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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FEN Schedule - 1985

Mon to Fri

05:05 Harry Newman

06:05 Local Live

07:00 News/Sports/Paul Harvey

07:30 Local Live

09:05 Charlie Tuna

10:05 Don Tracy

11:05 Local Live

12:00 News/Sports/Commentary

13:05 Gene Price

14:05 Larry McKay

15:05 Mary Turner

16:05 Local Live

18:00 News/Sports/Commentary

19:05 Music Network

21:05 Radio Theater

21:30 Jim Pewter

22:05 Wolfman Jack

23:05 Phil Harvey

23:30 Jazz Beat

00:10 East Of Midnight (from FEN Tokyo)

02:05 Roland Bynum

03:05 Charlie Tuna

04:05 Mary Turner

04:30 Jim Pewter



Sat

05:05 Swinging Years

06:05 Weekender

07:00 News/Sports/Paul Harvey

07:30 Weekender

09:05 American Country Countdown

12:00 News/Sports

12:30 East Of Eden

13:05 American Top 40

17:05 The Swinging Years

18:05 Golden Days Of Radio

19:05 Off The Record

20:00 Live From Gilley's

21:05 All That Jazz

22:05 The Count Down (Walt Love)

00:05 Sign On/East Of Midnight

02:05 American Top 40



Sun

05:05 All That Jazz

06:05 The Golden Days Of Radio

07:05 Weekender

08:30 Focus On The Family

09:05 Amen Corner

10:05 Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir

10:30 Celebration

11:05 Open Door

11:30 Protestant Hour

12:00 News/Sports

12:30 Love On The Rock

13:05 Dick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remember

16:05 Viva

18:00 News/Sports

18:30 FEN Adventure Theater

19:05 Musical

21:05 The Fusion Move

22:05 Prime Cuts

23:05 King Biscuit Flower Hour

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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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"

AFN Town and Country - Earl Freudenberg - 1973

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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.

LaRita Shelby - 1994

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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.

Date With Chris - 1969

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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....

Clevelandaires - 1951

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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.

Continental Varieties - 1961

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