Before AFN, there was...

[TWSEditor]

...the Far East Network (FEN).

Some shots in my personal archive I wanted to share...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/1020segretto-1.jpg
Staff announcer Marine GySgt. Frank Segretto with our FEN-Okinawa Radio Roadshow van -- a converted camper trailer with a fully-equipped mobile broadcast booth (two turntables, 3 cart machines, 8-channel RCA mono mixer) and lounge on the inside -- complete with a dorm-sized fridge!

1972 Sukiran Country Fair, Stilwell Fieldhouse, Camp Sukiran, Okinawa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/wileybunny-1.jpg
The things I'll do for my station... That's me in the bunny suit being interviewed by staff announcer Marine Sgt. Bob Wiley at the annual US Naval Hospital Camp Lester kids Easter egg hunt, sponsored by the USO & Marine Corps Special Services (forebearer to today's Marine Corps Community Services)

1983 USNH Camp Lester, Okinawa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/am648live.jpg
My "office" during my tour at FEN-Okinawa. Studio A, AM 648. Note the RCA 77-DX mic (love the sound), Koss Pro-4A headset, the Ampex A-440 remotes, Gates-Harris turntable, RCA mixer board...and VINYL records! Not seen in this shot: Spotmaster single & 5-spot decks on the right.

1982 FEN-Okinawa studios, Bldg. 4236 Rycom Plaza, Okinawa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/1975FENSign-1.jpg
A view of our studio's building sign. No flashy logos, just who we are and what we do. Even though we were an Air Force organization, we were staffed by some talented Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and local Okinawan employees. "OLAA" is USAF-speak for "Operating Location 'A'", as we answered to network headquarters in Tokyo at Yokota Air Base.

1974 FEN-Okinawa studios, Bldg. 4236 Rycom Plaza, Okinawa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/set2m.jpg
TV-8 Newswatch on-air announcers, 1981. From left: Weathercaster AF SSgt. Mike Nardi (20th Weather Squadron); co-anchors MC Cpl. Wendy McCort, and AF SSgt. Randy Ashurst.

[P_chan]

Cool pictures:thumbup:

SSgt Andy Ashurst looks high as a kite:D:D:D

[dk]

You can change the name as often as you like, but AFN/FEN will always suck. :D

May, I grew up with that crap and hated it! hehehe. Well, except for the Dr. Demento show on the radio on... weekends?

[TWSEditor]

Well, ya can't please everyone...

Holds true today, as it did when I was at the station some 36 (as a work-study student) and 24 (as active duty Navy Journalist) years ago...

Then again, when I was there as a teen in the 70s, we lost the only COMMERCIAL (yup, they played real US radio ads for beer, hard liquor, autos & cigarettes) English-language rock station, JORO (AM 880, Naha) at midnight, Nov. 1, 1973.

Formerly known as KSBK-AM before Reversion and changeover from US FCC "K-S" call letters to Japan Posts & Telecommunications "J-O" calls...it was the English-language station owned by the Ryukyu Broadcasting Company (RBC) with studios in Naha. "Brother" Bob Wales was the long-time program director, hired by RBC from KUAM-AM, Agana, Guam.

Hang-around...I do have a few stories to tell about that outfit...

[dk]

Well, ya can't please everyone...

Holds true today, as it did when I was at the station some 36 (as a work-study student) and 24 (as active duty Navy Journalist) years ago...
Hey, I'm not knockin' ya! We all do our best with what we have. :)

[DoctorP]

...the Far East Network (FEN).

Some shots in my personal archive I wanted to share...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/1020segretto-1.jpg
Staff announcer Marine GySgt. Frank Segretto with our FEN-Okinawa Radio Roadshow van -- a converted camper trailer with a fully-equipped mobile broadcast booth (two turntables, 3 cart machines, 8-channel RCA mono mixer) and lounge on the inside -- complete with a dorm-sized fridge!

1972 Sukiran Country Fair, Stilwell Fieldhouse, Camp Sukiran, Okinawa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/wileybunny-1.jpg
The things I'll do for my station... That's me in the bunny suit being interviewed by staff announcer Marine Sgt. Bob Wiley at the annual US Naval Hospital Camp Lester kids Easter egg hunt, sponsored by the USO & Marine Corps Special Services (forebearer to today's Marine Corps Community Services)

1983 USNH Camp Lester, Okinawa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/am648live.jpg
My "office" during my tour at FEN-Okinawa. Studio A, AM 648. Note the RCA 77-DX mic (love the sound), Koss Pro-4A headset, the Ampex A-440 remotes, Gates-Harris turntable, RCA mixer board...and VINYL records! Not seen in this shot: Spotmaster single & 5-spot decks on the right.

1982 FEN-Okinawa studios, Bldg. 4236 Rycom Plaza, Okinawa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/1975FENSign-1.jpg
A view of our studio's building sign. No flashy logos, just who we are and what we do. Even though we were an Air Force organization, we were staffed by some talented Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and local Okinawan employees. "OLAA" is USAF-speak for "Operating Location 'A'", as we answered to network headquarters in Tokyo at Yokota Air Base.

1974 FEN-Okinawa studios, Bldg. 4236 Rycom Plaza, Okinawa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/jaywhy8202/FEN-Okinawa/set2m.jpg
TV-8 Newswatch on-air announcers, 1981. From left: Weathercaster AF SSgt. Mike Nardi (20th Weather Squadron); co-anchors MC Cpl. Wendy McCort, and AF SSgt. Randy Ashurst.


Do you have a personal website? I swear I've seen these pics before.:scratchchin:

[TWSEditor]

My story? Assigned to Navy Broadcasting Service Det. Okinawa (1982-1984), the USN element to the Far East Network (FEN), a USAF command.

I showed up back at Bldg. 4236 (FEN's studios) as a Navy JO3 (E4) after four previous years at FEN-Tokyo.

Lived aboard Kadena AB in FEN dorms on the AF side (we shared dorms with 18th Security Police Sqdrn.). Only had to deal with Navy PSD when it came to pay or service record issues...other than that, we were AF property. And yes, we lived pretty well on the "AF blue" side of the fenceline.

Det Okinawa consisted of JO1 Ed Fryer (Det. POIC), IC1 Bill Lewandowski (AM-FM transmitter tech), JO2 PJ Williams (radio staff announcer), IC2 Mark "Master" Bates (TV broadcast tech) , and myself (radio staff announcer).

During my time @ FEN I was...

Staff announcer/producer/scriptwriter
During my tour I hosted local live shows "The Clockwatcher" (AM drive), "Day Tripper" (lunchtime/swing drive),"On The Road" (PM drive), "The Niteline" (all-request PM show) and "Midnight Crossing" (overnight FM rock show)
Assistant Radio Music Director
Radio Continuity Director
Radio Special Events Coordinator (I booked the live van for at least two live FEN Radio Road Shows a month at installations)

[TWSEditor]

Do you have a personal website? I swear I've seen these pics before.:scratchchin:

I HAD an FEN-Okinawa history webpage some years ago on FortuneCity...some of these pics appeared there...

I also run an FEN alumni Y! group...

[0341isa]

yeah, but did they have styrofoam cups yo?


http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:zJEBoaVHd3EeBM:http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/SpOb_qSggGE/default.jpg

[SnaFu]

My first FEN experience was in 1980...
We used to call it Forced Enternainment Network.
All in all really wasn't so bad considering the options. We just liked to have something to bitch about.

The typhoon warnings and advisories were a lot better then than they are now.

AFN radio had a show that would come on at midnight. I don't remember which was first but it changed names.

One was "Midnight crossing" and the other was "East of midnight". Man... they would rock out!

Some Saturdays we would head to Zanpa Cape to camp out and jump off the cliffs into the ocean and on the way back on Sunday there was a "Father Harry, God Squad" followed by "Casy Kasem Americas top 40". We usually hit up Gengis Kahns on the way back to Kinser.

[TWSEditor]

AFN radio had a show that would come on at midnight. I don't remember which was first but it changed names.

One was "Midnight crossing" and the other was "East of midnight". Man... they would rock out!

Some Saturdays we would head to Zanpa Cape to camp out and jump off the cliffs into the ocean and on the way back on Sunday there was a "Father Harry, God Squad" followed by "Casy Kasem Americas top 40". We usually hit up Gengis Kahns on the way back to Kinser.

It was originally "East of Midnight"...there were three versions of the live network album rock show: one from FEN-Tokyo (covering the mainland Japan FEN affiliates), another broadcast from FEN-Philippines at Clark AB (for Subic Bay and San Miguel), and one from FEN-Okinawa.

Around 1981, Okinawa's radio staff decided to ditch the automated FM stereo elevator music from midnight to 3am by putting it on the AM side and turning 89.1 FM into the "Midnight Crossing." My friend, then-Airman 1st Class Rick Blackburn, was one of the Crossing jocks. There was a cottage business of Midnight Crossing T-shirts being sold in shops on Gate 2 Street by a local entrepreneur. The show was popular with night shiftworkers...as well as the insomniacs...

Our weekend radio staples were American Top 40 (AT40) with Casey Kasem, American Country Countdown (ACC) with Bob Kingsley, Dick Clark's "Rock, Roll & Remember," and "Love On The Rock" -- better known as Father Harry & The God Squad.

BTW, Father (actually Monsignor) Harry Schlitt is still doing the show in limited syndication, even though his last "Love On The Rock" show for AFRTS was in 1997. Monsignor Schlitt is a senior member of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

As for Ghengis Khan's Mongolian BBQ -- it was one of our fave hangouts for the station staff. We'd judge how we did by "bowl missions". The food was great and the price was right...

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c26/mdgstore/Okinawa%20images/fenokitower.jpg
The ol' homestead & TV/FM tower...4236 Plaza...

[socalheart]

During my time @ FEN I was...
[LIST]
During my tour I hosted local live shows "The Clockwatcher" (AM drive), "Day Tripper" (lunchtime/swing drive),"On The Road" (PM drive), "The Niteline" (all-request PM show) and "Midnight Crossing" (overnight FM rock show)

I remember The Clockwatcher from when I was a kid. :thumbup1:

My first FEN experience was in 1980...
We used to call it Forced Enternainment Network.
All in all really wasn't so bad considering the options. We just liked to have something to bitch about.

Some Saturdays we would head to Zanpa Cape to camp out and jump off the cliffs into the ocean and on the way back on Sunday there was a "Father Harry, God Squad" followed by "Casy Kasem Americas top 40". We usually hit up Gengis Kahns on the way back to Kinser.
What options?! :p
Casey Kasem was the only current music we had back then! :rolleyes:
Which Ghengis Khan? the one with the rain in the windows near Futenma or the new one by Kadena?

Our weekend radio staples were American Top 40 (AT40) with Casey Kasem, American Country Countdown (ACC) with Bob Kingsley, Dick Clark's "Rock, Roll & Remember," and "Love On The Rock" -- better known as Father Harry & The God Squad.
Great shows, especially when the only thing to watch on FEN Sunday mornings was Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. :rolleyes: I lived for Star Trek at noon on the weekends though! :D

[SnaFu]

What options?! :p
Casey Kasem was the only current music we had back then! :rolleyes:
Which Ghengis Khan? the one with the rain in the windows near Futenma or the new one by Kadena?



Exactly! They pretty much had you by the short hairs.

The one with the rain in the windows. There was actually another one between the time the one on 58 closed and the new one by Kadena opened. It was near the MCAS consulate gate. No all you can eat though. Just a straight up menu but the food was still pretty good.


There also used to be a Taco place just outside the Kitamae gate of Foster to the left 100 yards or so. The T was missing from the sign so we used to call it "ACO's". If I remember correctly they were pretty much the same flavor as the TACO YA belly bombers. Those things rocked. We would usually put down about 12 somewhere between Noahs Arc up on the hill between Foster and Futenma and the watering holes in Kitamae.

[onebye]

My story? Assigned to Navy Broadcasting Service Det. Okinawa (1982-1984), the USN element to the Far East Network (FEN), a USAF command.

I showed up back at Bldg. 4236 (FEN's studios) as a Navy JO3 (E4) after four previous years at FEN-Tokyo.

Lived aboard Kadena AB in FEN dorms on the AF side (we shared dorms with 18th Security Police Sqdrn.). Only had to deal with Navy PSD when it came to pay or service record issues...other than that, we were AF property. And yes, we lived pretty well on the "AF blue" side of the fenceline.

Det Okinawa consisted of JO1 Ed Fryer (Det. POIC), IC1 Bill Lewandowski (AM-FM transmitter tech), JO2 PJ Williams (radio staff announcer), IC2 Mark "Master" Bates (TV broadcast tech) , and myself (radio staff announcer).

During my time @ FEN I was...

Staff announcer/producer/scriptwriter
During my tour I hosted local live shows "The Clockwatcher" (AM drive), "Day Tripper" (lunchtime/swing drive),"On The Road" (PM drive), "The Niteline" (all-request PM show) and "Midnight Crossing" (overnight FM rock show)
Assistant Radio Music Director
Radio Continuity Director
Radio Special Events Coordinator (I booked the live van for at least two live FEN Radio Road Shows a month at installations)


I remember your show. I enjoyed listening everyday and especially my long drive in to work at Kadena from way down south on Okinawa. Got here in 81, retired in 86 and have been here ever since. Didn't you have a Navy D.J. by the name of Lin, who was really good.

[SnaFu]

The honchos back then all had killer stereo systems in them and all kinds of kickass cassettes to satisfy anyones taste.

The BC warrior mantra as we boarded the taxis at Kinser:
"Hey Honcho... Put on some AC/DC!" (or Black Sabbath, Hendrix, Rainbow, Rush..... )

Good times without a doubt!

[SnaFu]

What about "chicken man" and FENs "Worst joke of the day". That shit kicked ass!. Broke up the monatony of sitting in a green box all day chasing sparks....

[fenderchick]

Pretty cool info! :thumbup1:

Anyone see this commercial about cleaning up after your dog on AFN where the girl is talking about, "You might be one of those people who thinks words like 'poop' is funny..."

Saw that yesterday and laughed so hard I nearly sprit my river. Ah, what will I do when it's time to go back to the states and I don't get to see the condescending AFN commercials anymore...

[Richard Burns]

The best AFN commercial of ALL time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9BVDD-7XDg

[Blues]

all that old equipment just pitched a retro-nerdgasm :D

[GarryK]

Back in the olden days (as my kids call it) of 66-69, radio and TV were AFRTS (Armed Forces Radio and Television Service). One evening when I pulled up in the driveway, my 4 kids came running out at the same time yelling "Dad, dad, dad!" "Guess what? The guy on TV just said 'AFARTS'." "Maybe he will say it again!" They never heard it again. It sure would have been nice if it had been said over the radio when the kids were recording music. It would have been a masterpiece.
Respectfully, Garry

[daveh5o]

I remember Chicken Man. Too funny. Remember Mr. Cablemouth, and the self help shorts with Gumby Biff and his pal Spinner? I also enjoyed the comedy five minute filler shorts with Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara (Ben Stiller's parents).

[Oxmix]

Never did watch much TV, busy doing other more important things in town,:grin1:. They did pipe AFRT radio, rock & roll, into the missile shop. Didn't get to hear it much there as I was out in the field most of the time.

Regards

Ox

[TWSEditor]

I remember Chicken Man. Too funny. Remember Mr. Cablemouth, and the self help shorts with Gumby Biff and his pal Spinner? I also enjoyed the comedy five minute filler shorts with Steven Stiller and Anne Meara (Ben Stiller's parents).

Actually, Ben's parents are Jerry Stiller (Seinfeld, King of Queens) & Anne Meara.

The characters of "Gumby Biff" and his pal, "Spinner" were the brainchildren of Airman Rick Blackburn and Marine Corporal Jim Grinnell. They had their mainland Japan counterparts on FEN-Tokyo, "Carl & Norman"; created by Army Sergeant Mike Meadows and Navy Journalist Tim Mattox. Though separated by a couple hundred miles of land and sea, the duos were quite similar...one was mentally "out there," playing against the straight main.

"Chickenman" -- along with "The Tooth Fairy," "The Story Lady" and "The Masked Minuteman" -- were the products of Dick Orkin at WCFL Chicago in 1966 as a daily serial that satirized the then-popular ABC-TV series, "Batman."

Orkin wrote all the episodes and starred as Chickenman, "the most fantastic crime fighter the world has ever known."

At the time, Dick had no idea how incredibly popular this humble radio comedy serial would become. It was (and remains) a worldwide phenomenon.

Even today, if you yell "Chickenman!" millions of loyal fans will instantly respond, "He's everywhere! He's everywhere!"

In addition to writing the series, Dick played the Fantastic Fowl and several other characters, including the Police Commissioner of Midland City, as well as the Mayor of the town, who was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The late Jim Runyon was the famous "WELLLLL…." announcer of the series.

He improvised the famous word-play closes. In several episodes, Jim also played Benton’s boyhood enemy, Rodney Farver. Jane Roberts (who later became Mrs Jim Runyon) played the acerbic Ms. Helfinger, secretary to the Police Commissioner of Midland City; as well as the Masked Mother, sometimes known as the Maternal Maurader. Jane also played Benton’s excitable girlfriend, Sayde Leckner—as well as her mother, Mrs. Leckner. Jane also played several other minor roles in the series.

The final 65 episodes and special EPA weekend shows were produced in the early seventies. Contrary to claims made by others, the original 195 episodes produced in the 60’s were authored by Dick with additional assistance from his partner B. Ziggy Stone and Dick’s son, Haris Orkin..
http://radio-ranch.com/images/chickenman.jpg
The Chickenman series gave detailed attention to sound effects, from door opens and closes to the longest explosion in the history of radio. The man responsible for these and a myriad of other production effects was J. Michael King, who today owns and operates one of the most successful recording studios in Chicago and the nation.

Chickenman has aired in more than 3,000 cities in the US, Canada, Australia, and wordwide via Armed Forces Radio; making it the longest running radio serial of all time. Chickenman (52 weeks of episodes) continues in broadcast syndication today and is most popularly heard on oldies and contemporary format stations. Chickenman can also be heard on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.

CDs of the Chickenman series for personal home use are also available (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=320832162&s=143441).

BTW, Dick Orkin's Radio Ranch studios still produces some of the best, and award-winning radio commercials for national, regional and local ad clients.

[daveh5o]

TWS,
I fixed it.Thanks. About twenty minutes after posting that, I kept thinking not Steven, but Jerry Stiller over and over. I was not near the computer to fix the error. Charlie Tuna and Rick Dees were two of my favorites during the day. AFRTS in Los Angeles provided great daytime DJ's.