AFRS-28

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

OTR;AFRS;WWII;Fred Allen;Orson Welles;Words With Music;Merle Oberon;Margo;Ann Richards;Yank Bandstand;Dick Jurgens;Maureen O'Sullivan;Mary Astor;Xavier Cugat;Oscar Brand;World of Folk Music;Roger Carroll;Mary Jane Croft;Jane Wyatt;Duffys Tavern;Joan Davis;Dinah Shore;Comedy Caravan;Gary Moore;Jimmie Durante;Oscar Levant;Maurice Evans;Jubilee;Tiny Bradshaw;Jack Benny;Groucho Marx; Roy Rogers;GI Journal;Paulette Goddard;Claudette Colbert ;Joan Blondell;Ella Mae Morse;Fanny Brice;Baby Snooks;Charlie McCarthy;Lynn Bari;Lionel Hampton;Dinah Washington;Keenan Wynn;Anne Baxter;Lucky Millinder;Judy Carroll;Susan Hayward;Ingrid Bergman;Kollege Of Musical Knowledge;Kay Kyser;Fletcher Henderson;Valaida Snow;Mail Call;Janis Paige;Frank Sinatra;My Friend Irma;Benny Carter;Lucy Elliott;Herb Jeffries;Could This Be You;Kay Starr;Pete Johnson;Johnny Mercer;Chiquita;American Band Of The Supreme Allied Command;Glenn Miller;AAF Band

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