AFRS-27


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 - Armistice Day 50th Anniversary 11-11-68 56:00
AFRS - Charlie Ruggles Show - Cass Daley - Diana Lynn 08-18-44 29:52
AFRS - Showtime - Whoopee 01-03-49 30:14
AFRS 001 - Sports Quiz -Name 3 Sports Figures Named Jacobs 29:06
AFRS 006 - Cass Daley Show - Basil Rathbone 08-10-50 29:04
AFRS 008 - Duffy's Tavern - Tallulah Bankhead 06-01-43 28:53
AFRS 032 - Science Magazine Of The Air - Bone Graft Surgery 23:33
AFRS 041 - Duffy's Tavern - Gracie Fields 02-29-44 29:03
AFRS 042 - Yarns For Yanks - Spencer Tracy - Extra Extra xx-xx-42 14:32
AFRS 047 - By The People - Forest Fire 10-28-56 25:15
AFRS 047 - Double Feature - (guest) - Edgar Bergen 08-13-44 29:29
AFRS 048 - Double Feature - (first song) What A Difference A Day Makes 08-20-44 29:29
AFRS 053 - Double Feature - (first song) Sunny Side Of The Street 09-24-44 28:04
AFRS 075 - Sportsreel - Tommy Harmon xx-xx-46 14:12
AFRS 076 - Sportsreel - 1917 World Series xx-xx-46 14:13
AFRS 085 - Information Please - Who was described in song as celebrated_cultiva… 29:24
AFRS 086 - Guy Lombardo 09-23-45 29:46
AFRS 107 - Jubilee - Jack Benny - Eddie (Rochester) Anderson 11-20-44 28:46
AFRS 111 - Andre Kostelanetz - Lily Pons 01-31-46 29:58
AFRS 115 - The Whistler - The Chinese Elephant Puzzle 03-05-50 29:43
AFRS 1296 - One Night Stand - Bobby Sherwood 01-06-47 29:58
AFRS 164 - Jubilee - Lionel Hampton - Lena Horne 01-07-46 29:31
AFRS 166 - Jubilee - Benny Goodman - Lena Horne - Gene Krupa 01-21-46 29:53
AFRS 180 - Music For Sunday 30:20
AFRS 181 - Jim Pewter - Johnny Ace Memorial 01-05-68 24:42
AFRS 220 - Music We Love 10-06-47 30:29
AFRS 259 - Music In The Morgan Manner - (first song) Vabond 12-13-44 29:24
AFRS 329 - One Night Stand - Lionel Hampton 06-04-44 29:05
AFRS 367 - Robert Q Lewis Show 01-17-58 25:37
AFRS 701 - Personal Album - Les Brown - Doris Day 14:56
AFRS 702 - Personal Album - Jason Boot 14:54

Reviews

Date Correction


(0 stars)

AFRS 086 - Guy Lombardo 09-23-45 is from September 25, 1945.