AFRS-23


(5 stars; 1 reviews)

The biggest names in Hollywood and Broadway recorded for AFRS during the war years, The American Forces Network can trace its origins back to May 26, 1942, when the War Department established the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS). The U.S. Army began broadcasting from London during World War II, using equipment and studio facilities borrowed from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The first transmission to U.S. troops began at 5:45 p.m. on July 4, 1943 and included less than five hours of recorded shows, a BBC news and sports broadcast. That day, Corporal Syl Binkin became the first U.S. Military broadcaster heard over the air. The signal was sent from London via telephone lines to five regional transmitters to reach U.S. troops in the United Kingdom as they made preparations for the inevitable invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. Fearing competition for civilian audiences the BBC initially tried to impose restrictions on AFN broadcasts within Britain (transmissions were only allowed from American Bases outside London and were limited to 50 watts of transmission power) and a minimum quota of British produced programming had to be carried. Nevertheless AFN programmes were widely enjoyed by the British civilian listeners who could receive them and once AFN operations transferred to continental Europe (shortly after D-Day) AFN were able to broadcast with little restriction with programmes available to civilian audiences across most of Europe (including Britain) after dark. As D-Day approached, the network joined with the BBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to develop programs especially for the Allied Expeditionary Forces. Mobile stations, complete with personnel, broadcasting equipment, and a record library were deployed to broadcast music and news to troops in the field. The mobile stations reported on front line activities and fed the news reports back to studio locations in London.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

License

Chapters

AFRS - Breakfast Club Christmas Special 12-25-60 29:11
AFRS - Mr and Mrs North - The Heavenly Body 03-04-52 25:42
AFRS - Your Radio Theatre - The Canterville Ghost 06-18-45 55:25
AFRS 007 - America's Music - (pt2) only 16:52
AFRS 008 - Blondie - Dagwood's Icy Challenge 6-18-44 29:45
AFRS 012 - Command Performance - Betty Grable - Jack Benny - Harry James 05-07-… 29:56
AFRS 015 - Command Performance - National Association of Broadcasters - Marlene… 29:37
AFRS 0178 - The Big Story - The Biggest Catch 02-04-53 25:17
AFRS 023 - Sammy Kaye's Serenade Room - (guest) Karen Chandler (first song) Dix… 15:42
AFRS 024 - International Music Man - Charlie Barnet (first song) Skyliner 15:35
AFRS 024 - Sammy Kaye's Serenade Room - (first song) Gotta Be This Or That 15:42
AFRS 030 - One Night Stand - Charlie Spivak - (first song) Sunday 10-01-43 29:27
AFRS 033 - Variety Replacement - Andrew Sisters (guest) Jane Froman 10-03-45 30:35
AFRS 035 - Dinah Shore - (first song) Button Up Your Overcoat 15:42
AFRS 040 - Command Performance - Betty Grable - Edgar Bergen - Judy Canova 11-0… 29:10
AFRS 052 - Swinging Around The Clock - New Year's Special 12-31-44 52:37
AFRS 056 - Hollywood Radio Theatre - The Story of Will Rogers - Jane Wyman - Wi… 56:54
AFRS 064 - Eddie Fisher - (guest) Ann Crowley (first song) Little White Lies 15:40
AFRS 076 - Broadway Playhouse - The Heiress - Olivia De Havilland - Van Heflin … 54:57
AFRS 093 - Hollywood Radio Theatre - The President's Lady - Charlton Heston - J… 56:49
AFRS 093 - It Pays to Be Ignorant - (Replaced By) Abbott & Costello 01-24-46 30:25
AFRS 105 - Smiley Burnette - (first song) She's Gone But Not Forgotten xx-xx-50 15:40
AFRS 115 - Grand Ole Opry - (guest) - Tennessee Ernie Ford 01-07-50 25:20
AFRS 116 - Grand Ole Opry - (guest) Hank Williams 02-16-50 25:09
AFRS 146 - Hollywood Radio Theatre - The Awful Truth - Cary Grant - Irene Dunne… 57:02
AFRS 210 - Showtime - Marilyn Maxwell - (first song) Jeepers Creepers 29:52
AFRS 221 - Red Skelton - It Happened At The Airport 10-01-50 25:42
AFRS 327 - Bing Crosby - (pt2) only 15:46
AFRS 374 - One Night Stand - Jack Teagarden - (first song) Rompin'And Stompin' … 28:57
AFRS 706 - One Night Stand - Shorty Sherock - (first song) Four Bones 07-03-45 29:43

Reviews

Date Correction


(0 stars)

Dagwood's Icy Challenge (correct name: Blondie's Polar Bear) should be dated April 8, 1945.