AFRS Transcription Discs
AFRS
AFRS · 1940–2010
Broadcasts
253
Cadence
Fortnightly
Rated
PG
Since
1940
The run
- Network
- AFRS
- Years active
- 1940–2010
- Surviving broadcasts
- 253
- Genre
- variety
A mixed run of surviving Armed Forces Radio Service transcription discs held at the Internet Archive as “AFRS_OTR”. AFRS pressed programmes onto sixteen-inch discs and shipped them to outlets from Alaska to the South Pacific, stripping commercial sponsorship out of network shows in the process. As US Government work the recordings are in the public domain.
Source collection
Internet Archive audio collections
Rights
Public domain — no renewed US copyright
Cataloguing
Air dates and notes from the Archive item record
The shape of the run
What survives, year by year
12 dated broadcasts across 91 years on the air, with 82 years where nothing is known to survive. Brightness is transfer quality; empty cells are months lost to time.
Episodes
Start here
Listen to the run in order
Restored broadcasts from 1920, in original transmission order.
- 1. AFRS Collection 1951.xx.xx 0101 Jukebox Usa - First Song Mambo Jambo · 1 Jan 1920
- 2. Front Line Theater 1943-11-29 (88) Theodora Goes Wild · 29 Nov 1943
- 3. Ham For Sale (March 27, 1944) (AKA Why Jack Benny Will Not Appear On The Program) · 27 Mar 1944
- 01
AFRS Collection 1951.xx.xx 0101 Jukebox Usa - First Song Mambo Jambo
1 Jan 1920 · 31 min
American Armed Forces Radio No 86 Jukebox USA Disclaimer: By uploading these files, I make no claim to ownership or copyright. These recordings have been acquired from publicly available sources on the Internet, and my goal has been to put together a collection of every available episode where possible. I will add to these collections if I discover new episodes or if any new episodes become available. Additionally, while I tried to put together a collection that contains the best version of each episode that I could, there may be better copies of some recordings available from collectors and d
- 02
Front Line Theater 1943-11-29 (88) Theodora Goes Wild
29 Nov 1943 · 29 min
This upload contains 21 episodes of the Old Time Radio program, Front Line Theater. Created for the Armed Forces Radio Service, Front Line Theater took shows from other stateside radio programs and prepared them to be broadcast for the troops overseas. The dates, episode numbers and titles are believed to be correct based on available information, but any corrections are welcome. Initial Upload - April 26, 2020 1st Update - 3/13/21 (added 8/8/43, 5/7/44, 5/28/44) Disclaimer: By uploading these files, I make no claim to ownership or copyright. These recordings have been acquired from publicly a
- 03
Ham For Sale (March 27, 1944) (AKA Why Jack Benny Will Not Appear On The Program)
27 Mar 1944 · 28 min
Writing Himself Into The Show Screen Guild Theater - Why Jack Benny Will Not Appear On The Program March 27th, 1944 'Why Jack Benny Will Not Appear On The Program'. The program stars, of course, Jack Benny. Also appearing are Barbara Stanwyck, Basil Rathbone, Jean Hersholt, and Michael Curtiz, the director of Casablanca. Like so many of Jack's own programs, this episode of Screen Guild Theater is the story of the 'show within the show'. Jack Benny, learning of a program being produced with a stellar cast, is desperate to ingratiate himself into the production. Jack calls Jean Hersholt, preside
- 04
AFRS Collection 1944.12.03 0064 Fannie Brice
3 Dec 1944 · 30 min
American Armed Forces Radio No 85 Fannie Brice Disclaimer: By uploading these files, I make no claim to ownership or copyright. These recordings have been acquired from publicly available sources on the Internet, and my goal has been to put together a collection of every available episode where possible. I will add to these collections if I discover new episodes or if any new episodes become available. Additionally, while I tried to put together a collection that contains the best version of each episode that I could, there may be better copies of some recordings available from collectors and
- 05
Afrs 0056 Jack Benny
21 Oct 1945 · 29 min
- 06
Inner Sanctum - 48.08.30 Next Time I Live
30 Aug 1948 · 30 min
- 07
Broadway's My Beat 1950-01-07 (017) The Mary Murdock Murder Case (AFRTS)
7 Jan 1950 · 29 min
- 08
Broadway's My Beat 1950-04-14 (030) The Tommy Stafford Murder Case (AFRTS)
14 Apr 1950 · 30 min
Also on AFRS
AFRS in 1940–2010
Other series the network carried while AFRS Transcription Discs was on the air.
Same seasons
variety on the air then
Series in the same genre whose runs overlapped this one.
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