AFRS-21

About this film

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 wide…

Directors & creators

dont1961

Subjects

AFRS;WWII;OTR;Date With The Duke;Village Store;George Raft;Hildegarde;Swingtime;Bob Crosby;Freddy Martin;Harry James;Aldrich Family;Fanny Brice;Baby Snooks;John Charles Thomas;John Nesbitt;Victor Young;Yank Swing Session;Johnny Mercer;Bob Hope;Charlie McCarthy;Don Ameche;Dinah Shore;Groucho Marx;Mail Call;Joan Blondell;James Melton;Marilyn Maxwell;Joan Crawford;Robert Benchley;Ida James;Red Skelton;Hymns from Home;Jubilee;Harry (the Hipster) Gibson;Peggy Lee;Supper Club;Perry Como;Command Performance;Orson Welles;Donna Dae;Globe Theater;GI Jive;GI Jill;Jazz;Big Band;comedy

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