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Chris toured the world many times bringing home that much close. Thank you Chris!
Friday, March 31, 2017
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Jim Ameche - 1965
Before Pete Smith, before John Doremus there was Jim Ameche with 'the most beautiful sounds around' . Jim's radio career started with "Jack Armstrong the All America Boy" in the 1930s. When radio changed in the 1950s Jim adapted his career and became one of the first successful syndicated DJs.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
AFRTS 75th Anniversary reunion.
There are a lot of people planning to participate in this one. Familiar names from the network and troops from all over. This will include a tour of the network in Riverside.
Join past and current members of the Armed Forced Radio and Television Service as we celebrate 75 years providing education, information and entertainment for our Armed Forces overseas.
September 12 - 15, 2017 Moreno Valley, CA
There's still time to register!
AFN Operation Information 1953
Operation Information was a weekly "Radio Newsreel" on AFN Berlin. Let's go back to January 1953.
Friday, March 24, 2017
AFN Reunion 2017
Stephen Johnston checks in with our first reunion update of the year.
Hi...just thought I'd let you know that 20 of us are meeting in Laguna Beach October 5-8 from the 1966-70 era of AFN Frankfurt. So much of AFN was still profoundly affecting our military culture then that we are collectively a substantial prepositive of a "Good Morning Vietnam" German style. It was a strange and wonderful time!
Soundrich1@gmail.com
Staying at The Tides in Laguna...October 5th-8
Soundrich1@gmail.com
Staying at The Tides in Laguna...October 5th-8
Please be sure to pass on your reunion updates!
Monday, March 20, 2017
Chris Noel - 1969
In 1969, Chris Noel was bringing America to the troops around the world on AFRTS. She still has a lifetime commitment and I'm very grateful.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Col Tom Lews - 1945
"Victory Through Air Power" normally sounds like an interesting topic, but this time Colonel Tom Lewis talks about the war and the AFRS part. This is from a 1945 broadcast to the Los Angeles Advertising club. Happy 75th anniversary AFRTS!
Sunday, March 12, 2017
If Freedom Failed 1951
AFRTS informed the troops about the menace of Communism with the 1951 show "If Freedom Failed". Hollywood's best turned out for the troops. Today's star Jeff Chandler. The programs went into the station libraries and aired many times over the years.
Chris Noel - 1971
Chris Noel makes home that much closer in this 1971 memory. Remember White Plains?
Friday, March 10, 2017
Mac McGuire - 1952
I try to not make this all 'Old Time Radio', but there were a lot of at a lot of great shows over the years. When I was lucky enough to be somewhere with a big library, I'd pull random things down and listen. Sometimes there was a surprise. Here's a morning country music show featuring Mac McGuire and his Harmony Rangers. Program originated in Philadelphia at WIP and sounds like it was carried on one of the networks, probably Mutual (letters with song requests from around the country are mentioned). Dated 2-1-52 in the disc matrix. There's a dedication to a troop in Korea .
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Jim Ameche - 1965
Before Pete Smith, before John Doremus there was Jim Ameche with 'the most beautiful sounds around' . Jim's radio career started with "Jack Armstrong the All America Boy" in the 1930s. When radio changed in the 1950s Jim adapted his career and became one of the first successful syndicated DJs.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Humble Harve - 1979
Harve Miller was another great talent in Los Angeles Radio. His countdown show ran for years and it was a delight. Just last week someone asked for Humble Harv, I was going through some backups and here we go..
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Chris Noel - 1966
Chris Noel Starred in Soldier In the Rain (a particularly great movie) with Steve McQueen and Girl Happy with Elvis Presley. In the 1965 she started her show with AFRTS. She went to Vietnam, braved sniper fire and survived a helicopter crash. She shared those shows with us. Thank you Chris!
Today she still helps the troops with the Vetsville Ceasefire House, a home for homeless veterans.
http://www.ceasefirehouse.org/ But in 1966 Chris brought home to thousands of GIs worldwide:
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Hymns From Home - 1943
The war was raging over most of Asia and Europe. AFRS was there to help with spiritual needs. "Hymns From Home" was one our first religious programs.
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Spectrum USA - Franklin Roosevelt 1971
It's the Presidents Day weekend. In 1971 the USMC Reserves did shows about the men who've led our country. Today Dick Stark has information on FDR. Thanks John for making these available!
General McArthur addresses Congress 1951
General McArthur reports to Congress 4/19/51.
The Korean war was raging and General Douglas McArthur sums up a lot of things in this address.
Bill Finch - 1965
Bill Finch has your big band favorites. Larry Miller did the definitive write-up on Bill the King of Swing. click here
Thursday, February 16, 2017
AFN Earl Freudenberg 1973 - Town and Country
Thom, I sent you a clip of the famous tones that played every hour at 59:54. Here is a picture of the clock that produced those famous tones. The clock was said to be one of the most accurate in the world. Earl
It's zero-dark-thirty and time to check in with Earl for "Town and Country"
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
LaRita Shelby 1994
Love that picture. Here's LaRita. Matt recorded these in England from about 600 miles away. It's a bit noisy but a bunch of fun.
Friday, February 10, 2017
Chris Noel 1969
Chris Noel brought home to GIs all over the world. She helped then, and she helps now running a shelter for our less fortunate brothers. In 1969, she rocked AFRTS.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Clevelandaires - 1951
A while back I received a shipping case of disks from the Korean War. A Chaplain had posted them to a different chaplain in theater. The Clevelandaires I had never heard about. NBC had run their show in 1950-51. When they were being copied Travis wanted to know if they were from the 1930s....
Monday, February 6, 2017
Continental Varieties 1961
Josephine Baker was a huge American talent that took France by storm. On todays Continental Varieties, Dick Crawford highlights Mlle Baker in a review.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Concert Hall 1947
We did a lot of classical music. During WWII, Lionel Barrymore started doing "Concert Hall" with live performances. The program continued for many years. Edward Grieg's "A Minor Concerto" in a 1947 broadcast. Recently I've picked up a lot of great classical broadcasts.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
If Freedom Failed - 1951
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In the 1940s and 50s AFRTS did some nice Command Information shows. They were in Los Angeles. Hollywood's finest were available and wanted to do These are great.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
AFRTS Spain - 1976
This is fun. Vicente recorded a bunch of excerpts from the Torrejon station in 1976. An extended visit with Wolfman Jack. We also hear from Don Tracy, Roger Carroll and Tom Campbell. A basket of memories.
AFRTS Spain - 1977
We had quite a network in 1977, this tape features Don Tracy, Kris Erik Stevens, Roger Carroll and a bunch more. Recorded from the Torrejon station by Vicente, thanks again!
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Steve Johnson and Rich Halten podcast
Check out new podcast...AFNer Rich Halten and I produce...
Nice!
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