Martin Block Xmas 1954

 

Christmas time is coming, Martin Block did his show for AFRTS-NY (Hi Jim!). Christmas was a special time in the Make Believe Ballroom...

Martin Block - Xmas 1954

More Christmas

AFN Mark White 1954

 

Here's Mark White interviewing Richard Widmark in 1954






AFN Mark White - Safety Star Time 1954

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

Jingles, what time IS is?

The the MISC library there were many generic jingle packages.  One of them with a very hokey band and these lyrics:

 

"For the best music on wax

it's time to sit back and relax

with your favorite disk jockey show"

 

How could I not play that?

What I did find recently was MISC-249

Jingle time

More Jingles

Did you have a favorite jingle?

If Freedom Failed - Jeff Chandler

It's been awhile.  Thanks Max for bringing it up.  These are hard to describe but very well done.

If Freedom Failed 13 Jeff Chandler

More If Freedom Failed

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

Early AFN Munich

Here are some memories of the early years of AFN in the 1950s.  I wish I had more information but it's a fun listen. Starting with a 1954 visit with Larry Butcher.

Early AFN

More AFN

Crime Classics - 1954

Crime Classics was a classy CBS show from the early 50s.  It was run several times on AFRTS well into the 1970s.  Elliott Lewis and a great cast.  "New Hampshire, the Tiger and Brad Ferguson" was initially broadcast in 1954.  This is from a 1967 reissue.

Crime Classics - 1954

More Old Time Radio

Blue Danube Network - AFRS Austria 1954

After WWII, BDN,  Blue Danube Network was in Austria.  In 1955 American Forces left the country.  From 1954 BDNs Bill Murray tells us about Austria.

BDN Bill Murray - Austria

AFN 1954 Stickbuddy Jamboree

"I was with AFN 1954-1956 (Berlin and Frankfurt) and did a variety of shows....Hillbilly Gastehaus, Duffle Bag, etc. About the only tape I have left is a cassette of one show that went full-network. Great times at AFN those years. After discharge in 56, I went back to Texas radio where I had taken that "leave of absence" and worked briefly in Austin before joining KILT in 56.  On air PD till 62.  Then on air PD at WQXI Atlanta till 75. 75-85 owned part of a station in Valdosta, Ga.  Came to Carrollton, Ga. in 85 with WBTR.  Spent my last 10 years with 50,000 watt WKNG Carrollton before retiring in June of this year.  Total of 63 years in the business and with birthday #80 coming,  I figured that was enough.”  Red's a member of The Georgia Radio Hall of Fame.

AFN - Red Jones 1954

Martin Block 1954

Martin Block had the first really big DJ show in the 1930s and made a huge career after.  WNEW blanketed the eastern United States, he did several shows for the networks and for AFRTS.  His one on one style served him very well.

Martin Block 1954

It's an interesting story:

http://www.bigbandlibrary.com/martinblock.html