Turn Back The Clock 1958

 

Andy and Virginia Mansfield share some highlights of their record collection, and they're excited about it.  That always makes for great listening.  Andy had to build special shed to store his collection.  Hmmm...

Andy went on to do other shows for AFRTS for many years.

Turn Back the Clock 1958

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Tom Campbell 1975

   

Time for another trip down memory lane with Bay Area fave, Tom Campbell (for Cal Stereo). Here's a neat 1975 show..

When Tom got out of the Air Force, he got a gigs in Shreveport, WDGY Minneapolis (The Twin Cities connection continues) and Dayton. 1967 it was to San Francisco where fame struck. between radio and agency work he bounced around southern California including for us at AFRTS

Tom Campbell 1975

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Roland Bynum 1982

 

Roland brings the party. Play it loud...

Roland Bynum 1982

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Bill Stewart 1967

 

It's time for a "Musical Bill Affair," a phrase that's as intriguing as it is mysterious, originating from a jingle. Bill was a renowned talent at KMPC during 1951-59, and subsequently worked at KGIL and KRHM. His acclaim extended to record production, culminating in a celebrated concert at the Hollywood Palladium in 1969. Bill also curated in-flight music programming. Sadly, we bid farewell to Bill in 1993, when he passed away due to congestive heart failure.

Bill Stewart - 1967

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JIm Pewter 1979

 

This is nice, about an hour excerpts of Jim's shows with the music not scoped.   We went to different high schools together.

Jim Pewter

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Don Tracy 1983

 

Don Tracy was from Hartford.  Learned his trade at the Conneticut School of Broadcasting with gigs in Hartford and New Haven before the lure of California.  Then to KGFJ, KABC TV and KDAY and KMBY in Capitola CA then where most of us found him AFRTS.  In 1997 Don was selling at KNX after that he was a part of Malloy and Associates, an advertising agency in Los Angeles. Here's a short piece from 1983.

Don Tracy 1983

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Chris Noel 1969

 

Chris Noel is back with another hour of 1969 memories on "A Date With Chris"

Date With Chris - 1969

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Joe Ferguson 1983

 

Joe Ferguson is back with 1983.  A while back Joe donated these shows to the archive and it's quite a feeling to run the same disks that I ran three decades ago.  Thanks Joe!!

Joe Ferguson -1983

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Pete Smith 1975

   

When I was in at the stations the Easy Listening shows felt painful. As I "mature" I can understand the genius behind them.

Pete Smith - 1975

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Gene Price 1974

  

Gene, Charlie and Jim

 

It's been a privilege to stay in touch with all three.  Here's Gene Price with your 1974 country favorites:

 

Gene Price - 1974

 

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Mary Helen Barro 1983

 

Maria tiene la musica le gusta...

Mary Helen Barro - 1983

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Charlie Tuna 1979

 

For a while in the late 70s, and early 80s Charlie Tuna was backed with Wolfman Jack.  Wow...

Charlie Tuna 1979

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Joe Allison 1965

 

I've been getting requests for more of Joe.  He was a great person, a giant in country music and a wonderful jock.

Joe Allison - 1965

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Wolfman Jack 1975

 

It's howlin' great.  Here's another visit with Wolfman Jack:

Wolfman Jack 1975

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Polka Party 1968

 

Dick Sinclair was in the first class of AFRS talent during WWII.  He later served with the Mosquito Network on Guadacanal.  When he came back he had a big career, mostly hosting polkas.  In the 50s and 60s that really was a huge deal.

Dick was doing Polka Party starting in the 1950s and AFRTS picked it up.  We were running the show well into the 1960s

Polka Party - 1968

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Ralph Gebes AFTN 1973

 

Captain Madrack sent in some nice sounding memories of the Thailand network.


I really appreciate it and I'm sure that a lot of others do when you share your airchecks with us all. I threw mine away and greatly regretted it later. Please let me know what you have.

Today the good Captain (Ralph Gebes) is still involved with the troops:

Thom I am very involved in support our deployed troops. Operation Support Our Troops Illinois www.osotil.org. We have a concert every year with Gary Sinise and the Lt Dan Band. I will send you a copy of last year’s concert. I have taken up video production I am not making a living at it but produce videos for the VFW, OSOTIL, and the local cable access channel. I enjoy the creative side of things and often wish I could be on the air again.

AFTN April 1973

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Roger Carroll 1970

 

Roger Carroll and Glen Campbell

It's a Tuesday in 1970 and time for the Happy Hour.  Roger swings!

Roger Carroll - 1970

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Mary Turner 1984

   

Received a nice note from Mary Turner:

"I often think about my 18 years at Fort McCadden with great fondness. Loved that Roach Coach-I remember always getting teased for actually paying for a bottle of water. I was ahead of my time!"

And she certainly was.

Mary Turner - 1984

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Herman Griffith 1968

   

Jim Pewter, Herman and Roger Carroll

Herman was the first of the really great soul jocks at AFRTS.  He was making waves at KGFJ and went worldwide.  Herman was the one that brought Roland Bynum in..

1968 was great year for music.  Take a listen:

Herman Griffith 1968

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Andy Mansfield - America's Popular Music 1965

 

We've always had oldies.  In 1965 that would have been music from the 1930s and 40s.  Andy Mansfield did a pair of oldies shows for AFRTS.  First was one with his wife Virginia in the 50s "Turn Back The Clock".  Later he did this one "America's Popular Music".

On this broadcast Andy plays requests for our shadow audience, Americans that live overseas, residents of other countries.  We always knew they were there but they were rarely acknowledged on the network.

America's Popular Music - 1965

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Tom Campbell 1979

   

So what kind of jock would put his home phone number in ads?  Tom Campbell would.  You can say he was accessible... In 1971 Tom joined the network for a long run.

Hear Tom every day at 11am Pacific, p2m Eastern on the Hook:

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

or:The Hook

Tom Campbell - 1979

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Bill Stewart - Rocketing Rhythms

 

We counted them down.  The first rock countdown show was Rocketing Rhythms, usually hosted by Jack Brown.  Today Jack is on vacation and KLACs Bill Stewart steps in with the hits from the pages of Cash Box.  Here are the pre-Beatles years hits!

Rocketing Rhythms - 1961

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Jim Pewter 1981

  

Come and get your memories.  Jim's back again with another great half hour.  Starts with the original version of a song made huge by the Beatles. Jim was one of us and it shows up on every show.  They don't make music like this anymore.  No one ever presented it better.

Don Browne has more: All AFRTS radio programming records are spotty, but Jim Pewter is more complicated.

Jim Pewter started his AFRTS-LA career in January 1967, presumably with #1M in flight RU 27-7. His "oldies" specialty show was initially 5-25:00 and lasted about two years. About March 1969, just in time for my arrival at FEN, Tokyo, JP, Jim Pewter was demoted to once a week at 1-55:00. I made a note of it in my FEN log when I reviewed show #366, RU 41-9 in April 1969. The Jim Pewter Show 1-55:00 lasted for about seven years (364 weeks)!

Then at the start of the Bicentennial Year, the Jim Pewter Show was promoted to 5-30:00 with (approximately) #752M in flight RU 1-76 (the first transitional quarter) in January 1976. Because of the long period of one-per-week, the numbering system was in complete disarray. For five-per-week, Mondays, which normally started with xxx1 followed by Mondays as xxx6, instead started with Mondays as xxx2 followed by Mondays as xxx7.

If Jim Pewter continued his 5-30:00 "oldies" show through the transition to Unistar/SMN satellite programming in October 1995, his final cassette-delivered program would have been (about) #5961F in flight RC 52-5, December 1995.

Jim Pewter 1981

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Don Tracy 1980

 

Never really mattered what day it was, it always felt like the weekend during the Don Tracy Show.

Don Tracy 1980

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Chris Noel 1970

 

I first heard Chris when I had gotten to AFKN-TDC.  It was 1976.  TDC was in the middle of the 2nd Infantry Division and these were perfect.  Unfortunately no practical way to edit them.  Hundreds of her shows had been saved and they were every bit as relevant.

Chris Noel - 1970

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Joe Ferguson 1983

 

Joe Ferguson back with more memories of 1983.  In 1983 the network tried being less LA-centric and got jocks all over the country to do shows for the troops.  Joe was in Portland OR and brings it home...  A few years ago Joe sent his set of disks for us to hear again.  Many thanks!

Joe Ferguson - 1983

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John Doremus 1967

  

It's been a busy day and time for orchestral music and stories for the dinner hour from John Doremus.

John Doremus - 1967

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Gene Price 1974

  

Gene Price starts our week with some 1974 fun for Todays Army..

Gene Price - 1974

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AFRTS Guam 1965

 

"Would you like some tape from the Guam station?"  AFRS Guam was there in 1944.  Radioman Cousin Mike held down the fort on the "Night Beat". I believe that's from the Naval Communication Station at Finegayan, Guam.

It's a pretty good hour..

AFRTS Guam - Cousin Mike 1965

Chiquita 1955

 

 

Starting in 1945 Chiquita Juarez  started her show for our Spanish speaking troops.  I wish I had more information on Sre Juarez.  She showed up on at least one Duffy's Tavern and had smaller parts in several movies.  For AFRS, she was Chiquita...

Chiquita - 1955 

Charlie Tuna 1982

 

Which kind of jockey?

Suddenly it's 1982, another morning show done and time for Charlie.  Over at Charlie's website he has an interview with the late fitness guru Jack LaLanne (is there anyone he didn't have a conversation with?)

Charlie Tuna 1982

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Harry Newman 1985

  

Harry's daughter shared the following:

My dad was a HUGE fan & supporter of those in the military & was thrilled that one of my daughters was born on Nov 10...just a few hours away from Veterans Day. He ALWAYS reminded me when Veteran's Day was coming, bc he just had so much reverence & respect for those who served. And if I happened to be visiting in November, we always ate out on the 11th!

And Harry was the voice of "Cops".  On today's show, it's a summer day in 1985 and Ed Bruce stops by.

Harry Newman - 1985

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Wolfman Jack 1980

 

Young Wolfman probably at AM daytimer soul station KUXL Minneapolis. Did he ever do a bad show?  It's 1980 and Wolf rocks the world...

Wolfman Jack 1980

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Roger Carroll 1967

 

Roger Carroll with some swinging memories of 1967.  On with the Happy Hour!!

Roger Carroll - 1967

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Mary Turner 1983

   

Mary Turner and Ted Nugent

Mary Turner was the opposite of GI Jill and Chris Noel, a broadcaster that was a female, it kept with the times, yet still was the girl left behind.

When Mary started her show we were concerned about how an hour of slamming rock and roll would go over.  I knew the troops would love it but the Colonel.  The Canal Zone civilians?  They really liked to complain.  It went over great and was a wonderful addition.

Mary Turner - 1983

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Herman Griffith 1968

   

Jim Pewter, Herman and Roger Carroll

Herman was the first of the really great soul jocks at AFRTS.  He was making waves at KGFJ and went worldwide.  Herman was the one that brought Roland Bynum in..

1968 was great year for music.  Take a listen:

Herman Griffith 1968

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Andy Mansfield 1965

 

Andy and Kay Starr

In the 1950s Andy Mansfield did a program with his wife Virginia.  It Was Called "Turn Back The Clock", featuring the oldies of the last 30 years.  In the 60s, he did the program by himself.  Now it was called "America's Popular Music".

America's Popular Music - 1965

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Tom Campbell 1971

   

Paul Bunyan was very young Tom Campbell

In 1971, Tom Campbell was still the new guy, he did a show about what were the 10 most hated songs on the radio.  There were truly some clinkers...

Tom Campbell 1971

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Roland Bynum 1984

 

Here's a 1984 visit with Roland Bynum.  Hear Roland In Los Angeles, weekends on KJLH, Radio Free 102.3

Roland Bynum

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Bill Stewart 1969

 

Here's the man who can fill the musical bill, Bill Stewart.  Today he has a guest, Bob Cameron singer on the Don McNeil "Breakfast Club" shows and of course some swinging jazz.

Bill Stewart - 1969

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Jim Pewter 1980

  

Jim and Laurie Allen (another Minnesotan!!)on tour

Famous Minnesotans!  Jim Pewter.  Jim was on the network shortly after leaving AFKN and stayed on until 1996.  Here's memories of memories from 1980.

Jim Pewter 1980

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Don Tracy 1983

 

Don Tracy's back with some 1983 fun. Later Don went onto run a major ad agency.

Don Tracy - 1983

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Chris Noel 1968

 

Chris Noel did A Date With Chris between 1966-70 and touched a lot of lives.  She sent signed photos.  She toured Vietnam many times.  She was there.  A few years ago she shared her shows with us.  I'm glad to be able to bring them back.

Date With Chris - 1968

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Chris has a shelter for homeless vets in Florida take a look.

Joe Ferguson 1983

 

Thank you once again Joe Ferguson for sharing your shows with us.  1983 was a great year for me, finishing up in Panama.  Quite a tour.

Joe Ferguson - 1983

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John Doremus 1967

 

The theme is songs about movement, a seemingly straightforward idea. John would skillfully blend these songs with poetry and concepts. His shows gained popularity nationwide, particularly with major airlines, where he pioneered the production of in-flight music. A truly remarkable talent.

John Doremus - 1967

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Paul Bottoms AFVN

 

 About 2000-2001 a Dallas station was running a weekend feature show and ran a AFVN aircheck.

Paul Bottoms heard it and emailed.  It was his show.  He called in the next week and talked about AFVN.

Paul sent in an aircheck of that broadcast.

 

KRLD Dallas - Paul Bottoms talks about AFVN

 

Gene Price 1980

 

Gene Price is back, Leonard is ready to go.  It's 1983 and great!

Gene Price - 1983

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Ira Cook 1974

  

He started his career at KMTR in 1938, working as a record librarian and occasionally as an announcer. A recent graduate from Stanford with a degree in basic medical science, his passion for radio began at the tender age of eight during a visit to a local station with his father. Ira, a native of Duluth, Minnesota, recounted in a detailed interview, "During World War II, at the Battle of the Bulge, we lost 10 to 15 guys from my platoon." Post-war, Ira teamed up with Frank Bull to broadcast boxing and wrestling matches from the Olympic Auditorium. Later, he became the host of Lucky Lager Dance Time on KFAC and pursued his interest in songwriting.

In a 1957 Newsweek story connected with a payola probe, Ira made the following comment about being a DJ: "It's safer than stealing, more legal than gambling, easier than loafing, and it beats working!"

Ira Cook 1974

Mary Helen Barro 1983

 

Las musica latina de Mary Helen Barro.  She did a great job bridging cultures.

Mary Helen Barro - 1983

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Charlie Tuna 1974

 

Charlie was very much a friend of the blog.  It really was an honor when he posted this:

Charlie Tuna Having done almost 6000 shows, I never thought about saving those AFRTS vinyl discs each week, but thanks to people like Thom Whetston, I can take a walk down memory lane with digital quality, and all those shows shrunk down to CD size for storage!

Stay Tuna'd!

Charlie Tuna 1974

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