Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Army Hour 1966






Here's what's going on in Vietnam and the Limelighters!!!  Shout out to the PA team.


Monday, December 17, 2018

Roger Carroll 1980




Over on the streaming station, www.rogercarrollbestsoundsintown.com we're taking a little break with the "12 Days Of Christmas". Here's some 1980 memories of Roger with the Happy Hour. 





Friday, December 14, 2018

Christmas In Belgium 1988

Most wonderful time of the year!  December 22, 1988 here's what was happening on AFN SHAPE.  Gary Thompson takes a look at news.  Be sure to get those packages out!  It's the "Rise and Shine!" show. 




Charlie Tuna 1989

Charlie at KHJ


The most consistant personality in radio was Charlie Tuna. He did the same meticulous program in 1970 that he did in 1995. Normally that would be a bad thing, not with Charlie Tuna.


He was heard around the world daily on the Armed Forces Radio Network for a 25 year – 6000 show run from 1971 to 1996, as well as on numerous nationally syndicated radio shows, since the early 70’s. He’s now heard in syndication around the world.

Charlie has his own really great website over at charlietuna.com If you haven't been there yet you should!



Tuesday, December 11, 2018

AFN Berlin - Dennis Sloan and Henry Michaels 1970

AFN Berlin 1945-79

Here is the AFN Berlin Noon Trivia Show with air personalities Specialists Dennis Sloan and Henry Michaels from Friday, 30 October 1970

Thursday, November 15, 2018

AFVN Blooper Reel -fixed

This has been circulating for a long time.  If you haven't heard it you've missed something great.


Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Golden Days Of Radio 1972


Frank Bresee did the Golden Days Of Radio from 1967-96. GDOR was actually the last program recorded for the network under the old system. After AFRTS he did basically the same program for yesterdayusa.com and kept the memories coming.

Golden Days of Radio

More Golden Days Of Radio

Sunday, November 4, 2018

This Is The Story - We Take Our Stand - Korea 1951

 
In 1951, the big question about Korea was "Why are we here"?".  AFRTS stepped up to the plate and produced a lot of documentary product.  In this docudrama, we learn the story of communist aggression.  William Woodson, who did tons of voiceover work over the years (Remember the imposing narrator on the 1960s TV show "The Invaders"?) was the announcer, making every word the most important thing that ever happened.  AFKN/AFN-K has been delivering the truth for over 60 years now.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Bob Kingsley 1979


If you've been around here for a while, you've heard Bob Kingsley.  He did a rock show for the network in the mid-70s.  After that it was worldwide fame with American Country Countdown.

Bob was one of us, he did a tour at the Iceland station.  Rumor has it that he carved his name into the board.  There have been a lot of requests for this.  Bob Kingsley 1979

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

AFKN Tony Booth 1969


Tony Booth went on to big things after spending 1969 rocking Seoul.  then Dallas, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Charlotesville.











Tuesday, September 18, 2018

AFN SHAPE - Tata Fields 1991


I really wanted to go there.  I had been trying for an ITT from Panama.  Missed it by this much...
Here's SP Tata Fields (??)  in the morning...


Sunday, September 16, 2018

Roger Carroll - 1980


Here's another show from the great collection that Roger sent in to the archive.  It's 1980 and time for "The Best Sounds in Town".






Thursday, September 13, 2018

Joe Allison 1965


Joe Allison was a singer, songwriter, producer and record executive.  He lived the music and and made it better.  AFRTS brought him worldwide. 



Chuck Cecil - 1978





Chuck Cecil celebrated the bigband years starting in the 1950s on Los Angeles radio.  By 1973 he was syndicated all over the United States and was doing the Big Band Countdown for AFRTS.

Lets take a look at the greatest hits of June 1942.

The aircheck is from AFN Frankfurt.  After the show, Paul Mako has a look at news.  The Shah of Iran had been kicked out of the country, what's next?






Monday, September 10, 2018

AFN Old Gold Retold 1973


Old Gold Retold was AFNs long running oldies show.  Let's take a look at a 1973 visit with Park Seward.

Friday, August 31, 2018

Chris Noel - 1967


 Thanks again to Chris Noel for making her shows available to us. 

Here's todays visit from Summer 1967






Thursday, August 30, 2018

AFKN TDC 1967 - Rick Moore



 
From my old stomping groups, albeit 10 years earlier.  Here's Rick Moore, from Camp Casey

 
 


Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Joe Ferguson 1983


Time for more of the "Joe Show" from 1983 and KUPL Portland (OR).  Ah the memories... 




John Doremus 1967



Must be the dinner hour.  John Doremus would create a mood.  There were few who could really do this.  John was also the one that came up with the idea for music on your airplane rides.  Amazing talent.





Mary Helen Barro 1983


Mary Helen Barro has another program of great Latin music...




Monday, August 20, 2018

Charlie Tuna - 1973


It's young Charlie Tuna with a wakeup call..  Visit Charlie's website:! http://www.charlietuna.com/  Good things are coming!



Country Corner 1971


Joe Allison did it all.  Songwriter, Producer, Jock and more.  It was 1971 and a Monday.  Joe's in the Country Corner.


Thursday, August 16, 2018

Jim Pewter 1967

AFKN vet Jim Pewter checks in periodically and it's always great.  We went to different schools together!  Jim had a lot to do with some of the greatest music.




Jim Pewter - 1967
More Jim Pewter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, August 6, 2018

1945 Vox Pop visits AFRS

 
1945.  The war is ending and CBS gives us a tour of AFRS "The World's Largest Radio Network" on the Vox Pop show.  Fabulous history. 





Tuesday, July 24, 2018

WVTP Seoul 1946

 
 
AFRS was in Korea, helping with the occupation after WWII.  A few year ago I wrote up what I could find of the story of WVTP Click here
 
Recently I heard from one of the guys there in the early days, Lee Jost:
 
Thom, these recollections are offered as a supplement to the entry of February 16, 2016 re: AFRS Korea before AFKN. Thanks for showing the formal announcement of WVTP’s inaugural broadcast on October 22, 1945 with staffs’ names and ranks. Two years later, in September, 1947 I was transferred from the 7th ID to WVTP and remained until March, 1948.
 
From December 1946 to the transfer, my unit was the 7th ID 32nd IR located at Chuncheon. Duties included supply-train guard to and from Seoul; and, when at our outpost, foot patrols on mountainous trails of up to 36 miles along the 38th parallel to remote villages checking on incursions by Russian troops or northern Korean police and interviewing Koreans fleeing the north to escape Communist oppression. I enjoyed outpost duty but dreamed then of a radio career. On a layover in Seoul, while serving as train guard, I auditioned at WVTP.
 
The Feb.16, 2016 entry is correct. WVTP’s studio, library, newsroom, control room and a staff billet were on 2nd floor of the XXIV Corp building. Additionally: some military staff was billeted a few doors away; rehearsal rooms for entertainers and orchestras (local and touring) were on the third floor; and the building’s fine theatre with balcony, proscenium arch, backstage and movie facilities were on the main floor. (The hot tub backstage was excellent.)
 
Staff was comprised of army personnel (full time) and civilians (part time) some of whom were vets or affiliated with support organizations such as The Red Cross.
 
The list below is cumulative. Of those named, only a few were at WVTP at any one time. Army staff worked every day at assigned programs, control room shifts, and related duties such as: writing scripts for original programs; selecting music for daily programs; editing the daily news; and researching for special events. For a time we met each morning for 45 minutes commenting on one another’s scripts. A Sidebar: Operating hours were 5:58 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. except New Year’s Eve 1947-48 was extended to 2:00 a.m. to continue dance music for celebrations throughout our listening area.
 
I worked the late shift that 12.31.47. There was a knock on the door at midnight and when I opened, a guy put a drink in my hand, wished me a “happy New Year” and asked for more of the good music as he hurried back to…wherever.
 [Code: A-Army; C-civilian; and V-veteran]
Officer in Charge: Lt. Little
Station Mgr.: Dick Kirk [C] [V?]
SSgt Jack Decker [writer]
? Bob Sacco [A]
? Jim Umland [A]
? Bob Horstman [A]
SSgt LeRoy Jost (Lee)
MSgt Frank Maguire arr. 2/48.
Claire Neustadt [C]
Jeanne Robinson [C]
Tom Kennedy [C]
Meredith Wagner [C]
Robert Nimmo [C] [V], a polished professional [on-air name Trebor Ommin]; while active-Army, with AFRS Berlin, Germany; and as civilian, an advisor to Korea station JODK (?).
 
Program sources and content.
Using traditional formats, we developed content for our assigned programs by simply selecting music and commentary appropriate for the season/holiday for the daily e.g. Musical Milkman and Wax Museum, editing tele typed news, researching background of program guests and writing original script for special events and Sunday night’s, The Week In Review.  Our head writer for that program was Jack Decker.
 
AFRS’ recorded programs like The Bob Burns Show, Hollywood Bowl, Hymns from Home, American Album were staples as were AFRS specials e.g. a Christmas Show. We also broadcasted AFRS shortwave newscasts received from San Francisco Sunday evenings. A SIDEBAR: On a Sunday in November 1947, Radio Moscow interrupted AFRS, San Francisco with the closing moments of its Orders of the Day. Then a voice in English announced, “This is Radio Moscow…..” We quickly countered with, “We interrupt this program…”; read tele typed news; and, with headphones, listened to Moscow as it honored a Russian artillery unit for its campaign against the Germans at Stalingrad. [A precursor to Russian hacking?]
 
Claire Neustadt (Red Cross) did a fine daily show Bulletin Board with I & E info plus dates of scheduled events of military and civilian organizations. It evolved to include interviews with dignitaries, missionaries, and prominent others covering a wide range of topics. One guest, Jim Browitt, was mgr. of Korean station HLKA.
 
A Sidebar: On Christmas Eve ‘47, I closed the station, attended midnight mass at the Seoul Cathedral, joined staff at Dick Kirk’s home until 2:30 a.m. Dick had intercepted my package from home and it was under their tree for me to open and share Mom’s stollen. We heard roaming Korean carolers sing Silent Night in Korean…I joined them with the German lyrics…then on to Jim Browitt’s home in his new Studebaker until 5:30… breakfast at messhall…pick up the day’s news roll and back to the station.
 
On 13 February, 1948 Claire interviewed Major Walter Goldstein. The Major’s, military history began in the 1930s. He was currently stationed in Korea. His book of verses, written at various places during WWII and the intro in Korea. Shreds from an Old Sun Helmet  had been recently published (1947). My signed copy, now yellowed with age, after his salutation, still clearly says,”….with fond memories of the Korean Occupation and WVTP…Sincerely.
 
Claire accepted a spot at WVTR, Tokyo and her replacement renamed the show, Date for Tonight.
We produced several remotes. Bob Sacco and Jack Decker did the play-by-play and color for two 7th Division football games. The 7th ID v.MG game on October 11, 1947 ended 48-0.
I was assigned to announce and provide commentary for the first radio broadcast of the Korea Symphony Orchestra from the stage of the XXIV Corps Theater (October 22, 1947).
The conductor was Mr. Lim Won Sik. The pianist was Mr. Yun Kison. The program included: Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony; Beethoven’s Piano Concerto in E flat minor; and Capriccio Espanol. Both men were invited to study at the Juilliard. The theatre was packed.
 
 Shortly before air-time…a power outage. The theatre went dark and the station off-air. (Some believed Russians were harassing again by throwing a switch at a northern hydro-electric plant.) Using a theater mic, I ad-libbed in the dark about the program to keep the audience focused until auxiliary generators were started. The broadcast began and concluded without further incident. A huge success.
 
Hopefully, these recollections will serve as another thread in WVTP’s tapestry. Any more threads out there?
Lee Jost: Korea December, 1946-March,1948





Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Chris Noel 1967

 
It's a Monday in 1967 and Chris Noel is starting a brand new week.  She's beginning to really hit a nice groove, she's already made her first trip to Vietnam. Chris still helps the troops, with her shelter in Florida.  Please send a few bucks.  http://vetsville.org/ 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Wolfman Jack 1980


So can you help but remember the station you first heard these on?  I would have just arrived in Panama, and the Wolf howled supreme around the world...



Saturday, June 30, 2018

What Are We Fighting For 1943


In 1943, there were a handful of stations/networks but the whole AFRS thing hadn't come together yet.  CBS helped produce "What are We Fighting For".  The War Department made sure it was heard worldwide.  Edward R Murrow was the journalists journalist and a fascinating story in his own right.






Friday, June 29, 2018

AFRTS shortwave 1964

Click to enlarge

When I was a kid in the late 60s sometimes I'd catch AFRTS-W on the shortwave, I remember it as continuous news items and pretty cool.

In 1964 the shortwave service ran a lot of news/public affairs but also ran entertainment programming. Ira Cook, Perry Como, Hawaii Calls, CBS Radio Workshop, Les Crane and more.  It was a full service station.

Monday, June 25, 2018

Charlie Tuna - 1982


Charlie Tuna had been doing the show on AFRTS for ten years already and it was only the beginning...



Tuesday, June 5, 2018

BIll Stewart 1969



Here's the man who can fill the musical bill, Bill Stewart.  Today he has a guest, Bob Cameron singer on the Don McNeil "Breakfast Club" shows and of course some swinging jazz.



Suspense 1950



Suspense has a long history with AFRTS, from WWII when the new shows were being broadcast off and on until well into the 1980s.  Quality Radio. Edward G Robinson is featured in a typical role about an evil little man, his invalid wife, and temptation in this 1950 "A Case Of Nerves".  This particular disk had made the rounds at our stations in Canada.


Saturday, May 26, 2018

Wolfman Jack 1974


You're never gonna believe this.  Wolfman has heard about what could be your perfect career opportunity, in the US Air Force!



Friday, May 18, 2018

Roger Carroll 1970

Frank Bresse with Beverly and Roger Carroll

"RC that's me", Roger was with us for a long long time with a big enthusiasm for the job.  Easy to see how he was so successful at the radio networks, television, Los Angeles radio and AFRTS. 

Welcome to a visit from not that long ago:



Roger has a streaming internet radio station, streaming 24/7
Give a listen

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

AFN 40th Anniversary



In 1983, AFN was 40 and published a booklet about their history. It's a great history of the early years of the network and writeups of all of the stations. They do say that the Alaska network was first (It was really the Canal Zone). A very good read.


AFN 40th Anniversary

More From AFN