Don Tracy 1980

Imagine my surprise when I checked the website voicemail and there was a message from Don Tracy, offering whatever help he could.  Don sounds great.   Don started with AFRTS in 1973 and it was largely a weekend gig that got more interesting as time went by. It took a while for the fan mail to start and he had received a letter from Germany, asking if he'd like to come over as a morale builder. He went to in Nuremberg, to support AFN.  A big memory of that was when the Stars and Stripes reporter was going to make him look bad by asking about the government paid boondoggle.  It didn't work.  Don had taken vacation and paid for the trip out of pocket.

Don Tracy - 1980

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Chris Noel 1970

 

Chris Noel has always been a special person from being such an amazing film talent through the Date With Chris years to running veterans shelter in Florida.  We have a lot to be thankful for.  Here's a plate of memories:

Date With Chris - 1970 

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Hear Chris every night at 9pm Pacific, Midnight Eastern on the Hook:

https://onlineradiobox.com/us/thehook/

or:The Hook

John Doremus 1967

 

What an incredible voice. Mr Doremus began this style of late night radio on WMAQ Chicago and syndicated on the BIG stations. He also 'invented' in flight music.

John Doremus - 1967

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Mark White AFN Berlin 1980

 

 

The late Mark White had his claim to King of Jazz.  He brought some wonderful music to Berlin for well over three decades.  Chris Muermann was a big fan at the time and recorded several of his broadcasts.  Garry made them available.  Today it's a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, coming to Berlin for a concert.  Mark, keep swinging...

 

AFN - Mark White 1980

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Charlie Williams - Country Corner 1972

 

Charlie Williams didn't host the show for very long but he brought a big piece of rural America worldwide.  Charlie had the show between Joe Allison and Gene Price.

Country Corner - 1972

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Wolfman Jack 1974

 

July 1995 we lost the Wolfman and that piece of a great radio heritage. Wolf, you're missed.

Wolfman Jack - 1974

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Peter Troy 1965

 By the 1960s, there wasn't much drama being produced in the United States.  AFRTS reached out to British, Australian and South African radio,

In 1963 South Africa's Springbok radio produced "Walk Softly Peter Troy".  Well written.  We ran it in 1965.

 "The Blonde With The Delicate Air". Peter's been framed for murder by a very lovely lady.  Tom Meehan, Herrick Merril (producer), John Simpson, Merle Wayne.

Peter Troy - The Blonde With a Delicate Air

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AFTN New Show Preview 1069

 

There are some great new shows coming up to celebrate 1969 in Thailand on AFTN!

AFTN - New show preview 1969

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Roger Carroll 1969

 

Roger Carroll didn't want to be DJ.  He was at the pinnacle of success for an announcer.  Booth announcer at ABC.  They needed DJs.  None of the announcers wanted to do it. He was the new guy.  Do it.  That decision was the start of a new life for RC.  Let's remember 1969.  Your happy hour awaits...

Roger Carroll - 1969

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Mary Turner 1984

  

Time for another visit with Mary Turner, She started at the network in 1981 or so, bringing a new perspective.  It was rocking...

Mary checked in last time with good words about her AFRTS time. 

Mary Turner - 1984

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Vance Graham 1974

  

Victor was Vance Graham.  Vance had entered Los Angeles radio in the 1930s and found his greatest success as a spanish DJ.  Bolero Time was heard on multiple stations and recorded for AFRTS well into the 1970s.

Bolero Time - 1974

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Herman Griffith 1967

  

Herman with Jim Pewter and Roger Carroll

 Feeling brave? If you're young  or old Herman Griffith is here with the Records Caravan. Bold?  If you

Herman was at KGFJ in Los Angeles in the early 60s, was with us into the 1970s and not much else is known.

Herman Griffith - 1967

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Andy Mansfield 1964

 

Andy Mansfield continues his tribute to MAJ Glenn Miller.  If you didn't already know, Glenn was at the top of his game with one of the hottest dance bands in the country, and was way to old to go in the military.  He did.

America's Popular Music - 1965

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AFVN Day After Thanksgiving 1970

 

On Thanksgiving it's hard to not think about home.  When Billy Williams was at AFVN a few years later, he found a station composite of the day after Thanksgiving with AFVN.  Nicely done.  Take a listen.

AFVN - November 27, 1970

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Happy Thanksgiving 1944

  

Surprisingly hard to find Thanksgiving shows.  From 1944 Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter on It's a Wonderful Life)  and an all-star cast share the holidays.

1944 AFRS Thanksgiving Show

My best to you and yours. 

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Roland Bynum 1979

 

Roland brings the dancing!  It's 1979 and in the Creators Workshop there's Stephanie Mills, Donna Summer and Michael Jackson.

Roland Bynum - 1979

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Bill Stewart 1969

 

He sure kept it jazzy.  Heck of a jock Bill Stewart.  

Bill Stewart - 1969

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Jim Pewter 1980

 I miss this music.  As the years go by there are less and less opportunities to hear it, particularly from someone that understands it.

Jim was at AFKN in 1966 and shortly after went too the network for a three decade run.

The weekend starts.... it's Friday

Jim Pewter 1980

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Chris Noel 1967

 

In 1963 Chis Noel was a fashion model.  In 1966 we had A Date With Chris.  Thank you Chris!

Chris Noel - 1967

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Joe Ferguson 1983

 

In 1983 AFRTS brought in jocks from all over the country to record shows.  Today it's to Portland OR for the Joe Show!

Joe Ferguson - 1983

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Pete Smith 1983

   

Pete Smith was part of the EZ listening tradition at AFRTS.  He followed John Doremus, who followed Jim Ameche.  He had quite a career in Los Angeles radio KNX; KDAY, 1956-58; KRKD, 1958-61; KNOB; KPOL; KMPC, 1961-88; KJQI/KOJY, 1993-95; KGIL, 1998. Pete was part of "Music of Your Life."

Roger Carroll was telling me that Pete was fulltime swing at KMPC.  What a gig.

Pete Smith 1983

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Gene Price 1980

 

Dolly sure loves the Gene Price show!  Time for some inspired silliness from Gene

Gene Price -1980

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Mary Helen Barro 1983

 

Seemed like every time I was at finance, trying to guess what they did to my check Mary Helen Barro was on.  It was great mid-day show.  Take a listen.

Mary Helen Barro - 1983

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Charlie Tuna 1974

 

Our Breakfast Serial continues with this visit with Radio Hall of Famer Charlie Tuna. A lot of people started their duty day with Charlie. He started with us in 1972 and was there until the end of originated network programming in 1996. We lost Charlie in 2016.

Charlie Tuna - 1974
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Ira Cook 1961

 

Ira Cook with Elvis Presley

Ira started with us in 1960, still there 20 years later.

Ira Cook 1961

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Sugar Report 1945

 

This one was sure a story.  Sugar Report was apparently never sent out on vinyl.  Each disk apparently unique and broadcast on shortwave at the time.  Bakedalaska got this one for us, thanks for the donation!.  When it came in there was a thick gray film and severe chipping and cracking.  Doing anything aggressive to remove the film will cause the chips to come off.  So... I gently cleaned it as best I could and did a transfer.  It was noisy but mostly complete.  With that being done, I tried a much better cleaning.

 

Acetate disks are actually made of organic cellulose.  When stored poorly something called palmyric acid leeches into the grooves.  That's important because it looks like a normal dirt.  Warm water and soap tends to make it worse.  Water with a small concentration of vinegar will dissolve it.  Windex is pretty close.  Most of it dissolved, Noise reduction removed the majority of the pops but it was still rough.  The pops were places where the cellulose was actually cracked.

Sugar Report 125 b - 1945

Joe Allison 1970

 

Here's Joe Allison with another hour of your favorites.

Country Corner 1970

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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.

Wolfman Jack - 1975

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Roger Carroll 1969

 

Roger Carroll and Hal Oiler at AFRTS

Roger has another hour of the best sounds in town.  It's a Friday in 1969 with the best sounds in town.  and Frank Sinatra tell his story from "A Man and His Music".  It's a really great hour.

"Thom part one Sinatra "A Man and His Music" that I introduced to the world is OUTSTANDING My beautiful Beverly who I miss we had 60 wonderful years together and five great loving children" - Roger Carroll

Roger Carroll - 1969

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Mary Turner 1984

  

Time for another visit with Ft McCadden's Mary Turner.  Mary really did rock the world.  KMET, AFRTS, Off the Record.  Classy and always done well.

Mary Turner 1984

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Herman Griffith 1967

  

Jim Pewter, Herman Griffith and Roger Carroll

Herman Griffith kicked up a storm, with KGFJ and with AFRTS.  I wish I knew more of his story.  Roland Bynum says that Herman helped him get his job with us.

Herman Griffith 1967

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Andy Mansfield 1964

 

In 1964 Andy Mansfield did a tribute to Glenn Miller, a multi-part feature with much care, craftsmanship and memories.  Here's Part six of "America's Popular Music"

Andy Mansfield - 1964

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Roland Bynum 1981

 

Roland Bynum opens the Creators Workshop and your favorites on a Tuesday in 1981.

Roland Bynum - 1981

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Bill Stewart 1967

 

Today Bill Stewart's guest is Rudy Vallee.  Rudy was the biggest of the big in the 1920s and kept going for five decades.  It's a fun listen.

Bill Stewart - 1967

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Jim Pewter 1980

  

Jim Pewter brings the memories in this 1980 broadcast. We went to different high schools together.

Don't bunch up!

Jim Pewter - 1980

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Golden Days of Radio 1980

 

Frank Bresee recorded the last network show under the old system.  GDOR was a celebration of all things radio in the 1930s, 40s and 50s.  Frank started the show with AFRTS in 1967 and was the last to be recorded for the 1996 changeover.

Golden Days Of Radio - 1980

Don Tracy 1985

 

Where's the party?  Anywhere Don Tracy is.

Don Tracy - 1985

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Chris Noel 1967

 

Chris Noel at AFVN

Chris Noel is back with A Date With Chris.

Date With Chris - 1967

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Joe Ferguson 1983

 

From Portland OR, Joe has the memories of 1983.  Seems like yesterday.

Joe Ferguson 1983

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John Doremus 1967

 

Music for the dinner hour from John Doremus.  After the run of the show John did many spots and short form shows that ran for years.

John Doremus - 1967

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Paul Bottoms AFVN 1969

 

 

Paul was a helper here, stories and memories.  Great broadcaster.

 

From 1969, Here's Paul and the Orient Express.

 

AFVN - Paul Bottoms 1969

 

Gene Price 1975

 

Gene Price is back.  Time to board "The Country Express"

Gene Price 1975

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Mary Helen Barro 1983

 

Yesterday it was finally humid in Minnesota, rapidly moving rain.  Tropical memories of Panama indeed.  Let's have the music with Mary Helen Barro.

Mary Helen Barro - 1983

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Your audience awaits!

 

Many of us saved a tape or acetate or two. There are a lot of people that would like to hear them again. The airchecks from AFN/AFKN/SCN etc usually turn out as popular as the LA talent. If you've saved a tape or two, jammed in the back of a drawer somewhere, I'd really like to hear it and I'm sure others would too. So much of our collective history has been lost in the name of housekeeping.

"We went to different high schools together" - Jim Pewter

Please contact me if you've saved anything.

Thom
afrts@live.com

Charlie Tuna 1985

 

Charlie Tuna with Bobbie Ocean

Easy to see why Charlie was on top for so very long. Most of the shows could be scheduled pretty much any time day or night.  Charlie was in the morning and woke up the world. Stay tuned for Mister Hollywood!  Nothing sounds quite that easy without a lot of work..

Charlie Tuna - 1985

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Johnny Bond 1961

 

Johnny Bond was a movie star, recording artist and radio star.  He was with us for many years.

Johnny Bond - 1961

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