AFRS Keflevik 1998

Larus sent this along:

Okay 6 minutes [EDIT 9 mins. past midnight 2015] to the new year and I'm sitting here with my frightened dog, and the Icelanders, who are usually big spenders on firecrackers, are going berserk!

BTW That word: berserk comes into English from the Icelandic!

I'm going to upload for you on my Dropbox an old HIFI STEREO off-air VHS recording of the Navy Broadcasting Service, Keflavik, Iceland and it's THE MORNING SHOW, unfortunately the lady never mentions her name in the recording, but I think Thomas Jones may help with that.

And, oh, yeah this is recorded from the stations FM broadcast channel, in Reykjavik, Niceland.

AFRS - Iceland - December 1998

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Midweek Devotions - 1961

Did this program actually run mid-week somewhere?

The Chaplain's Board presents...

Midweek Devotions - 1961

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AFN SHAPE Barry Cantor 1977

From Hans Knot, Barry Cantor has the Road Show from AFN SHAPE.  1977 magic...

AFN SHAPE - Barry Cantor 1977

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Enchanted Keyboard - Art Tatum 1951

By the 1950s radio was changing.  The US networks were producing a lot less programming.  AFRTS got creative.  "Enchanted Keyboard" was a pianist and an announcer.  The pianists came from all walks of music.  The program was produced in Los Angeles.

Art Tatum was an amazing musician.  Take a listen:

Enchanted Keyboard - Art Tatum 1951

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Jubilee - 1942

Here's the first Jubilee show.  I've never heard one of these that didn't have amazing music.

Rex Ingram is the host.  The program was recorded at a small studio in Hollywood in October 1942 with Duke Ellington, Ethyl Waters and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson

Ethyl Waters and Duke Ellington with Vicente Minnelli during the filming of Cabin In The Sky.  Thank you Kurt!

Jubilee - 1942

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Spectrum USA - 1971

Dick Stark was a child actor in silent movies.  He worked in radio from the 1930s-60s.  He was on active duty in the Pacific during WWII and went back on active duty to Vietnam in 1966, later running the NY PAO shop for the Marines until retiring in 1973.

In 1971 LTC Stark was producing a show for Marine reserve recruiting.  It's pretty good.

Spectrum USA - 1971

More recruiting programs

Negro College Fund - 1961

In the 50s and 60s the United Negro College Fund presented a series of choirs from member universities of the fund.  This time, the choir of St. Augustine's College. The series was run on the ABC radio network, hosted by Metropolitan Opera host Milton Cross.  AFRTS picked up the series and ran it worldwide.

Negro College Fund

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Spread the word

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If you haven't already, you should be on the mailing list.  About once a week get updates of what has been added. afrts@live.com

There were a lot of us at the stations, listening in the barracks or people that lived in the host countries.  We shared this then.

Tell a friend,

Other ways to help

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

More Downbeat

AFN - Rik Delisle - 1977

Another great memory from Hans Knot, here's Rik Delisle with "Old Gold Retold".  Rik had done AFRTS hitches with Thailand and Portugal. By 1977 it was AFN Berlin.  By 1984 he was at RIAS and made a lot of great radio.

 "I'm Air Force Sergeant Rik de Lisle - reminding you, did Rock'n Roll is just a state of mind".

AFN - Rik Delisle - 1977

More Rik Delisle

Independent Radio Station - 1951

So how did they show the overseas troops what radio can do?  Films like this. A behind the scenes look at WMCA, New York.

Carl Reese Obituary - 2014

Carl Reese was a 1940s AFN talent that went on to be a legend in Cleveland

Carl Reese - obituary

Brian Hartzell: I think I met Carl Reese back in the late-60s.  Living in Cleveland at the time.  I was looking for advice on a broadcast career just prior to heading off to DINFOS.    

Country Style USA -1961

Pee Wee King

In 1961, we were (largely) between wars but the Army recruiting command was doing it's job.  Country Style USA had new recordings of top country talent.  Sergeant Tom Shaw was our host.  The program went to hundreds of US stations and AFRTS.  Here's a visit with Pee Wee King and Del Woods.

Country Style USA -1961

Breakfast Club - 1961

Don McNeil was a Chicago tradition with the "Breakfast Club".  The show went on in 1933 and ran until 1968.  AFRTS ran it most years from WWII until the end.

Don McNeil with comedian Sam Cowling

All around the table, it's 1961...

Breakfast Club - 1961

AFN Mike Pervel 1980

Mike Pervel has your favorite summer sounds.

AFN Mike Pervel 1980

Sugar Report - 1946

Joan Edwards has a full plate of the Sugar Report.  The program touched on the news from the entertainment world and played clips from current shows.  We only have part one.  Each of these shows are unique.  They were one of a kind disks for one time airings on the AFRS shortwave station.  The closest I can come to dating this is Wayne King started up his post-war band in 1946.

Sugar Report - 1946

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AFN SHAPE Bob Switcher 1977

It's a summery night in Soesterberg, 1977 and Bob Switcher has Music Off The Record..

Thanks Hans Knot!!

AFN SHAPE - Bob Switcher 1977

Hans says that this is really Bill Swisher.  This sounds like the makings of a good story...

American Country Countdown - 1977

Before Bob Kingsley took over ACC it was hosted by Don Bowman on this special, Johnny Cash is the guest host on this 1977 visit.

American Country Countdown - 1977

Jon Rivers - Countdown Magazine 1990

Jon Rivers was a Marine in Vietnam that came back and worked for a ton of great stations.  His radio ministry was heard everywhere on  “POWERLINE” , “COUNTRY CROSSROADS, “MASTER CONTROL”, “THE BAPTIST HOUR”, “GOSPEL AMERICA”  and “TWENTY THE COUNTDOWN MAGAZINE”.

Countdown Magazine - 1990

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Join us on facebook

The afrtsarchive.blogspot.com facebook page is great way to stay updated and share your memories and requests.  click here and be sure to "like" the page.

Thanks!

Thanks John!

Longtime friend of the blog John just made a contribution. A bunch of really great early 60s shows will be finding a new home. I'd like to say thank you!  When you click the "Donate Via PayPal" button it does two things, it allows us to get better things.  Many times thing come up and I'm just a few dollars short of being able to make it happen. It says that this is important to you.  You never have to but I'm very grateful if you choose to do it.  Thank you for visiting!

We Who Fight

This was a great show from WWII with the troops telling their stories.  I've located a few partial shows, recently transferred.  Take a listen:

We Who Fight

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Chris Noel 1968

Chris Noel was very important to Vietnam era troops.  Her show A Date With Chris was the girl next door to thousands.  Today Chris still serves with her shelter for homeless veterans.  She needs you help, please click here.

But here's how it sounded in 1968

Date With Chris - 1968

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Top Pops

Between 1962 and 1975 the weeks new hits would ship on special albums, the "TPs" would have this weeks 45s in a handy place.  These 650 albums were a wonderful, easy to find oldies library.  After 1975 they made similar disks but they'd be filed at random in the regular library.  

Jill's All Time Jukebox 1944

Martha Wilkerson did the GI Jive show.  Starting near the end of the war was the "All-Time Jukebox", memories with GI Jill.  Here's a 1944 visit

Jill's All-Time Jukebox - 1944

Here's more from GI Jill

Wes Wilson - AFRTS Torrejon 1982

Christmas is coming.  1982 from Torrejon AB here's Wes Wilson. 

Wes Wilson - 1982 AFRTS Torrejon Spain

Invitation to Learning - 1950

"The Voice Of Information and Education", over the years the network took that very seriously.  Part of that was being done by stateside radio and part of it was an obligation to the troops.  In 1950 "Invitation To Learning" had a panel discussion about the writer Cicero.  I wonder if such things will ever find a mass audience again.  The program continued well into the 1960s

Invitation To Learning - 1950

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Walt "Baby" Love - the Countdown - 1990

Walt "Baby" Love has spent almost four decades in radio.  In 1990 he was doing "The Countdown", which ran every weekend.

The Countdown - 1990

While still making great radio, Walt practices his ministry, visit his website:

http://www.waltbabylove.com/

AFVN PSAs 1970-71

Duke Miller at AFVN

We pause for Command Information.  These are from 1970-71.  Primary voices are Doug Jennings, Phil Davies and Bob Kohtz

AFVN PSAs

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FEN - Frank Knauer 1980

Chip Barris recorded this on Kedena AB. Frank Knauer was running the AFKN Taegu station 1977.  This is the second hour of an East Of Midnight that was posted a few years ago.

Frank Knauer - FEN 1980

Hour One