Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Continential Varieties 1961


In 1961 Dick Crawford and "Continental Varieties" took a look at English artists performing Latin songs and Latin artists performing English songs.



Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Command Performance - 1949


When the war wound down AFRS had a lot more of the new stars getting it out there for the troops.  In 1949 Steve Allen was starting his career.  Command Performance with Steve, Margaret Whiting and Jack Smith.  It's a great listen.



Sunday, November 20, 2016

Andy Mansfield - 1962



Andy and Virginia

Andy Mansfield must have had quite a record collection.  He played the oldies starting in the 1950s well into the 1960s, first with wife Virginia on Turn Back the Clock.  The later show was Americas Popular music.  Lots of big band music but visits back to acoustic records of the 1910s..







Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Chris Noel - 1967


Chris Noel's life is a movie that really needs to be made. Model, movie star she found her muse with Date With Chris on AFRTS during the Vietnam war. It's an incredible example of how to speak directly to an audience. She still stays busy helping the troops with the Ceasefire Home for disadvantaged vets. It's a good cause.

Chris's website is over at chrisnoel.com and always worth a look.

Date With Chris - 1967

More Chris Noel

Sunday, November 13, 2016

GI Journal - 1945


Linda Darnell hosts a special anniversary show for GI Journal.  GI Journal was one of the big variety shows where the stars came out for the troops.



AFVN Billy Williams 1972

Billy in Danang

Sept. 4, 1972 Saigon/Network Orient Express I recovered the aircheck from an old cassette.It was recorded off the air somewhere in SVN and sent to me by a listener.  Mostly complete except for when the tape was turned over near the bottom of the hour.  Not the best of quality but an idea of what we sounded like in the field.  More information about the recording.




Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Downbeat - 1946

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By 1946 Gene Norman was building quite the name as a jazz promoter.  He was also doing Downbeat for AFRTS



Monday, November 7, 2016

Dick Sinclair 1925-2016


The world has lost a wonderful person. Dick Sinclair passed away on October 14, 2016 at the age of 91. He lived polkas and for 6 decades kept the Polka Party on the air.  In the 1950s and 60s Polka Party ran on AFRTS.  Dick's real claim to fame for us would be he was in the first class off WWII broadcasters, training at Fox Studios for the brand new AFRS.  Dick did his WWII time at the station on Guadalcanal.  I really wish I had had a chance to speak with him,  We've lost a piece of history and a great broadcaster,



Sunday, November 6, 2016

One Night Stand - 1955


One Night Stand had a 20 year run.  Radio had broadcasts from the big bands from all over the country, sometimes aired locally, sometimes over one of the CONUS network.  Starting in WWII they sent recordings of these shows to AFRS.  I wish I had both parts of this but it's a 1955 visit with Les Elgart, from the roof of the Hotel Astor in NYC.



Mary Helen Barro - 1983



Las musica latina de Mary Helen Barro.  She did a great job bridging cultures.


Charlie Tuna - 1979


For a while in the late 70s, Charlie Tuna was backed with Wolfman Jack.  Wow...


Tuesday, November 1, 2016

If Freedom Failed - 1951


If Freedom Failed was a 1951 project to explain to the troops what communism meant.  The best of Hollywood's star did some informative radio.  Today John McIntyre stars in "Suicide By Order"