Collection of broadcast recordings, 1942-1949.

Creator

United States. Armed Forces Radio Service.

Location

Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound

Extent

ca. 750 sound discs : analog, 33 1/3 rpm ; 16 in.

Scope/Contents Note

The Armed Forces Radio Service collection of broadcast recordings consists of electrical transcription discs thatthe AFRS distributed for broadcast. The substantial portion of the collection consists of concert recordings of the Boston Symphony, NBC Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and other groups, from 1943 through 1945. Also included are selected episodes of a wide variety of other AFRS offerings, such as Globe theater, Mail call, Command performance, Yarns for Yanks, Words with music, and Music from America.

Biographical/Historical Note

The Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) was an agency created in 1942 by the United States government to produceradio shows for broadcast to troops fighting overseas in World War II. Created mainly by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee, the AFRS produced and aired a wide variety of programs - comedy, informational, and dramatic programs, among others. The AFRS also aired edited versions of popular commercial radio programs.
The service was first centered in New York, but soon moved to Los Angeles, where many of its most famous programs were produced. Some of these were: Yarns for Yanks, Command performance, Mail call, and weekly broadcasts of concerts of many major American symphony orchestras. Many of the shows, such as Command performance and Mail call, relied on the donation of time and effort by major talent in show business, who thought of appearances on the programs as a way to contribute to the war effort.
The Armed Forces Radio Service continued producing showsafter the end of World War II, and was restructured under the broader title of the Armed Forces Radio and TelevisionService in the late 1940's.

Controlled Access Terms

  • United States. Armed Forces Radio Service.
  • Radio programs -- United States.

Additional Creator Names

  • Lawrence, Jerome, 1915-2004.
  • Lee, Robert Edwin, 1918-1994.
  • Boston Symphony Orchestra.
  • NBC Symphony Orchestra.
  • New York Philharmonic.
  • Globe theater (Radio program)
  • Mail call (Radio program)
  • Words with music (Radio program)
  • Command performance.
  • Music from America.
  • Yarns for Yanks.