A
Radio Rose of Texas[1]. The 5 of the Olga Patricia.
A non-profit historical
essay dedicated to the
founders, staff and fans of the 5 stations.
Edited
by Derek Burroughs jr., The Olga Observer.
PREVIEW April 7th, 2006[2].
40 years Anniversary edition May 3rd, 2006, 1030am[3].
UPDATE SRE Closure Anniversary November 13th, 2006, 2338pm.
Reposted November 13th, 2008 by popular demand.
This version, published in the 40th anniversary year of Radio
England and Britain Radio will not be updated.
Please note that an updated version may be found at
http://www.stellamaris.no/olgapatricia1322845.html
Englands finest.
Preface.
That was one of the top-of the hour identifications used on
a radio station broadcasting on 1322 kc for just over half a year in Spring,
Summer and Autumn of 1966.
The radio station in question, Radio England, is still
remembered along with its Dutch-speaking aftermath(Radio Dolfijn) its sister,
Britain Radio(The Hallmark of Quality), and their 2 younger sisters, one
Dutch(Radio 227), and one British(Radio 355).
Together, all 5 stations from the radio ship Olga
Patricia(Laissez Faire), as well as their forerunner and cousin Radio London
from the Galaxy, were the result of Texas investors from Abilene/Wichita
Falls, Midland/Odessa and Eastland seeking Northern European business
opportunities in radio. This was to prove successful in the case of Big L
broadcasting on 266, but difficult from the Olga Patricia. But without these
courageous people, European broadcasting history would have been different and
less colourful. And, transition from state-run broadcasting monopolies to
deregulation as well as restructuring of national channels would have been slowed
down.
On the fan side, many would like to express their
gratitude to the business people who took the risk, as well as all
former presenters and other employes of these most missed stations. We want to
remember these stations vividly with great fondness. It was sadly a shortlived operation.
Especially
the founder of the stations, the late Don Pierson must be honoured. One cannot
help admiring his entrepeneuring spirit and ability to
make his visions a reality.
American
radio in the UK and in Europe was not an innovation in the mid-60s however,
with AFN London and its 50+stations already broadcasting from 1943-1945 and its
cousin ABSIE, followed by AFN networks and stations in many European
countries, the most famous being AFN Germany. There also was another Texan
station in Sweden 1961-1962 with some of the same roots, namely Radio Nord. But
their stories are told elsewhere[4] [5].
The cover of
the EP Sing with Radio Nord, 1961. The airplane flying from Bromma is just
about to make The Drop with recorded programs ready for broadcasting from
this floating radio station in the Baltic off Stockholm, Sweden. Radio Nord
broadcast on 602 kc from the radio ship Bon Jour until the summer of 1962.
This Scandinavian station had origins and was owned by businessmen Deep in the
heart of Texas. Unknown source.
The
day of the 1st edition of this essay, May 3rd, 2006, it
was 40 years since the two Continental transmitters on board the radio ship
Olga Patricia burst to life off the Frinton, Essex UK coast. On 845 kc, at
1030 in the morning, with a tone and The Yellow Rose of Texas[6],
Radio England started test broadcasting. Subsequently, the high-paced tests on
355 in May 1966 by Larry Dean, Ron OQuinn and others hit us like a bomb, and
since then we were hooked.
What most people know about SRE and the
other 4 stations is what they learned from the press or heard over the
airwaves, but the press often had the story wrong. What was heard over the
airwaves was a series of changing formats, changing names and a sudden end to
the entire project in advance of the Marine Offences Act coming into effect[7].
But the real story goes much deeper. This is an attempt to
tell and categorize that story.
Still there!
Here is a good way to
"celebrate" the sadly missed Olga Patricia stations: Their two remaining
transmitters, still on the air in Africa, may be found on dxtuners.com, and
were heard by the editor in on November 8th, 2006
via the Johannesburg receiver:
1170 kc TWR Swaziland. 50 kW
Continental transmitter #11 ex SRE/Britain R/R 355.
Local strength w Christian Contemporary
Music track, great local ID, local bible reading from TWR Swaziland.
1377 kc Radio Liberty. 50 kW Continental
transmitter #10 ex Britain R/SRE/R Dolfijn/R 227 w fading-in and out non-stop
Portugese "Praise" music with Portugese sermon.[8]
In early 2004, a Norwegian, svennam,
published a Radio England fanzine on the web, called Pickinup
Boss Vibrations. In his essay, the author says it was an immensely
great period of life, radio, and music. The editor couldnt agree more.
And he goes on inviting inputs in order
to establish more facts[9]. His opinion is there should be a larger
study on the general history of this radio project, comprising the material in
(his) essay, which inevitably grew into the first months of the operation, and
if possible material from the collections of the late Don Piersons family and
Hans Knots large archive. Hans Knot also wrote an excellent 1991 study in
Dutch: De Vijf van de Laissez Faire.
It would also be interesting, he says, to hear the views and stories of
more djs,and learn more of Britain Radio, Radio Dolfijn, Radio 227 and Radio
355. And, the later history of the ship and Don Pierson. Also an accompanying
CD could be interesting for many. These contributions would be essential, even
it is realized it wont be easy to find more details. But if more material may
be uncovered, svennam concludes he has good reason to believe that an
independent writer might take on this task in a most professional way.
The essay caused considerable interest,
with an average of 300 genuine daily hits since then on what originally
wascalled The Last Month of Radio England, a result indicating that the 5
radio stations broadcasting from the radio ship Olga Patricia couldnt have
been the calamitous failures they were blamed to be. And the people
appointed to run the programming must after all have been much better at what
they were doing than what the in-the know thought them to be. And they must
have had some notion of who they were broadcasting to[10],
when, now, on this 40 Years anniversary of the start of transmissions from the
Olga, these stations, with founders, presenters, and-sound still are so much
loved among us.
In the 3 years that have passed, a lot
of new information have been uncovered and secured. Also, having had a large number of inputs and
researched a lot of new material it has been decided to rewrite and extend the
whole story up to all 5 stations that played such a strong part in our lives
1966-1967 and after, also including a little glimpse of their cousin, Wonderful
Radio London broadcasting from the Galaxy, from 1964, since that station had
the same roots.
A new author has submitted the text below,
presenting himself as the Olga Observer, seemingly related to Derek
Burroughs, the name of the voice on the automation tapes aboard the radio ship[11]. In a Radio 355
Saturday evening broadcast in July, 1967 he came out of his cabin(behind the
Carousel?)and was interviewed by Alan Black about his 13-month stint on the
Olga:
(I am)looking forward to going back home to
Los Angeles after nearly a year here in this wonderful country on this
wonderful little boat...
Alan Black commented at the end of the
interview that Derek Burroughs did not say or talk much. You keep yourself to
yourself!
Whilst Dave MacKay, in the air-chair
that evening on 845 kc, added though, that Burroughs was a great card-player.[12]
Burroughs, jr. has listened through a
large number of recordings[13]
from all 5 stations for documentation, corrected earlier mistakes, included a
lot of new facts, improved the diary, and added many facts about what happened
to the ship and transmitters after August 6th, 1967, when Radio 355 closed at
0022 hours and the transmitter went dead, later to come on the air in an
entirely different part of the world.
Burroughs, jr., in presenting his new long
essay here is making an independent, honest and non-profit effort to make this
fascinating piece of radio history a more cooperative
preservation project, creating a radio history hub, umbrella if you like,
encouraging contrasting agendas around this subject to come together so that
still existing material will be available to everyone's benefit, and may be
secured for the future.
This seems to be a most responsible
approach, as there seems to be various interests around the subject in
question, such as personal, commercial, ideological, and even political. There
are still anoraks interested on these stations, but also other interests
opposed to this approach.
And then there are the founders, broadcasters,
and everyone that worked for the operation. Not forgetting their descendants.
By means of the web, they now have a great chance of knowing more, and put the
elements into place. Hopefully, this study may assist in that task, and also
create a lasting monument of the hectic radio days of 1966-1967, or even,
1964-1967.
Derek Burroughs, jr. has been able to draw
upon the archives of
svennam still
Smile
album(2004).Pickinup NEW Good Vibrations 40 years after the autumn of 1966
Smile. From Radio Englands studio aboard the Olga Patricia, May, 1966.
Unknown photographer. LIFE International
Oct.31st,1966 . Submitted by Lars Holm.
Hans Knot[14],
De 5 van de Laissez Faire Hans Knots study from 1991[15],
built on his large archive, and some of the late Don Piersons files.
Eric Gilder and friends[16],
London, My Hometown[17].
in Mass Media Moments
in the United Kingdom Eric Gilders study from 2001/2003, forecasting a
larger audio/book presentation, putting the subject of this essay into a larger
context.
parts of relevant material from Offshore Echos
magazine and archives,
as well as Grey Pierson(the son of
Don Pierson) and the Pierson family archive in
Texas.
The
late Don Pierson(r), founder of Radio London and the Olga stations, aboard the
Olga Patricia in May, 1966. With Captain Julio Alonzo, Free Cuban. Photo
from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.
Burroughs, jr. also wishes to thank the
following others for their kind efforts, contributions and cooperation:
Sweden Calling DX-ers(SCDX, Radio
Sweden)
DX-Listeners Club, Norway[18]
John Ross-Barnard
Genie Baskir
Ian Biggar
Gerry Bishop(Offshore Radio, 1975)
John of Brucebase[19]
Look Boden
Jack Curtiss
Robert Chapman[20]
Phil Champion
Rick Crandall
Keith Dobson
Roger Day
Dictionary of American
Naval Fighting Ships
Steve Eberhart[21]
John England
Steve England(The Radio England story edition II
(S.England))
Tony Fitzherbert[22]
Steve Geisler[23]
Dave Gilbee
Eric Gilder
Paul De Haan[24]
Mervyn
Osborne Hagger
Paul
Harris[25]
Jim Hawkins
Lars Holm
How to Listen to the World
Richard Irwin(Uncle Ricky)[26]
The Laissez Faire story[27]
Tore Larsson
Mike Leonard(From International
Waters)
Paul John
Lilburne-Byford
Larry Magne[28]
Jeff Martin
Phil Martin
Jon Myer[29]
Rolf Mong
Colin Nicol
National Radio Club, USA[30]
Offshore Echos Magazine(OEM)/Chris
Edwards[31]
Mary Payne[32]
Radio
News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser, and Time and
Tide)1967, reprinted by Offshore
Echos Magazine (OEM)
Ron OQuinn
Steve Richards
Alan Roberts
Ray Robinson
Manfred Steinkrauss
John Sgruletta
Chris Turner[33]
TV Mail, 1966-1967, reprinted
by Offshore Echos
Magazine (OEM)
Dr.Martin v.der Ven[34]
Tim Warden(Los Solanas Consulting)[35]
Tedd Webb[36]
Dick Weeda
Martyn Webster
Perry Woods[37]
World Radio TV Handbook
Statement:
This website is not an
"official" website, nor is it created or endorsed by the former
management of radio stations England, Britain, Dolfijn, 227, 355, or London.
This website has no commercial
objective and the material and the information presented is for research and
enjoyment only.
This website is presented to preserve
the history of these radio stations, putting their story into the context of
the history of broadcasting and media in general.
All material on the pages of this site
is the property of the editor, or, is the property of the noted
contributor(where this is known) and cannot be duplicated or otherwise
distributed without prior written consent.
Every possible effort has been done to
comply with current copyright laws. If you feel your copyright has been
infringed upon, please contact the editor immediately.
Oscars Groovy Grotto,
November 13th, 2006,
Conrad J.Earle.
-and dont forget our sponsor-
Inter-Cham![38]
Contents
and invitation for participation:
A Radio Rose of Texas.
The 5 of the Olga Patricia.
Preface: Englands finest
Still there!
Pickinup
Boss Vibrations
Contents and invitation for
participation
Chapter 1: Texas Radio takes to the air in Europe
Attempt of a diary of the Olga Patricia stations.
Winter and Spring 1966
May
1966-September 1967 Rundown month by month
Chapter
2: I went ahead and did it. Olga Patricia, founder and administration.
About Don Pierson, founder
of Radio London and the Olga Patricia Stations
William(Bill)
Vick, the first Mananging Director of the Olga Patricia operation
Larry Dean on Jack
Nixon
I never set out to be remembered
Dont you know...Boss Jocks play much more music! Ron
OQuinn interview
Ben Toney, advisor in 1966
And then it is over to Tom Danaher
Tom Danaher and Don Pierson
About Chuck Blair/Jay Kay
Jack Curtiss steps up to the microphone
Who was Basil van Rensburg?
An old colonel steps aboard
Chapter 3: Ron on the radio from 2-6 pm. Olga
Patricia djs and newsreaders May 3rd-August 6th 1967
A 5-station rundown
Chapter 4: Inputs from and on Olga
Patricia broadcasters.
Larry Dean
"They wanted us to sound slick, pacy and fast"
You are listening to the Jerry Smithwick
program!
Johnnie Walker remembers
Phil Martin
Summer 1966 brings the Second US Wave[39]
to the 227 microphone
"Boom Boom Brannigan" or Bob Klingeman
April 4th,
1967: Boomer's accident
Perry Woods, former Operations
Manager at WPXI
Steve Richards(Steve Nelson),
formerly of WPXI
On Radio England from Will radio
pirates walk the plank? LIFE International Magazine.
October 31st, 1966[40]
A format change on 227 and Bill
Berry shows leadership
John Ross-Barnard
David Gilbee, also known as Dave
MacKay
The cartoonist of the Olga
Look Boden
Dick Weedas Radio 227 memories
John Aston takes the microphone
Martin Kayne was the last dj who did breakfast on the Olga
Chapter 5: Today, this song is Boss Sound no.1-1-1.
Olga Patricia music and jingles.
The last Boss Fun 50, of November
5th, 1966
BOSS
40 and (BOSS)FUN 50 #1s
Chapter 6: A radio hybrid. Olga Patricia programming.
US
station roots
In excess of 50000 watts. SREs
Legal IDs atop the hour(TOH)
BOH/Bottom of the Hour IDs
The Sound of the
International Giant-SRE special promos
Saturday morning at 8-SREs
Promos(for) special shows
When form was more important than content
Ron OQuinn explains the news concept
The Bannerline news format came from WFUN
Its Thatman -SREs jingle sets
Ron OQuinn explains
Larry Dean explains
Jingles used on the Olga stations
Chapter
7: On 3-5-5 and 2-2-7. Technical.
The
Olga Patricia Frequencies
The Olga Patricia Transmitters
Swazi Music Radio 1376 kc
Swazi Music Radio-format changes
Trans World Radio Swaziland 1170 kc
Chapter 8: 32 Curzon. Addresses
and other administrative data.
5-station information
Chapter
9: Sales and ratings.
Ad
clients.
Chapter
10: What happened to the Olga Patricia?
Ship
details.
The Captain(s) of your ship.
Up
for sale.
Last
voyage of a Musical pirate.
Perspectives
on the Olga Patricia stations.
Where
the Heck is the Olga Patricia[41]?
A
surprising development: Radio Galleon.
Chapter
11: Meanwhile on the Galaxy.
Chapter 12: See you
around. The end of Texas Radio in Europe.
In spite of the effort of Burroughs, jr.
and others not all facts have been established.
Distinguished
reader, if you know of any story, anecdote, biography or event, or if you have
any photographs that you feel should be presented to the world through this
essay, or if you know someone we should interview to get more information on
this piece of radio history, please feel free to contact us.
If you worked with or on these stations in
any respect, or have information from other sources, you are invited to give
your input in text or pictures so that it may fit the outline above. Previously
unknown unscoped mp3 recordings(if possible) are also sought, as well as scoped
airchecks, also in mp3 that may be displayed on the site. We only want sound
material not published elsewhere.
Generally, it is important for Burroughs,
jr. to find the true facts without publishing anything that would hurt anyone.
Please submit your text in Microsoft Word or for pictures,. jpg or .gif
and email to Derek Burroughs jr. at this email address:
Copyright issues must be resolved.
Contrasting views to those presented by
the editor are welcomed, as they will add color and depth to the story, but the
presentation will be balanced.
An updated version is planned for February
28th, 1967 at 12.45 pm British time, to commemorate the final
broadcast from Britain Radio.
Dade Drydock Coporation[42], Miami, Florida Spring 1966: The mv
Olga Patricia up close. Mast and guy wires. What can be her mission? Eric Gilder. Used with
permission.
mv.
Olga Patricia March, 1966 at Dade Drydock Coporation, Biscayne Bay, Miami. In
the centre cargo hold of the ship were dropped the 50 kW transmitters and big
diesel generators for AC power. And in the forward hold, a prefab studio set-up
was just dropped in.(Larry Dean[43]) Photo from the
Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.
mv. Olga Patricia March, 1966 at Dade
Drydock Coporation, Dodge Island, Biscayne Bay. We had two large cubicles, one
of which contained the transmitter facilities,...the other contained the
studios for the two stations. They were on shore when I first joined
up...(Rick Randall[44])
Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.
Brian Dean in
Daily Telegraph May 2nd, 1966. Pirate Olga goes into battle. From
Hans Knots archive.
Chapter 1:
Texan Radio takes to the air in Europe. Attempt of a diary of the Olga Patricia
stations.
Winter
and Spring 1966
January
1966: A meeting in the Abilene State National Bank.
The
Laissez Faire saga began in a meeting in the Abilene State National Bank in
Texas in January 1966. Local business people believed that Britain could be
shown a thing or two about running radio stations and that there was money to
be made. Their enthusiasm was fired by Mr.Pierson, the banks persuasive,
backslapping chairman, who two years earlier had helped to launch Radio London,
and then been ousted in a power struggle. Mr.Bill Vick, who was in the bakery
business, but had also been in oil and banking, was appointed to go to London
to get things moving.[45]
Post card of
Abilene, Texas in the 50s.
Thursday, April
7th, 1966: The Olga Patricia leaves Biscayne
Bay.
New York, Friday.
A new pirate radio ship designed to
work in the North Sea off the English coast has been fitted out in an
atmosphere of almost wartime secrecy at Biscayne Bay, Miami, I learned today.
She left there yesterday for Hamilton, Bermuda and is expected to leave immediately
for Lisbon. The vessel, the Olga Patricia, 480 tons, a wartime landing craft
later used for cargo-carrying, is owned by a syndicate of British and American
businessmen. Their identities have not been revealed but its understood some
backers are Texans. The Olga Patricia underwent an expensive refitting
operation since she was moved to Miami from the Panama Canal Zone three months
ago. Workers on the ship said a considerable sum was spent to turn the ship
into a floating radio station. The ships transmitting equipment is said to be
able to send two programmes simultaneously. The owners are believed to be
planning two separate stations, one for rock nroll, the other for good music[46].
Dade Drydock Coporation, Biscayne Bay, Florida March 21st,
1966: A ship called the Olga Patricia is equipped with an antenna
mast atop the existing mainmast. This antenna fell down in the Atlantic. Eric Gilder. Used with permission.
Dade Drydock Coporation, Biscayne Bay, Florida March, 1966: A
large mast is lifted from the quayside onto a ship: We had a large crane that
actually lifted the studios and dropped them down into what had been a cargo
hold on the ship. There were two of them, so they dropped the studios down in
one hold and the transmitter down in the other, sealed the deck, put a
generator on top of it, and of course, the antenna on top as well.(Rick
Randall[47]) Eric Gilder. Used with
permission.
Early April, 1966. The Olga Patricia tied up at a dock just before she left Florida with the
original antenna that collapsed clearly visible: It is a massive cable
stretching all the way to the top of a swinging beam at the top of the mast
itself. Attempt of making a sloping antenne?-Editor. Eric Gilder. Used with
permission.
Thursday April 1, 1966. Miami News:
"Jolly Roger Pirates to Pipe Music Ashore": The first major story
about the birth of the radio ship.
A "pirate" radio ship
planning to start beaming programs into Britain in the next few months is being
secretly fitted out in Miami. ... (then a lot of text about the reason for the
station, Radio Caroline and even the UK wireless license set fee)
In Miami, the Olga Patricia's
program director, a man named Ron, has been quietly hiring disc jockeys. The
news came out when station WFUN announced one of its DJs, 38-year-old Jack
Armstrong had quit to join the London venture.
(Then there is a lot more text about
djs and the article continues):
The 480-ton Olga Patricia was built
in 1944 as a landing craft. After the war, she was sold and converted to a
tramp freighter, plying the Caribbean. She still flies the Panamanian flag. She
was brought to Miami three months ago from the Panama Canal Zone and taken over
by the syndicate. She has been converted and painted black and white.
Spokesman for the syndicate is a
chunky, personable Texan named Don Pearson (sic, this is the spelling used by
the newspaper). His only reply to inquiries about the ship is that it is being
"fitted out for oceanographic research." Pearson, who is also the
mayor of Eastland, Tex., (pop. 4,000), added, "We will have a statement to
make in June."
No one is allowed on the ship, tied
up at the Dodge Island seaport. But someone who met "Ron" said:
"All of the initial contacts with the djs were made by phone. They weren't
allowed near the ship until they signed contracts.
"I get the impression the
owners were trying catch Radio Caroline by surprise and were very anxious to
avoid any kind of publicity. It's certainly a powerful operation. There are
three huge generators aboard, one for each station plus a spare. All supplies
will be brought by boat from the mainland to the ship when the station gets
going."
Crewmen yesterday loaded huge coils
of copper tubing aboard. Other equipment lay under green tarpaulin. The few
crewmenon the afterdeck refused to talk about the ship. A high-ranking US
Coast Guard officer said: "We have long been aware of the ship's presence
and what has been going on. But it is outside our jurisdiction."
The owners had hoped to have the
Olga Patricia started on the 4,000-mile trip to England this week. But a
salvage expert who has been doing work on the ship said: "They're going to
be disappointed. The mast still needs work and the ship will have to be
inspected by the American Bureau of Shipping before she sails.
"I would think she''ll be
stuck here for another three weeks.[48]"
Two more on the
way. Daily Telegraph April 20th, 1966. From Hans Knots archive.
Wednesday April
20th, 1966: The Caf Royal Press Conference.
Our broadcasting reporter in The Times, reported of a press
conference the previous day at Londons Caf Royal[49],
which was chaired by Mr. Jack Nixon(50), and Mr.William Vick(40)respectively Chairman
and Managing Director of Peir-Vick Ltd[50].
One of the subjects was the coming operations dramatised news
bulletins. When Mr.Nixon was challenged on this, a PR aide suggested this
meant more emotional than the BBC.
More generally, Mr.Nixon stated that as you have to know the taste of
an apple before you can describe it, so you have to hear the new sound before
you know what it means.[51]
Lets get cosy, in front of an
apparently washed-out Union Jack. a somewhat sarcastical description of the
Peir-Vick Press Conference in presumably Daily Telegraph, April 21st, 1966.
From Hans Knots archive.
NY Times International Edition, April
20th, 1966. Pierson Family archive, provided by Grey Pierson.
April 26th, 1966 press cutting from Glasgow
Evening Times about a dual channel pirate radio ship. From Eric Gilder.
Used by permission.
May 2nd,
1966 press cutting about a multi-million dollar radio ship. From Hans Knots
archive.
May
1966[52]
Tuesday,
May 3rd, 1966. Radio England/Britain Radio.
Test
Transmission on 355m, 845 kc. Approximate first sign on is 1030. 50 sec.
Test tone, and then
A Real
Yellow Rose of Texas[53]!
YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS[54]MITCH
MILLER,
DONT BRING ME
DOWN ERIC BURDON AND ANIMALS,
JINGLE: YOU GET
A POSITIVE CHARGE,
PIED PIPER
CRISPIAN ST.PETERS,
JINGLE: WHERE
THERES ACTION,
SUBSTITUTE THE
WHO,
RON O'QUINN:
RADIO ENGLAND ON THE AIR ON 3HUNDRED 55 ON YOUR METER DIAL, 3-55 ON YOUR
STANDARD BROADCAST DIAL. RADIO ENGLAND ON THE AIR FOR BROADCAST (TEST)PURPOSES.
JINGLE: STAY
WITH THE FUN.
RON O'QUINN:
RADIO ENGLAND SONG NO.1 NOW, MAMAS&PAPAS AND MONDAY MONDAY.
RADIO ENGLAND
TIME ITS 14 MINUTES UNTIL 11.
MAMAS&PAPAS
BOSS TUNE NO.1 ON SRE ITS CALLED MONDAY MONDAY. THIS IS RON O'QUINN SRE, 3-55
ON YOUR METER DIAL.
JINGLE: SURF.
11 UNTIL 11 RIGHT NOW SRE TIME. NICE SONG BY
(WHEN A MAN
LOVES A WOMAN)PERCY SLEDGE.
Press
report of May 3rd, 1966. From Hans Knots archive.
Test Transmission on 845 kc 1530-. with Rick Randall. Testing
for Swinging Radio England. Hi there this is Rick Randall with the brand new
sound for the British Isles. Where the Action is! Stay with the Fun jingle.
Just a few things wed like to give you. Just a preview of the new sound which
will be coming your way on SRE. Jingle: Where the Action is! Our new station
for the British Isles SRE. Time now is 3.30, May 3rd, 1966. First
day on the air for SRE. Here is Gene Pitney to sing. This is so nice..Hall of
Fame. This called It Hurts to be in Love.In Swinging England today this song
is Super Sound no.1 Into Byrds Mr.Tambourine Man.
Rick Randall
testing on 355 in May 1966 with Wayne Fontana looking. Photo
from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.
Daytime
Test Transmission on 227m 1320?1322? kc with Jerry Smithwick. (Open
Carrier)One-two testing, One Two. One-two
testing, One Two. Jingle: The bright sound of the smart set. The bright new
sounds of Radio Britain, coming your way, testing, first day, May, 3rd,
1966. This is Radio Britain. The Johnny Mann singers up
now, on Radio Britain(silence, some music, needle scratches) Hallmark of Quality jingle. Youre
listening to the bright new sounds of Britain Radio, serving the British Isles.(Break)
Hallmark of Quality jingle. Youre listening to the bright new sounds of
Britain Radio, serving the British Isles. This is Gene Pitney with a flashback
from 1965 on Radio Britain, its called Im gonna be strong. From 1965,
thats Gene Pitney, on the bright new sounds of Britain Radio.
Hallmark of Quality-Britain Radio(testing) Testing on Radio
Britain. The bright new sounds for the British
Isles. The Johnny Mann singers A Taste of Honey. Its the Johnny Mann singers
on the bright new sound of Radio Britain(Break) Swinging, smart satisfying
sounds jingle. Youre listening to the bright new sounds of Britain Radio,
serving the British Isles with a brand new sound. Step up, step up jingle.
Hi and welcome in to the brand new sounds of Britain Radio. Hallmark of
Quality jingle. (break)
Jerry Smithwick
testing in May 1966 with help from singer Carol Driscoll on a visit to ship. Photo
from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.
Evening
Test Transmission on 227 m 1320 kc-from
this date? (Heterodyne, with strong interference from Radio Moscow relay on
1322 kc(In German) in Leipzig. Format: Automated Good Music with Derek
Burroughs(Carousel)[55]: One
of the loveliest ballads ever recorded, sung for us by Billy Eckstine. (Music,
and over music Rick Randall: This is Great Britains newest offshore station
Britain Radio. This is a test program on 227 metres on reduced power. Stay
close to this frequency for good listening coming soon from Britain
Radio.Derek Burroughs: An old time cha-cha-favorite there, Cherry Pink and
Apple Blossom White. The orchestra of Perez Prado(Music.) With a tune from the
year 1952 the voice of Joni James.(Music)...
...Vocally, that was Pat Boone. The
Carousel home of the realDerek Burroughson the Olga Patricia. From Hans
Knots archive. This is a view of the Britain Radios Automatic Station on board their
ship, The Laissez Faire. . In rough weaher, when the disc jockeys have difficulty in
operating their panels. This equipment takes over, so that Britain Radio can
continue to entertain you.[56]
Wednesday,
May 4th,1966. Radio England/Britain Radio.
Test
Transmission on 845 kc 1503-1514, Ron O'Quinn
Paul and Barry Ryan #30
TC: 7 after 3
#14 Small Faces in brand
new Fabulous Forty.
TC: 9 after 3
..only way to boss
Jerry Smithwick 3.30-4
Ron OQuinn 4.30
Walking with my angel
Hermans Hermits
TC: 12 after 3
Water Geno
Washington&Ran Jam Band.
Ron in the air chair
Broadcast test purposes
TC: 14 after 3 pm
Beach babies, Sloop John B
1625-1635
Rick Randall.
TC: 26 after 4
Johnnie Walker having a
good laugh
Dave Clark 5 look before
you leave
TC: 28 past 4
The
Voice of Europe, England..Great Britain
Wednesday afternoon
Eric Burdon
Jingle: Hitbound
Eric Burdon Dont bring me
down
Bob Lind Elusive Butterfly
Close
down at 1700.
Reception
reports to 32 CurZON Street.
Jingle:
Englands finest
Test
Transmission on 227 m 1322 kc.
1437-1600 Derek Burroughs(Carousel)/Jerry Smithwick Youre listening to
Britain Radio. Broadcasting on 227 metres in the MW band. Wed like to hear
from you no matter where youd might be. Drop us a card or letter to 32 Curzon
Street, London W1, thats BR, 32 Curzon Street, London W1. 18 mins before 3
oclock BR time, broadcasting on 227 metres in the MW band... Good afternoon
this is Britain Radio broadcasting on 227 metres in the MW band. Wed like to
hear from you if youre listening to Britain Radio. Drop us a card or letter to
BR, 32 Curzon Street, London W1.13 mins before 3 oclock on BR.... Its 3.30.
Youre listening to BR. Andr Kostelanetz and the orchestra: I Believe in
you....This is BR broadcasting on 227 metres in the MW band. Were operating
on reduced power output for test purposes(Address details) And I would like to
add all ah reception reports will be answered as promptly as possible. 3
minutes until 4.(Here comes DB partly over Jerry) Percussion unlimited: Show
Me.
Thursday,
May 5th,1966. Radio England.
Test
Transmission on 845 kc 1533-1553. Jerry Smithwick. A Thursday. #28 Someday, One
day. Seekers.
Ron
OQuinn at 4.
Test
Transmission on 845 kc 1608-1619 Ron O'Quinn Radio 355.
More pirate
programmes. Daily Telegraph for May 15th, 1966. From Hans Knots
archive.
Saturday,
May 21st, 1966. Radio England.
Test
Transmission on 845 kc 1522-1532. Test Transmissions until 5pm, back on at 9.
Larry Dean.
Paul& Barry Ryan I love
her #20
On the air with full power
Eric Burdon Dont bring me
down HB
Home of the Stars&MMM.
Nancy Sinatra promo
Nancy Sinatra How does that
grab you darlin#21.
Temptations The way you do
the things you do
Test
Transmission on 845 kc 1532-1613. Rick Randall, Jerry Smithwick. 1000 reception
reports. Sweden. Finland. Australia. Hank Locklin: I feel a cry coming on!
Graham Gill among Boss Jocks. (Paint it Black #7) Randall: Met the Stones
yesterday. Ad for Smiths Crunch.
Test
Transmission on 845 kc 2125? Ron O'Quinn 25 mins after 9 oclock on England and
the worlds most powerful radio station Swinging Radio England. 35 before
Johnnie Walker[57].
May,
1966. Britain Radio.
Test
Transmission on 1322 kc
Unid Instrumental jazz number
Graham Gill: Youre listening to a test
transmission from Britain Radio where the time is ¾ mins before 4
oclock.
Derek Burroughs: The music of George
Shearing with Lullaby of Birdland.
Derek Burroughs: Andre Kostolanetz and
the orchestra now with Maria Elena
Derek Burroughs: George Thier with
Relies?
Derek Burroughs: Roy Holmes plays Love
Songs from House..
Colin Nicol: This is a test programme
on Britain Radio on 227 metres in the MW band.
Britain R soon to be commencing
broadcasts full time.
The time is just on exactly...
(Right placing?... Derek Burroughs:
Johnny Summers with Neal Hefti. Wonderful guy
Colin Nicol: Britain Radio Hallmark of
Quality 18 1/2 past 4.)
May,
1966. Radio England.
Test
Transmission on 845 kc
Third Degree Marc Bolan
soon to be 24 hrs a day
Only way to boss
Jingle: Where the music is
news
Today this song is boss
sound #4
Manfred Mann Pretty
Flamingo
Lets have more music The
Fun Spot
On the air with reduced
power for transmitter test purposes off air in 15 mins
How does that grab you
darlin Nancy Sinatra Boss Sound #19
Today this song is boss
sound #1 Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger promo
Wraps it up for the Dean
program
Back on later this
afternoon
Pop stars, Boss
Jocks and founder on the tender, May 1966. Singer Barry Benson, Jerry
Smithwick, Wayne Fontana, Don Pierson and? The person to the right is Dick
Sharp, a staffer of 32 Curzon Street. Photo
from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.
Congratulations
telegram to Don Pearson at Hilton Hotel Room 605 on May 25th,
1966. Eric Gilder. Used with permission.
June
1966
Friday, June 3rd, 1966. Radio England/Britain Radio.
Test
Transmission on 845 kc.
Radio England plays first
This door swings both ways by Hermans Hermits[58].
Complaint from RAI Italy regarding the transmissions on this frequency, as Roma
2 is co-channel.
Test
Transmission on 1322 kc.
Britain
Radio is blacked out by the failure of a transformer. Until a new transformer
is obtained its transmitter will be off the air.
Monday,
June 6th, 1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 845 kc 0813-0834
Larry
Dean
|
MAME |
LOUIS ARMSTRONG HB Unknown
star intro |
|
SOMEDAY ONE DAY |
THE SEEKERS On SRE your station of
the stars w Much More Music |
|
PIED PIPER |
CRISPIAN ST PETERS #9 soon to
be 24 hours a day |
|
YOUNGER GIRL |
CRITTERS #33 In the SRE Boss
Tunedex |
|
FOR A MOMENT |
UNIT 4 + 2 HB |
|
PLEASE DON'T STOP |
ELVIS PRESLEY#24 |
|
MR TAMBOURINE MAN |
THE BYRDS 12 noon off air for 4?
Hours |
|
I'M A ROCK |
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL HP Until
12 High Noon today TC: 0832 |
|
NOT RESPONSIBLE |
TOM JONES #2 30? |
Tuesday,
June 7th, 1966. Radio England/Britain Radio.
Transmissions
on 845 kc now on low power after dark.
Transmissions
on 1322 kc stopped[59].
Saturday,
June 11th, 1966. Britain Radio.
Transmission
on 845 kc 0857-0941 Britain Radio. Ron OQuinn. 0900 Johnnie Walker Our
Top 40 music station Swinging Radio England is due to resume broadcasting next
week on 227 metres. Ad for Smiths Crunch spoken by your Crunch compere
(sounded like Gary Kemp?)
Sunday,
June 19th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1215- .
After extensive test
transmissions SRE started official programmes.
The
initial Boss Jocks in photo session for a Pearl&Dean leaflet as published
in Daily Sketch. May 5th, 1966. L-r: Ron OQuinn, Brian Tylney, Colin Nicol,
Graham Gill, Rick Randall, Johnnie Walker and Roger Day. Jerry Smithwick is at
the console. Photo: Geoffrey Whitt. Thanks to
Chris Edwards of Offshore Echos Magazine.
Beaming in...the new Pop
Pirates, says the headline, and continues: As Radio England anchors off
Harwich, the disc jockeys to keep your fingers snappping 24 hours a day. Writer
Tom Merrin in Daily Sketch. May 5th, 1966. Thanks to Chris Edwards of Offshore
Echos Magazine.
Sunday, June 19th, 1966
These programme details may be documented:
1215 Banner line news with Roger Day A feature of the RE dept of
News and Public Affairs. Bleeps between each item. The Big Story. Ted Heath
critzizes govt. Secr of Intl Transport Fed. calls for support striking British
Seamen. B52 bombers attacked two N.Vietnam targets. Ky says victory over
Vietcong is near. You are listening to RE News. Richard Helms app to CIA.
Johnson on Vietnam. Christine Keeler expecting baby settling down as housewive.
Get the facts first on RE News. Jingle: Weather prediction time-the
weatherscope. (Countdown from 10) Its 69 degrees in the wide and wonderful.
Its all right-Small Faces
1223 Jingle: The Fun spot(from WFUN)
Livin above your head-Jay and the Americans
Third Degree Marc Bolan #15
1229 Much More Music time Ronnie on the radio 2-6 this afternoon
with Much More of that Boss music.
Jingle: Remember this golden Classic
Youve lost that lovin feelin-Righteous Bros.
1233 Jingle: Live this weekend where the action is
Get Away Georgie Fame HP
Jingle: With you all the way Fun spot(from WFUN)
1236 Black is Black Los Bravos #36
1239 Jingle: SFF-SRE
Have I stayed too long Sonny&Cher HB
1243 Monday Monday Mamas&Papas Boss Sound #4(ex. No.1)
1246 Jingle: Weatherword-The Weatherword- Weather
Look for
partly cloudy skies
TC: 13
before 1
1247 Dave
Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich: Hold Tight
1250
Jingle: The Fun spot(from WFUN) Do you remember
For the
guys at the RNSA Sea Fender: Hold on to what youve got Joe Tex O
1253 The
Positive charge
Whats the
matter Drop-in
Twinkie-Lee.
Gary Walker #26
...
Paint it
Black RS
1300 no
TOH?
Its all
right. Small Faces #7
1303
Jingle: SRE Where theres action
Since you
set me free, baby. Danny Williams
1305
Jingle: Youre a winner with SRE
Shotgun
Wedding Roy C.
Jingle:
Remember this golden Classic
Im into
something good Hermans Hermits O
1310 Out
of Time Chris Farlowe HB
Jingle:
The BJs play more music now
For a
moment: Unit 4 Plus 2
1315
Banner line news with
Jerry Smithwick Bleeps between each
item. Ted Heath critzizes govt. Secr of Intl Transport Fed. calls for support
striking British Seamen. Johnson on Vietnam, You are listening to RE News.
Saigon Junta 1 year anniversary. Richard Helms app to CIA. Get the facts first
on RE News. Jingle: Weather prediction time-the weatherscope. (Countdown from
10) Secs ahead of mx on the Larry Dean show 69 degees.
Paperback Writer – Beatles #1
Jingle: Jet Set Surf Jingle TC: 20 past 1
1320 Billy Joe Royal - You are my hearts desire #35 on the
Boss 40.
1324 Baby You are my everything Hedgehoppers Anonymous HB
Jingle: A Positive Charge
Ron OQuinn from 2-6 this afternoon
1327 Roger Day from
6-10
Animals Dont bring me down #12.
Ringo Starr on the Larry Dean show.
Jingle: The Fun spot(from WFUN) Do you remember
Gary Lewis and the Playboys Count me In 1964 Gold.
Ron on the radio from 2-6pm. Roger Day from 6-10. Brian Tylney
Show from 10-2.
...
Gotta get a good thing going-Soul Bros.
1355 Jingle: Stay with the Fun
Roger Day from 6-10
I aint gonna eat out my heart anymore-The Young Rascals. HB
Jingle: The In Sound
Wild Thing-The Troggs #6.
Larry Dean wrapping it up for a Sunday afternoon
says goodbye to listeners and says have a ball
1400 Jingle: Positive charge.
Stand by for Ron OQuinn-echo[60]
Sorrow - Merseybeats
1403 Home of the Boss Jocks and all that music
Sound effect wowee
Hollies - Bus Stop #38
Jingle : You are on the go go - the fun spot(from WFUN)
1407 Crispian St Peter - Pied Piper Goodness effect played over.
1409 holy mackerel effect
On Frinton Beach how in the world are you.
Girl
of my best friend-Elvis Presley
12
after 2 Little Ron on the radio Moremusicmoremusic
Top
Girl ? HB
Banner line news
Jerry Smithwick Bleeps
between each item. Ted Heath critzizes govt. Secr of Intl Transport Fed. salls
for support striking British Seamen. Richard Helms app to CIA. Johnson on
Vietnam, You are listening to RE News Saigon Junta 1 year anniv. Get the facts
first on RE News. Weather prediction time-the weatherscope Countdown Secs ahead
of mx on the Larry Dean show 69 degrees.
Paint it Black Rolling Stones #2 from me to you on the
radio station
1420 For England and the Continent
You cant stop me from lovin you Peter Addison #33
1423 Tomorrow 6-10 Jerry Smithwick-A bang-up show
Heard first Friday 2 weeks ago. (meaning June 3rd, 1966)This door
swings both ways-Hermans Hermits
1425 Joke a friend in Miami got 3 days in electric chair for
burglary.
Jingle: Let the good times roll.
Can't
live with you. -The Mindbenders
....
Jingle: The Fun spot(from
WFUN) Do you remember
Youve lost that lovin feelin-Righteous Bros.
Jingle:
Instant Replay
Youve lost that lovin feelin-Righteous Bros.
1436
Get Away-Georgie Fame
1438
Jingle: Have a groovy weekend
If
youre on the highways drive with care
Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich-Hideaway
Jingle:
Jet Set Surf
Beautiful
day on the North Sea 69 degrees in the wide and wonderful.
Alan
Price Set Any Day Now
6-10
Roger Day, 10-2 Brian Tylney, 2-6 Graham Gill
Jingle:
SRE brings you up to the minute report from the ionospheric weather checker.
Weather.
Mamas&Papas-
Monday Monday. #4. Look forward to seeing them on Thursday.
Joke
about recipe.
Jingle:
Cool summer sounds The Fun spot(from WFUN).
Sloop
John B-Beach Boys.
This
is Brit..Britain Rs sister station SRE
1451
Lets play a Flashback!
Drop-In
Dont just talk about it lets do
it
Jingle:
Remember this Golden Classic
How
are you in Hamburg, Germany Hope you have a nice day
Get
offa my cloud-Rolling Stones
1454
Hope you have a nice day at the beach
Excuse
me Baby-Magic Lanterns #31.
1457
Write to Ron, 32 Curzon Steet London W1.
Mama-BJ
Thomas
TOH
ID: From 4 miles off the FE Coast at 227 metres in the MW band Youre tuned to
SRE Home of the Boss Jocks and Much More music.
Jingle:
The BJ play more music now!
Paperback
Writer-Beatles
1503
Black is Black-Los Bravos
Look
for partly clody skies this afternoon.
Off Frinton,-on-Sea, Essex, Summer 1966: The Olga
Patricia finally at anchor. The home of twin stations Swinging Radio England
and Britain Radio up close. Eric Gilder. Used with permission.
Optimistic
cable from Bill Vick to Colin Brown of Radiovision Broadcasts(International)
Ltd . from June, 1966. Eric Gilder. Used with permission.
Week
after June 19th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 0258-
SOLITARY MAN NEIL DIAMOND HB
Jingle: (edited)Lets really rock
WILD THING THE TROGGS #6
1 min after 3, Roger Day 6-10 tomorrow
evening
HIDEAWAY DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK
AND TICH #33
JingleEnglands finest
RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH IKE AND TINA
TURNER #8
on the Graham Gill show hope youre
enjoying the good boss sound
Jingle We dont want all the listenin
just want you.
YOU CAN'T STOP ME LOVIN YOU PETER
ANISTON HB?
TC: 3.15
Jingle: Jet Set Car sound
Ron OQuinn breakfast show at 6am
PRETTY FLAMINGO MANFRED MANN #11
TC: 3.13!
Jingle: The Fun Spot ex WFUN
A reviveda flashback
WALTZING MATILDA FRANK IFIELD
My songJingle: Stay with the Fun
TC:3.16 on the Graham Gill show
GREEN GRASS GARY LEWIS HB
Jingle: Underwater Jet Set.. (record
too slow..)
PIED PIPER CRISPIAN ST PETERS #20
JingleEnglands finest
Today-this song is Boss Sound No.3
I'M A ROCK SIMON AND GARFUNKEL #3
The Boss Jocks..play more music now
Moremusicmoremusicmoremusic
TC: 3.24
BLACK IS BLACK LOS BRAVOS #36
TC: 3.27
Jingle:The Insound.
Often
overlooked, but there was also a Savoy party-with 250 guests- in the middle of
June, 1966. It was hosted by Radiovision Broadcasts(International)Ltd, a
subsidiary of Pearl and Dean. Ernest Pearl seems quite confident of success in
his speech. From TV Mail, June 17th, 1966.
Rick Randall(l)
and Wayne Fontana(r) onboard the Olga Patricia May 1966. The person to the left
seems to be Brian Tylney? Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly
provided by Grey Pierson.
Wednesday,
June 23rd, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1739- Rick
Randall(Randalls Rambles), Johnnie Walker.
|
HIDEAWAY DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK AND TICH |
|
THE CRUNCH(Smiths commercial) |
|
THIS DOOR SWINGS BOTH WAYS HERMAN'S
HERMITS |
|
I'M A ROCK SIMON AND GARFUNKEL Rick Randall: I am a rock for
Deborah and Micky at the Tartan Coffee Bar Felixstowe 13 before 6. Randalls
Rambles. At 6 Johnnie Walker. Colin Nicol at 10 Hello to Jenny in Great
Yarmouth. To good boats at sea(editor: other radio ships?). Rough sea
today. |
|
SLOOP JOHN B THE BEACH BOYS Beach Babies at Boss
Radio: Sloop John B |
|
WAY DOWN YONDER JOHNNY
AND THE HURRICANES |
|
BUS STOP THE HOLLIES #38 |
|
I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR
LOVE PETULA CLARK |
|
RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH IKE AND TINA
TURNER #8 in the Boss 40 Jingle: Do you
remember The Fun Spot from WFUN. Clanwilliam Club. JW cantt remember, one
day late for ship. |
|
EXCUSE ME BABY THE MAGIC LANTERNS #31
TC:1806 |
|
FOR A MOMENT UNIT 4 + 2 #35 |
|
IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR WILSON PICKETT |
|
GREEN GRASS GARY LEWIS |
|
BANNERLINE NEWS: LARRY
DEAN |
|
PAINT IT BLACK THE ROLLING STONES #2 Danny
Williams intro. |
|
SINCE YOU SET ME FREE DANNY WILLIAMS #40 broadcasting
to the continent and the British Isles. |
|
HAVE I STAYED TOO LONG SONNY AND CHER |
|
SITTING ON A FENCE TWICE
AS MUCH #23 Colin Nicol at 10. |
|
THE CRUNCH(Smiths commercial) |
|
THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN EDDIE COCHRAN |
2200-0200
Colin Nicol.
0200-0600
Graham Gill
0600-
Jerry Smithwick
Saturday,
June 25th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc logged
RE News Europes most comprehensive news
service. General de Gaulle in Leningrad
Sunday,
June 26th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1229-.
Larry
Dean. Baby I need your lovin on wrong speed. Dean where are you gonna
work tomorrow. Jerry Smithwick and brief appearance Rick Randall 2-6 with brand new
Boss 40 Johnnie Walker 6-10 slight utility radio(telegraph) interference.
July
1966
Saturday,
July 2nd, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1413-.
Chickenman
syndicated programme was on SRE from July 3rd, 1966. Here is a promo
for it on Miamis WQAM-560. From Steve Geislers WQAM/Pams site http://www.560.com
Jerry
Smithwick Chickenman, first episode tomorrow.
This
is it for me w Jim Reeves!
Radio England Bannerlines
Brian Tylney reporting
Bannerlines
Chamonix Falling cable car
on glacier 30 critically injured
Vietnam peace proposal by
Indira Gandhi
Washington Rusk comments Soviet protest against US air attacks on Haiphong (Happened on June 29th)
--Brussels Sharp rise Red
China
Soviet protest against US
air attacks on Haiphong
Europes most Comprehensive
News Service
Duncan Sandys to Rhodesia
Jack Nicholas wins Golf
Championship
J Smithwick show
Hideaway Dave Dee Dozy
Beaky Mich&Tich
The
Swinging Radio England Great Gathering of Golden Goodies every other record a
Golden Goodie.
Thatman
promo.
Strange
drop-in by Brian Tylney.
Roger
Day tonight at 6.
Sunday,
July 3rd, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1340-.
Larry
Dean, Jerry Smithwick Great Gathering of Golden Goodies This song is Boss Sound
no.#2 Weather. Thatman promo. Wanna say hi to David Hamilton. Cocktail
Watch ad by Chuck Blair. Ron OQuinn tomorrow at 6am Boss Radio Bumper sticker
Roger Day at 6. Oxfam PSA: BJs Tylney and Day competing for charity.(July
21st.)
Saturday, July 17th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322//845 kc 1425-.
Larry
Dean. Jerry Smithwick
2
small parts: The Olga Patricia stations are running in parallell with
network ID: Britain Radio England Jerry Smithwick until 5 at 5 the all new
Gary Stevens show. 1429 French ad for Sunbake Bakeware. Britain and England
jingle back to back. Thatman promo. 1451 Elvis Presley.
|
I'M COMING HOME CINDY |
TRINI LOPEZ |
|
PAPERBACK WRITER |
THE BEATLES #2 |
|
POPSICLE |
JAN AND DEAN HB |
|
OOPS |
NEIL CHRISTIAN |
|
BANG BANG |
CHER |
|
WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN |
PERCY SLEDGE #23 |
|
NOT FADE AWAY |
THE ROLLING STONES |
|
LOVELETTERS |
ELVIS PRESLEY |
|
I FEEL FINE |
THE BEATLES |
|
HIDEAWAY |
DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK AND TICH |
|
LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES |
? |
|
HE(?) |
RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS #39 |
|
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW |
JACKIE DE SHANNON |
|
THERE GOES MY BABY |
THE DRIFTERS |
|
LITTLE GIRL |
THE SYNDICATE OF SOUND HB |
|
WHAT'D I SAY |
JERRY LEE LEWIS |
|
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT |
FRANK SINATRA |
|
TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM |
THE TEDDYBEARS |
1700-1800
Gary Stevens show prerecorded on WMCA New York. First show?[61]
Gary Stevens at the first of the WMCA-AM Shows at
Surf n See Club, Seabright, NJ. Playing this evening of July 10th, 1966, but
not advertised, were the Castiles, featuring BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!
From
http://www.brucebase.org.uk/gig1960.htm
Monday, July,
19th: Mr.Vick submitted to the Postmaster-General a request for a
license to install and operate two radio transmitting stations within the UK
for the public benefit and at no public cost[62]
a very
serious approach it might be, but in the stubborn socialist politics of those
days an application did not have the slightest chance of succeeding.
The headline became a
Tory slogan. Jack Curtiss adds:
I came across this scan of an old flier put out in 1966 by the Young
Conservatives that I managed to take home with me to America.
he agreed his
project might have started a little late. Bill Vick in the Times, of July 20th,
1966.
Thursday,
July 29th, 1966. Britain Radio
Transmission
on 845 kc
0600-0905.
Graham Gill/ Derek Burroughs/Greg Warren
Morning
Requests w Graham Gill, plus Carousel voice(Derek
Burroughs, problems w coordination between automation and live),BB Brannigan.
Ads for Reveille and Kelloggs. BR now on the air 24 hours a day. 0900 Britain
Radio news. Jingle: The Sound of News. An exclusive to the stn from the NY
wires of Associated Press. U2 Plane missing. Wilson left for talks with LBJ.
White Paper on British railway system. Pound 2.79 to Dollars. Sukarno says
Suharto still PM, World Cup: Portugal-Soviet Union 2-1, Bowling: Derek
Underwood victory. This is BB Brannigan for BR newsdetails in your newspaper,
69 BR degrees. Greg Warren(Tom Cooper?) w Morning Serenade.
From The party
of the year[63],
Thursday, July 28th, 1966. It was
very much Bill Vick and Don Piersons party. Very kind of Radio London to
invite me. Master of ceremonies was Jay Kay, aka Chuck Blair, an American dj
who had only days before arrived to take a spell of duty aboard the Olga
Patricia. Why cowgirls? From TV Mail August 5th, 1966, with
pictures from Richard Sharpe studios.
July?, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc
Jerry Smithwick
0934-.
Jerry Smithwick announcing 26 minutes
before Johnnie Walker playing jingle Let the good sound roll and then mentioned
dj sked Johnnie Walker at 10 Rick Randall at 2 Graham Gill at 6 Larry Dean w
his Double Do-it to em 10 Colin Nicol at 2? Jerry Smithwick 6-10? Mention of
JS Brian Tylney lookalike contest.
July?, 1966. Radio England
Transmission
on 1322 kc
Larry Dean
Bannerlines
London TUC Leaders
New Zealand 4 mountaineers
accident
In Kuala Lumpur Wilson
warned
SE Asia communist challenge
Big 3 to fight.
From J.Upstone, via Hans Knots archive. On July 28th, the
Government introduced in the Commons its Bill to outlaw the pirate stations.
That day it received its formal First Reading. Its object was described asto
suppress broadcasting from ships, aircraft and certain other marine structures.
The next day the Bill was published under the title of The Marine, Etc.
Broadcasting (Offences)Bill.[64]
August
1966
August
1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc
Jerry Smithwick
Solitary Man #36
B.Poole promo for JS Smethwick
Drifters
August
1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1135-1148.
Brian
Tylney from 10.
What a wonderful world
Hermans Hermits
Ad Clifton Sales Room
Transwave Sony 7
Jingle: Lets look into the
future time
This and That Tom Jones
Another typical episode in
life of a typical RE listener
Jingle:Boss Radio
Simplified Majority On the
Boss Forty
TC: 21 ½ before
midday
Another fun first on Boss
40: Swinging 66-Artists and venues promo
Jingle: Hitbound
Nancy Sinatra Fridays Girl
Make that Child! HP
Accumulator Thatman jingle
Brian Tylney thru till 2
Brian Tylney SRE 32 Curzon Street
Georgie Fame Get Away #3
this week on the Boss Forty
Sunday,
August 7th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission on 1322 kc 1000-.
Boss
Radio Car Stickers promo. 1415 Larry Dean on news. British made C-111 crash in
Fall City, Alaska. Smith determined to keep control. Cassius Clay retained
title in Earls Court vs. Brian London. 7 Gold medals by UK in Commonwealth
Games in Jamaica. Flattery won 200 yds womens breaststroke. Kathy Rawlett
womens springboard diving and John Fitzsimmons Mens Javelin. New Motoring
laws in France Instant weather R England weatherscope reports. This has been R
England bannerlines. Another Fun First from Boss Radio: Swinging 66 promo.
Thatman Chuck Blair. Unid promo. Jerry Smithwick at 3 or is it Boomer, no, its
Mr.Jerry.
1500-Jerry
Smithwick.
Cover of the
Swinging 66 booklet. From Hans Knots archive.
Tuesday,
August 9th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1518-.
Ron
O'Quinn. Ad for Crazy Foam. Thatman Ron OQuinn. Weatherwise. Fishing Set.
Clifton Sales Room, 32 Curzon Street, London W1. Boss 40 survey. Thatman: secretly were
crime fightersthe music we play all of the time Half hour-ID, see above. Fox
Ad. Thatman: The Dynamic Duo- You-and SRE! Portraits of your Favourite stars w
Chuck Blair, including David McCallum, send to Stars, 32 Curzon etc. Thatman jingle.Today this song is Boss
sound no.2. Mamas&Papas w I saw
her again. Dr.Zhivago theme w Ray Conniff! Permashort razor blades w Jerry Smithwick send to Blades, 32
Curzon etc. Thatman: Holy Radar. Another typical episode
in the life of a Radio England listener. Mr. Businessman Promo #1: see
above. Legal ID. Thatman Dont lose your cool.
1800-
Roger Day
Thursday,
Aug 11th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1500-2000.
Jerry Smithwick The JS show on your MMM
station, SRE. Ron on the radio goes w the Beatles to the USA. SRE Your Boss
Beatle station. Jingle: Remember this Golden Classic. Dick and Deedee Thou
shalt not steal.(Right placing? Georgie Fame&Blue Flames: Get Away Boss
Sound#1.
13 before 4. Jingle: Boss Radio-Radio a Go Go) Another typical episode in the
life of a Radio England listener. Thatman Were always there 3-8 Jerry at 8
Roger Day SRE with all that Boss music 9 before 4 Sands of time Where did we go
wrong no.30 Swinging 66 promo. Thatman jingle: Its Jerry Smithwick on SRE.
Chris Farlowe: Out of time Boss tune 3 in Boss 40. This is the GS show on the
MM music station SRE. John Lennon song. 1 before 4. No TOH ID, Roger Day
showtime tonite, Lovin Spoonful Summer in the City. GS until 8.Cocktail watch
ad Clifton Sales Room. Whats new pussycat-Boss Radio jingle. Kenny Davis.
While I Live. Happy birthday to Edmund. Boss Radio car stickers. GS until 8
Thatman: The Dynamic Duo. Johnny Rivers: I washed my hands in Muddy Waters.
Offer: Painting of your favorite stars: Stars 32 Curzon. Send me your life
savings!
2000- Roger Day.
Wednesday, August 12th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1700-1800
Gary Stevens.
Sunday,
August 14th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1500-1800. Bill Berry.
Clips from 1624-1800
If youd like to help us
Boost the Beatles...put down those nasty rumours in the States that Beatles are
not Boss simply write to Beatles Boosters, c/o 32 Curzon Street, London W1.
Bill Berry portion of the
afternoon show.
Boosting the Beatles this
weekend
Boosting the Beatles until
12 Midnight tonight
2 BB St IDS: With 55000
watts of power, youre listening to the worlds most powerful offshore station,
Radio England. With facilities for combining power to 110000 watts. Flashback
flashback...
Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles
off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres this is SRE your first 24 hr MMM
station where the time is 26 mins bef 5 oclock
2 Crazy Foam ads
Neil Christian promo for
Swinging 66 on Thur 18th of August(In Odeon Glasgow)
Currently mark your mercury
at 65 degrees in the wide and wonderful
Bill Berry along till 6
then its Chuck Blair
Its Boss, Baby..Chuck
Blair comes along at 6
Guest(final?) appearance
from Rick Randall at 1634-?
Boss beatles weekend..the
everloving John, Paul George and Ringo
This is SRE 55000 power of
watts.. of radiant radio power
Final
2 musical mins of Bill Berry afternoon show. Then Chuck Blair from 6 until 9.
Swingin 66
poster. From Hans Knots archive.
Tuesday,
August 23rd, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1700-1800
Gary Stevens. Beatles Junior press conference. We go every afternoon 5-6. 11
Argyle Street. London W1. Beatles tour report from Memphis. On Monday to Friday
5-6.
The Beatles
play in the USA and Ron OQuinn is there. From Disc? From Hans Knots archive.
Sunday,
August 28th, 1966. Radio
England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Jerry Smithwick
30mins.
Chuck Blair
30mins
Monday
August 29th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Gary Stevens show 1700-1800 General Notes[65]
Its Monday
The Gary Stevens show for Radio England
Given addr.:11 Argyle St, London W1
Gary Stevens show part 1 15.40
Its 5 Oclock
HOW SWEET IT IS (To Be Loved By You) - Jr. Walker
& The All Stars (Soul)
YOU CANT HURRY LOVE - The Supremes (Motown)
MR. DIEINGLY SAD - The Critters (Kapp)
REACH OUT ILL BE THERE - The Four Tops (Motown)(Sure
shot on WMCA)
PICTURE ME-Evie Sands
Gary Stevens show part 2 28.09
SUMMERTIME - Billy Stewart (Chess)
IVE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN - The 4 Seasons (Philips)
(My Personality Pick to be a smash)
Bess Coleman insert: Recorded Aug.17 th,1966
and concerns the Beatles in Toronto.(Stayed at King Edward Sheraton)[66]
BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP - The Temptations (Gordy)
Bess Coleman insert: Recorded Aug.18 th,1966
and concerns the Beatles in Toronto.(Concerts in Maple Leaf Garden)
JUST LIKE A WOMAN - Bob Dylan (Columbia)
(Last weeks Personality Pick to be a smash)
THATS ENOUGH - Rosco Robinson (Wand)
Twin Spin:
BLOWIN IN THE WIND - Stevie Wonder (Tamla)
Beatles Junior Press Conference: Song inspiration, The
boys that followed you
BRING BACK THE TIME-BJ Thomas
YELLOW SUBMARINE - The Beatles (Capitol)
Shea Stadium yesterday-means show
was recorded on Aug.23rd or Aug.24th in the WMCA studios?
Gary Stevens show part 3 14.59
Back to that Beatles Junior Press
Conference: Jane Asher Next picture Gorilla suit Funny lyrics
MIND EXCURSION-Tradewinds
SUNSHINE SUPERMAN - Donovan (Epic)
SEARCHIN FOR MY BABY-Little Bobby Moore
LAND OF 1000 DANCES - Wilson Pickett (Atlantic)
(Lets take it outta here)
HEY YOU, LITTLE BOOGALOO Chubby Checker
Wrapping things up, youre dismissed..
Monday
August?, 1966. Britain Radio.
Transmission
on 845 kc.
Roger
Day struggling with automation system-Derek Burroughs.
September
Sunday,
September 4th, 1966. Radio England/Britain Radio.
The ship drags her anchor due to bad
weather. During storms on the next day the ship also lost its anchor and
drifted. Calls for help are answered by the Walton and Frinton lifeboat
standing by. A tug tows the Olga back to her anchorage[67].
Transmission
on 1322 kc 1313-.
Jerry
Smithwick. JS on news. The fate of Luna 11.Wilson ends holiday in Scilly
Islands today, commences work on Tuesday. Food prices will not be raised.
Peoples Daily calls on young Red Guards to stop using force. 3 men to appear
in Newcastle court on murder charge. Two paratroopers rowing the Atlantic have
been sighted SW of Ireland.. Favourite stars w Chuck Blair. Boss Beatle Buddy
no.6 CB. Its Thatman Jerry Smithwick.
Thatman jingle: All the boys Ron On the Radio 3 o clock this afternoon. The
Last Time Rolling Stones 65 Gold. Mick Jagger promo for JS. Twin Spin. Stop
that Girl Chris Andrews. This is the JS program on the MMM station. Thue Boss
Jocks play more music now. Flashback. Bye Bye Baby Baby Goodbye Four Seasons.
TC: 26 before 2. Jingle: Lets look into the future time. Silexene Paint.(Bill
Berry?) TC: 24 before 2. Boss Beatle Buddy no.1 Ron on the Radio 3 oclock this
afternoon. Thatman jingle: Were always there Request for Mr.Gregory, Leicester,
Its Over, Roy Orbison. Roy Orbison promo for JS. Boss Beatle Buddy no.3 Jerry
Smithwick until 3. Everly Bros. Ive been wrong before. Former PH.
1500
Ron OQuinn. Editors
comment: A farewell programme?
Monday,
September 5th, 1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1700-1800. Gary Stevens.
Monday afternoon
Q Mark&Mysterians 96
Tears
Supremes Cant hurry love
Temps Beauty is only skin
deep
Tuesday,
September 20th?, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1700-1800. Gary Stevens[68].
COMING ON STRONG BRENDA LEE
MY WORLD OF FANTASY THE 5 STAIRSTEPS
BABY TOYS TOYS
YOU CANT HURRY LOVE SUPREMES
BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP TEMPTATIONS
DON'T WORRY MOTHER, YOUR SON'S HEART IS
PURE THE MCCOYS
WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED
JIMMY RUFFIN
SECRET LOVE BILLY STEWART
Broadcasting from my beautiful gold
studio
96 TEARS Q AND THE MYSTERIANS
LOVE IS A HURTIN THING LOU RAWLS
LITTLE MAN SONNY&CHER
UPTIGHT RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FOOL JACK JONES
RESPECT THE RATIONALS
WALK AWAY RENEE LEFT BANKE
YOU DONT HAVE TO PAINT ME A PICTURE GARY LEWIS
(Weather Gate)
A SATISFIED MIND BOBBY HEBB
From my new album[69]
THE BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY AD LIBS
Gary Stevens vol 1-22 Smash Goldies
Ask for it at Island records of England
MY WORLD OF FANTASY THE 5 STAIRSTEPS
REACH OUT AND ILL BE THERE FOUR TOPS
Wednesday, September 21st?, 1966. Radio
England.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
1700-1800.
Gary Stevens[70].
Wednesday...
What
a hit this is.
REACH
OUT AND ILL BE THERE FOUR TOPS
MY
WORLD OF FANTASY THE 5 STAIRSTEPS
A
hit...
CANT
SATISFY THE IMPRESSIONS
PSYCHOTIC REACTION COUNT 5
YOU
CANT HURRY LOVE SUPREMES
(News gate)
WIPE OUT SURFARIS((reissue)
96
TEARS Q AND THE MYSTERIANS
TWIN SPIN
BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP TEMPTATIONS
COMING ON STRONG BRENDA LEE
My new Goldie album
RESCUE
ME FONTELLA BASS
Gary Stevens vol 1-22 Smash Goldies
Ask for it at Island
records of England
SUNSHINE
SUPERMAN DONOVAN
Hey
incidentially Bill Berry my Boss Buddy out there in Radio England has sent me
along tons and tons of letters all the letters you wrote in in the Beatles
Boosters campaign because as you know John... JLs remark which he made
concerning religion of course there was a lot made to do about him here in the
States..And I wanna set you guys and gals over there in England straight I
wanna say first of all people have made a big deal about Johns remark which as
far as Im concerned which as far as most intelligent people here in the States
are concerned was his business, like if wanna say it, it was cool, it was
alright. There wasnt something wrong about what he said as a matter of fact
what he said had a lot to it. But the thing is this. There are a lot of small
stations, insignificant little radio stations its hard to...because I know in
England its difficult for you to conceive the fact that there could be, you
know up to 4000 radio stations in the country and thats how maany weve got
every little city has its own, a lot of small, insignificant stations that
nobody even heard of and they went out looking for publicity, made a lot of
national headlines because the wire services and the news people are always
looking for something like that you know to get readers and what have you. The
big stations..I know Im a disc jockey here in New York I do a night show, from
7 until 11 in the evening on WMCA which is the top station here in New York
City. We play the Beatles right through well, we didnt care and so, we sent
those letters that you sent out and they were great letters I saw some ofem
and they were great letters we sent those Beatle boosters letters down to these
nowheres down south and places like that that made a oig thing to do about
Johns remark and everythings cool and I just wanna thank you so much you guys
and gals over there in England for being so understanding and I just hope that
maybe that little story is out and just so you know, Bill Berry sent the
letters over to me and we made sure they got to the right people we put right
where it was ok?
WADE
IN THE WATER RAMSEY LEWIS
WHAT
BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED JIMMY RUFFIN
BABY
TOYS TOYS
(Weather
gate)
Were
back
HAVE
YOU SEEN YOUR MOTHER, BABY ROLLING STONES
ITS
ROUGH OUT THERE JERRY JACKSON
NINO
TEMPO&APRIL STEVENS BABY IM ALL STRONG OUT OVER YOU
FRANKIE
VALLI&FOUR SEASONS IVE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN
Thursday,
September 22nd?, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1700-1800. Gary Stevens
1757
...
CURTISS LEE - PRETTY LITTLE ANGEL EYES
September
1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Jerry Smithwick.
Happenings See you in
September
Smithwick show
Silexine
Jill and Johnny Come on
Sunshine
September
1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Roger Day.
Bill Berry at 3
Oldie goldie time on the
Roger Day show
Walker Bros The Sun aint
gonna shine anymore
September
1966? Britain Radio.
0903-
Transmission on 845 kc. John Wall.
Thursday,
September 29th, 1966. Radio England.
M.M.
McLaren a local by-election candidate advertises himself on the station. He
wins by 260 votes and is elected to Harwich Town Council.
Friday, September 30th, 1966. Radio England/Britain Radio.
Letter from Dan M.Fergus, Attorney at Law, Abilene,
TX, sent to R.F.Burget at the transmitter factory. It is said that 1320-1322 is
only a temporary frequency choice. The two stations have also only been able to
operate on approx. half power, and the calculated loss of the operation by
October, 1966 is $2,250,000,000.[71]
October
Monday, October 10th, 1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Tom
Cooper(The late Tom Hatala)
Saturday,
October 8th, 1966?
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
#27 Chris Montez Therell be another you. Johnnie Walker JW all night
fiasco were here until 6. Hitbound sound Toys Baby Toys Darling where are you
tonight BJs pick of the week Rolling Stones Have you seen your mother baby not
only do we like the Beatles were also pretty kinky on the Stones Flies in the studio. Ad for Harry Fenton
fashion center Chris Andrews Every Now&Then 20 most music after 1 Manfred
Mann Just Like a woman #36.
Moremusicmoremusicmoremusic Jingle: Fun Radio Heyhey The Excels Penpal
in Birmingham We love you Beatles Ringo Starr promo: JWs got a good show today
Yellow Submarine #35 Pauline Thank you girl. Remember this Golden
Classic Freddy Cannon.
Tuesday,
October 11th, 1966
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1700-1800. Gary Stevens prerecorded
show from WMCA NEW YORK
WMCA-570 transmitter
site showing 3-tower array pointed towards Manhattan in Kearny, NJ. Photo from
a flight from the Twin Cities into Newark in April, 2004[72].
Thursday
October 13th, 1966
Concurrentie
op zee voor Radio Veronica. In an interview[73],
Jack Curtiss described a Swinging Radio Holland binnen drie weken, to
broadcast van `s morgens 7 uur tot`s nachts 12 uur, met popmuziek,
Nederlandse advertenties en Nederlands nieuws, gepresenteerd door Nederlandse
disc-jockeys. Radio England would be taking nights 12 midnight-7am.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
0815 Johnnie Walker-news
Hotline New York Geo Brown
invitation to Moscow, At UN general Assembly Debate on Rhodesia Blackpool Tory
Party Conference opens today Gibraltar Wage freeze Algeria.
1700-1800. Gary Stevens prerecorded
show from WMCA NEW YORK
1800-Roger Day. Transcript:
|
BOULEVARD DE LA MADELEINE THE MOODY BLUES #24 |
|
WAITING FOR A CALL FROM YOU TONYS DEFENDERS |
|
RIGHT ON BABY CHRIS FARLOWE #23
Weather(no jingle) |
|
I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN THE FOUR
SEASONS #4 |
|
Promo w Chuck Blair: Harvest Moon
Club Friday Oct.21st Roger Day, The Koobas. |
|
WILD ONE BOBBY RYDELL TC 6 bef. 8
Roger Day until midnight were gonna groove hello to Peter |
|
GIMME SOME LOVIN' SPENCER
DAVIS GROUP #38 1 more record to go before the toh |
|
HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR MOTHER BABYTHE
ROLLING STONES #5 The strolling bones.havent seen my mother lately.
Jingle: fiddles ex WABC under Roger Day legal ID: Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles
off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres this is Swinging Radio England,
Britains only 24 hours most music station where the time now is a quarter
minute before 8 pm. This is the Roger Day show on the Much More Music
station-SRE. The Boss Jocks Boss Jocks play more music now! |
|
HAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEBODY THE
SEARCHERS #12 TC: 2 1/2 after 8 |
|
TO MAKE ME A MAN THE MAJORITY HB
On your hit ship the Majority |
|
BEND IT DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK
& TICH #21 |
|
VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS CLIFF
RICHARD |
|
Jingle: Moremusicmoremusicmoremusic |
|
WRAPPING PAPER CREAM |
|
(8.15 NEWS WITH ALAN BLACK) |
Friday, October 14th, 1966
One
of his stations would soon become Dutch(MD William Vick)[74]
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
0600?-0900
Roger Day
IF I WERE A CARPENTER BOBBY DARIN #17
GLORIA THEM
ARE YOU READY NOW FRANKIE VALLI #39
Ready for breakfast now you can bring it down rightaway...
NEWS (8:15) ED MORENO Hotline
Blackpool: 2nd day of Conservative Conference.
HAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEBODY THE
SEARCHERS #11
I'VE BEEN WRONG BEFORE THE EVERLY
BROTHERS
I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF THE TROGGS #1
HOORAY FOR HAZEL TOMMY ROE HB
WHO AM I PETULA CLARK #19
I CAN'T MAKE IT ALONE PJ PROBY #12
WRAPPING PAPER CREAM #30 Promo for
Young Conservatives meeting regarding ban on this station Ilford Town Hall
Sat.Oct.15th at 2.30 pm.
HAPPENINGS TEN YEARS TIME AGO THE
YARDBIRDS HB
0900- Alan Black
1700-1800
Gary Stevens. Prerecorded show from WMCA New York.
Its Friday
Beatles And your bird can sing
Tory party
ideological material from 1965, sent out by Radio 270 in 1966.
Saturday
October 15th, 1966
Transmission
on 1322 kc. Overnight relay on 845 kc?
0000?-0500
Johnnie Walker - Last Show
Transcript:
Neil Sedaka: Breaking up is hard to do. The JW Show on the MMM station, SRE.
The BJs plays more music-now! Neil Diamond w Cherry Cherry. Jingle: Live this
weekend. Neil Christian w Two at a time. Jingle: Thatman-JW. Geno Washington
w Que Sera. Jingle: JW-Sonovox. Bobby Hebb w Sunny. Jingle: Lets look into
the future time..-SRE. Boss Jocks Pick of the week. 25 mins right side of 1,
Friday-Saturday. Chris Farlowe w Right On Baby. Brand new Fun 50 and Boss Jocks Pick of the week
between 8-12 this morningtime w the Boss Cat. Hightime w Paul Jones. Paul Jones
on Boss Radio. Jingle: Boss Radio instant replay Paul Jones again Fun sound 40.
Promo: Saturday-The Boss Fun 50. Saturday Morning-The Boss Fun 50. Saturday
Morning at 8-The Boss Fun 50. Jingle: Stay with the Fun...-SRE. 33 past 1.
Supremes w You cant hurry love. Fun Sound #27. Tim, Tom&Turnons:
Chara-Lyn. 22 until 2. Promo: This saturday at Midnightevery record a golden
goodiefor 24 hoursThe Million Pound Sound of Boss Radio. Baby Toys w Toys. #34
in the Boss Fun 50. You heard it first on Boss Radio. The last Walker
Fiascokinda sadoff at 5. Hopefully I will still be able to broadcast to
you(clue) Jingle: Take a portable radio..can still hear Walker on the
wireless. Chris Montez w Therell never be another you #21 in the old rusty
Fun 50. 13 until 2. Caroline, No. Track from Pet Sounds album(turned out to be
another clue w repeat of Caroline jingle!) Spencer Davis Group, Stevie Winwood
w Gimme some lovin. Brand new sound, heard it first on Boss Radio. (another
clue of new job) Jingle: Take a portable radio. Marvin Gaye w Girl that I need.
#33, brand new chart today between 8-12. Winchester Cathedral, w New
Vaudeville Band, instrumentally yours, 6 before 2. Fun Sound #14.
Jingle: You get a positive charge-SRE Excels w Gonna Make you mine. Promo: Solid Gold
Sunday, this Sat at midnight Million Pound sound of Boss radio. Jingle:
Dubidub Legal ID. this is the JW show. precisely 2am. On the much More
Music station, Swinging Radio England. Jingle: The Boss Jocks play more music
now! Have you ever loved somebody w Searchers. #11 The 3rd Hour of the
JW Fiasco for this late Fri Evening early Sat morning. Jingle: Hes in,
Johnnie Walker, Hes on! Jingle: Live this weekendSRE Hitbound Sound: HB
Ivy League: My world fell down. Bobby Darin w If I were a carpenter. #10 in the
Fun 50. 9 mins after 2. Jingle: Remember this golden classic. (Clue of new
station) Jingle: Take a lively companion.. Hermans Hermits(wont be leaving):
I got a feeling. This is brand new as Gary Stevens would say! I am leaving
tonight. This is the last JW show. Tommy Roe: Hooray for Hazel. 11 after 2.
You heard it first on Boss Radio and Boss by the way in Dutch isso maybe
youve got a chance. 13-14 Most mins on the right side of 2 oclock. #46
Carla Thomas and B-A-B-Y. (Roger Day in studio) StatesExtra. Whats
the matter with you baby April Stevens&Nino Tempo. Bit of I cant control
myself. Gimme some lovin' Spencer Davis Group.
1100-1200 Gary Stevens prerecorded show
from WMCA NEW YORK. Musical Museum. Golden Goodies Show. See you on Juke Box
Jury one week from today.
Sunday,
October 16th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1000-1400 Boom Boom Brannigan.
Transcript 1159-1234: Jingle: Go-go charge! Solid Gold Sunday. Roy Orbison: Oh,
Pretty Woman. Talk on earphones not working. Mr. Businessman Promo #2: see
below. The greatest lover of all time Legal ID: SWINGING RADIO ENGLAND ON 227
METRES BROADCASTING 4 ½ MILES OFF THE BRITAIN ESSEX COAST.
followed by This is the Boom Boom Brannigan show, Uncle Boomer. Would you
believe the sound of Lou Christie. LC: Lightning strikes. 21/2 mins past
noontime, good afternoon, the big beat sound of Boss Radio, sometimes known
as(jingle) Swinging Radio England. Ad: Rent a TV set today H.Reynolds&sons
Tilbury, Gravesend and Chapel St.Mary. Reynolds for TV Rentals(Chuck Blair)
Jingle: Live this weekend. Jimmy Justice: When my little girls is smiling.
Solid Gold Sunday promo. Ad: Stars Color portraits, of Man from U.N.C.L.E,
write Stars, 32 Curzon Street., London W1.Tom Jones: Its not Unusual, the BB
Spree Light program(Editor) 10 past 12 oclock noon time. Ad. Noxene Skin Crme
Quiz, a day w Paul&Barry Ryan. Fabulous magazine. Bobby Vinton w Long and
lonely night. Lets twin spin it: Give us your blessing Shangri-Las. 12.16
SPACE NEWS HOTLINE W JOHN ROSS-BARNARD. HOTLINE: ETHICS ISSUE. BIRMINGHAM UNION
WORKERS ASK FOR A 4 DAY WORK WEEK. IN ADEN 3 BRITISH SERVICEMEN WERE
KILLED BY TERRORISTS. BFBS ADEN WARNS SERVICEMEN. IN OTTAWA FOREIGN
SECRETARY GEORGE BROWN WILL STOP OFF FOR MEETING WITH CANADIAN MINSTER FOR
EXTL AFFAIRS MR.PAUL MARTIN AFTER UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. UK WILL ASK FOR
SANCTIONS WITH CANADA ON RHODESIA AND DISCUSS CANADAS STANCE ON THE VIETNAM
WAR. (EDITOR: BROWN WAS AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NYC IN OCTOBER AND HAD
A MEETING W WASHINGTON OFFICIALS ON OCTOBER 14TH) MALAWI PRESIDENT SAYS THEY
WILL NOT SUPPORT THE BRITISH PLAN OF THE ECONOMIC STRANGLE ON RHODESIA. RE
WEATHERSCOPE REPORTS. Ronnie Dove w When liking turns to loving. Thanks to JRB
for the news. Ad. Tartan Racing Pools, Radio Scotland house, Cranworth Street,
Glasgow, W2, (Editor-w Gordon Bennett/Gary Kemp?) or to Racing pools agents,
c/o Radio England, 32 Curzon Street. London W1[75]
12.22 Solid Gold Sunday promo. Bill Berry in the morning, Bruce Wayne on the
all-night pride. Bobby Goldsboro: Broomstick Cowboy. The Big beat sound of SRE.
Ad: Kent cigarettes. Bill Berry in the morning. Bruce Wayne on the allnite
flite. Jingle: Youre a winner Ad: Tippin Where did I put that sixpence.
Connie Francis: Jealous heart. 12.29 Legal ID w Harry Putnam(Johnny Dark).
Lovin Spoonful-The Spoken Lawfuls.. You didnt have to be so nice. 32 after 12
noontime that means youve got another 1.28 to put up w me. Roger Day promo,
will play best of Stones, Beach Boys Beatles every Sunday on the RD show
between 6-8pm. Thatman RD jingle
Transcript 12.59-13.22 Boss
Radio-Instant replay 3 times. 1 before 1. Searchers. Take me for what Im
worth. Legal ID. Searchers. Take me for what Im worth. Solid Gold Sunday
promo. Ad: Star Color Portrait. (Spoken by Errol Bruce?) 13.06: The most
horrible record I haver heard this is lousy!- Rainy Day Women #12 and 35. when
it comes to singingDylan stinks. PJ Proby w Hold Me. 13.10 Comments on
delicious Chicken dinner. My compliments, my deepest compliments to the
chef. Dig this for a meal. Carrots,
Mashed Potatoes, Russells Sprouts. A whole roasted chicken w cream sauce, make
you hungry? Good..Im sadisticAd: Noxene Skin Crme. Date w Paul&Barry
Ryan, details in Fabulous magazine. Manfred Mann: 54321 13.14 News w JRB(Only
one item: Ethics.). Marvelettes. Put yourself in my place. 13.19 Boomers
Get-together Tom Jones: With these hands. 13.22 Tartan Racing Pools.
1400-1800
Alan Black
Monday,
October 17th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1700-1800 Gary Stevens
WALK AWAY RENEE LEFT BANKE
CHERISH THE
ASSOCIATION
-----
1800-2400
Roger Day.
STOP STOP STOP THE HOLLIES #9
The start of something BOSS. #9 in the
Fun 50 Hollies Stop Stop Stop RD show till the midnight hour when its Baby
Bruce Wayne
COMING ON STRONG BRENDA LEE HB
On your hit ship
ARE YOU READY NOW FRANKIE VALLI #24
PETER GUNN DUANE EDDY
NEWS (6:15) ED MORENO. Hotline Cape Town. Trial
of Werwoerd assassin Dimitrios Tsafendas has begun. (This started on October 17th!)
WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL NEW VAUDEVILLE
BAND #13. Roger off on Wednesday.
I'M WAITING FOR THE DAY THE BEACH BOYS
Chuck Blair on promo Roger Day at Harvest Moon Club Guildford, on Friday 21st
of October.
REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE THE FOUR TOPS #1
SUNSHINE SUPERMAN DONOVAN
IN OUR TIME NANCY SINATRA #19
GOOD VIBRATIONS THE BEACH BOYS HP
Tuesday,
October 18th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
0634-0715?[76]Non-Stop music w jingles.
News 0715 w. Alan Black
USA Johnson left for Pacific/SE Asia
Newspapers
Cape Town Tsafendas trial
Motor Industry Frank Higham
Radio England Weatherscope reports
1400-1700
Alan Black
1700-1800
Gary Stevens
1800-2400
Roger Day. 36 minutes tape exists. 1903-1939. Transcript: Psycothic Reaction w
Count Five. Promo for Swinging 66 programme for 2/6, postage sixpence. Write
Programme, 32 Curzon St, London W1. Carla Thomas #29 in the Fun 50
B-a-b-y. Oldie Goldie Time Peter and Gordon Baby Im yours. 12 past 7. News at
15 past w Alan Black, the fastest haggis alive. Pinkertons Colours #34
in the Fun 50. Magic Rocking Horse. 19.15 news w Alan Black: Hotlines USA Pres. Johnson embarks on SE Asia tour.(This
started on October 17th US Time!) Newspapers, Cape Town(Continuation
of trial of Werwoerd assassin Dimitrios Tsafendas). (This started on October 17th!) Motor Industry. Weather. Petula Clark Who am I #10. Credits
to Alan Black, on from 2-6 in afternoon, make that 2-5, Gary Stevens at 5.
Hermans Hermits Speed On bside of No Milk Today. Jingle: Its blast off time
on the Action Satellite were going into orbit No. wonderful sound of the Four
Tops(#1). The boat is rocking, get another turntable. Swinging 66 promo
half-way. Manfred Mann w Semidetached Suburban Mr.James. Hitbound. Sunny w
Cher, #17 in the Fun 50. 7.31 on the Roger Day day?show going right up
until midnight when its Bruce Wayne. Boss Jocks pick of the week HP
Good Vibrations w Beach Boys. Jingle; Thatman-RD Walker Bros. #41 in
Fun 50: Another tear falls. Surf Jet Set jingle.
Thursday, October 20th, 1966. Radio England.
In this report
from Telegraaf for Oct.21st, 1966, an excited Jack Curtiss
explained more of the coming Dutch station, which he indicated still lacked
vital points of the organization needed. Radio Holland would still be airing
the hitparade as Holland loves American and British songs. Already Radio
England drew a lot of fanmail from Holland. The new station would be no escape
from the coming MOA, but company expansion. The broadcasting frequency was to
be decided later, and the start would be in 2 or 3 weeks . With broadcasting
hours 7-12 was meant Dutch time. It
seems Boom Boom Brannigan had been brought from the ship especially for the
interview, saying Yeah, Yeah to the Curtiss outline. From Hans Knots
archive.
Saturday, October 22nd, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
0000-0500
Bruce Wayne. Transcript 0155-0325: Jingle: Youre a winner with-SRE Pinkertons
Assorted Colours w The Magic Rocket Horse #34. Remark about Aberfan
disaster today which Bruce had seen on TV tonight. 5 minutes before 2. Stateside
Extra from Tim, Tom and Turnons: Chara-Lyn The Bruce Wayne Midnight Early
Show, up to the hour w Slow Down w Young Rascals. 2 past 2 hours Legal ID w
Bill Berry: Fanfare+This Is SRE ID #8
below. Lady Godiva
Peter and Gordon #6 in Fun 50. Five Past 2. Hitbound comes in tomorrow
Philly Dog w Herbie Mann. John Ross-Barnard on Aberfan relatively long talk on
behalf of the Radio England news staff. More tomorrow morning at 6.15. To night
workers, imsomniacs, or just plain pleasure lovers, the Bruce Wayne show.
Wrapping Paper w Cream. Small Faces w Come on Children. Quarter past 2:Swinging Radio England
brings you up-to-the minute reports from the ionospheric weather checker.
Weather report. Outlook for Sunday and Monday. Promo: Presented by Keele
Insurance the Rock n Roll Revival Hour this Sun between the hrs of 3.15 and
4.15 with Mark Stevens and Errol Bruce. Bruce Wayne Hes In Stay with the
fun-SRE Record by Robert Parker #42. 19 past 2 oclock Otis Redding:
Treat her right. 21 past 2 oclock Hello to nurses and music lovers. Jingle:
Englands finestwhere the music is news! This song is Boss Sound #1-1-1-1.
Four Tops Reach Out and Ill be there. Boss Radio instant replay, 3 times. Four
Tops once again. 27 past 2 oclock Hitbound. Help me Girl w Eric
Burdon&Animals. SRE Magnificent Seven promo(Spoken by Bill Berry). Promo:
All systems are go for the wildest dance of the year. SRE Night out at
Launchpad High Road Leyton E10 rave with The Koobas, Sister Jill and the
Brethren w Boss Jocks Bruce Wayne
and Bill Boss Berrycount down with the Geminifinest dance team in universe.
Competition w price: Trip to the RE ship....Friday the 28th Jingle: Its
blast off time.. Drop-in: As Bruce Wayne would say, its all happening.
Jingle: The fastest thing in the air-SRE Promo: Bruce Wayne on RE, hes
funny. 28 1/2 mins to go before the hour of 3. Jimmy James&Vagabonds
w I just dont know what I gotta
do. Boss Jocks pick of the week: Beach Boys Good Vibrations. (Editor) Exactly
a quarter to 3. Stateside Extra: Dynaphones, Pied Piper. 13 1/2 mins before 3.
Small Faces Its too late. Anonymous request. 9 mins before 3. Spencer Davis
Group Georgia on my Mind. 5 mins before 3. #9 in the Fun 50. Hollies
Stop Stop Stop. Promo for Rockn Roll Revival Hour, see above. Jingle:Bruce
Wayne Hes In You get a positive charge. Les Fleur De Lys w Mud in your eye. 2
past 3. Bill Berry w SRE Legal ID
#8. New Vaudeville Band w Winchester Cathedral. Bagpipes Promo for Tartan
Racing Pools w Chuck Blair, 32 Curzon Street Promo for Swinging Radio Holland
#1. Jingle:The fastest thing in the air-SRE Velvelettes
These Things Will Keep Me Loving You. Jingle: BW, hes in! Youre a winner with-SRE.
Chris Farlowe Right on Baby #23. Ike and Tina Turner w Things
ain't what they used to be. Promo for All systems are go see above. Jingle: Its blast off time
Weather jingle, see above. Jingle: BW, hes in! Stay with the Fun-SRE Record:
Girl that I need, Marvin Gaye. Promo for Tartan Racing Pools w Chuck Blair
Cambridgeshire coupon different backing music to above. Jimi Hendrix w
Running Wild.
Comment by editor: This show has a distinctive club flavour.
Whilst Bruce Wayne rocks through the
night for SRE on the Olga, Dutch press writes about Dutch Radio. From Kink
October 22th, 1966. From Hans Knots archive.
Wednesday, October 26, 1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1700-1800
Gary Stevens.
1800-2300 Tom Cooper?
Transcript 1820-1849: #5 on
Britain Radio sorry there we go again..thats our sister station Q and the
Mysterians: 96 tears. Good evening this is Tom back with you 21 past 6. Jingle:
Where the music is news. Tom Cooper from the 6-11pm show. Fun Sound #36
Et moi, moi, moi, cest la vie w Jacques Dutronc. A winner from France there.
Its SRE-227 metres in the MW band. Dutch promo #1. Jingle:
moremusicmoremusicmoremusic Four Tops w Reach Out and Ill be there, #1
in Top 50. Jingle: Hitbound. HB Tom Jones. Green Green Grass of
Home. This is Tom on the radio until 11 tonight. We have 28 mins before 7
oclock Legal ID on half hour: Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex
Coast this is Swinging Radio England, 227 metres in the MW band Jingle: The
Boss Jocks play more music. #25 Holy Cow the latest from Lee Dorsey.
Getting requests for it from the staff. It is moving up our chart on SRE, its
already no.25. Promo for Rock n Roll Revival Hour(introduced by Mark Stevens
and Errol Bruce). Jingle: Lets look into the future time..-SRE. New chart
this week. 21 before 7, Tom up until 11.Came out with the new chart today,
Mitch Ryder&Detroit Wheels: Devil with the new dress on. PH 22 mins
bef 11 o clock. New Vaudeville Band: Winchester Cathedral. #34. We get a
lot of requests for it here on the ship. Jingle: Moremusicmoremusicmoremusic. Stateside
Extra from Tim, Tom and Turnons: Chara-Lyn. SRE, 227 m in the MW band.
Jingle: Weatherwordtheweatherwordtheweatherword at .45. Jingle: Its blastoff
time on funny radio were going into orbit. Jingle: Flashback. Marvin Gaye,
Wonderful One. Tom up until 11 We have 12 mins before 7much more of the
swinging sounds from the pop, pardon me top 50. #39 from the SRE tour
around England Neil Christian and Two at a time.
Thursday,
October 27th, 1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1143- Tom Cooper.
...#22 on our Boss 50
227 Radio in the MW band
TC: 17 mins before noontime
Hitbound...Gloria Jones is the girls name
FINDERS KEEPERS GLORIA JONES HB
Weather
Jingle: Remember this golden classic
A FOOL IN LOVE...a hit a couple of
years ago from an album by IKE AND TINA TURNER
TC: 11 to Noon
TEN STORIES HIGH DAVID AND JONATHAN #43
1700-1800 Gary Stevens. Prerecorded
show from WMCA New York.
Friday,
October 28th, 1966?Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
0504-0531 Mark Stevens
My babys such a sweet thing Mary Wells
SE
TC: 5:06
6 mins after 5 in the
morning on a Friday morning
States extra
sound...Drop-in Good afternoon.(!)
MMM coming your way, Boss
Sound #19:
What a wonderful feeling Lulu #19
Twin Spin/Flashback
jingle
Shazam Duane Eddy FB
TC: 5:10
At 6 Bill BossBerry
Magic Rocking Horse Pinkertons Colours
TC: 5.14
Ad: Silver Boots from shoes 475 Oxford
Street, and Gumages, Holborn
Neil Diamond Cherry Cherry #14
on the new Boss Fun 50
Cherry Cherry Neil Diamond #14
TC: 5.16
Everything I touch turns to tears.
Brian Poole. HB
Bill Boss Berry 41 from now
Crsipian St.Peters a little
diddy called Changes.. Rise and Shine
Changes Crispian St.Peters #27
TC:5.22
When I come home Spencer Davis Group
96 Tears Q and The Mysterians HB
TC:5:27
Its Valentine(?-editor) and these are
the 4 Seasons: Ive got you under my skin.
TC:5.31
29 mins away from Bill Boss Berry.
Many thanks for being along for the last 5 1/2 hours.
SRE BOH ID: Johnny
Dark/Harry Putnam.
Tamla Sound with male
singer starting with temptation
Friday,
October 28th, 1966?Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Newscast presented by Mark Stevens/Ted
Delaney with Hotlines Aberfan, Paris, Thailand Pres.Johnson arrived in Bangkok,
South Africa, Paris, Bonn Yesterdays break up of the coalition. (Editor:
CDU/CSU+FDP Government broke up October 27th)
1700-1800 Gary Stevens. Prerecorded
show from WMCA New York.
Sunday, October 30th, 1966[77] Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
0900-1200? Boom Boom Brannigan. A
few quite interesting leads to the SRE final story is found here:
|
0848: MILLION POUND SUNDAY |
|
ABIGAIL BEECHER FREDDY CANNON |
|
RESCUE ME FONTELLA BASS |
|
SONOVOX HE'S ON..BOOM BOOM BRANNIGAN
JINGLE(FROM PAMS SERIES#30/WPTR[78])
WHOSE JOHNNIE WALKER VERSION BECAME FAMOUS IN THE UK. |
|
YESTERDAY CILLA BLACK |
|
0853: PROMO: HALLO SWINGERS IN
HOLLAND, WIJ VERZORGEN DE GROETSE PROGRAMMAS BINNEN KORT VOOR U OP DIT
STATION SWINGING RADIO HOLLAND DUS BLIJFT AFGESTEMD OP 227 METER OP HET MIDDENGOLF
OP SWINGING RADIO HOLLAND. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE MEANS, BUT REDUNDANCY TO
YOU, BUDDY! (SO AT THIS TIME IT WAS STILL TO BE RADIO HOLLAND?) |
|
0856 HE CALLS HIS SHOW UNCLE BOOMER'S
RATTLE(??) ALONG(??)(OTHER NAMES: BB SPREE, BOOMER'S BROADCASTING COMPANY) |
|
ALONG COMES MARY ASSOCIATION |
|
0859.30 BILL BERRY'S REALLY GREAT
LEGAL ID FOLLOWED BY THE BOSS JOCKS-BOSS JOCKS-BOP-BOP-PLAY MORE MUSIC-NOW! |
|
THOU SHALT NOT STEAL DICK AND DEEDEE |
November, 1966[79]
November,
1966. Britain
Radio
Transmission
on 845 kc.
Mark Stevens/Ted Delaney
Its 9.30 two hours away from whats his name. Hallmark of Quality Britain
Radio weather.
November, 1966.
Radio England[80]
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Transcription:
2145- Roger Day
|
DANDY THE ROCKING VICKERS #47 |
|
REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE THE FOUR TOPS
#4 last week no.1[81] |
|
Jingle: The fastest thing(me when the
gorilla bit me) |
|
Unid record MICKEY LELAYNE SE TC: 21.55 |
|
HOLY COW LEE DORSEY #25 |
|
I CAN FEEL THE WHOLE WORLDSHOTGUN
EXPRESS #46 |
|
Unid Feeling is right jingle |
|
TOH legal ID w Roger Day |
November, 1966.
Radio England[82]
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Transcription:
1818- Roger Day
|
QUE SERA SERA GENO WASHINGTON #7 TC:
Daytime is 18.20 |
|
PAINT ME A PICTURE GARY LEWIS #24 |
|
Jingle: Englands finest |
|
Today this song is Boss Sound no.1
Bobbybobbybobby Darin IF I WERE A CARPENTER BOBBY DARIN #1 |
|
AD: Colgate(What do you get with
Colgate) |
|
FEELS SO BAD JACKIE EDWARDS HB
|
|
Jingle: Stay with the Fun |
|
19 DAYS DAVE CLARK FIVE #48
Gentlemen of the jury..sentenced to 19 Days. |
|
Promo w Roger Day: Harvest Moon Club,
Guildford this coming Friday w Errol Bruce. |
|
COMING ON STRONG BRENDA
LEE #38 |
November, 1966.
Radio England[83]
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1800-2400
Roger Day
0000-0500
Alan Black
Transcription:
1901-1930 Roger Day
|
Promo: This is the Roger Day show on
the Much More Music station. |
|
Jingle: The Boss Jocks—play
more music now |
|
AIN'T LOVE GOOD JIMMY JAMES |
|
TC: Daytime 3 mins past 7 youre in
the mood with the second hour of the Roger Day Groove |
|
Roger Day Groove up until the
midnight hour when its Alan Black from 0000-0500 |
|
PICTURE ME GONE DAVE BERRY |
|
JINGLE: WHERE THERES ACTION |
|
DEVIL WITH THE BLUE DRESS/GOOD GOLLY
MISS MOLLY MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS #27 |
|
TC:9 MINS PAST 7 |
|
ALL I REALLY WANT TO DO CHER |
|
JINGLE: THATMAN ROGER DAY |
|
Hello to girls in Gillingham Jan,
Linda, Margot and to the boys they really adore. |
|
MY WORLD FELL DOWN THE IVY LEAGUE #35 |
|
NEWS 19:15(NOT ON RECORDING) ED
MORENO |
|
HIGH TIME PAUL JONES #8 |
|
FOR NO ONE CILLA BLACK |
|
Were groovin on until the midnight
hour. |
|
IF I WERE A CARPENTER BOBBY DARIN #1
TC: 19.22 Theyre all madly painting upstairs I slipped into a bucket of
paint. |
|
JINGLE: SRE UNDERWATER |
|
WE'LL MEET AGAIN LLOYD BANKS HB You
can bank on that record being a hit, Funny One Roger, Ill pay you
later. |
|
HAPPENINGS TEN YEARS TIME AGO THE
YARDBIRDS #21 Boom Boom Brannigan is playing with his train set
again |
|
YOU KEEP ME HANGIN ON THE SUPREMES #36 |
Wednesday, November 2nd, 1966. Britain Radio.
Transmission
on 845 kc.
1015: "From Monday Swinging Radio England will become Radio
Holland broadcasting in the Dutch language.[84]
Friday,
November 4th 1966. Radio England.
Op
maandag 14.novembers morgens om 7 uur zal Nederlands tweede piratenzender in
de lucht komen op 227 meter op de middengolf. Maar dat zal niet zijn onder de naam Swinging Radio
Holland, zoals het station tot dusver gedoopt was.
This article was the first occasion where it was
stated that the new station was not to be called Radio Holland. The leaders of the
project had found out that the name already was occupied by a company producing
utility radio sets.[85]
Saturday, November 5th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
1800-2300 Roger Day.
Transcriptions:2000-2100: Roger Day.
|
REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE THE FOUR TOPS
#11 |
|
YOU ARE SHE CHAD AND JEREMY HB |
|
PAINTER MAN THE CREATION #21
lw 50 |
|
ALL I REALLY WANT TO DO THE BYRDS |
|
Stones/Beach Boys/Beatles promo
for Sunday |
|
Thatman Roger Day |
|
COME ON UP RASCALS |
|
NEWS 20:15 ROGER DAY Florence:
Floods(started on Nov.4th), art treasures damaged London: Frank Cousins to
resign, Heath for CM solution Austria Landslide West Berlin Geo.Brown UK
committed to W Berlin Freedom His name in citys Golden Book today Bradford
University High tomorrow 56. |
|
HAPPENINGS TEN YEARS TIME AGO THE
YARDBIRDS #12 TC: 20 past 8. |
|
SHEILA DINO, DESI AND BILLY |
|
GOOD VIBRATIONS THE BEACH BOYS #1 |
|
The Boss Beach Boys |
|
PEEPEEPPOPOP DEARLY BELOVED HB |
|
NO MILK TODAY HERMAN'S HERMITS #19 |
|
MARBLE BREAKS PETER FENTON #45 TC:8.32 |
|
DON'T WORRY MOTHER YOUR SONS HEART
IS STILL PURE THE MCCOYS #22 |
|
WE'LL MEET AGAIN LLOYD BANKS HB
I promise well meet again |
|
HELP ME GIRL ERIC BURDON AND THE
ANIMALS #10 One more record before weatherchecking time |
|
WEATHER 20:45 |
|
FEEL SO BAD JACKIE EDWARDS #46 TC:
10 to 9. |
|
A LOVE LIKE YOURS IKE AND TINA TURNER
#7 |
|
I GOT THE FEELIN NEIL DIAMOND TC: 4
1/2 TO 9. |
|
AIN'T LOVE GOOD JIMMY JAMES #28 |
|
FRIDAY ON MY MIND THE EASYBEATS #32 |
2200-2300: Roger Day.
|
HIGH TIME PAUL JONES #3 Hi to
Beach Bunnies and Beach Boys from your Beach Boy |
|
GET IT AND TAKE IT THE LUNA TWO HB |
|
JOIN MY GANG OSCAR #20 Hip
happy Saturday on SRE, youre in heaven on 227 |
|
WAKE UP LITTLE SUSIE THE EVERLY
BROTHERS O About waking up Boomer |
|
THE HAIR ON MY CHINNY CHIN CHIN SAM
THE SHAM #40 |
|
I CAN'T MAKE IT ALONE PJ PROBY #13 |
|
GOODBYE, SO LONG IKE AND TINA TURNER #9 I
shall leave with an air of dignity |
|
TAKE THIS HAMMER SPENCER DAVIES GROUP
TC:10.22 |
|
GOOD VIBRATIONS THE BEACH BOYS #1 |
|
Stones/Beach Boys/Beatles promo for
(tomorrow) Sunday |
|
(break) |
|
STOP STOP STOP THE HOLLIES #4
last week #2 |
|
PIED PIPER THE DYNAPHONES |
Monday, November 7th,1966.
Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
0500-0900?Bill
Berry
0900-1400
Boom Boom Brannigan
1400-1800
Tom Cooper
1800-2300
Roger Day-sign off.
Not many days
to go now. From Daily Telegraph October 14th, 1966 and Hans Knots
archive. On that background, the following show is really great with Roger Day
in fine form. Incredible so near the end of SRE[86].
Transcript
2200-2300:
|
REACH OUT, I'LL BE THERE |
THE FOUR TOPS #11 the final hour of the Roger Day
Groove, going right up until 11(Four Tops) Hitbound sound from Jackie Lee
the town I live in. No, a boat called the Laissez Faire. |
|
THE TOWN I LIVE IN |
JACKIE LEE HB Joke about who wants to buy the
ship. |
|
I LOVE MY DOG |
CAT STEVENS #8 11 past 10 on
a mournful Monday |
|
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE |
THE BEATLES |
|
I'M THE ONE YOU NEED |
THE MIRACLES #48 |
|
RAIN ON THE ROOF |
THE LOVIN SPOONFUL #16 Thatman-Roger day-jingle. |
|
IF I WERE A CARPENTER |
BOBBY DARIN #8 (1) Last week no.1 this week no.8. |
|
DANDY |
THE KINKS |
|
GOOD VIBRATIONS |
THE BEACH BOYS #1 (11) No.1: Beach Boys Good
Vibrations-from 11 to 1! |
|
CUPID |
HAYDOCK'S ROCK HOUSE HB |
|
DON'T WORRY MOTHER |
THE MCCOYS #22 |
|
TEN STORIES HIGH |
DAVID AND JONATHAN #43 |
|
A FOOL AM I |
CILLA BLACK #30 Jingle: Its blast off time on
funny radioSRE. |
|
GET IT, TAKE IT |
LUNA 2 HB |
|
22.45: Weather |
|
|
HELP ME GIRL |
ERIC BURDON AND THE ANIMALS #10 |
|
BABY SITTING BOOGIE |
THE FOURMOST |
|
I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF |
THE TROGGS #36 |
|
A LOVE LIKE YOURS |
IKE AND TINA TURNER #7 A cuddle record. |
|
I GOT THE FEELING |
NEIL DIAMOND SE Youve been warned, you beware,
but most of all you be there! |
|
PIED PIPER |
THE DYNAPHONES SE to take you up to the hourToday
youve heard broadcasts by Bill Berry, Boom Boom Brannigan, Tom Cooper, and
yours truly Roger DayIts been a great pleasure having us in your home
Tomorrow morning at 5 we commence with the Early morning show from Bill
Berry, I hope he doesnt sound the like he looks in the morning as well.. If
Bills listening I didnt say that, honestly. From our Governor in the office
that means Mr.Vick our MD, all the office staff including Good Morning
himself, all the galley boys, all the crews, all the engineers, Uncle Tom
and all down to the little fella that presses the buttonputs us off the air
and on the airSleep Tight..Station close down. (Editor) |
Roger Day.
Picture from the Swinging 66 brochure. From Hans Knots archive.
Tuesday, Nov 8th,1966? Britain Radio.
Transmission
on 845 kc.
0900- Tom
Cooper reading news at 0900. Britain R 355 metres in the MW band. BR
up to the minute news Tom Cooper reporting. Legal action to stop Thorn electrical
industries to paying its members an increase. Italy Troops repairing broken
dykes[87]Alan
Black Tuesday morning edition of Morning Serenade 3 mins past 9.
Wednesday,
November 9th,1966? Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Norwegian
Log. Transcript: 0900 Gordon Bennett[88](from
05?) handing over to B.B. Brannigan doing 09.00-14.00 on Boomers Broadcasting
Company playing first Rain on the Roof Lovin Spoonful.
Rain
on the roof
No.16
in the last Boss Fun 50
You
and me and rain on the roof
Caught
up in a summer shower
Dryin'
while it soaks the flowers
Maybe
we'll be caught for hours
Waitin'
out the sun
Refrain
1:
You
and me were gabbin' away
Dreamy
conversation sittin' in the hay
Honey,
how long was I laughing in the rain with you
'Cause
I didn't feel a drop 'til the thunder brought us to
[repeat
intro]
Refrain
2:
You
and me underneath the roof of tin
Pretty
comfy feelin' how the rain ain't leakin' in
We
can sit and dry just as long as it can pour
Cause
the way it makes you look makes me hope it rains some more
John
Sebastian. Recorded by The Lovin Spoonful on Kama Sutra records, 1966.
Played
twice Wonderful land by Shadows, and Boss Radio-Instant replay(3 times)
jingle. Other songs: Good Vibrations by
Beach Boys, Wrapping Paper by Cream, Ill follow the sun by Beatles.
Weather at 0945: Swinging Radio England- Brings you up-to-the minute
reports-from the ionospheric weather checker. News at .15: (Jingle) Space
News Hotlines-From the North, East, West and South, this is Radio England
news live and up-to the minute at 10.16. B.B.Brannigan reporting in the public
interest. Hotline Paris(4 Hotlines)This is Boomer BranniganHotline Canberra(3
Hotlines)And then the R England Weatherscope reports This has been B.B.Brannigan
for Radio England.(Jingle) The station that keeps you informed. News every
hourMore Music NOW!
Friday Nov 11th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
App.1500-1517
Errol Bruce.
Transcript:
App.15:00 Rockin Berries and Dandy. Jingle: In
Swinging England, we pamper people so wont you unwind the weekend with us..,
(On Sunday the Solid Gold Sundayat 11pm Boss Radio special program from the
Boss Jocks especially to you thats Sunday at 11pm. the fun radiates around
Swinging Radio England. (Errol is here mentioning the farewell show
which is to be Sunday at 11 oclock, followed by a Dutch announcement for what
was thought to be R Holland, but was re-named R Dolfijn.) Dutch Promo #2.
Promo for Rock nRoll Revival Hour.
15.15
Errol Bruce reading news. Hotlines:
London
Mr.Grimond comments on Common market.
Space
First day of the astronauts 4-day space flight (Gemini 12, Lovell and Aldrin,
this happened on November 11th)
South
America Study of Solar Eclipse
Italy
Further heavy rainfalls
More music now. Four Tops: Reach Out
and Ill be there.
Jack Curtiss
tells of coming competition at sea for Radio Veronica. But the Dutch djs
entering the Olga Patricia on this date will hardly give jonge beatgropen in
Holland een kans and the call sign is to be Dolfijn, not Holland. Dutch press
report via Hans Knots archive.
Friday Nov 11th, 1966. Radio Dolfijn.
The Dutch broadcasting staff steps aboard the Olga
Patricia[89]:
Zes weken nadat het idee was geboren
voor de oprichting van een nieuwe Nederlandse zender(radio Dolfijn) zat ik al
mat mn eerste programma in de lucht. Logisch, dat het nog niet feilloos ging.
Toen ik 11.november 1966 aan boord van
de Laisser-Faire(ons moederschip)stapte en de studios bekeek, kreeg ik de
schrik van mn leven.
Vr me en scaakelbord met zon 32
knoppen en handels. Hoe zoe ik, ontechnisch als ik was, die uit elkaar moeten
houden?
Na twee nachten hard oefnen had ik de
meeste knoppen al onder de knie, maar de eerste programmas verliepen toch niet
geheel feilloos...
...De verstandhouding met de Engelsen
en Amerikanen aan boord is uitsteekend. Natuurlijk zijn er weleens
meningverschillen, maar die zijn er om opgelost te wordem...
Sunday, Nov 13th, 1966. Radio England.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
App.1315-1517
Phil Martin, Errol Bruce, Mark Stevens.
Transcript:
1315 News w Phil Martin
1316-1322
Boss Cat Errol Bruce. Unid record: Platters: Music City. 18 past 1 thanks
Phil Martin for the newsRolling Stones: Mothers Little Helper.
1335-1402
Boss Cat Errol Bruce. Spencer Davis: Keep on running, for Richard
Kimble!(The Fugitive TV series, editor)last day of English language
transmissions, yes indeed Alan Price takes us up to weathertime: Hi Lili Hi Lo
Tape. Weather. Dave Dee, Dozy etc. w Hold Tight. 10 before 2. Last Boss Cat
Bruce show. Mention of Uppercut ClubBilly Walker. Roger Day, Bill Berry, Bruce
Wayne to appear in two weeks time. Bobby Goldsboro w Voodoo woman. Jr.Walker w How sweet it is. To all
Pussycat members everywhere. Ad for Oscars Groovy Grotto, Ilford w Johnny Dark[90].
Dutch promo for new station #2. Legal ID TOH. Unid record. Cant stop?
?Special
program tonight at 11 pm. Roger Day and Mark Stevens. Couple of other guys.
1502-1520
Beach Boys w Good Vibrations, no 1
in the Boss Survey. (Editor) Ad for Golden
Kipper? Mark Stevens in
studio. Rolling
Stones Stones w High and Dry. Seven
mins to go on the Boss Cat Bruce Show, the last Boss Cat Bruce Show, Troggs
w With a girl like youTen after
3 the Boss Cat Bruce showon the
last Boss Cat Bruce show Im
Crying(playing The Animals) Pussy Cat.. here we go And so we come to the last record on the
Boss Cat Bruce show, on the last day of Swinging Radio England English Language
programsfrom Boss Cat Bruce---Ciao! The More I see you w Chris Montez. Ad for Family Pack. Soup
from Cross&Blackwell.
News
at 15:15 w Phil Martin: Hotlines
Japan, Matsuyama Aircrash-(happened on 13th November)[91].
Israel
Whitehall, the
Queen of England lays a wreath at the Cenotaph in London- (on Rememberance Day,
13th Nov)[92].
Yorkshire
Space,
Gemini XII Walk in space right now (happened on 13th November).
Canada
WeatherscopeMore
music now!
Radio England
Worlds most powerful. Envelope and stationery kindly donated by Colin Nicol.
One of SREs original and Australian Boss Jocks, now living in Australia.
1517-1525
Mark Stevens/Errol Bruce Rock nRoll Revival Hour:
(Over
theme)Keele Insurance now presents the Rock nRoll Revival Hour w Errol Bruce and Mark Stevens(Chuck
Blair)last show on SRE but on Britain Radio 3-55 next Sunday. Eddie Cochran:
Somethin Else. A word from Keele Insurancespeaking on behalf of Keele Insurance
this is Chuck BlairCall Franklin 2721Instant peace of mind. Kay-len Twins:
When
Chuck Blair,
aka Rick Phillips/Jay Kay has left Radio England after a short stint as General
Manager. Even if he now is on Radio London, his voice is still heard over the
airwaves on 227 though, and this date for the last time.
App. 2301-2339 Mark Stevens, Gordon Bennett, Bruce
Wayne, Phil Martin, Roger Day, Bill Berry.
Transcription spliced together from various sources:
2301-[93] Mark Stevens: Exactly 1 min past 11 oclock on Swinging Radio England.
And this of course is the last 29 minutes of programming that SRE will bring to
the listening area of Great Britain. For this next half hour we intend to do
our very best and entertain you with everyone of the jocks whos ever been on
SRE in the past months including those who came over just to do the news, and
Britain Radio announcers such as Phil Martin and Gordon Bennetteveryone will
sort of say their goodbyes to you. How many times have you heard this sound:
Legal ID. For the final time Swinging Radio England brings you 28 minutes, 28
Much More Music Minutes of entertainment by all Boss Jocks onboard. Chris
Farlowe: Think .This is Gordon Bennett(Gary Kemp)(tape) dropped in to say
goodbye to you..myself and my family all rallied(?) here(here Gordon/Garry
used his multi-lingo talents presenting a lot of voices, editor) (2308)Lovin
Spoonful: Summer in the city. The Lovin Spoonful out of the past on SRE called
Summer in the city 10 mins past 11pm. Bill Boss Berry here. Surf jingle. In
20 minutes we will all be defunct! Its all night happening. Were gonna
have Space News Hotlines in 5 minutes. Show for another 20. Im sitting in
for my little 2 minutes stint. Its been a chuckle real gig. Beatles: Bruce
Wayne next! Paperback Writer. BW goodbye message, its been a gas, giving
praise to Roger Day, Tuesday on Ready Steady Go! 15 minutes to go before 11.30.
Batman theme w Neal Hefti? Link Wray?
Thatman Bosscat Bruce jingle.
Batman or Thatman[94]? It made us
listen!
Boss Cat Bruce goodbye, been here 2 1/2 months.
Fictious character: Harry. Boss Cat/Youre a winner jingle. Ciao! Paint it
Black Rolling Stones. Phil Martin almost from the start. I prepared for 2
minutes! Phil ran through a list of some of the djs: The Moultrie 3(Jerry
Smithwick, Ron OQuinn, Larry Dean), Rick Randall went back to WFUN[95], Colin Nicol, Johnnie Walker, Chuck Blair became General Manager, Boom
Boom Brannigan left the ship yesterday I think, Roger Day, John Ross-Barnard,
Mark Stevens(Ted Delaney), Bill Berry, Errol Bruce, a whole lot of them. From
me Phil Martin its goodbye and good luck to you! Harry Secombe record. Roger
Day: A Britain radio recordPhil Martin sabotaged the whole operation!(I am)
the only original dja lot of people have asked how I got on this
station(shouts: Yeah how did you get on this station?) I was sweeping the road
outside, and they came and said, yeah you look like a disc jockey..Problem with
the consol, Jingle: Thatman RD. Ron OQuinn: Day, you idiot. Its really been a
ball, you really have been boss! Mamas and Papas: Monday Monday. I shant be
going into obscurity. Boomer told me to say one thing:Whoaee!. This is Mark
Stevens once again. Bill Boss Berry and I are the only Americans left on
board ship. Bill: And then there was one. Mark: Bill came 6000 miles from
Pennsylvania, I came 8000 miles from California[96]..the only Americans in the past few monthsbig thank you to the Britons
and the Canadians whove welcomed usOn Bill Berrys future prospects:
Discotheques and Spot Productions, possibly a new business of your own. Goodbye
from Phil Martin, Errol Bruce, Bruce Wayne, and Roger(youre the oldest man
here. come on over here and say the final words before we say goodbye from SRE[97]), with the latter saying the final words, telling he would be at boxer
Billy Walkers Uppercut Club 3 nights a week, and thanking for 6 very Boss
months.
This is where Bill Boss Berry, Roger Day and Brian
Tylney became employed after SRE.
2330 Instrumental version of Auld Lang Syne[98] and Boss Radio jingle.
2339 Carrier leaves the air.
Radio Dolfijn is a reality at 4.40pm on Monday,
November 14th, 1966. Dutch press for Hans Knots archive.
Monday, Nov 14th, 1966. Radio Dolfijn.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Maandag
middag om vier uur is van het schip Laissez FaireRadio Dolfijn in the lucht
gekommen[99]
-1640 Instrumental Music[100][101].
App. 1640-1650 Peter van den Hoven
Luisteraars in Nederland, aan dit moment
makt Uw kendt met het nieuwe Nederlandse radiozender Radio Dolfijn
Instrumental music
"Radio Dolfijn zendt dagelljks uit op
de 227 meterband van 's morgens 6 tot 's avonds 12 uur. Radio Dolfijn brengt U
muziek en nieuws. Radio Dolfijn wil Uw trouwe huisvriend zijn. Radio Dolfijn
richt zich vooral op de volwassenen. Met prettige, aangenaam klinkende, muziek,
met evergreens die al generaties lang populair zijn, met melodieuze muziek,
muziek die U dagelljks kunt beluisteren."
Instrumental Music
Address at the Perskonferentie at the
Hotel Gooiland in Hilversum
November 13th, 1966: Radio
Dolfijn Perskonferentie in Hotel Gooiland, Hilversum, almost 7 months after a
similar venue at Londons Caf Royal.
Jack Curtiss, speaks, while Dutch press people are listening. Bill Vick
is no.2 from right. Photo: Jack Curtiss.
...Pers, Radio en Televisie...Radio
Dolfijn Perskonferentie in de Terrassaal...Hotel Gooiland in Hilversum: Welkom,
dames en heren van de pers, welkom op ons radio zendschip, dat voor anker ligt
op de Noordzee. In het komende uur zult U volledig geinformeerd worden over de
gang van zaken betreffende Radio Dolfijn. ...de nam Radio Dolfijn...
De Lage Landen,Radio Kleve, Piet
Hein, Albatros, Ameland, Dolfijn en Golfstrom....Wij danken Uw vanuit
de studio voor Uw komst en aandacht en hiermee is de aanwezigheid van Radio
Dolfijn in de ether een officieel feit.'
Sammy Davis I wanna be with you
"'I wanna be with you' van Sammy
Davis jr. Dit is Radio Holland-Radio Dolfijn op de 227 meterband.
Hierbij wil ik U de programmering bekend maken. Van 6-10 in de ochtend Look
Boden, 10-14 Jacques Soudan, 14-19 Peter van der Hoven en 19-24 Jos van
Vliet."
Esther and Abi Ofarim Le Prince, incl. A
second of a strange mix.
November 14th, 1966:
Persmeldung. Flyer delivered at Radio Dolfijn Perskonferentie. Source: Jack
Curtiss.
App. 1658-1659 Peter van den Hoven
Liebe wunderbar...Jacob
Interference from Radio Moscow Int Sign
from Leipzig in same channel
Uw luistert naar Radio Dolfijn opt 227
meterband vant middengolf
...Uw maag luisteren naar het station van
op 6 Uur morgens-12...
6-10 Look Boden
10-2 Jaques Soudan
7-12 Jos van Vliet.
2-7 Peter v der Hoven
in 1 Min 5 Uur
Arabesque Henry
Tuesday, Nov 15th, 1966. Radio Dolfijn.
Radio
Dolfijn QSL card to Dick van Schenk Brill from Hans Knots archive. Drawing
also used in (undated and unnamed)newspaper article about Look Boden with this
title: Nederlands nieuwste piraat zendt uit van de Caissez Faire(!)
Press Conference in Hilversum Monday, November 14th,
1966[102]. William Vick informed of which djs that would be broadcasting on
Dolphin Radio: Peter van der Hoven, Rob Klaasman, Thijs Lieffering, Jacques
Soudan, Jos van der Vliet, and Look Boden. The owner of the Olga Patricia was
said to be Radiovision Broadcasts. From Hans Knots archive.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
Engine,
Engine Roger Miller
Tijd
naturlijk op Uw station Radio Dolfijn opt 227 meterband Precis half 9
Jambalaya
Jo Stafford
Tijd
3 ½ min. Half over 9
Simon&Garfunkel:
I am a Rock
Tijd
op Radio Dolfijn opt 227 meterband 6 over half 9
Look
Boden
10-2
Jaques Soudan
2-7
Peter v der Hoven
7-12
Jos van Vliet
Instrumental
Moon River
10
over half 9 Uw luistert naar Radio Dolfijn op 227 meter op de
middenband
Stevie
Wonder: Blowin in the wind
Enorm!
Enorm van Stevie Wonder 14 ½
mins over half 9 Uw luistert naar Radio Dolfijn op 227 meter
Ann.
Skiffle Group but
Barbra
Streisand If you were the only boy in the world
Radio
Dolfijn op 227 meter 12
½ mins voor 9
Skiffle
Group Dutch version It aint me babe /Different recordings?/
Tijd
9 ½ voor 9
Wouldnt...love
me/Get me
The
new djs on 1322 kc line up for photo between programmes: (lr) Rob Klaasman,
Thijs Lievering, Look Boden,
Jacques Soudan, Jos v.Vliet, Peter van den Hoven. From Hans Knots archive.
0925-0929
Look Boden
Far
down below
Shirley
Bassey
4
½ voor half 10
James
Last
Radio
Dolfijn op 227 meter
Johnny
Cash
0959-1002
Look Boden/
Jacques Soudan
Theme:
Hawaii music
1
min voor 10
Goede
Morgen dames een half min over 10..
Ad
for Tagy? Coffee
Piano
Jazz
Plus Persconference over
Dolfijn w Bill Vick/Jack Curtiss/Basil van Rensburg (Broadcast over 1322 kc?)
Wednesday, November 16th, 1966.
Radio Dolfijn.
Wat er nieuw is
aan Radio Dolfijn.[103] Dolfijns format consists of
American evergreens from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis jr., Cleo
Laine, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Conniff, Johnny Mann, Keely Smith plus Mantovani,
Helmut Zacharias, Kurt Edelhagen and Dutch Cabaret.
Dutch headline
on the station with the happy Dolphin sounds. Dutch press via Hans Knots
archive.
Thursday, Nov 24th, 1966. Radio
Dolfijn.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
Strong
utility Interference
Look
Boden 0810-
Ramsey
Lewis Uptight
German
ID: Radio Dolfin: Empfangzeit 8 Uhr und 10 Mins MEZ
Donderdag
24.November Tijd 11 ½ over 8
Radio
Dolfijn Amsteldijk 63 Amsterdam Z[104]
Look
Boden
French
Music: Jai Entendu La Mer
German
ID: Radio Dolfin: Empfangzeit 8 Uhr und 15 Mins MEZ
Radio Dolfijn op 227
meter
1000 Gulden
Twinkle: Tammy
11
voor half 10? Should be 9? Confusing!
10-2
Jacques Soudan
2-7
Peter van der Hoven
7-12
Rob Klaasman
Morgens?
luisteren naar Thijs Lievering tot 6-10 Uur
Childrens
group
German
ID: Radio Dolfin: Empfangzeit 8 Uhr und 20 Mins MEZ
German
ID: Radio Dolfin: Empfangzeit 8 Uhr und 25 Mins MEZ
Radio
Dolfijn Amsteldijk 63 Amsterdam Z
Asking
for a Coffee Name[105]
Instrumental
Baby took good care of me
German
ID: Radio Dolfin: Empfangzeit 8 Uhr und 30 Mins MEZ
1000
Gulden te winnen
Johnny
Cash Way down
Op
Uw station Radio Dolfijn
I
just couldnt take it baby
German
ID: Radio Dolfin: Empfangzeit 8 Uhr und 35 Mins MEZ
Saturday, November 26th, 1966. Radio
Dolfijn[106].
Evidently one
had decided calling the station Radio HollandWe hope that Radio Dolfijn soon
reverts to the top-40 formula. (Kink November 26th.
From Hans Knots archive. )
After
Nov.28th, before Dec.4th, 1966. Radio Dolfijn.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
App.1200-1245 BST Peter van der Hoven
Tussen 12-2 Uur
MoR/Jazz/Continental format
Good signals, but interference from
Radio Moscow, Leipzig, GDR[107]
Guantanamera w Sandpipers(played on Radio
England Nov.9th.)
Station promo w Dolphin sounds and splash
Station promos say schedule is
0600-0000(Dutch Time)
Station address: Radio Dolfijn, Postbus
4022, Amsterdam
Christmas greetings to be in 3 weeks
before, mentions Dec.20th, 24th and 31st.
Ronny Tober record ad
Ballpoint ad
3.edition of 6 week-competition.
Address: Radio Dolfijn, Wettstraat 3,
Postbus 1325 te Amsterdam
Mention of presenters Jos van Vliet and
Peter van Dijk
-Tussen 10-12 Uur
Ouder publiek the target of the new 227.
From Dutch press via Hans Knots archive.
December 1966
Saturday, Dec.17th, 1966[108].Britain
Radio[109].
Transmission
on 845 kc.
0600-0900 Alan Black
0900 News, then Morning Serenade w Phil
Martin
MoR/Light pop format
Fair/good signals, but co-channel
interference from Roma 2 and these beacons on 840 and 850?: 1: MQ, 2: DI, 3: F,
4: UE
Morning Serenade theme So What's New Bert
Kaempfert
Ads: Inter-Cham w Chuck Blair(Phil:
"a knock-out idea")
Camera Offer
Big Fry Picnic
Bakery
Weetabix
Uppercut Club of Billy Walker opens on
Dec.21st w Alan Black
"Britain R djs Roger Day, Bill Berry
and Bruce Wayne. Dec.21st: The Who, 22nd: The Easybeats, 23rd:Dave Dee, Beaky,
Mick and Tich, 24th: Eric Burdon&Animals, 26th: Jimi Hendrix, Pretty
Things, 30th: Spencer Davis Group 31st: Geno Washington and Ran Jam Band.
Sponsored by Billy Walker"
Weather 0930
London's Edgeware Road-Victoria Sporting
Club
Graham Gill visit in studio
Also
Errol Bruce seems to feature on ad
Sandy Posey: Single Girl no.29 in Britain
R Top 30
Hallmark of Quality jingles plus Happy
Weekend
Silver Circle Bingo Club at 1200-1215
Sunday, Dec.25th, 1966. Britain Radio.
Transmission
on 845 kc.
The conditions aboard the ship around
Christmas 1966 are said to be unpleasant. There is no cook on board, fresh
drinking water has ran out and the crew and DJ's has to live on corn beef and
spaghetti as there is no other food on board.
1106
Phil Martin.12 noon Ted Delaney(Mark Stevens) on tape1300 Errol Bruce 1500
Graham Gill. 2000 Phil Martin. Ad for Tartan Racing Pools, 212 Shaftesbury
Avenue, London WC2. Christmas greeting by Jack Curtiss on behalf of Britain
Radio and Radio Vision Broadcast Intl. Reference to Britain R 30.
The start of Echo on Britain Radio. From
Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser
and National Advertiser) of February 7th, 1967.
January 1967
January, 1967. Britain Radio.
Transmission
on 845 kc.
1357-
1429 Graham Gill Musical Carousel. New Years greeting card.
Programme schedule from 227 metres from
early 1967. From Hans Knots archive.
Wednesday, January 18th, 1967. Britain
Radio.
Tony Meehan joins Britain Radio from
Radio Scotland[110].
New efforts to keep going. From From Radio News(in London
Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 7th, 1967.
Sunday, January 22nd, 1967. Britain Radio.
Transmission
on 845 kc.
Johnny
Darks(Harry Putnam)R&B Nightride starts at 1900. 6 programmes are
broadcast and has a cult following. Show lasts until Sunday, Feb.26th,
1967[111].
Wednesday, January 25th, 1967. Britain
Radio.
Start of Nightbeat at 1900 hours with
Jack Mc Laughlin from Radio Scotland and also today Alan Black.
Mc Laughlins Celidh is a household
expression in Scotland. Even now, six months after Jack McLaughlin left Radio
Scotland, people still write and ask what happened to their favourite
programme.
Jack had moved to join Britain Radio.
This was one of that stations
desparate attempts to make good. The station was in trouble financially and its
American backers were over here trying to sort things out.
Quickly, Jack saw that he had made a
mistake. He tried to pump some life into things with his shows but he station
was broke and the end was in sight.[112]
Wednesday,
January 31st, 1967. Britain Radio.
Alan Black, Programme Director
Woolf Byrne, Asst Programme Director[113]
,
Jack Curtiss writes in Radio
News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) for January 24th and
31st, 1967[114]
and prompts the late Ed Moreno to give his idea on programming in the same
paper[115]:
February 1967
Wednesday, February 7th, 1967. Britain
Radio.
Dave MacKay, News Editor.
Ted Delaney has left to go home to the
USA.
Thursday, February 8th, 1967. Radio
Dolfijn.
Transmission
on 1322 kc.
Look Boden? 1044-1053
Radio Dolfijn met het nieuws
News sounder from CRC/WFUN
Vietnam short ceasefire because of Vietnam New
Year-Tet.
100000 Guilders taken in Golferstraat,
Amsterdam robbery
Utrecht...
Italy West German Starfighter down in
Sardinia
Temps 5-6 graden
Dit was het nieuws op Radio Dolfijn
door Look Boden het volgende nieuws kvart voor 12.
Oh Mary do open Bill Ennis
Le Train Esther&Abi Ofarim
Dit is Radio Dolfijn op 227 meter
Dutch Yodel Music
Stem af op Radio Dolfijn. Ad from Dutch
press. From Hans Knots archive.
Sunday, Feb.26th, 1967. Radio Dolfijn.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
1400-1502. Look Boden. Top 30.
Zontagmiddag 2-4. Mention of Box 35,...and Boudewijn van Hengst(Later Lex
Harding)
Programmes of UK Commercial Radio Stations. From Radio
News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 14th,
1967.
Tuesday, February 28th 1967. Radio
Dolfijn/Britain Radio.
Transmissions on 1322/845 kc.
Jack Curtiss resigns as General
Manager, goes to San Francisco as dj.
Brian Tylney resigns as Asst General
Manager.
Woolf Byrne goes to Radio 390.
Ed Moreno has just left the station.[116]
Antenna mast breaks at 12.45. Both
stations off air.
Why do all the good Britain Radio djs
go away? Curtiss, Ross-Barnard, Bennett, Marino and Martin, and Delaney had
also left when this was printed. Mr. or Ms.Starling of Billericay in Radio
News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser), of Jan.31st. 1967. On February, 28th, 1967, Ms. or
Mr.D.Cadwell of Weston in Herts. asks the same question and wonders if they are
now on other wavelengths.
Uit de ether. From
Haarlems Dagblad March 2nd, 1967 and Hans Knots archive.
March 1967
Wednesday, March 1st, 1967. Radio
Dolfijn/Britain Radio.
Carstead Advertising Ltd opens an
office in Berthalostraat, Amsterdam.
Thursday, March 9th, 1967. Radio
Dolfijn/Britain Radio.
Het Engelse radioschip Dolfijn is
gisteravond geruisloos binnegelopen via de sluizen van IJmuiden naar een kleine
Zaanse werf om een schoonmaakbeurt te ondergaan en repaaraties te laten
verrichten aan de tijdens het stormweer beschadigde zendmast en
schakelapparatur..
John Withers. In Radio News(in London
Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of January 31st, 1967.
Photo:Unknown.
Meanwhile in the Hilton hotel in
Amsterdam, in a Dutch press interview, with John Withers, new programme
director his Benelux agent Basil A.van Rensburg, plus American Pierce Langford
III claims to be an investor of the operation, re-financed by Bahamian company Viscaya
Inc. The name of the game is money.(From Hans Knots archive)
Bij windkracht
10 knapte 12 meter van de 70 meter hoge mast af, but no panic. Then,
together with Jos van Vliet, Dave MacKay(and Alan Black-editor) went with the
Olga Patricia from Harwich to Zaandam after the antenna mast broke on Feb.28th, 1967. Dutch press
March 9th, 1967.
Thursday, March 11th, 1967. Radio
Dolfijn/Britain Radio.
In the Londoner Hotel in Londons
Welbeck Street Peir-Vick Ltd. is liquidated on March 11th, 1967 with a debt of
113,601 Pound Sterling. Bill Vick is in charge for the Olga Patricia stations
for the last time. From Hans Knots archive.
Monday 13th, 1967. Britain Radio.
A tremendous experience. Jack Curtiss
leaves the Olga operation for San Francisco. From Radio
News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 28th,
1967.
Thursday, March 16th, 1967. Radio 355.
Transmission on 845 kc.
2000- identifying "Radio
3-5-5" Easy Listening, similar to 390. Stephen West on air?
Thursday, March 16th, 1967. Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
2230-2300(local midnight) identifying
" Radio 2-2-7" Easy Listening, similar to Dolfijn. Organ music,
name of the presenter Jos van Vliet?
1967 and
another station on the Laissez Faire, this time run for the Texas Falls
investors by Carstead Advertising and Ted Allbeury. From Hans Knots archive.
The Texan Pirates. Daily Mail for April
7th, 1967. From Hans Knots archive.
May 1967
An early Radio 355 programme schedule
inspired by Radio 390. The additions suggest it is from May, 1967. From Hans
Knots archive.[117]
Sunday, May 21st, 1967. Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
Matinee w?
Ad for Channel Airways turpoprop
Exota Limonade
Tuesday,
May 30th, 1967. Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
Lex Harding/Tony Windsor
Opening of new 227 Top 40 format. The
new Radio Double 2-7[118]
Tuesday, May 30th, 1967. Radio 355.
Transmission on 845 kc.
2000-2030 R&B w Stephen West
June 1967
Saturday, June 10th, 1967. Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
Country Style w Look Boden
Beatboat w Dick Weeda
Thursday, June 15th, 1967. Radio 227.
Radio 227 sponsors Teach-In for young
artists in de Scala-bodega in Den Haag. Peter Koelewijn van muziekuitgeverij
Altona, de grote tegenspieler van Basart, zei. Wij moeten door deze verhouding
nu wel zoveel mogelijk werken met Radio 227, omdat dit voor ons de beste
mogelijkheden biedt.(Alle hoop gevestigd-op Radio 227-, Dutch newspaper,
From Hans Knots archive)
Monday, June 19th, 1967? Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
1240-1325 Lunch Show w Look Boden
Sunday, June 20th, 1967. Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
1900-1920 Beatles Show w Lex
Harding/Tom Collins
Sunday, June 20th, 1967. Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
2030-2047 John van Doorn
Memories
of Radio 355 by Phil Champion(1985)[119]
I
tuned in one Saturday early in June 1967 at about 1130 to find Stephen West
nearing the end of a 3 hour show. With its bright MOR format featuring the more
easy-listening current hits, this was a major change from the more restrained
music of the ½ or 1-hour shows of the previous few months. As announced,
at 1200 Tony Windsor took over for the next 3-hour slot in Windsors Castle,
beginning with his theme tune: a swingy version of Waltzing Mathilda by Frank
Ifield.
Stephen
West left and returned to Radio 390, so Tony took over the 0900-1200 show the
following morning. I dont think the Windsors Castle title was used again.
After Caroline North, 355 became my second favorite station, its format being a
refreshing change from the other "pirates". Yet you could still hear
pop records like Judith Durham(of the Seekers) singing The Olive Tree and the
Hollies Carrie Anne. I seem to remember that the evening shows had rather
more relaxed music. The djs were lively, although one who was on at 2200(John Ross-Barnard?)
was very relaxed.
A
few notes about programmes. 355s Easy Listening Hit Parade was actually a
Top 40. It went out Sundays, 1200-1400 and was presented by Mark Sloane the
first time I heard it. Other djs to later present this show were Martin Kayne
and John Aston.
Programme
line-ups did change around:
0600
Breakfast Club(Alan Black)
0900
The Tony Windsor show-later the Martin Kayne show, then the Tony Monson show.
1200
The Mark Sloane show, also Martin Kayne and John Aston did this slot.
1500
MacKays Music, also Martin Kayne
1800
The Tony Windsor show, Tony Monson show, then Alan Black AB Spree.
1900-1930
355 Countryfied. Alan Black and Tony Monson.
2000
John Ross Barnard?
2200
Close down.
Each
day, Mon-Sat had a Coffeee Breakfeature from 1100-1115. The country programme
was introduced after a few weeks. It was soon broadcast over Radio 227 at the
same time.
Transmissions
were later extended to 2400(up to 2200 being John Aston or Dave MacKay and
2200-2355 with Martin Kayne or Mark Sloane.
Djs
spent one week on, one week off if I remember correctly.
So
ended what to me was one of the great stations of offshore radio. One good
thing is that nine days later Mark Sloane and Martin Kayne popped up on Radio
Caroline North and continued to do great shows.
Religious
programmes:
Daily:
1030-1045 Pause for Prayer: David Renny.
Sat:
2030-2100 Saturday Encounter(Brother Althorp)
Sun:
1400-1415 Sunday Storytime.(Brother Althorp)
Sat:
2130-2200 Encounter Daily 2155-2200(later 2355-2400) Thought at the end of the
day(Jack Damon)
Mon-Sat
0700-0830 and 1200-1230; Sun 0930-1000, 1830-1900:
The
World Tomorrow. Garner Ted Armstrong[120]
July 1967
Thursday, July 6th, 1967. Radio 227/355[121].
Transmission on 1322/845 kc.
Jose Feliciano live concert introduced
by Tony Windsor and Tom Collins. Also appearance by Alan Black.
During the concert the Dutch crew of
the Laissez Faire went to join their companions on the tender and started
drinking. By the time Jos was set to leave, two members of the crew were very
drunk and didnt want to come back on board. The British Captain who only gave
the crew three cans of beer a day warned them that they had to get back on
board. One of the crew,went to attack the captain but was karate chopped to
the deck, which sobered him up. He had to be restrained by the rest of the crew
when he went after the captain again. During the night an extra tender came and
replaced the crew on board with a relief crew[122].
An SOS call is received by coastguards
at Walton-on-the Naze: We have a man on board who is threatening murder, he
has already assaulted the captain. After a lot of discussion by the Royal Navy
and Police it is finally decided if the Olga Patricia is in International
Waters, then a warship should be sent in. Another message was received: I have
told all my crew to lock themselves in their cabins for the night. The man is
working himself up into a frenzy again, unless I have some assistance from the
shore we will have a murder on board![123]
Friday, July 5th, 1967. Radio 227/355.
The Offshore 2 with a strong crew goes
to the aid of the 17 men on the radio ship. Two Dutch crewmen sent back to
Holland[124].
Saturday, July 8th, 1967. Radio
227/355.
Transmission on 1322/845 kc.
1300 Mark Sloane
1330- Repeat of Jose Feliciano live concert introduced by
Tony Windsor and Tom Collins. Also appearance by Alan Black.
Sunday, July 9th, 1967. Radio 355.
Transmission on 845 kc.
1059-1119/1123-1142 Tony Monson, w
Sheldon Jay interviewing Trini Lopez. (He was at the London Palladium March 12th, 1967,
editor)
Tuesday, July 10th, 1967. Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
1806-1858 Nightbeat w Look Boden incl.
Top 10 rundown
Near the end
for two offshore stations both with origins in Texas. The last programme
schedule of 227 and for the other its less than a month left. The closure of
Big L is announced in a newscast youve all been waiting for[125] on
July 28th. From the Hans Knots archive.
Thursday, July 12th, 1967. Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
0726-0800 Look Boden?
HERE WE GO AGAIN RAY CHARLES In het 30?
Jingle: Remember this Golden Classic
ITS MY PARTY LESLEY GORE
WE HAD A GOOD THING GOING CYRKLE in onze Fab 40 #31 deze week von 40 tot
31..2 over half 8
Jingle:..Go-getter
onze station 227...
SUMMER IS HERE OUTSIDERS #34
TC: 6 over haalf 8
Jingle: Good morning the world is
bright and new...Radio 227..
CREATED BY CLIVE THE SIN #46
TC: 10 over half 8 precis..
Jingle: Lets look into the future time
HI HI HAZEL Troggs HP(Look
Boden)
Jingle: Picks this hit to go go go
AD EEG KAPITAN MOBILE
SEE EMILY PLAY PINK FLOYD #8
TC: Kvaart voor 8
Dit is R.227 met het NIEUWS
News sounder from CRC/WFUN
Amerika Gen.Mobutu/Dean Rusk/3000
amerikaner in Kongo.
Israel vrijdenskonferentie
Hong Kong demonstratie tegen Britse
bewint.
Nigeria
London 3000 in demonstratie over
Nigeria
Weer
Dit was het nieuws.
JOHN VAN DOORN reporting..kvart voor 9.
JACKSON-NANCY SINATRA&LEE HAZLEWOOD
7 ROOMS OF GLOOM FOUR TOPS #15
in Fab 50
Jingle: dubi dub
Jingle: Time to get up get out of bed
TC: 1 voor 8
VRIENDEN VAN DE ZONNE? MARTINE BELL
HERE COMES THE NICE SMALL FACES #3
227 meter 1322 kc
Jingle: Youre on the new go go round
MR.MOVIEMAN DAVID GARRICK
Saturday,
July 21st, 1967. Radio 227.
Transmission on 1322 kc.
1300
DJ shows ceased, and after taped music for 5 hours, an unconfirmed report says
that Tony Windsor came on at
1800,
made a brief farewell before it closed, and that was that[126].
Saturday, July 29th, 1967. Radio 355.
Transmission on 845 kc.
0958-1120 Tony Monson
1936-1948 John Aston
1900-2200
2130-2205(Right Saturday?-Editor)
Tony Windsor, Mark Sloane, Alan Black,
David MacKay,(guests)David OBrien, Tim
Parody on Carousel Voice Derek
Burroughs by Mark Sloane and Alan Black:
Derek Burroughs: Thats Jimmy
Feddler and trumpets with a song Lollipops and Roses.
Alan Black: Oh, very good Sir. Very
nice of you to come down to the studio on this very first broadcast... for
several months now. I understand(youve had a)..soul condition.
(Mark Sloane playing DB) Thats very
true, Alan.
Alan Black: I guess youre not too
happy about the prospects of giving up your cabin you occupied for about a
year. But I guess you are looking forward to going home.
DB: I have to be truthful here and
have to say I am looking forward to going back home to Los Angeles after nearly
a year here in this wonderful country on this wonderful little boat...
DB then remembered former co-workers
and mentioned Ted Delaney, Mark Stevens and Ron Rose!(The same person-editor)..
Thank you Alan its been very nice
talking to you here on 355...from my cabin as usual.
Alan Black then commented that DB did
not say or talk much. You keep yourself to yourself!...
Alan Black: Perhaps youll introduce
our next record?
DB: Id love to!
Vicky Carr: French on Top.
Dave MacKay: Once again thank you to
our good friend and colleague Derek Burroughs...
I might add that Derek plays cards with
us almost every night...
Ad for Yvette
...
Trini Lopez: Hello Dolly(Spanish) form
LP Live at Basin Street.
Mike Sarne Singers: Everybody loves
Saturday Night. Alan Black referered to Ron Rose(above)Head of Flower-Power in
San Francisco.
Clinton Ford: Dandy
Thoughts at the end of the Day
May Each Day Andy Williams
The time is now 1 minute past 10
oclock and this is Radio 355 closing down. We trust that youve enjoyed our
programmes today and that youll be back again with us tomorrow when we resume
our transmissions with Alan Blacks Breakfast Club at 6am. So on behalf of the
entire staff of Radio 355 this is David MacKay wishing you wherever you may be
a very quiet and peaceful goodnight. Goodnight everyone.
GSTQ?
August 1967
Tuesday, August 1st, 1967. Radio 355.
Transmission on 845 kc.
1701-1820? Dave MacKay, Alan Black w AB
Spree(7 mins)(1701-1747)
Friday, August 4th, 1967. Radio 355.
Transmission on 845 kc.
06-09 Martin Kayne Breakfast Club
0625-0652, 0733-0819
0750 Revive your heart
Saturday, August 5th, 1967. Radio 355.
Transmission on 845 kc.
06-09 Martin Kayne Breakfast Club
09-12 Tony Monson 1152-1203
12-03 Mark Sloane(12.30 World Tomorrow)
15-18 Dave MacKay
1800-1900 Alan Black AB Spree 18-1822
Last Alan Black show has a reference to Gary Stevens
1900-2000 355 Countryfied Alan
Black/Tony Monson
2000-2100 Alan Black AB Spree
2005-2030
22-0018 Sign Off programme Tony
Windsor/Martin Kayne/John Aston[127]/Dave
MacKay/Mark Sloane/Tony Monson[128]/Alan
Black[129]/Silexene
Paint Ad with Alan Black/Captain C.B. Lukehurst[130]/Mark
Sloane on Tony Windsor/Chief Engineer Ted Walters[131]/Bob
Gittis/Ted Allbeury.
Sunday, August 6th, 1967. Radio 355.
Transmission on 845 kc.
0000-0022 Sign Off programme
Back to Phil Champion:
I tuned in around 2300 and heard TW.
Dave MacKay came on at 2306 the Mark Sloane. 2319 Martin Kayne, TW at 2330.
From 2345 TW presented the last show in company of the djs, the ships captain,
and the chief engineer. Then TW said his personal farewell((1.44 mins.)after
which a message on tape from Ted Allbeury was broadcast.(4.22)Then
Auld Lang Syne, vocal(Harry
Secombe?)(1.44)
Djs shouting very cheerfully Goodbye!
GSTQ(4.10)(till 0022 hrs)
Open carrier(0.45)
The carrier left the air for the last
time.
845 kc has housed Radio England,
Britain Radio, and finally, Radio 355. This is the last sound of the two
Continental transmitters in Europe, and for 5/7 years.
Tony Windsor: Offshore 1 leaves
tomorrow morning at 8. Well arrive in Felixstowe at 10.30. For the fans of
djs... Mr. &Mrs Smith of the Pier Hotel. Harwich..The Marlborough. Meant
hospitality and great comfort to djs.
Dave MacKay stayed on board for a time
for the run-down process[132].
Comment by editor: The final
broadcasting hours from the Olga Patricia and close-down of Radio 355 was
undoubtedly a sad occasion despite Martin Kaynes mention of a party
atmosphere in his final mini-show just after 10pm. But it was also a great
moment in British Broadcasting, that also was to mark the final minutes of
broadcasting from the late Tony Windsor. He had broadcast on Radio Atlanta and
Radio Caroline South as Tony Withers, and of course as Tony Windsor on Radio
Londons 9-12am show until February 1967 before coming to the Olga as programme
director for the twin stations there. As hed said forget Radio England the
year before because of the Boss Jocks term[133],
its a bit ironic that he was the last live voice on the Olga, but it was
fitting, too. TW had its challenges in life as its well known. Here we want to
honour him as a great broadcaster and an important symbol of the British
offshore radio period.
Here are his final words:
Time for me to say goodbye. I dont
know what Im going to say. You know, you rehearse these things, but its
ridiculous because..ah..so many memories..ah..How can I thank the boys Ive
worked with..ah..from the start Ive thanked them personally so I dont want to
thank them over the air, that would be embarrassing but Ive made many friends
among them and you the people out there and all the stations Ive worked for. I
want to thank you very sincerely for your kindnes, what a great experience its
been for me an Australian coming here being able to broadcast to millions and I
was only used to thousands...true, to millions...to millions...when you close
the switch. I do thank you and I think in the future wherever I get lonely and
thats highly probable. The faces of all the people Ive worked with, the
memories, the friends that Ive made among the listeners. I hope that at that
the height of my loneliness comes flooding back to me and so instantanously
ease that loneliness. I wont forget you and thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen:
this is your man with the music Tony Windsor saying: See you around, like a
record, like a bell, a bell? Yes, ships bell. I get confused. Good
night..Goodbye(pause)-and God bless you! And now our Managing Director Ted
Allbeury.
Edward Ted Allbeury in Radio News(in
London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 21st, 1967. Photo: Unknown.
Saturday, August 19th, 1967
The
Caroline South djs on the Mi Amigo after August 14th, 1967, of which
Spangles Muldoon was one, has been wondering why the Radio England vessel
Olga Patricia has remained at anchor. There has been talk that with Radio
Londons ship Galaxy now gone, Don Pierson wants to put Swinging Radio
England back on the air[134]. But the radio ship this day leaves for
Holland.
The radio ship leaves Vlissingen in South Holland for
the Azores.
Thursday,
September 15th, 1967
The radio ship waits for a taker off the Azores[135].
Thursday,
September 22nd, 1967
The radio ship arrived in Miami with a broken
antenna(3rd time antenna damage).
3 times antenna damages. This is the second round. In
Zaandam, Holland, March, 1967 for repairs. Is it Dave MacKay and Alan Black up
front on the ship? Photo: Dutch Press.
Early 1970
The radio ship is still intact in
Miami, says press report[136].
Chapter
2: I went ahead and did it. Olga Patricia, founder and administration.
About Don Pierson, founder of Radio
London and the Olga Patricia Stations[137].
Beginnings in Texas
The Texas flag is from http://www.gentryspecialty.com of
Wichita Falls.
...there wasnt anything that a Texan
couldnt do, that a Texan couldnt do better than anyone else. A Texan could do
it better because Texas was known to be number one in big ideas....
Texas was the land where your word was
as good as your bond if you were among the good ole boys...Back in the days
when (they)ruled Texas...they had...cash, lots of cash. They were THOSE TEXAS
MILLIONAIRES bannered on the front cover of Time magazine.[138]
However, when Eric Gilder first met Don
Pierson in 1981, his impression of Piersons Eastland home was that it was no
mansion: His home was modest, and inside that home I found a comfortable, yet
modest lifestyle. Don Pierson was a quiet, warm and friendly person, with an
equally quiet, warm, and friendly wife. This was the man that turned British
broadcasting upside down from 1964, and Gilder says he wanted to know Piersons
story:
EG(Eric Gilder): How did an investor
in banks and automobiles become fascinated with offshore radio?
DP(Don Pierson): Well, one Sunday, I
was sitting here in the sitting room, and was reading the Dallas paper[139]-we
had just returned from England and Europe from a holiday. And the paper said
something about this guy Ronan ORahilly from Ireland(who)was going to put
together a radio station aboard ship and call it Radio Caroline after
President Kennedys daughter[140].
And I mulled about it all afternoon, then that evening late decided I was going
to England(again).So, I got he family up out of bed, went into Dallas.(and)
caught the red-eye(flight) into New York. Our passports were about expired so
we got new passports, and that afternoon were on the plane into England, and
got there that night....
For the next few days, I(endeavored
to)pay the children I think, 50 cents an hour to listen to the British Radio
programs but after a day, they quit. They said they couldnt stand an hour of a
violin solo and an hour of a woman singing an operetta without the
accompaniment of music.
EG:Given that these two stations[141]what
motivated you to suddenly get your family together at a moments notice, and
fly to England to investigate this story in person?Well, it seemed like an
opportunity for true laissez-faire, which is free enterprise. The few times
I'd turned the radio on and listened to British radio I'd been bored up the
wall. The more I thought about it, and I thought of the free enterprise radio
system in the United States and what it brought to the people over here, that
it would also bring pleasure to people in England. And this offered a vehicle,
if it were possible to do, to bring both a pleasure to England, plus make a
capitalist profit ... I knew nothing about commercial radio, nothing about
shipping.[142]
Don Pierson was born in Abilene, Texas
on October 11, 1925 of parents Rice and Hazel Pierson. He graduated from
Abilene High School in 1943 and served with the US Army Air Corps as a gunnery
instructor during the World War II. He took a degree at Hardin-Simmons
University in Abilene while working as a car salesman, and later attended the
University of Texas in Austin.
In 1946 he acquired his first car
dealership, a Dodge-Plymouth agency in Comanche.
Postcard showing Eastland, Texas in the
50s. Unknown source.
Moving to Eastland, a small western
Texas town of 3,000 people, near Fort Worth, he opened his second dealership in
1953, Don Pierson Olds-Cadillac, with several showrooms. He went from there to
establish a number of other automobile dealerships in the Lone-Star State
including the brands of Volkswagen, Hillman, Renault, Triumph, Jaguar, Porsche,
and BMW.
He tirelessly boosted his new hometown,
and in 1957 reopened the long-closed Eastland airport, renaming the small
grass-strip field "Eastland International Airport." Later, in the
1970s, he became the first person to land a jet aircraft in Eastland. Pierson
was elected mayor of Eastland in 1960.
Eastland found itself in the headlines
when, as president of the local Rotary Club, Mr. Pierson managed to convince
the Deputy Soviet Ambassador to the USA, Vladimir Alkimov, to appear as the
featured speaker of the club's weekly meeting - at the height of the Cold War[143].
In 1963, he established U.S.
Telephonics, the world's first computer telemarketing company. With a number of
Abilene business leaders, he founded the Abilene National Bank (now Bank One -
Abilene) in 1964 and served as the bank's first board chairman. He went into
Cable TV and seems to have had a stake in Eastland County Broadcasting Co
owning the local AM station KERC 1590.
From Broadcasting Yearbook, 1969.
He attracted once again world headlines
when, as mayor of Eastland in 1964[144]
he convinced his fellow council members to ban all smoking in Eastland with a
mandatory three-year jail sentence for offenders. This was meant as a humorous
response to the Surgeon General's Commission negative stand on smoking, the
Eastland anti-smoking decision proved quite prophetic, even if it at the time
generated a flow of negative mail from angry citizens from tobacco-growing
states.
Don
Pierson. Eric Gilder. Used with permission.
To the North Sea
In 1964, Pierson was sitting at home
when he read press reports about the start of Radio Caroline.
Sensing a business opportunity, he
immediately the day after brought his wife and children on a flight from Dallas
to London. From a Hilton Hotel room there he started planning the introduction
of radio in the American style to British listeners.
When in London Pierson chartered an
airplane to circle the two pirate radio ships that were anchored off the Essex
Coast until July 3rd, 1964[145].
Both Dons son
Grey and his sister Marilyn were paid to stay at the Hilton and monitor the
radio. He also tried to contact Ronan ORahilly of Radio Caroline without
success.
In the
interview, Don Pierson says he paid "the children" "fifty cents
to listen to the radio" .... then he talks about flying over the
ships to see where they were and he mentions having a camera to take
pictures ..... and then he says "when I got back" ... the children
were bored listening to the radio because of what was being broadcast and they
refused to listen any more.
The original Radio Caroline on the
Fredericia anchored off East Anglia photographed by Don Pierson in June 1964.
This picture
and the following is of the "better" pictures. Others are barely of
use on the print but you can make out the shore and the distance to the ship.
Eric Gilder. Used by permission.
Radio Atlanta on the Mi Amigo
anchored off East Anglia photographed by Don Pierson in June 1964.
There must have
been fog or low cloud the day the flight was made and if Don was flying and
taking photographs with a non-professional camera it is no wonder that the
shots are not of the best quality. Eric Gilder.
Used by permission.
But there may have been more flights
later, when the Fredericia had sailed to the Isle of Man as Grey Pierson
comments: I was there and I took pictures. We circled the ship low a couple of
times so that we could get a good shot of the antenna from the side –
this allowed Don to determine the height of the antenna by comparing it with
the length of the ship as listed in Lloyds Registry, and I was given a
transistor radio and notebook to monitor both the new illegal "pop"
stations and the BBC. To my 13-year-old American ear, Caroline was pathetic,
but the BBC was torture.[146]
In spite of a large wave of music
innovation enhanced by such groups as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and many
others, the BBC monopoly of the broadcasting media effectively denied much of
the new music access to the airwaves and British teen-agers were missing out on
much of the new rock and roll revolution.
Pierson was quite unimpressed by UK
broadcasting to say the least and subsequently returned to Texas and talked to
fellow car dealers about investing in a new offshore radio station.
With the aid of good co-workers Pierson
bought a former US Navy minesweeper, Galaxy,
(originally the Manoula (Greek for mother). Philip Birch, who was appointed to head
the British side of the operation, wanted to name the station Radio
Galaxy. He was overruled, so they
named the ship the Galaxy as a consolation prize[147]), anchored it nearby the other stations,
and in December 1964 Radio London, Big L made its first broadcast
broadcasting pop music into England. It soon became one of the most successful
radio stations in history, attracting over 18 million daily listeners at its
peak.
For the first time, millions in the UK
heard the American format of top 40 radio, complete with jingles, commercials,
news and weather on the hour, and even religious broadcasts.
Predecessors of Don Pierson. Jack
Kotschack, Finnish-Swedish agent of Radio Nord, together with Gordon McLendon
and Bob Thompson on the deck of the Radio Nord radio ship Bon Jour in
1961(later, the Mi Amigo)Co-investor Clint Murchison, Jr. was not present when
the picture was taken. Unknown photographer[148].
Five years earlier, other Texan
entrepeneurs, Gordon McLendon and Clint Murchison had gone to Sweden with a
similar goal. Their visit there resulted in the establishment of the Swedish
offshore station Radio Nord[149].
Now, Radio London's output was, like Radio Nord, inspired by the catchy style
of Gordon McLendons KLIF in Dallas, and shop set up in 17 Curzon Street[150].
Postcard from the 40s? showing Radio Nord,
Radio London and Olga stations roots: Cliff Towers Hotel at 329 E.Colorado
Boulevard in Oak Cliff, Dallas, TX. Its basement was the home of Gordon
McLendons KLIF 1947-1950. KLIF later moved to 2100 Jackson Street and then 2120 Commerce Street, in downtown
Dallas.(Gilder) Unknown source.
December 12th, 1964. Radio London(Don
Pierson planned it as Radio KLIF London) is test broadcasting off the Essex
coast on 1127 kc and in Dallas the motherstation has the Beatles Shes a
Woman as #1 in the Forty Star Survey. From Steve
Eberharts History of KLIF with permission.
Two additional ship-based stations,
Radio England and Britain Radio followed in the spring of 1966.
Radio greetings from Texas. Post card
from the 60s. The studios of the classic stations KLIF 1190 and WRR 1310(also
transmitter site) are not far away. Unknown source.
But in Mid-August 1967 pirate radio
came to an end with the passing of the Marine (Offences) Broadcasting Act.[151]
Pierson remained almost totally unknown
to the British public, as he was a quiet, and modest man, even if he could be
exceptionally enthusiastic and friendly. But in some circles he was well-known
visionary business innovator, communications pioneer and civic leader.
But his efforts helped to break the
BBC's monopoly on broadcasting and opened the way for legal commercial radio in
1973. But already in 1967 the UK government, compelled by the huge popularity
of the pirate stations subsequently demanded the BBC to put a fresh approach to
its programmes and networks, Radio One being a result.
Meet Waddles...Leisure activites of the
Pierson family, London, June, 1966. Daily Mirror, Tuesday June 28th, 1966. From
Hans Knots archive.
An entrepeneur in many fields
The same entrepreneurial spirit was
present in Mr. Pierson's other business ventures. They included oil companies,
farming and ranching, construction companies, a cable television network, home
banking, a department store, a bowling facility, restaurants, and a slot car
raceway.
His greatest projects, though, were
tax-free enterprise zones in the Caribbean.
In 1967, Mr. Pierson was contacted by
the Haitian Ambassador to the United States and asked to assist Haiti in its
efforts to encourage business investment in that poverty-stricken land. After
years of research and negotiation, M. Pierson's idea of a privately financed,
and -managed free enterprise zone became a reality in 1971 when Haitian
dictator Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier and the Haitian government entered
into a 99-year contract with Mr. Pierson's company, Dupont Caribbean Inc., to
estabish Freeport Tortuga on the old buccaneer stronghold, Tortuga Island,
located about 10 miles off the north coast of Haiti.
Within 18 months, Mr. Pierson succeeded
in building the island's first airport, a loading dock for seagoing vessels, a
rudimentary water and sewer system, an electricity generating facility, and six
miles of paved road. The project created jobs for approximately 400 previously
unemployed Haitians and resulted in the establishment of a small school to
teach various job skills.
The later failed Tortuga project in the
Wall Street Journal of December 21st, 1971. From Hans Knots archive.
Tragically, the project came to abrupt
end in 1974 after it had been announced that Gulf Oil Corp. was contemplating
investing more than $300 million to build a resort on the island. The
government of Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier then summarily expropriated
the project, resulting in its collapse.
He served as Honorary Consul of the
Republic of Haiti to Texas from 1969 through 1974.
In 1979 he planned a similar scheme in
Dominica to be called New Hong Kong. He agreed terms with the Dominica
government to license banks and casinos, but also this scheme collapsed.
He re-entered the field of broadcasting
in 1981 when he founded KVMX-FM in Eastland.
Mr. Pierson was a longtime member of
the First Presbyterian Church of Eastland.
Don Pierson: I went ahead and did it.
Eric
Gilder. Used with permission.
Don Pierson became 70 years old. He
died on Saturday, March 30th, 1996 after a long illness. His brother Ryce
Pierson Jr. was already dead then. His survivors are Annette Pierson, born
Grubbs,(married in 1948)son Grey Pierson of Arlington; daughter, Marilyn Van
Zandt of Arlington; sisters, Betty Culver of Abilene and Doris Broadwell of
Tampa; and two grandchildren, Lauren Van Zandt and Trevor Van Zandt, both of
Arlington.
His funeral was from Eastland Memorial
Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday April 2nd, 1996, in the chapel of Bakker Funeral
Home in Eastland. Officiant was The Rev. Henry A. Grubbs. Memorials could be
sent to Eastland Memorial Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary or a charity of choice[152].
William(Bill)
Vick, the first Mananging Director of the Olga Patricia operation[153].
Its
Mr.Vick, Mr.Greville. May 1966. From Hans Knots archive.
Larry
Dean on Jack Nixon.
He was involved in the initial promotion of the station. I
dont know a heck of a lot about him. If my memory is correct, he had been in
insurance. He was a heck of a nice guy-a very bright man. And we got along very
well, but really I dont know that much about him.[154]
I
never set out to be remembered. By SREs first program director Ron OQuinn.[155]
I am still amazed that
SRE/Britain Radio are still remembered after all these years.
I did indeed work as Jack
Armstrong at WFUN 790 in 1965/1966 and again in 1968/1969. I came to WFUN from
WLCY 1380 in St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida where I was Jack
E.Rabbitt.
WLCY 1380 flyer from 1965 featuring
Ron, alias Jack E.Rabbitt. From Uncle Rickys fabulous site at www.reelradio.com/gk/wlcy.gif
After
Radio England I also worked at WUBE 1240 in Cincinnati, OH, WYLD 940 in New
Orleans in 1967. I was National Program Director of the Rounsaville Stations and sent
back to WFUN in 1968. I came to KYA
1260 in San Francisco(1970). I hosted a nationally syndicated oldies show
called Rock & Roll Reunion in 1988 and 1989.
Ron OQuinn as
Jack Armstrong while at WFUN Miami in 1965. From www.teddwebb.com
Here are my
"musings" from the past. I still stand by everything that I wrote.
Foreign owned businesses
should indeed be managed by locals. I believe that Don Pierson was responsible
for a lot of the failings of SRE and Britain Radio[156].
Don seemed to have "an axe to grind" with Big L[157].
Don knew absolutely nothing about running a radio station, but he insisted on
imposing his will on my programming[158].
As he was fond of saying to me "it is MY money." Actually, as I later
found out .... it was not his money. It was the money of other investors. Good
people like Bill Vick.....a true gentleman[159].
Don had the ability to sell people on what he was going to do, but usually he
changed his mind about halfway through the project[160].
For instance: The
ridiculous Swingin' Radio England party at the Hilton.(which has never been
paid for) We needed equipment to be
able to do what needed to be done. We needed promotional money for write in
contests and we needed monies to hire British jocks. Instead we got a party![161]
Guest list at The party of
the year, July 28th, 1966. From Hans Knots archive.
And without consulting me,
or anyone else (including Bill Vick) we got a group of new American jocks
that Don had hired.
Don was also the person who
hired the Public Relations firm that claimed to be a "sales team.[162]
That group could not have sold prostitutes in a Mining Camp much less
advertising[163].
Paul was absolutely correct in his assertion that we needed things to talk
about. We did the best we could under the circumstance. We had the poorest
"on board" facilities of any of the "pirates"[164],
but we also made huge gains in listeners in a very short time. The well-known
picture of the original jocks in the Radio England control room was taken only
a couple of days after the ship arrived off Frinton.
When I first saw the
Olga Patricia in Miami I asked Don where the turntables and cart machines were.
He said that we couldn't use turntables because of the rough seas. I told him
that we had to have at least two even if we were going to use reel to reel
tapes for our music. Obviously, we would have to have a way to record the songs
onto tape. I also told him that we could not use Carousel units in the control
room with a live show because of the noise the units make. He then allowed me
to order cart machines and turntables. I also asked for, and got, Collins control
boards because of their reputation for rejecting RF. When some of the air
personnel from Big L and Caroline applied for jobs with us I then found out
that of course they used turntables.
When the ship arrived off
Frinton the new equipment arrived within a few days. Rick Randall and I
installed the boards, echo, turntables, etc. Neither of us were licensed
engineers, but I knew how I wanted it to perform. We encountered a lot of
problems with R/F which caused us much grief. The R/F problem manifested itself
in many ways. One of those ways really affected the programming sound of the
station. The R/F would make the cart machines "run through" the cue
tones. The R/F also made the cart machines ignore the start button sometimes.
So if you called on a cart machine it may or may not start and it may or may
not end. Try running an intelligent show with that anchor around your neck.
Ron OQuinn while at SRE.
Publicity photo for Swinging 66. From Hans Knots archive.
I really feel that UK radio
progressed at an unbelievably fast pace because of offshore radio, and that
includes SRE and Britain Radio.
I am always amazed that
people all these years later still remember the names of the jocks from SRE and
Britain Radio. As I have said many times. It was just a job. Other people
worked in garages, dug ditches, farmed, fished, etc. while I, and others,
worked on the radio. I never set out to be remembered...... I merely worked for
a living doing something that I enjoyed doing. When I quit enjoying it I simply
changed what I do for a living.
I am pleased that I helped
start Johnnie Walker and Roger Day in their careers. I tried to teach them what
little I knew in a short time. I hope that some of it has been of use to them
in their respective careers.
Dont you know...Boss Jocks play much
more music! Ron OQuinn interview[165].
My father was an airforce pilot and my
father moved us all to the airforce base near Moultrie, in south-west Georgia.
I started my career in high school in Moultrie, when I was 16 at WMGA and they
are still doing now what they did then.
WVLD Valdosta, GA was Ron OQuinns
second station. From www.angelfire.com/ga2/charlierowejr/early.html
I went to college and worked at WVLD,
which got me into Top 40 radio. We had to listed to Top 40 popular music at
night-time on the big 50kW stations that we could hear from Chicago, Nashville,
etc. But our local stations were doing the same thing that was happening in
England during the mid-60s. It was horrible radio and you had to know when to
listen. They offered light music at breakfast time and gospel music later on
because we were in the middle of the Bible belt. Then we would have a teen show
late in the afternoon followed by dinnertime music again. It was basically a
block format.
I served time in the military at Fort
Smith, Ark, and travelled from there to Daytona Beach, Fl. where a station in
Tampa heard me, called me and offered me a job. So I went there and was
extremely lucky and had high ratings. Then WFUN in Miami called me and offered
me a job and I was program director and disc-jockey there when a guy called Don
Pierson appeared at the door one weekend in February, 1966. He was one of the
movers and shakers. Texas Senator John Tower was involved and it was rumoured
that also Mrs.Lyndon Johnson was involved.
Jack Armstrong, or Ron OQuinn in a
WFUN 790 contest. From www.angelfire.com/ga2/charlierowejr/early.html
I was a young 23-year-old guy at the
time and my major-market radio experience had been limited to Tampa and Miami.
But Don talked to me about going to England and put the most powerful AM rock
nroll station in the world on the air. We were going to put two 50kW
transmitters on a ship off the coast of England, but when we got going we
couldnt get the power up the way we wanted to. Still we broadcast with a lot
of power on AM and nighttime we covered from the southern tip of Africa and
well into the Soviet Union because of the salt water.
I flew
over to Portugal and met the ship there. It had served in the Korean War and
then it was sold to a company bringing bananas from South America. It was in
pretty good shape. In London I stayed at the Hilton for about six weeks before
we went on the air and I had newspaper and TV reporters tracking me down from
America as well as in England. I hired Larry a couple of weeks after arriving in London.
At the time, the British population was
very young because it was only 20 years after the Second World War had ended
and the majority seemed to be war babies. It was felt that because the
Americans liked British music, then the British should like American radio
because Britain was really hurting for radio. I thought that Top 40 radio
should work there.
I didnt really like what was going out
from Caroline and London. Some things were quite good and a lot should be different.
Record Mirror did a nationwide write-in poll and at the time Radio England had
been on the air for two months it wound up with 13 million listening on the
island which thrilled us immensely. That was quite an achivement to come from
nowhere.
I couldnt believe radio was controlled
by the government.
I absolutely loved England, the people
and I would have loved to stay there. The people were all for us as well as the
record companies. But the politicans were against us. And the British postal
service despised us because we got reams of letters.
We had a whirl of publicity because all
of a sudden we are the Americans coming to England and it was probably because
the British press thought that the money that we made was going out of the
country which with hindsight was not a good thing. But some of the press was
positive.
I came back from the Beatle tour in
1966, which I covered with Kenny Everett from Radio London, a wonderful guy and
was stopped at immigration at Heathrow. They informed me that I could come into
the country and quit my employment with Radio England or I would have to pack
my bags and quit Great Britain and to commute to the ship from somewhere else.
They gave me three weeks to do this. The company publicist decided that we
could use this to our advantage by saying that Jerry Smithwick, Larry Dean and
myself had been fired, which was ridiculous because it wasnt the case. We knew
that the end was coming because the government was insisting that the pirates
would be put out of business. So the only thing we could do was to come back to
the States. I had several offers, and chose WUBE in Cincinnati.
TV Interview, with Ron OQuinn, May, 1966[166].
Interviewer Michael...(M.)...off for
one week on shore. Their Programme Director is 23-year old Mr.Ron OQuinn. It
kind of struck me youre very young to be a Programme Director. How did this
come about?
Ron OQuinn(ROQ): ...ah...Quite an odd
thing, Michael. I was working in Miami at a radio station in Miami and I was
approached one Saturday afternoon by a gentleman Id never met before who
wishes to remain anonymous. In fact I havent seen him since and asked me how
Id like to come to England which struck me as being quite funny...lived quite
happily in Miami with the weather etc. And after explaining to me about Radio
England it seemed quite a challenge so here I am.
M.:Why...did you want to go to sea?
ROQ:...I didnt really wanna go to
sea, but he British Government wouldnt allow us ashore so there we are again.
M.:Why have we got 2 stations onboard
the ship?
ROQ: There is a definite opening for a
station of Britain Radios calibre because of the fact that we arent competing
with really anybody except that were playing music about 20 hours a day
continous live music for the housewives and people that do not want to be
bothered by the dj on the air, have a listen to a dj etc. Weve got background
music ready for them.
M.:What about the other station?
ROQ: Radio England will provide a
definite competition to the existing offshore stations in fact well be on the
air 24 hours a day. We hope to have a completely different sound from what they
have, were gonna stress personality all the way.
M.:Will it be pop, basically?
ROQ: Pop, yes.
M.:This is quite an enterprise. How
much does it cost to set up the station?
ROQ: In excess of 1 Million Pounds.
M.:Where does that sort of money come from?
ROQ: From British, Canadian and
American Investors.
M.:You cant name any of them?
ROQ: No,
I certainly cant.
M.:Well you probably know the
Postmaster General I dont think takes a kind view of pirate ships at the
moment. Whats your reaction to the fact that you may not have more than a year
to live?
ROQ:Ah..well, actually, I think itll
be around 18 months from, I understand before any action really is put before
Parliament. And Governments mean Governments no matter whose Government it is
their...from..may take a little longer than 18 months....if we have to move out
theyll probably extend the limit to 12 miles out and with our power we still
wont be bothered too much.
M.:Will you still be able to cover the
entire country from 12 miles out?
ROQ: I wouldnt know about that. I am
not an engineer but I hesitate to answer that because I dont think we would.
Still be able to cover our definite area which is London.
M.:From what you say...stay one way or
the other.
ROQ: Yes, and we have an alternative
plan..if England falls through we have an alternate plan.
M.:From another country?
ROQ: Yes.
M.:How worthwhile is it for you to
defy possible Government legislation from stop you being here?
ROQ:I think as you already know, the
existing offshore stations made quite a lot of money. We only have in excess of
300000 Pounds committed before going on the air so were here to make money of
course. Wed like to make friends with it, but money is the real answer and
its definitely here to be made.
M.:But arent you reliant on British
shores for provisional issues?
ROQ: Ah, not really, were relying on
Holland. Our tenders are from England, but pick up our supplies in Holland.
M.:Would you move to Holland if you
were banned from our shores?
ROQ: No, I dont think so...I dont
know really Plan B.
M.:Pirates
off other shores have been boarded before today by other governments. Will you
be prepared to repel boarders?
ROQ: Certainly not, Im not a
fighter.
(Short aircheck w. ROQ:
This is SRE
Jingle: Positive charge
15 mins after 8oclock MMM time this
is David Ballantyne.)
M.:The Queens Speech at the beginning
of the present Parliamentary session ignored the radio pirates. But the
All-American feel to this the largest pirate ship yet, with these American djs
and American Money is unlikely to do the pirate cause any political good. Although
for the time being it certainly means fiercer competition.
Over to Ben Toney, advisor in 1966:
Radio Britain. TV Mail, April 17th,
1966
I missed the last year of Radio London
and I left because my contract had run out which lasted for 18 months and I
hadnt been home in all that time...Id done what I wanted to do....
Before I left England, Don Pierson
approached me and he knew that I was going back to the States soon and would I
help his program director for a couple of months and get him introduced to
people in the business over here. He offered me a pretty good salary to do it
so I took it. I didnt do very much for them other than just introduce Ron
OQuinn around to people in London...
I think one of the reasons that they
were not so successful and I told Don Pierson when he brought Radio England
over was that he had too many American voices on it. At that time in the
mid-Sixties I didnt think the English would take to it. He thought that they
had really become Americanised so he went on the air with it. But there were
other problems that they had with it that caused them to fail and also it was
coming to the end of that type of broadcasting in England. So if he had had
more time or he could have competed with Radio London. When Laser came over
later on they had over six million listeners and they had quite a few American
voices on that. Other than that I really dont know really.[167]
Part of a letter from Keith Prowse
Music Publishing Co.Ltd/The Peter Maurice Music Company Ltd. to Ben Toney just
after he arrived back in Texas. The letter is dated June 16th, 1966. From Hans
Knots archive.
And then it is over to Tom
Danaher who set up Radio London with Don Pierson and also gave him some
assistance on the Olga Patricia project.[168]
Well, it all started when I
was an automobile dealer and got involved in the cable TV business. I had
applied for the cable TV franchise for Wichita Falls in the state of Texas.
Another dealer from Amarillo, a city in the same state, by the name of Don
Pierson, who was also chairing the board of the Abilene National Bank, had just
recently obtained the franchise for Abilene. While talking to him about my
application, he told me that he wanted to join me as a partner. Combining both
franchises would be very lucrative and I agreed to do so. I had already been
before the city council and the council had decided to consider my proposal for
the franchise. So, for their next meeting I told Don to come over — he
lived about 90 miles away in Eastland.
On his way to Wichita Falls
Don read a big article in the Wall Street Journal about Radio Caroline,
describing how successful the station was. In just its first month the station
netted about eighteen thousand pounds, at least according to Ronan O'Rahilly
who was quoted in the paper. Don let me read the article as we were sitting in
my office and he said he thought that this was interesting stuff. We started
talking about it and in the end we decided it was a good deal. I had some
knowledge of ships — during the war I was a Navy pilot and I flew off
aircraft carriers — and Don had his connection with the banks that could
help us financially. So we thought it might be worth looking some further into
the thing. So that is how it came off the ground.
Our agreement was simple.
He would take care of everything that could tear — the money and the
contracts. Everything that could bend — the technical and mechanical part
of the operation — would be my responsibility. He persuaded his group of
friends to invest in the project and I got a group of my friends to do the
same. After we talked about it, Don decided to go over to Britain, which he
did. He hired a plane and flew around Caroline's ship a few times, taking
pictures. He investigated about the organization and, sure enough, it was doing
really well. While he was away, I decided to find out where we could buy a ship
for our own....
I was not involved in Radio
England from the very beginning. For Radio London Don and I had done all the
work. I sometimes tend to downgrade how much work Don did, because he would go
around and entertain the people while I was sweating on the ship. But he did
his part of the job. Anyway, we were putting our money in, pro-rata, with all
the other guys whenever it was necessary. So when Don and I got together we
thought that we had taken the brunt of this thing and we had earned our share.
But nobody had suggested that we should have a bigger interest in it. So we
asked ourselves: why don't we start another ship? We had the books on Radio
London and it was a fantastic success. Going out and raise more money for
another ship would be easy.
So I approached Bud
Dillard, a very wealthy oilman and one of my good friends whom I had brought
into Radio London — I know that he would have probably taken the whole
thing himself. I asked him, because after Don and I had talked about this other
ship, Don suggested that we would do it the same way again: he would take
everything that could tear and I would take the ship and all that. But I said: "Yeah,
Don, but on this next ship you are going to give me some help this time. I am
not going to do that whole damn thing by myself again. Either that or we are
going to provide help for me and then we'll have to bring Bud into it. He will
handle all the financial ends and with him it will be easier to get all the
money together that we need. Then I'll have all the labor that I want."
So we called a meeting
again in my office that lasted all afternoon. We all got the opportunity to say
what the proposal would be. But Don kept saying: "Well, Tom, I feel that
we should go ahead and put an easy listening station and a Top 40 station on
her." I said: "You mean we are going to play thirty minutes of Top
40, then thirty minutes of good listening music, or what?" But he meant
two different stations on the same ship. I asked him how he intended to do that
with only one transmitter. I said: "We are going to have to house two
different frequencies." He said, that was correct and that he was talking
about two 50,000 watt transmitters. I countered, that this was ridiculous
considering all the trouble we had with Radio London's transmitter, getting it
ready to load. You could not even turn the lights off on the ship. There was so
much energy that a fluorescent tube was already burning when you pulled it out
of the box!
I told Don, that I did not
think that it could be done. But he kept insisting on it. I said to him that I
would go along when he could prove to me that it would work, and that I
definitely would participate when the ship would have only one station and if
Dillard would be in the game. That would mean that Dillard and his co-investors
would own 49 percent and Don and I would split the remaining 51 percent —
so that we both still would have control of the operation. Don, however, kept
insisting on two stations. I tried to explained to him that a Top 40 station
would be competing with our friends of Radio London, which I did not believe
was truly ethical. In the end, as we were in disagreement even before we started,
I told him I was not going along with it. Bud Dillard backed me up for the full
100 percent. Don slammed his briefcase shut, got in his car and went off back
to Abilene. I did not hear another word from him for some months.
About four months later, a
friend of mine down at the City National Bank called me and asked if he could
bring two men to my office to talk to me. About fifteen minutes later these
three guys came by. I knew one of them already, because he was the Chevrolet
dealer in Archer City, Texas, which is about twenty miles south of Wichita
Falls. The others were Red Livingstone, a big, rich oil driller and his
business partner. Both men asked me if I was making any money on that radio
ship off England. I told them that I was and that the operation really was
going well. They explained that they had been contacted by a guy from Eastland,
Texas, who had built a radio ship, the "Olga Patricia", in Miami.
The ship was now ready to
sail and they wanted to know if I thought that putting any money into it would
be advisable. I told them that I could not advise them on that matter and I
asked what they had heard about this ship. They said LTV and Continental
Electronics had done the job. So I told them the story of Don Pierson and how I
had advised against putting two stations on one ship. The only way to do
something like that, I told them, was to could get hold of a surplus aircraft
carrier and to put a transmitter and a mast at one end of the ship and another
transmitter and mast at the other end. It might just work with both mast and
transmitters being about 800 feet apart, but I doubted it.
A few days later the phone
rang and it was Don again. This was the first time we had spoken in four
months. He knew I had been meeting the other two men and he told me that the
ship was ready to sail from Miami in a few days. He said that it did not look
like anything I had put on the Galaxy. Since the arrangement on the Galaxy
worked so well and this being different, he was afraid that it would not be as
good. As he had to make a $29,000 incremental payment before the ship could
sail, he needed a second opinion. Would I do him a favor and come to Miami to
look at the construction? Being treated by him the way he had, I was surprised at
his audacity to call me up to and ask me to come down to help him. But because
of my good-hearted nature, I agreed to go.
So I went there, took a
look at the ship and, really, it looked terrible. Then Don called a meeting of
the people of Continental Electronics, where I would present my findings. We
went down to the Du Pont Plaza Hotel in Miami where Don always stayed. Anyway I
told those guys that I was not an engineer, but that I had designed and built
the antenna on the Galaxy which was still up. Looking at the way they had
stayed the mast, I added, it would not last for two minutes in a North Sea gale
because of the pitching and rolling. To this they replied that their computer
had said that it would be all OK. They said, I just had done it by taking things
at face value and probably had made the stay wires much too big. I said them
that Don had asked me whether he should pay them the incremental payment and
that I had told him not to do so. Boy, their faces just hit the floor. I told
them that I was not involved in this thing at all and that I was only here as a
friend giving an honest opinion. Before I left I warned them that the ship
probably would not make it across the Gulf Stream, because the water can be
very rough between Miami and Nassau.
They did not listen. They
arranged for the ship to be put into Nassau so that they could check that
everything was OK, and then set sail to Nassau. After 14 miles from Miami,
however the whole construction on the deck collapsed and nearly hit one of the crew.
So Don did not pay them. Then Continental Electronics called me and asked me if
I would team up with their German engineer and meet the "Olga
Patricia" at Ponto Delgada in the Azores. They hired me and put me on
their payroll. Don and I went over there, only to find they did not have the
necessary equipment. So I left for Lisbon with the ship. Don went ahead of us.
When we got there, we worked on it there for about a week and then I left and I
went back home. I helped the German engineer and gave the benefit of my
experience of building the transmitter. Still, the idea of the antenna was all
wrong. To change it for the better was going to be a major delay for them, so
we re-did it as best as we could. That still did not make things right. All I
heard afterwards was how bad it went from then on.
Don had also promoted his
venture with some of the friends that I had brought into Radio London —
which I did not like. He never told me about it and asked them not to say
anything about it to me, because of the falling out between himself, Bud and
me. After they got it over here and they could not get it to work, my friends
who had invested at least five times as much as they had invested in Radio
London, were losing money. After seeing the success of Radio London, they just
wrote big checks.
Tom Danaher and Don Pierson[169]
My father and Tom were very good
friends. They both were blessed with enthusiastic, friendly
personalities, they both loved airplanes, and they were both automobile
dealers. To the best of my knowledge, they first met in the mid-1950s
when they were both Hillman dealers (Hillman was a car manufactured by the
Rootes Group).
My first memory of Tom is meeting
him in London in 1957 in connection with a Rootes-sponsored trip for its U.S.
dealers; I was 6 years old at the time, and I recall that Tom gave me a model
of a Hillman automobile.
The friendship between Don Pierson
and Tom Danaher blossomed. By 1960, each had his own Volkswagen
dealership (Don in Amarillo, Texas; Tom in Wichita Falls, Texas), and from time to time
they worked on business deals together.
When my father came up with the idea
for Radio London (after reading a story about Radio Caroline in the Wall
Street Journal), the first person he involved was Tom Danaher; in fact, he
may have been with Tom when the idea was hatched.
After he and Tom were pushed out of
the Radio London deal, Don Pierson was resentful of how they had been treated
and almost immediately pressed forward with plans for a new, bigger and
better radio ship.
Although there is a difference of
memories, it is my understanding that he very much wanted for Tom to have a
significant role in this deal. This didnt happen; apparently, Tom had
been soured by the Radio London experience and, consequently, had a much lower
level of involvement in Radio England — but he was involved and did
participate.
As Tom himself has acknowledged, he
was rather actively involved in correcting various engineering problems early
in the endeavor. Although he never received anything, it was contemplated
that Tom was to be compensated for his efforts out of the profits of the
venture.
Notwithstanding various problems, my
father and Tom remained close friends throughout the Radio England project.
The British Government banned its
citizens from advertising on the pirate stations, the station went off the air
and the ship returned to Miami (in 1967).
Subsequently, well after the
end of the Radio England venture, my father and Tom remained close friends and business
associates. I know this to be true because Tom worked with Don Pierson on
his next project — a plan to create a free port in Haiti — up until
at least 1969.
Heres my point: If Tom truly
believed that Radio England was a
dishonest, unethical deal at the time it was happening, it doesnt seem
likely that he would remain a close friend and business partner of Don Pierson
for at least 3 years afterwards.
Continental Electronics of Dallas supplied the transmitters and did the
engineering work for Radio England. But the antenna promptly collapsed,
the station had problems staying on the air, etc. Ultimately, the venture
failed and Continental didnt get paid.
Consequently, in 1970 they filed suit against all the participants
— including Tom Danaher.
Tom hired a Dallas attorney to defend him.
In 1972 or 1973, the attorney gave Tom the following advice: If you can
get Don Pierson to sign an affidavit saying that you had nothing to do with
Radio England and that you would have received nothing even if the business had
been successful, I can get you dropped from the case.
Tom jumped at this potential good news. The attorney drafted the
affidavit, and Tom flew out to Eastland in his Beechcraft Bonanza airplane to
get Don Pierson to sign it.
Don Pierson refused to do so, telling Tom that, in his opinion, the
statements in the affidavit simply werent accurate.
Tom was understandably furious, but the attorneys for the transmitter
factory already possessed evidence showing that Tom was involved, and
this alone prevented Toms dismissal from the lawsuit.
If Don Pierson had signed the affidavit, it would have wrecked Don
Piersons credibility at the trial. As it turned out, Continental lost the
case. I was personally there at the time, and my father and I spoke to
some of the jurors. They told us why the transmitter factory lost: Because
the jury believed Don Pierson when he testified that the failure of the venture
was largely the result of poor engineering!
Thus, it worked out for the best that the affidavit was not
signed. But this is not how Tom perceived it at the time, and I dont
blame him. Look at the situation from Toms position. He had not
been very involved in the Radio England venture; even if it had been
successful, his slice of the pie would have been small; it wasnt successful
and he received nothing out of it but a lawsuit; and his own, very expensive
lawyer told him that if his friend would sign a piece of paper, the
lawsuit would go away.
No wonder Tom was furious and deeply hurt when Don Pierson refused to
sign the affidavit.
Although not appreciated at the time, it was ultimately the correct
decision. But Tom had no way of knowing this, and he understandably was
furious and deeply hurt feeling he had been seriously wronged by a person he
had trusted as a close friend.
Let me add that the friendship did revive in the late 1980s.
June 26, 1988 was my parents 40th wedding anniversary and I held a
surprise party for them. Realizing that my father had considered Tom
Danaher as his best friend, and ignoring the strained feelings between them, I
called Tom and invited him to be part of the surprise party. He accepted,
and my father was delighted to see him.
This helped thaw out their
relationship, and Tom remained close to my father until his death in 1996.
To this day, I consider Tom Danaher
to have been my fathers best friend, and I personally consider Tom to be my
friend as well.
Tom Danaher is a fine, good
man. I cannot and will not say anything negative about Tom Danaher.
I appreciate why he felt the way he did. I am, however, sorry that the
relationship between Tom Danaher and Don Pierson was seriously damaged by what
I now recognize to have been flawed legal advice.
About Chuck Blair/Jay Kay(Rick
Phillips), Radio England General Manager Summer-Autumn 1966:
Chuck Blair[170],
born Richard Earl Philbrook seems to have come to Radio England in Late July,
1966, hired directly by Don Pierson.
His last address in the USA was: Rick
Phillips, RFD 1 Nashua, New Hampshire[171].
Chuck seems to have come from WBZ on 1030 in Boston[172],
but as his CV[173]
reveals, he was also on a number of other New England stations like WMEX 1510,
also in Boston.
Editor: Could his on-air name in New
England have been Jay Kay?[174]
Ricks on air name on the Olga and on
the Galaxy was Chuck Blair. The source of this was a "Chuck Blair" jingle from
PAMS Series #30 made for WPTR[175].
The Johnnie Walker and Boom Boom Brannigan Sonovox jingles were from the same
origin, see more in the section on jingles.
Outside of WPTR
1540 QSL card from 1965. Donated by John Sgrulletta of the National Radio Club.
http://www.nrcdxas.org
About Chucks last weeks on the Olga:
We worked together on the ship for a
brief time when he was promoted to an on-shore position in the 32 Curzon Street
office. He "suited-up" for work each day and I think he was in sales.
If memory serves (and it doesn't always) he may have been instrumental in
nailing the Weeta-Bix contract. I can still remember that commercial as we
often played it on Radio England/Britain Radio. Chuck was a likeable conniver
and I always suspected he arranged a life-time supply of the stuff for
himself![176]
I came to the Olga in November, 1966
hired by Jack Curtiss as News editor and replaced Chuck Blair.[177]
Editor:
Chuck is heard on tape on Radio
England on its last day, November 13th, 1966 on the Rock n Roll Revival Hour
with Mark Stevens and Errol Bruce with the sponsors (Keele Insurance)
commercial with promises of Peace of mind!
On a preserved recording of Radio
London test broadcasting on 277 metres, 1079 kc, in the evening of
Dec.6th,1966(2200-). Paul Kaye having a go on this frequency announces Chuck
Blair doing London after midnight into Dec.7th.
He is heard on tape on Britain Radio on
December 17th, 1966 on Phil Martins morning show on an Inter-Cham
commercial. On Bill Berrys comment above of Chuck as a salesman, on the same
show, indeed, Weetabix is one of a decent number of commercials on the show.
Chuck was in his element on Big L. He
made some superb trailers and jingles, and was extremely popular. The station's
demise clearly hit him pretty hard, and Chuck was clearly absolutely choked-up
when he presented his last breakfast show from 0600-0900 on Aug.14th, 1967.[178]
A few weeks after the closure of Big
L, before the start of Radio One, I heard when Chuck made his last ever
appearance on British radio on the BBC Light Programme. It was on 'Monday
Monday' introduced by Dave Cash live from The Playhouse. On this occasion
hanging around the studio were Tony Blackburn, Ed Stewart and Chuck. At some
point during the broadcast Dave had a chat with Tony and Ed... Then Dave turned
to Chuck and said, "And what have you been doing?" Chuck's reply was,
"Well as you heard, Tony Blackburn's been doing 'Midday Spin'. I've been
doing all day nothing!" At which point Dave gave an embarrassed chuckle
and moved swiftly on. This, to the best of my knowledge, is the very last time
Chuck Blair was heard on the UK airwaves. One presumes he did an audition for
the BBC but wasn't successful.[179]
As Radio One was launched on September
30th 1967, this last appearance must have taken place in late August or
early-to-mid September....I had a letter from Chuck about being 'off to join
Caroline'. This was received on Sept 21st.
George Hare, who was the land-based agent for Caroline
North, sent a copy of a memo he sent to Terry Bate on August 11th, 1967. It
reads: "Here are a few names of disc jockeys who are acceptable. They will
be contacting the Amsterdam Office." The memo notes that Chuck, based in
Harpenden is,, "On London at the moment. Off about 21st Aug. Salary to be
discussed. To contact Amsterdam."[180]
I'm guessing that he might have had
trouble remaining in the country after he came off the Galaxy. All the visas in
Chuck's 1966 passport were for one month's duration, on condition that he did
not obtain work. This was not a problem while he was on the ships. Chuck never
made it to Caroline, so I wonder what happened? The last customs stamp in that
passport is dated Oct '67, either the 7th or 27th, and is franked Orly in
France, which presumably is when Chuck left for the States...
Paul Draisey, General Manager of WAGE
Radio in Leesburg, Virginia until 1987 tells that Rick/Chuck worked there as a
part-time announcer: What a talent. I knew that he had worked on the
"Pirate Ships" of the 60s and had handled some of the early
interviews, etc. of The Beatles. After working for us for several years, he
left the station and opened a restaurant in Leesburg. He made the best crab
cakes that you have ever had!
Chuck/Rick died in 1989.
Editor: Chuck Blair is fondly
remembered by many Olga Stations listeners, as well as Big L fans. What a
treat it could have been to hear him on the Fredericia in Ramsay Bay with the
great talent already on Caroline North fronted by Daffy Don Allen!
Jack Curtiss now steps
up to the microphone:
This is Jack Curtiss.. formerly of SRE/BR and
original architect of the Radio Dolfijn sound as presented by Look Boden and
the other Dutch DJs I hired in Amsterdam in the fall of 1966. I am so glad the
memory of the all-too-brief
glorious days of the Laissez Faire still burns vibrant in the hearts of so many
fans.
Pirate Jack Curtiss 40 years ago. Photo: Jack Curtiss.
Though I did preside over the closing down of SRE as
station manager at the time, the actual decision to set up Radio Dolfijn was
made by the owners. I simply had to go to Amsterdam and recruit a staff for the
new station and keep running Britain Radio.
The song(s) of a Dolfijn enters 227.
From Hans Knots archive.
I was initially assigned the "Bruce Wayne"
jingle and used it for a day or two on SRE and then declared I would rather
return directly to the states than disappear under a 'fad" name
that would surely fade as quickly as the Batman TV show did. Boom-Boom (Bob
Klingeman) as I recall may have also used the Wayne jingle before settling in
under the Brannigan monicker. Later just before SRE's demise..someone else used
the Wayne jingle package as well.
Before I came
to the UK I was at WROV 1240 in Roanoke. Though I spent barely two months there
(May to mid-July 1966), I was quite taken with the both the station and
Roanoke. It was my first experience working outside California. Burt Levine,
the station owner, was a true gentleman and I hated to leave so abruptly, but
that letter from Pierson inviting me to send an audition tape to Radio England
was simply too good to pass up.
I do remember telling my later SRE crewmates how very
much I enjoyed working at WROV, what a splendid chap Levine
was, and how highly I regarded him.
In Roanoke, I
rented a room from Levine's mother and sister and shared several meals with
them in which I was introduced to Jewish cuisine including tasty chicken-liver
pate, gefiltefish and matsohball soup.
I found what I
considered to be "Southern hospitality" alive and well in Roanoke,
but then I was a blue-eyed WASP in Dixie. Had I been something else, my
impressions could have been different.
I would have never in a million years remembered the
names of those two WROV morning guys (Fred Frelantz and Jack Fisher) that
followed my all-night "Enormous Jack Curtiss Show." We did some
very funny recorded comedy bits together.
Jack Curtiss
concludes: In the last weeks of Radio
England nearly all my energies were focused on the Radio Dolfijn staff and
kick-off that I barely paid attention to SRE at all. I was not on the ship for
the final day and have only a dim recollection of those who were..it was sort
of a confused time with all the comings and goings in the last days.
There were some bad storms
as well that had prevented the normal rotation of staff and replentishment of
supplies. I remember taking the tender out in near-hurricane force winds
and being unable to board the ship..I'd never seen Graham Gill get seasick
before but he was down below in the tender tossing his cookies. That day proved
to me that I was simply impervious to motion sickness..and with the
roiling waves pitching the tender to and fro and the relentless seaspray
in my face I had the ride of my life. A treasured memory to this day.
Ironically, 15 years after I first stepped aboard the Laissez
Faire..I arrived in Miami where I spent the next 23 years close to the waters
from which she sailed for England. Now I am in Australia, and have got back the
mike at Radio Adelaide.
An interview by Tom Brouwer with Jack
Curtiss from Telegraaf Friday, November 4th 1966. An English translation may be
found at Jon Myers Offshore Radio Hall of Fame site at http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/album9a.htm
Who
was Basil van Rensburg?
Basil van Rensburg in 1966 was a 35-year old South
African, (with) considerable experience of commercial radio and advertising. He
was Radio Manager for AFAMAL, the largest advertising agency in South Africa,
for seven years, as well as establishing the agencys TV Division of Rhodesia.
He was formerly a Technical Producer with the South African Broadcasting
Corporation. He seems to have come to Radio Dolfijn(Administration) and Radio
227(assistant to John Withers) from Radio Tower.[181]
An
old colonel steps aboard. About the late Ted Allbeury, the last managing
director[182].
The intended transformation of(Britain Radio)s slick
hallmark of quality style into 390s cosy fireside chat and carpet slippers
image didnt work.[183]
After re-financing Ted Allbeury and Carstead Advertising
were head-hunted to operate the new stations broadcasting since March 16th,
1967, Radio 227 and 355. Allbeury had advised
the owners to not throw good money out, and a sum was stipulated by Allbeury
as to what was needed to hang out until the end. The conclusion of the Texans
was to indeed put up the sum if he would run the station.
The Texans had said to him: The
people that owned the Laissez Faire had been in touch with me on several
occasions. Is there something we could do to merge or have you run our
operation for us. I liked their attitude. The people that owned that operation
really cared about radio. They were Texans mainly. I rather liked them and once
I stared working for then I liked them even more.
Daily Telegraph March 1967. From Hans
Knots archive.
Ted Allbeury goes from Red Sands to the
Olga Patricia. Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and
National Advertiser) of February 21st, 1967. I do hope that(TA)...will
still spend Sunday evenings with us as usual over the air-waves at
9pm...(Mrs.I.Prosser of Luton in Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and
National Advertiser) of February 28th, 1967.)
Bill Vick is ousted by the Texas owners
and in comes a former Secret Service colonel. Dutch Press from March 15th,
1967. From Hans Knots archive.
Radioschip
Dolfijn in Zaandam. Geheimzinnige financier(Pierce Langford III) nu
bekend.(Dutch press March 9th 1967, From Hans Knots archive)
Chapter 3: Ron
on the radio from 2-6 pm. Olga Patricia djs and newsreaders May 3rd-August 6th
1967
