Jubilee - 1945

When I was a boy DJ, I had Count Basie on the show.  Incredible person with a power from within.  He did a lot for the troops during WWII, part of that was Jubilee

 January 20, 1945. Program #99 recorded October 20, 1944 The first tune is, "Dinah." Buddy Rich, Thelma Carpenter, Illinois Jacquet, Ernest Whitman (m. c.), Count Basie and His Orchestra, Eddie Anderson (Eddie Anderson), Jimmy Rushing. 

Jubilee - 1945

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Spectrum USA - 1971

In 1971 the Marine Corps reserves were doing the recruiting show "Spectrum USA" , an overview of our presidents.  

"Spectrum USA" presents glimpses  of our Chief Executives - not necessarily as great figures in publice office - but as the real people they were: young men with ideas, students, husbands, working men, soldiers, dreamers.

USMC Spectrum USA - 1971 - Chester Arthur

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AFVN USO Showtime 1970

Hans Knot made this available, a 1970 visit with Millie from the USO, 

AFVN USO Showtime with Millie 1970

AFVN USO Showtime with Diana Dell 1970

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AFN Frankfurt - Eric Hendrix - 1996

More from AFN Frankfurt.  It's a 1996 visit with Eric Hendrix.  It's the last Z-FM Cafe...

AFN Frankfurt - Eric Hendrix 1996

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Roger Carroll at AFN Frankfurt part two...

Part two of Roger Carroll at AFN in 1970 with Bob Moke..

Roger Carroll at AFN - 1970

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AFVN - Your Brother

Harry Simons, who was "Your Brother" on AFVN in 1967 and 1968 has some big news:

"Since we last spoke on the phone and online about my AFVN Danang “Your Brother” program, I have some new and exciting AFVN news. Attached is a work in progress mission statement of a Vietnam Veterans Tribute program now in production to air on 1330 AM WEBY Radio Pensacola, Florida. The broadcast will also stream live at http://www.1330weby.com on October 26-30 2015

WEBY Press release

Your Brother - AFVN Danang 1969

Crime Classics - 1954

Crime Classics was a classy CBS show from the early 50s.  It was run several times on AFRTS well into the 1970s.  Elliott Lewis and a great cast.  "New Hampshire, the Tiger and Brad Ferguson" was initially broadcast in 1954.  This is from a 1967 reissue.

Crime Classics - 1954

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History of Rock and Roll - 1971

The History of Rock & Roll first aired on the weekend of February 21–23, 1969 on 93 KHJ Los Angeles, hosted by Robert W. Morgan. It aired for 48 hours and was later syndicated. Later that year, with slight modifications to the script, another version was aired hosted by Humble Harve Miller. The program was then taken to national syndication in the fall of 1969 by parent company RKO General. KHJ repeated this in 12-hour blocks. This version was syndicated throughout the early 1970s, and was sent to stations on large 101⁄2" reels of 1/4" tape, in full-track mono. - wikipedia

 In 1971 we apparently had the original KHJ version.  

History of Rock and Roll - 1971

Country Crossroads - 1983

Camp Humphries, Korea

Jerry Clower is Bill Mack's guest.  Ledbetter Olympics on the Country Crossroads

Country Crossroads - 1983

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Dick Sinclair - 1957

You can still find the occasional polka radio show, but in the 1950s and 1960s Dick Sinclair was the voice of polka, with syndicated radio and television shows everywhere.  Dick was also one of the first AFRS jocks, during WWII at the Guadalcanal station.

Polka Party - 1957

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Hey Don!

There's a fellow with a name of dont1961 over at www.archive.org who has made a lot of early AFRS available.  Take a look:

Dont1961 collection over at archive.org

Don, I've got some questions about some of the great things you've posted.  Thanks!

Email Thom

Coast Guard on Parade - 1967

This kind of puzzles me.  I understand running Navy recruiting shows on a ship.  I understand any of the services running recruiting shows for their primary command.  This is a nice show.  WTIC in Hartford produced it at the Coast Guard Academy.  It went out on AFRTS labels to all stations.

Coast Guard On Parade - 1967

Panorama - 1961

Panorama was produced at AFN for AFRTS by Sp Mickey Klein.  It sounds suspiciously like Weekend World..

Panorama - 1961

Shilling for Luck - 1944

In 1944 the troops were curious about the British.  AFRS assembled an all star cast to tell a storyin "Shilling for Luck",  Gene Kelly is a sailor from Liverpool, Ohio.  He meets a sailor from Liverpool, England. They compare the Liverpool's. Multiple stories are tied together with a one shilling coin. The coin is passed to Gene's grandson who gives it to Shirley Temple, who also learns about the British. The all-star cast focusses on the similarities of our cultures.

Shilling for Luck - 1944

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Jubilee - 1944

The program originates from New York City. The first tune is, "Jumping In A Gin Mill." Colonel Stoopnagel appears. The announcer mentions Una Mae Carlisle as being in the cast, but she is not heard. Claude Hopkins and His Orchestra, Dorothy Donagan Mel Allen (announcer), Pigmeat Markham, Ralph Cooper (m. c.), The Stuff Smith Trio. 

Jubilee - 1944

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Did you save stuff?

We now have probably half of the W library 1964-80.  Some great listening and several nice program disks 1971-72.  If you do have some of these packed away please let me know.  If you saved any airchecks, they're always welcome.

Thanks!!

Thom

Email Thom

AFN Berlin - Mark White 1980-83

We lost Mark White last year.  Mark did well over three decades in Berlin keeping the highlight on the big bands.  After he retired he stayed in Germany and was a legend.

AFN Mark White 1980-83

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Jimmy Wakely - 1969

Jimmy Wakely was a huge star in the movies, on US radio, television even the Grand Old Opry and we were lucky to have him on AFRTS.  Here's a 1969 visit.

Jimmy Wakely - 1969

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Spectrum USA - 1971

In 1971 the Marine Reserves presented the stories of the presidents in Spectrum USA.  

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.  Today we have the story of Grover Cleveland.

Spectrum USA - 1971

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AFRTS Canada

Sometimes overseas wasn't overseas.. In Canada, we built up mostly with radar stations making up the Pinetree Line of Ground Control Intercept (GCI) radar sites. The buildup began in the mid 50s and was largely over by 1962. AFRTS was there.

Tip of the hat to the stations that were at:

Armstrong, Ontario
Frobisher Bay Goose Bay Labrador
Harmon AFB Stephenville Newfoundland
Hopedale Newfoundland
Pagwa River, Ontario
Prince George BC
Ramore Ontario
Resolution Island
Seglek Bay, Newfoundland
St Anthony Newfoundland
Sioux Lookout, Ontario

Those were all on the air in 1961.

In 1971 we had stations on the air at:
Argentia
Byron Bay
Stephenville
Goose Bay
Melville

At Ease - 1945

It's young Les Paul with Martha Mears and music for the dinner hour on "At Ease"

At Ease - 1945

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Leatherneck Legends - 1947

In 1947 the Marines teamed with NBC to tell their story in "Leatherneck Legends" "Landing At Waya". A doctor on a small island in the South Pacific needs a bottle of iodine. The Marine Corps investigates the murder of two traders and find themselves in a battle with three hundred savages. A recruiting message was read live near the end of the program. Tiny Ruffner (announcer)

Leatherneck Legends - 1947

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Frank Bresee and the Golden Days of Radio

Frank Bresee was "Little Beaver" on the Red Ryder show in the 1940s. He started recording the Golden Days of Radio for AFRTS in 1967, he was there until the changeover in 1995. He's in the process of making them available again.  More information about that project when it's available.  

Frank Bresee biography from imdb

Music Views From Hollywood - 1955

In the 1950 and 60s the artists came out for "Music Views From Hollywood" on AFRTS  Pianist Lou Busch sold a lot of records as Joe "Fingers" Carr, playing ragtime and 20s music.  Take a listen.

Music Views From Hollywood - 1955

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AFRTS 2015

This is interesting.  Here's what AFN radio is doing right now.

Click here

Bob Kingsley - 1973

Bob Kingsley at SCN Panama 1972

Bob was a heck of a jock, he was Mr. American Country Countdown, but before that it was slamming rock on the AFRTS Bob Kingsley show.

Bob Kingsley - 1973

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Fibber McGee and Molly - 1945

This is a 1961 AFRTS rebroadcast of a 1945 show "Fibber the Magician".  Fibber takes a challenge from Doc Gamble.

Fibber McGee and Molly - 1945

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GI Jive - 1945

GI Jill is back with another jive session.  It starts with Bunny Berigan...

GI Jive - 1945

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Dick Sinclair - 1959

Dick Sinclair was in that first group of AFRS talent.  After WWII he made a huge name playing polka music in syndication on radio and TV.  The show went well into the 1960s

Polka Party - 1959

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At Ease - 1944

"At Ease, with the music you'll always remember" a program of symphonic music.

Meredith Wilson was a member of Sousa's band, went to the NY Philharmonic under Toscanini and then took Hollywood.  He composed the score for the "Great Dictator" and arranged the music for "The Little Foxes".  During WWII he volunteered for the army and led the AFRS Orchestra.  After the war, more huge success, including writing the "Music Man"

At Ease - 1944

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