Alaska 1944

(Adak) Actors and actresses gather around during rehearsal for a play over station WXLB operated by GIs on barren Adak in the Aleutians.  Station is operated for the entertainment of the men who man the lonely frontier and once a week a play is featured.  

Left to right: Kathy Kellett (Butte, Montana), Sid Chauken (Long Beach, California), Muriel Couchman (Iowa City, Iowa), Andy Eger (Hollis, New York), Alice Chilgren (Little Fork, Minnesota), Jack Pulliam (Dallas, Texas)

10/31/44

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Harlem Hospitality Club - 1946

A combination audience participation/Harlem music show from Mutual, rebroadcast on AFRS. The program originates from the Savoy Ballroom, New York City. The first tune is, "The St. Louis Blues." Willie Bryant (host), The Loumel Morgan Trio, Kitty De Chavez (vocal), Kirby Walker (piano), Sam Jackson (bass)

Harlem Hospitality Club 1946

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AFVN Jolly Jim 1966

Dennis digitized a reel-to-reel  recorded off the air (lightning crackles and all) from AFVN Saigon June 1966 featuring Jolly Jim (don’t know his real name) music is not scoped. Any idea who it is?

This is wonderful.  Thanks Dennis!

Don Browne has some insight:

The air check of AFVN Jolly Jim 1966 appears to be that of SP4 James Lull.

AFVN didn't exist in June 1966. The only studio was called "Armed Forces Radio" or "Armed Forces Radio - Vietnam". It was one flagship station for Saigon/540 kHz, and two or more unmanned repeaters (Qui Nhon/770 kHz, Danang/850 kHz, and possibly Pleiku/560 kHz). There was no FM (99.9 MHz) or TV (Channel 11) yet. The expansion to a "real" network was just starting. "Date With Chris" starring Chris Noel was six months away.

The actual air check of "Jolly Jim" Lull contains an interruption of Morse Code around 0635. This sounds like a cargo ship transmitting A2 in the nearby Saigon river. Several PAMS "call letter edits" are featured as well as PAMS instrumental beds. I don't recognize the notes that cover the call letters. Each call letter note pattern was unique.

Also, the music selection is suspiciously void of mentioning or playing early (1964-1966) Beatles selections. This is because early Beatles songs were not selected by the AFRTS radio producers for inclusion in the TP or P-series. This is one of the reasons why "bootleg" radio stations were started by Army Public Affairs officers in Vietnam.

Army Public Affairs officers started their own "independent" radio stations, acquired studio equipment, and several AM or FM transmitters. The PA Offices contacted local stateside record distributors and received popular 45 RPM singles and LP records. They also purchased jingle packages from CRC, Gwinsound, and Pepper-Tanner who were "supporters of freedom's mission in Vietnam". These "bootleg" operations were heard throughout RVN and were more popular (because their music was more current) than the RP four-week turnaround of the "censored" TP and P-series songs received by AFVN.

There were never more than twenty of these "bootleg" operations in RVN. These stations would generally exist for several months until their staffs ETS'd out of Vietnam. Then the on-air time would drop precipitously.

The most popular "bootleg" station in Vietnam was KLIK (from the military term "click", meaning one kilometer) which operated on 1330 kHz and 104.9 MHz, Lai Khe Base Camp. The PAO of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (just north of Saigon) operated this station for several years (1967-1969).

These "bootleg" stations donated their purchased jingles to AFVN, who had draftee SP4 Gary Gears as the AFVN Saigon production man (1967-1969). DoD approved these "donations" because they were "Found on Post". Gary combined PAMS jingles received by his former employers WDGY, KQV, and WCFL with the donated CRC and Gwinsound jingles which sang "AFVN". The result was quite remarkable.

Don Browne

AFVN - Jolly Jim 1966

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Chris Noel 1968

I'm happy to be able to share this.  There's a story on this one.  This disk was part of a group I bought a couple of years ago.  Normally these things appear out of nowhere and no one is really sure where they came from.  I asked the seller "Grampa brought them back from Vietnam".  The kid wasn't sure about anything else.  It was pretty much junk in the garage.  We have to share these things before they become a part of oblivion.

Date With Chris 1968

Chris is STILL helping the troops.  Please make a donation, buy a signed picture.  There are a lot of nice things in the online shop:

http://www.ceasefirehouse.org/shop/

Boyd Raeburn 1946

In 1946 Boyd Raeburn had a swinging, swinging band.  A big band with R&B and the beginnings of bebop.  It was called the "Most Exciting music of Today".  I agree.  A "Popular Music Replacement" would have been a one shot show generally sent because a regularly scheduled show wasn't available. They were very popular on Jubilee but here's a full broadcast.

Boyd Raeburn - 1946

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FEN 1950

Service Digest - 1945

Johnny Murray "Your Constant Reader" has the information about fish juice....

Johnny Murray was born in Glen Cove, New York in 1920. He attended St. Patrick’s Elementary and graduated from Glen Cove High School. Murray learned to play piano and also entertained his family and friends playing and singing the popular hits of the day. World War II interrupted any plans for college and Johnny enlisted in the Army. He was assigned to the Signal Corp and was soon heard on Armed Forces Radio playing and singing. Upon discharge, he worked at KLIF in Dallas, WDSU in New Orleans, and WMOB in Mobile. In 1956 he moved to Atlanta to work at WQXI. Later he moved to WGST where he worked for 16 years. Murray died in 1982.    

Service Digest - 1945

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AFVN - Harry Simons 1969

Harry on the air in Da Nang

Harry Simons "Your Brother" sent along some memories of Da Nang 1969 on AFVN.  Wonderful.  A while back Harry put a lot of work into a radio special about the network that you should take a listen to  AFVN - The GIs Companion   

AFVN Da Nang - Your Brother - 1969

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AFN Anniversary Shows

2017 Is the 75th anniversary of our network.  There's been some great storytelling.

The Army Hour started before there was Armed Forces Radio. First on NBC radio then eventually being sent to hundreds of stations for the Sunday morning graveyard. In 1968 AFN Europe was 25. Here's their tribute, with a bunch of AFNers doing their share.
The Army Hour 1968: AFN Europe 25th anniversary.

It's not clear from this broadcast, but in 1943 the networks in Alaska and Panama were already broadcasting.

After I posted this, I found a 16th anniversary special (1961) produced by the Berlin station and run on the full network.

AFN Berlin 16th anniversary 1961

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Continental Varieties 1961

Dick Crawford takes us to an evening in New York on Continental Varieties

Continental Varieties 1961

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If Freedom Failed - 1951

A 1951 series of programs describing what communist rule would be like in a small American community George Macready stars in todays story of what could happen.

If Freedom Failed - Enemy Of the People

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Sugar Report - 1945

Eugenia Lincoln "Jinx" Falkenburg was an actress, expert swimmer and tennis star, and one of the highest-paid and most ubiquitous cover-girl models in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s, one of the first supermodels.

This was the first I'd heard of The "Sugar Report".  A program about what was going on in the United States with clips from network shows and news from entertainment.

John did some checking: Did a little research and date this program to the first week of May 1945. Based on dates for the Broadway show Foolish Notion, opened March 13, 1945, closed June 9, 1945. Olsen and Johnson were on the Philco Radio Hall of Fame on April 29th, 1945 celebrating their 30th Anniversary. On May 3rd, 1945 the King Cole Trio appeared on the Bing Crosby Show where they sang "If You Can't Smile And Say Yes (Please Don't Cry And Say No".

This was recorded  on acetate and sent to the AFRS shortwave station in California. 

Sugar Report - 1945

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Chris Noel - 1969

Chris toured the world many times bringing home that much close.  Thank you Chris!

Date With Chris - 1969

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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.

Jim Ameche - 1965

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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!

They have a website

AFN Operation Information 1953

Operation Information was a weekly "Radio Newsreel" on AFN Berlin. Let's go back to January 1953.

Operation Information 15 January 1953

 

 

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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

Please be sure to pass on your reunion updates!

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.

Date With Chris - 1969

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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!

Victory Through Air Power - 1945

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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.

If Freedom Failed 13 - 1951

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Chris Noel - 1971

Chris Noel makes home that much closer in this 1971 memory.  Remember White Plains?

Date With Chris - 1971

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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 .

Mac McGuire and the Harmony Rangers 1952

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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.

Jim Ameche - 1965

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AFN Park Seward - 1975

Park Seward is on the air with K-Town's biggest and brightest!

AFN Park Seward - 1975

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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..

Humble Harve 1979

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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:

Chris Noel 1966

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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.

Hymns From Home - 1943

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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!

Spectrum USA - Franklin D Roosevelt 

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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.

General McArthur 1951

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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

Finch Bandwagon 1965

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