Jazzbo from the subterranean Purple Grotto. He has a style and a bunch of hit records.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Bing Crosby - Christmas 1973
Is it even allowed to be Christmas without Bing Crosby? Here's Bing in a 1973 show for the US Army.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Wolfman Jack 1975,
Time for another visit with the Wolfman. Always a wonderful talent. Has anyone seen the Midnight Special DVDs yet? You know those have to be great.
Monday, December 12, 2016
William Wintersole, a Soldier's Story
William Wintersole, a soldiers story
Actor William Wintersole checked in and shared his memories of AFRTS:
I was assigned to the Fort Ord Army Hospital's Bedside Network immediately after 8 week basic training in Nov 1953 with PFC Marshall Garrett and PFC Ben DaMotto. The closed circuit system provided captured radio entertainment as well as one channel of AFRTS recordings with some programing of our own invention...such as in-the-field interviews with celebrities and pro golfers at the Bing Crosby Invitational at Pebble Beach, CA in Feb 1954. We used the first portable tape recorders I'd ever seen...the Ampex 15 inch reel unit...weighing about 30 lbs.
We got a ton of stuff including Bob Hope, Phil Harris, Gen Omar Bradley, etc., etc. I understand it was stored at AFRTS, Hollywood, CA. In July 1954 I was sent to South Korea and assigned to AFKN HQ at station KILROY in Taegu, Korea. In addition to doing the midnight to 2am trick, I was also the Producer-Director of network programs for the 10 station operation. A few months later HQs was shifted to VAGABOND on the hill in the
8th Army compound, Seoul and I was assigned network Program Director by Lt Col Stewart who told me when I suggested we look into adding TV facilities to AFKN...."Look, Private...the only thing I know about radio or TV is where to turn it on and where to turn it off....and I want to get full bird by the time I leave here do you understand?" Actually I was Specialist, as I recall. Some of my broadcast buddies were Earl Clayton, Dan Chamberlin, Alan Hirschfield, Edson Foster, Frank Fagan, Jerry Terhune, Rice Paddy Ranger Army Sgt Dick Curless, John Orloff and a bunch of others. I met Roger Carroll somewhere in there but can't recall where. He got a job at KMPC...I went to KPOL and then to KTLA in '57 but decided on a career as an actor/director and have had a wonderful career working all over the world rather than behind a mike and turntables.
Bill Wintersole
Sunday, December 11, 2016
RIP LTC Frank Tennant 1930-2016
LTC Tennant was the well respected commander of AFKN in 1968-69. Tony Booth believes he may have returned to the network in the 1970s.
He was born in Dallas, Texas to Frank Tennant Sr. and Marion Tennant on October 28, 1930, at the beginning of the great depression. He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1951 with a BFA in radio and television production. Immediately upon graduation he enlisted in the army to avoid the Korean War draft. This allowed him to enter OCS and serve in the Signal Corps where he worked his way up to the rank Lt. Colonel. During his 20 years of service, he saw tours in Korea twice, France once, and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. twice. He earned a MFA in telecommunications from the University of Southern California in 1965 while he was in the service. Retiring from the service in 1971, he entered the private sector in Washington D.C. where he received a commendation for service from the President of the United Stated in 1979.
After retiring from the army, Frank worked in the private sector in Washington DC. After a second retirement, he moved Pensacola, FL where he lived until his death.
Col Tennant died of natural causes, in his home November 27, 2016.
If Freedom Failed - 1951
Our 1951 look at communism continues with show 10 of "If Freedom Failed". It's the "Monkey's Cage" with Walter Kingsford. These were very well done.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Andy Mansfield - 1964 Glenn MIller
Bust outside of the Corn Exchange in Bedford, England
Andy Mansfield has the final part of his tribute to Maj Glenn Miller on the 20th Anniversary of his passing.
Roland Bynum - 1983
Friday, December 9, 2016
Bill Stewart - 1969
There were a lot of interviews. The biggest stars found time to talk for the troops. Bill Stewart talkd with Mel Lewis from the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in 1969.
Jim Pewter - 1980
Jim with Chris Noel and Gypsy Boots. Photo: Jim Pewter
I hope you're having a great weekend! Jim Pewter brings the memories in this 1980 broadcast. We went to different high schools together. Don't bunch up!
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Chris Noel - Christmas 1967
It's Christmas 1967 and Chris Noel brings the holiday sprit on a Date With Chris.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Joe Ferguson - 1983
Something very cool that our network did in the early 1980s was do a series of shows from personalities all over the country. Joe Ferguson from Portland OR radio donated his set of shows. Suddenly it's 1983...
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
AFVN - Jim Huntley - 1970
From Saigon, Jumpin' Jim Huntley plays your favorites in a 1970 memory. Thanks again Doug!!
Monday, December 5, 2016
Golden Days Of Radio - Christmas 1982
There was always Christmas. It was a time of year that AFRTS really brought home to the world. In 1982 Frank Bresee did a special two hour Golden Days of Radio in front of an audience. He brings the holidays home.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Gene Price - 1974
Gene and Willard are back with your country favorites. Christmas is coming and Gene wrote a really great book about the magic of Christmas for the kids or the whole family. Take a look.
Hawaii Calls - 1961
There was one state that did a real outreach and was a perfect match for AFRTS. Hawaii tourism and businesses funded "Hawaii Calls" from the 1930s until well into the 1970s. Much of that time it was heard on AFRTS. Let's put the winter away for a while and listen to Hawaii Calls.
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Charlie Tuna- Christmas 1983
Christmas is coming. Losing Charlie Tuna in 2016 was a terrible thing. The week of Christmas shows was always special. Charlie Tuna's were no exception. Lets go back to 1983
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Joe Allison - 1969
Joe Allison, songwriter, promoter and DJ. Joe was one of the first to de-hillbilly Country music DJs. It's a fun listen. Joe Allison, The Country Corner, 1969
Continential Varieties 1961
In 1961 Dick Crawford and "Continental Varieties" took a look at English artists performing Latin songs and Latin artists performing English songs.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Wolfman Jack - 1978
Wolfman SURVIVED. The 1950s, the English Invasion, Motown, AOR. He'd connect with his audience and make magic. He always sounded so comfortable.
Wolfman Jack - 1978
Command Performance - 1949
When the war wound down AFRS had a lot more of the new stars getting it out there for the troops. In 1949 Steve Allen was starting his career. Command Performance with Steve, Margaret Whiting and Jack Smith. It's a great listen.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Christmas in Korea - Jim Pewter
Jim Pewter with Little Richard and Bumps Blackwell 1966
Jim Pewter sent this along, Greetings during the Christmas season 1964. At the time I was PFC Jim Pewter, soon to be SP/4. I wrote Don French, PD at KFWB Los Angeles and requested the DJs send a holiday greeting to Radio Cavalier, which later became radio tomahawk.
In 1959 Don French was the PD at KDWB in St Paul. Don added my beta single Little Girl b/w Blue Blue Denims to the KDWB fab 40.
Greetings from, Johnny G, Larry McCormick, Bill Balance, Roger Christian, Gene Weed, Joe Yokum, Sam Riddle.
From 1958-1963 KFWB was the best top 40 station I ever heard. Later when I returned I became close friends with Roger Christian and co-hosted rock n roll shows with Bill Balance.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Andy Mansfield - 1962
Andy and Virginia
Andy Mansfield must have had quite a record collection. He played the oldies starting in the 1950s well into the 1960s, first with wife Virginia on Turn Back the Clock. The later show was Americas Popular music. Lots of big band music but visits back to acoustic records of the 1910s..
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Bill Stewart - 1969
Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Leonard Feather
Bill Stewart swung. He played a lot of the best of jazz. AFRTS had a lot of famous guests on the radio shows. Leonard Feather had a unique role in the history of jazz, responsible for a lot of legendary recordings. By the 1950s he was documenting the "Encyclopedia of Jazz" with a lot of first hand knowledge and friendships. In 1969 volume two had come out and Leonard made an appearance on the Bill Stewart show..
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Chris Noel - 1967
Chris Noel's life is a movie that really needs to be made. Model, movie star she found her muse with Date With Chris on AFRTS during the Vietnam war. It's an incredible example of how to speak directly to an audience. She still stays busy helping the troops with the Ceasefire Home for disadvantaged vets. It's a good cause.
Chris's website is over at chrisnoel.com and always worth a look.
Date With Chris - 1967
Joe Ferguson - 1983
The majority of our programming was created at the McCadden Avenue studios. A lot of US syndicated programming found its way to us.
In 1983 they tried something different. AFRTS-LA reached out to jocks all over the country to do a series of shows for the worldwide audience. Joe Ferguson from KUPL in Portland OR was one that signed up.
Joe is sharing all of those shows with us.
In 1983 they tried something different. AFRTS-LA reached out to jocks all over the country to do a series of shows for the worldwide audience. Joe Ferguson from KUPL in Portland OR was one that signed up.
"Actually my first radio was as a dependent high school student in the radio club, but it was in the castle at AFN Frankfurt..
Then after college as a DA civilian with Southern European Network, or SEN as it was known then."
Joe is sharing all of those shows with us.
Thank you Joe!
Sunday, November 13, 2016
GI Journal - 1945
Linda Darnell hosts a special anniversary show for GI Journal. GI Journal was one of the big variety shows where the stars came out for the troops.
John Doremus - 1967
Music about hands and letter writing... It's the John Doremus show.. Wonderful stories wound into beautiful orchestral music.
AFVN Billy Williams 1972
Billy in Danang
Sept. 4, 1972 Saigon/Network Orient Express I recovered the aircheck from an old cassette.It was recorded off the air somewhere in SVN and sent to me by a listener. Mostly complete except for when the tape was turned over near the bottom of the hour. Not the best of quality but an idea of what we sounded like in the field. More information about the recording.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Gene Price - 1974
Gene Price and Marc Yablonca at a 1981 remote at Universal on KLAC.
Here's Gene in 1974 on the Country Express. There's some great opportunities in today's army!
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