Rebel Randall 1952

 

Ladies on the radio, from GI Jill, Chris Noel, Mary Turner, LaRita Shelby, Laurie Allen.  Voices from home.  During the Korean War that voice was Rebel Randall.

Huge audience, doing a civilian show in the states where families could call their troop overseas.  Eventually picked up by AFRTS to do a show.  "Jukebox USA".  It only ran for a couple of years.  Rumor at the time was she was talking too sexy for the brass...

Rebel Randall - 1952

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Roger Carroll 1977

 

RC, that's he! Roger Carroll was with us for a long long time and it's always wonderful.  Here's Roger for the US Air Force.

Roger Carroll - 1977

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Merry Christmas 1947

 

Three G. I.'s in Germany, away from home at Christmas time for the first time, try to share the holiday spirit. Edmund Penny, Frank Gerstle, Howard Culver, Irvin Lee, James W. Talbot (producer), Jerry Farber, Richard Crenna, Rye Billsbury, Steve Allen (writer).

I know that MacGregor produced similar material to this (under a contract for AFRS)

AFRS Christmas 1947

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Adventures in Good Music 1972

 

Karl Haas was perfect for AFRTS.  He made classical music accessible for young troops that had never heard such a thing and gave a gift.  He did the same thing on Detroit radio for decades.  His show was syndicated all over the country and is probably still being aired somewhere.

Adventures in Good Music - 1972

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Army Hour - 1967 Computers!

 

The Army had computers in 1967, just not very sure what they were.  This from a 1967 "Army Hour" broadcast.  The Army Hour had PAO shops from around the world filing reports on what their commands were doing.  These usually ended up broadcast on Sunday mornings in the states. Sgt Raymond Banks reports:

Army Hour - Computers 1967

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Johnny Bond 1961

 To the strains of Les Paul's "Cimarron" and a bushel basket full of gramophone records.  It's old school country from 1961.

Happy listening!

Johnny Bond - 1961

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Chris Noel 1970

 

Chris Noel did so much for so many Vietnam era troops.  "A Date With Chris" brought the girl next door to far flung outposts all over the world.

A Date With Chris - 1970

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Charlie Tuna 1988

It's been five years since we lost Charlie.  I remember that day. 

Charlie was with us a quarter century, right up to the end.  I think we all stole something from him.  Thanks Charlie!

 

Charlie Tuna - 1988

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Rocketing Rhythms 1961

 

Jack Brown is back with Rocketing Rhythms. our 1961 show with tunes for the kids.  Today Jack has the top hits and visit with Kay Starr...

Rocketing Rhythms - 1961

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Halloween's Coming.... Mystery Playhouse 1944

 The Mystery Playhouse was one of the first series on AFRS.  The networks were sending over more good material than could be readily used.  A lot of it was used in anthology programs, sort of the best of radio back home.  "SGT X" (Howard Duff) was the host of the Mystery Playhouse..

Ida Lupino and Louis Hayward in Graham Greene's novel, "Brighton Rock." was originally aired on the CBS show "This Is My Best", in 1944

Mystery Playhouse #37 "Brighton Rock"  

Halloween Memories

Johnnie Darrin 1978

 

Johnnie Darrin's resume included: KIIS; KRLA, 1968-71; KDAY, 1971; KROQ, 1972-73; KNAC, 1975; KGOE, 1975; KNX, 1976; KGIL, 1976-83; KJOI, 1978; KBLA, 1989-92; KGIL, 1993; KFWB, 1998-2008.  

Johnnie Darin 1978

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Jim Pewter 1968

 

Today Jim has memories of Johnny Ace, one of the most haunting talents ever.

Jim Pewter - 1968

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Redd Harper 1948

 

Redd was a part of a concert band that became more and more successful until they were invited to join an Oklahoma City radio station in 1924. From there, his career took off and his music was in greater demand. In 1931 he joined a larger radio station in Des Moines, found more success, and then decided to head to Hollywood, California. However, he arrived at the end of the Western Jazz era and the beginning of the Great Depression, thus finding it hard to find work and was not as successful as he had been. He struggled to find work in the city. When World War II started, he joined the Coast Guard for three years.  After the war, Redd was doing shows for AFRS.

After the war he found success again in Hollywood as he began working with other big name artists of the time from both radio and movies. During this time he also found success in the movie industry and starred in several films, including The Strawberry Roan.

Redd Harper Hollywood Roundup 1948

Operation Little Vittles 1949

 In the late 40s AFRS did a lot of stories about the people side of war.  Operation Little Vittles was a part of the Berlin Airlift. America got candy to kids.

The story is dramatized in this broadcast:

Operation Little Vittles - 1949

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AFVN Your Brother 1969

LINK FIXED

 Bob Mayben sent in a neat AFVN memory: "I was company clerk for the 43rd APU (Post Office). I have a 30 minute air check of “Your Brother” on AFVN DaNang that I recorded at the 80th Logistical Command in the Arts and Crafts shop."

AFVN DaNang - Your Brother 1969

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Roger Carroll 1981

 I'm grateful that Roger made so many great shows and made them available to us. 

 

Today it's memories of 1981.  If you have any of Roger's Christmas shows please contact me!

 

Roger Carroll - 1981

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Rocketing Rhythms 1961

 

Jack Brown interviews Bogart and Becall

Jack Brown was a long time AFRS announcer, with a history going back to WWII.  By 1961 he was counting down the greatest hits on Rocketing Rhythms.

Rocketing Rhythms 1961

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Chris Noel 1970

 

Beautiful lady, wonderful show.  You have a Date With Chris.

Chris Noel - 1970

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1970s jingles

 

TM Productions was big.  Tom Merrman's company along with PAMS were the gold standard.  Here's some of the jingles they did for us in the 70s.

AFRTS TM Productions jingles

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Charlie Tuna 1991

 So where were you in 1991?

The first Gulf War, Soviet Union crumbles, Princess Diana and Prince Charles split up. Topicality was a big piece of the Charlie Tuna show:

Charlie Tuna 1991

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JIm Pewter 1968

 

Today Jim has memories of Johnny Ace, one of the most haunting talents ever.

Jim Pewter - 1968

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Laura Lee - 1986

 

Laura Lee brought us jazz worldwide on Jazzbeat.  After a long day it was great.

Jazzbeat - 1986

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AFN Old Gold Retold 1983 Ron Hester

  

"Old Gold Retold" had a long history on AFN. By 1983, Ron Hester had your memories

AFN Old Gold Retold 1983 - Ron Hester

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Jazz Book 1962

 

One of America's great exports was jazz.  We've played a lot of it on AFRTS.  In 1962  Bill Kelly opened the pages of the "Jazz Book" with some wonderful music.  When I had the bigband show in Minneapolis Stan Kenton was one of my first guests.  Wonderful artist, great musician.  Give a listen.

Jazz Book 1962

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Humble Harv 1980

 

I few years ago, when I was doing the station for Roger Carroll, I was called by Harv.  He wanted a website with a lot of video.  Sounded like a great idea but it would be crazy time consuming to do well.  Nice guy.  Wish I could have pulled that off.

Humble Harve counted them down in the late 70s and 80s.

Humble Harve - 1980

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Chris Noel 1969

 

Chris Noel was the voice of home to a lot of troops, halfway around the world and counting the days back to the real world.It's a Wednesday in 1969 with Date With Chris.  Please help fellow vets by making a contribution to Chris's "Vetsville Cease Fire House" 

Chris Noel - 1969

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Roger Carroll 1969

 

I'll always be grateful to Roger for sharing these memories. .  Roger brings you the Happy Hour and once again in fine fettle.  Time for the Best Sounds in Town!

Roger Carroll - 1969

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Enchantment Of Music 1964

Over the years AFRTS presented a lot of classical music. For a lot of our listeners, it was the introduction to styles of music that they hadn't heard before. "Enchantment of Music" was originally from KCBH-FM, Beverly Hills. They presented their shows in "the matchless fidelity of frequency modulation".   The station was also the first one for The Real Don Steele.

Did we ever actually run these on FM stations?

KCBH sounds like a very interesting place Here's their tribute website

Enchantment Of Music 1963

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GI Journal 1943

 Incredible the depth of talent, giving their all for the troops:

G. I. Journal. November 5, 1943. Program #16.  The first tune is, "I Know That You Know." Arthur Q. Bryan, Georgia Carroll, Harry Babbitt, Harry Mitchell (announcer), Merwyn Bogue, Jerry Colonna, Kay Kyser and His Orchestra, Linda Darnell, Mel Blanc, Sully Mason (vocals). 29:53.

GI Journal 1943

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Dick Sinclair 1961

 Dick Sinclair has a special piece in AFRTS history.  He was in the first group of broadcasters to train at Fox Movie Studio for the new network.  During WWII he has at the Guadalcanal station.  After the war he was "Polka Party" on both radio and television for many years.

Standing, Left to Right: Allen Botzer, Dick Sinclair, Jack (Ivan) Saddler, Rudy Luukinen, Al Taylor.
Sitting, Left to Right: George Dvorak, Rudy Rubin, Hy Averback, Spence Allen, Will Kennedy.

Polka Party - 1961

More about the first AFRS crew at smecc Click here

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