Planet Podcasts

AFRS and the military audience

The Swing Era, Off the Air

The Armed Forces Radio Service built its own parallel music service for troops overseas, free of commercials and, often, of restraint.

1943 – 1946 · 5 stops · 2h 15m

  1. 1

    A dedicated music strip, built purely for morale rather than a sponsor's product.

    G.I. Jive · Vintage

    Jill's All Time Juke Box 0101 4xxxxx 1st Song - Caravan (Bunny Berigan) (256-44) OTRRPG

    1 Jan 1920 · 29 min

  2. 2

    A companion broadcast in the same series.

    G.I. Jive · Vintage

    Command Performance 1942-03-01 (1) Eddie Cantor

    1 Mar 1942 · 30 min

  3. 3

    Individual band remotes, repackaged for a global overseas audience.

    One Night Stand · Vintage

    AFRS-One-Night-Stand-0030-Charlie-Spivak-Hollywood-Palladium-FS-Sunday

    1 Oct 1943 · 29 min

  4. 4

    The trade-press name lent to a broadcast built for the same audience of players.

    Downbeat · Vintage

    Downbeat 5, part 1

    1 Jan 1942 · 30 min

  5. 5

    A late-night mood-music strip, built for listeners a long way from home.

    Magic Carpet · Vintage

    Magic Carpet 4xxxxx 0124 Elliot Lawrence AHO, 1st Song - Bell Bottom Trousers {AFRS#124} OTRRPG

    24 Jan 1920 · 15 min