Harry Von Zell 1944

 

Harry Von Zell was one of giants of radio announcing.  In the 1920s he was the announcer for Paul Whiteman.  By 1930 a CBS staff announcer.  Harry Von Zell biography in Wikipedia

Today Harry jives up a storm in Sound Off!

Sound Off - 1944

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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.

Mr Goodwin was most notable as the announcer/foil for George Burns on his television show in the 50s.  We lost Mr. Goodwin in 1958.

AFRS Sound Off - 1943

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Sound Off 1942

I've only seen a handful of these. Prior to AFRS, Special Services recorded shows on 12" disks to be used with a record player, generally in whatever passed as a Mess Hall or Rec Center as the troops were battling on the ground.

Sound Off continued with the newly formed AFRS.  Here's Harry VonZell

Sound Off - 1942

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Downbeat 1943

In 1943 the military hadn't totally decided how to do broadcasting but there were a lot of entertainers that would perform for the troops.  Initially boxes of 12" were sent out.  One of the most popular programs was "Sound Off".  Here's bandleader Xavier Cugat.

Sound Off - Xavier Cugat

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Sound Off - Bill Goodwin 1942

Here's the other side of a disk from a couple of months ago.  Before we had a network the government was sending radio shows to the field.  Announcer Bill Goodwin shows us a precursor to American Top 40:

 

Sound Off - 1942

 

 

Sound Off - 1942

Johnson Mercer has more of the countdown you called for in "Sound Off".  Sound Off is older than AFRS.  These programs were distributed on 12" vinyl like V-Disks.  I've heard there were disks with rebroadcasts of network shows, I've just never actually seen one.  The joint is jumpin'... Sound Off!!

Sound Off - 16 -1942