Posts
Happy Halloween Ellery Queen!
Friday, October 28, 2022
Sunday, October 16, 2022
The Other Air War 1967
Sometimes I find the unexpected. In the 60s, we received news panel shows on vinyl ETs.
In a bunch of them was this. Jerry Golden and a team from WLS in Chicago produced a documentary about the air war in Vietnam. Take listen to what can be done on recording tape...
Roger Carroll 1970
It was a long story but several years ago Roger wanted an internet station and I was thrilled to help. He was in his 80s and still sharp as a whip. I learned a lot and am grateful.
This is the show before Roger went to AFN to record some shows in 1970. from his original ET. The Happy Hour continues!
Friday, October 7, 2022
Signature Sounds jingles
In 1978 we got the Signature Sounds jingles. It's been a while. These transcriptions had "locking grooves", so they're awful to transfer. But fun to hear again! Crank it up!
Garry had heard part of this before....
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Hospital Radio
If you've been following the story, many troops were first exposed to military "radio" via closed circuit stations in US hospitals.
I was looking for this to attach to that story. After the war, the stars toured the VA hospitals. This program would have been heard on the "Bedpan Network".
Here's a 1954 magazine story about The Bedside Radio Network
From 1955, Rand's OTR is featuring a Hospital Radio show Hospital Radio Christmas Show 1955
Here's a 1954 magazine story about The Bedside Radio Network
Friday, September 9, 2022
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Turn Back The Clock 1958
Turn Back the Clock was a regional show that ended up on NBC (regional?) in 1955. They came over to AFRTS and shared songs from their personal collection. They've got some good ones today.
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Chris Noel 1969
Vetsville Cease Fire House
291 NE 19th Avenue
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Phone: (561) 736-4325
FAX: (561) 736-4325
We are running out of money to run our operation. It’s very hard to keep a charity going in the current economy, with most people struggling from paycheck to paycheck. Now, Cease Fire House is in danger of closing its doors forever. I need your help!
I’m Chris Noel. In Hollywood, I did films with Elvis and Steve McQueen. In Vietnam, I performed live, and my radio show was broadcast to our troops, both in Vietnam and worldwide.
Then, in 1993, I founded Vetsville Cease Fire House, a non-profit charity based in Florida that is dedicated to providing food, shelter and care for indigent military veterans.
Vets make great employees. They’re dependable team players who work with pride, but finding full-time employment is often extremely difficult. And that's where Vetsville Cease Fire House comes in. Among the great organizations sponsoring us are the Nam Knights MC, a group of police officers and Vietnam veterans.
We’re also sponsored by groups like Rolling Thunder, Paul Revere and the Raiders, “Good Morning Vietnam’s” Adrian Cronauer, and various community organizations. We also hold popular yearly fund-raisers such as Veterans Day celebrations and Rock ‘n’ Roll Sunday!
Our mission is to provide homeless American military veterans --regardless of race, creed, color, sex or age -- with food, shelter, and a secure environment as we aid them in returning to society. That’s our goal -- and Vetsville Cease Fire House is making it happen ... with the help of your generous contribution!
Thank You For Your Time!Chris Noel
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Charlie Tuna 1983
Charlie in the movie "Rollercoaster"
Radio Hall of Fame member Charlie Tuna was great. A quarter century with AFRTS. 40 years on the air in Los Angeles. We lost a great talent. When I was overseas Charlie was one of the key voices of Armed Forces radio. See why...
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Sports Interviews - 1943
Joe Hassle is back with Sports Interviews talking with early 1900s baseball legend Honus Wagner.
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Jim Pewter 1968
Photo copyright Playground Productions. thank you Jim!
Straight ahead, don't bunch up!
Jim Pewter 1968
More Jim Pewter
Friday, July 15, 2022
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Turn Back The Clock
Andy and Virginia Mansfield brought their brand of oldies to NBC and shortly around that time to AFRTS.
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
AFN Pam Windsor 1984
This came in on one of Chris's great tapes that he'd been saving for years. When I asked Pam:
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
AFN and AFRTS jingles
Some days the jingles rock. This is from several jingle packages. Some are voiced AFN, some voiced AFRTS. Ed Tooma is on the voice drops.
Monday, June 27, 2022
Chris Noel 1968
During Vietnam, actress Chris Noel did the “Date With Chris” show, one of the most popular programs in the history of the network. There are some examples in the blog. Since the war she’s run a shelter for veterans, still fighting the good fight. Take 10 seconds and help a great person. Now she needs your help. Please do what you can. Vetsville
s
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Love with Tony Pigg 1971
In 1971 no one was even sure what AOR was but Tony Pigg was doing it in New York at WPLJ. AFRTS was rockin..
"Love" with Tony Pigg
Love With Tony Pigg - 1971
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Bob KIngsley 1975
For someone who went on to host American Country Countdown, Bob Kingsley could sure rock up a storm. Bob was an Air Force AFRS Iceland vet. Take a listen:
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Charlie Tuna 1973
Charlie and Michael Jackson
I used to do the morning show in Panama then run the Charlie Tuna show...and listen. Charlie had an awful lot of what we wanted to grow up to be" Years later I was working at a station in Manchester and the PD was asked me how I could do content that wasn't cliché "topical" or "music related" but was 'one on one'. It was something I think we learned from all of the AFRTS guys, but Charlie in particular.
Thanks for the memories!
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Johnny Bond 1961
Johnny Bond did a lot of songs, movies and had a long term radio gig with AFRTS. Archive.org has much of his music click here He brought the back home music
Monday, May 30, 2022
Lyndon Johnson - Memorial Day 1963
Vice president Lyndon Johnson on Memorial Day 1963 as broadcast by AFRTS
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Monday, May 23, 2022
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Silly spots
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Finding sweet spot between informative and zany at AFN
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Chris Noel 1969
Vetsville Cease Fire House
291 NE 19th Avenue
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Phone: (561) 736-4325
I’m Chris Noel. In Hollywood, I did films with Elvis and Steve McQueen. In Vietnam, I performed live, and my radio show was broadcast to our troops, both in Vietnam and worldwide.
Then, in 1993, I founded Vetsville Cease Fire House, a non-profit charity based in Florida that is dedicated to providing food, shelter and care for indigent military veterans.
Vets make great employees. They’re dependable team players who work with pride, but finding full-time employment is often extremely difficult. And that's where Vetsville Cease Fire House comes in. Among the great organizations sponsoring us are the Nam Knights MC, a group of police officers and Vietnam veterans.
We’re also sponsored by groups like Rolling Thunder, Paul Revere and the Raiders, “Good Morning Vietnam’s” Adrian Cronauer, and various community organizations. We also hold popular yearly fund-raisers such as Veterans Day celebrations and Rock ‘n’ Roll Sunday!
Our mission is to provide homeless American military veterans --regardless of race, creed, color, sex or age -- with food, shelter, and a secure environment as we aid them in returning to society. That’s our goal -- and Vetsville Cease Fire House is making it happen ... with the help of your generous contribution!
Thank You For Your Time!Chris Noel
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Jim Pewter
Jim Pewter and Mamie Van Doren
Jim Pewter just sent up a bunch of 1995 shows. Didn't we go to different high schools together? Thank you Jim. Thank you Timmy (Radio's best friend)
Thursday, May 12, 2022
AFRS Alaska - Steve Phillips 1967
Here's our first visit with AFRS Alaska. It's 1967 and Steve Phillips brings the music.
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Battle of Guadalcanal 1942
I was at the record store and saw a used album by the USMC Band. The thing was too thick. With the record were 2 12" 78s that sound like they were done for the troops as a command information thing. This one has a short clip recorded in the studio at Guadalcanal. There's just not much audio from the Mosquito Network. It's a good listen.
Bob Kingsley 1975
Bob Kingsley visits SCN in the Panama Canal Zone 1972 (photo: Gerry Fry)
Somehow it still amazes me. Bob Kingsley was a really good rock jock. He was one of us. He'd done a tour at our Iceland station. Bob later went on to be the voice of country music on American Country Countdown. In 1975, it was time to rock.
Charles Goyette remembers that picture " I was also more than a little surprised to see myself on the page in a photo with Bob Kingsley at SCN. That was in summer of ’72. Also in the shot are LtC. Dan Maguire (our CO and a very fine man), Tom Colvin, John Fisher, Bob Rupp, Paul Warhanik, and Phil Lane. I’m surprised the talented Lee McGowan wasn’t in that shot.
We were good hosts to Kingsley during his visit to Panama. And some time later Bob was an equally good host when Lee, Gerry Fry, and I visited him in L.A. As I recall, Robert Fuller, the actor in TV westerns like Wagon Train, was Bob’s brother-in-law. Among other things, Bob took us on the lot for a shooting of the series Emergency that Fuller was starring in.
Great seeing that picture again!"
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Roger Carroll 1981
RC thanks for the memories and some great radio!!
A while back I had a chat with Roger.
John Halbert Book
John Halbert has a new book:
Amazon has just released my biography which includes being deputy chief of the radio & television branch, in there Office of Information at HQ Strategic Air Command, co-manager of the joint AFRTS/Canadian Broadcasting arrangement at Harmon AFB in Stephenville, Newfoundland (VOHF radio & CFSN-TV), US Air Forces Europe manager of radio & television at HQ USAFE, Ramstein AB, Germany; Assistant Director of Public Affairs in the Pentagon involving being on the DoD AFRTS policy board and later as EUCOM executive manager of AFRTS for Europe.
Synopsis and chapter previews are available at no cost for review
Monday, May 2, 2022
Wolfman Jack 1977
Ladies and gentlemen, Wolfman Jack would like you to join the Air Force. This guy could SELL. It's an amazing skill at that level.
Sound Off 1943
Bill Goodwin
I guess there could be quite a project in who was the first network DJ with AFRS. Bill Goodwin was one of the first with "Sound Off". "Sound Off" was a request show, with dedications for the troops.
Chris Noel 1971
Some rock, some ballads and a voice from home. Chris Noel. You have a Date With Chris.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Charlie Tuna 1983
Charlie had almost 50 years in Los Angeles radio. That's hard for me to even conceive. Talent..
Charlie was with us from 1971-96. His day jobs were some of the greatest LA top 40s ever.
Mary Helen Barro 1983
It's a Friday in 1983 and Mary Helen has your latin favorites. Let the fiesta begin!
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Joe Ferguson 1983
Joe Ferguson was the first one to share his disks with us. It's been a few years and the shows keep coming. I appreciate it very much!
Monday, April 18, 2022
Joe Allison 1969
Joe Allison with Red Stegall and Don Light
Joe Allison was the country voice for a long, long time. Joe was a musician, producer, writer "He'll Have to Go" and a truly fine DJ. Before Joe, country radio was hillbilly. He brought it modern.
Sunday, April 10, 2022
AFTN Thailand May 10, 1970
Today is the anniversary of a very sad day.
On April 10th 1970 an unarmed photo recon plane was returning from a mission in Vietnam. It missed the runway, crashed and destroyed the building for AFTN Udorn.
We lost nine airmen that day.
IN MEMORIAM
TSgt Jack A. Hawley (37), Wakeman, OH
SSgt James T. Howard (27), Denver, CO
A1C Andrew C. McCartney (20), Lakewood, OH
SSgt Alfred N. Potter (27), Forest Grove, OR
Sgt John Charles Rose ( 25), Bloomfield, NJ
TSgt Frank D. Ryan, Jr. (41), Mercer Island, WA
SSgt Edward Wm. Strain (24), Myrtle Beach, SC
TSgt Roy Walker (40), Albuquerque, NM
A1C Thomas L. Waterman (25), Roanoke, VA
Friday, April 1, 2022
Golden Days Of Radio 1970
The Golden Days of Radio ran almost as long as AFRTS itself. It was the last program recorded for the network under the 'old system'. Mr Bresse was a storehouse of information about radio in the 1940s and 50s. It was always fun to hear.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Bob Kingsley 1973
For those of us "a certain age" Bob Kingsley WAS the American Country Countdown. That's why listening to his AFRTS rock show is so fascinating. It's a style that really bridges the gap. Take a listen:
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Roger Carroll 1981
Young Roger at WMFD
There's always time for a Happy Hour. When I was working civilian, one time I had a PD wondering how I could do so many "universals". To him that meant being able to do a break without necessarily doing a station promo or talking about the record. I learned it from the Roger and the AFRTS-LA talent. Many thanks.
Roland Bynum 1981
Roland's back in the Creators Corner with your Thursday favorites on American Forces Radio
Monday, March 28, 2022
Jim Pewter 1968
Time for Brother Jim. A couple of years before this show, Jim was up in the division area in Korea on AFKN. The "songs you forgot to remember" has never been more appropriate.
Chris Noel 1970
Chris's book "Vietnam and Me". It's highly recommended.
But right now, it's 1970 and time for a Date With Chris
s
Friday, March 25, 2022
Charlie Tuna 1982
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
FEN Automation and Tokyo Calling 1965
Henry Yaskell was way ahead of his time from the automation system to tropo scatter to distribute the net up the line to Misawa and other places; Kuma Station and Wakkanai in the far north of Japan. In addition to the voice network to our outlying stations, we also had a teletype network and a fulltime employee to type and send printed newscasts to all the stations. Yes, they could have had all news prerecorded on tape and I believe Henry wanted that but it pushed immediacy back by at least an hour and the programmers would not allow it.
Automation basic brain may have been a Harris-made unit, but not sure. Henry had at least four turntables connected along with a bank of ampex tape recorders and several cart machines. It used a room about 20x20 and had one fulltime GI and a Japanese engineer plus probably a GI engineer. Time hacks were automated and the unit could switch between functions and the news booth and production studios. A lot of local production done on tape like “Tokyo Calling.”
It took a lot of tending and no one but Henry thought it saved any manpower. Still, it was ingenious and way ahead of most broadcast stations. I worked at a station in Sacramento after I retired that was automated with a Harris-90 with just a bank of tape playback units and two production studios. Very simple by comparison.
FEN even had on loan from Sony an early portable tape unit that rode around on a cart much like a current day audio visual cart with a few shelves. Not very portable and weighed a couple of hundred pounds. This never worked properly and wasn’t used in the field that I know about. Our audio equipment was the best you could buy, and programming concentration was totally audio. I think we had a least six Nagra tape recorders. We were just a radio station, (no TV at all), and the network feed, but we were very good. Great talent in house. Unfortunately many of them are now deceased. I am certain we would have made money in any market in the United States.
I was just a buck sergeant and staff sergeant as I left, but had worked radio in Denver, San Diego, and small Iowa stations before arriving there. I wasn’t bad, but others there made me look like an amateur.
From January 1965, here's Burr Hoyle:
FEN FM automation c 1983 (Photo: Jon Yim)
Monday, March 21, 2022
Jerry Bishop 1977
There were very few places where we aired the network shows on FM. Parts of AFN in Germany and Spain and Torrejon Spain. That;s what makes Vicente's recordings of the station all the more welcome.
It's a Monday and almost Christmas 1977 and time for the Bishop.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Whistler 1962
Halloween's coming up and time for a mystery with the Whistler. By the 60s, of course these were repeats. With some breaks, the Whistler was on in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. The shows hold up surprisingly well.
Monday, January 10, 2022
Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Charlie Tuna 1985
Charlie Tuna is Los Angeles radio KHJ, 1967-72; KROQ, 1972-73; KKDJ, 1973-75; KIIS, 1975-77; KHJ, 1977; KTNQ, 1978-80; KHTZ, 1980-85; KBZT, 1985-86; KRLA, 1986-90; KODJ/KCBS, 1990-93; KMPC/KABC, 1993-94; KIKF, 1994-98; KLAC, 1998-2000; KBIG, 2000-07; KRTH, 2008-13. He then did weekends and fill-in at K-EARTH.
We lost Charlie in 2016.
Incredible. From 1971 til the 1990s we were lucky enough to have the Charlie Tuna Show
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