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.

 

SRE-Swinging Radio England. Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres, 24 hours a day, in excess of 50000 watts of power, SRE-First and Foremost is BOSS!

 

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]

 

Pickinup Boss Vibrations

 

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

 

 

Pickinup NEWBoss Vibrations

 

 

 

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.

Investors

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:

 

olgaobserver@yahoo.no

 

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

 

Larry Dean

 

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.

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

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.

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

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

LITTLE MAN SONNY&CHER

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

DON'T WORRY MOTHER, YOUR SON'S HEART IS PURE THE MCCOYS #23

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
NOTHING COMES EASY SANDIE SHAW FB

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

Thatman Roger Day

(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.

 

0830-0851 Look Boden

 

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..

(Jacques Soudan)

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.

 

Thursday, September 1st, 1967

 

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.

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

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.

 

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

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.

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

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.

 

So, why was Tom angry with Don Pierson in connection with the Radio England episode?  I personally know the answer, because I was there when it happened and Tom himself told me.

 

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.

.[184]

 

 

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


 
Radio England

 

Initial team:

 

Roger Day

Larry Dean(Frank Laseter)

 

 

Presentation of Larry Dean from Swinging 66 brochure. From Hans Knots archive.

 

Ron OQuinn(aka Jack Armstrong, Jack The Rabbit)

Rick Randall(Rick Crandall)

Colin Nicol

Jerry Smithwick

Brian Tylney

Johnnie Walker[185]

 

Graham Gill[186]

Phil Martin

Alan Black

Bill Boss Berry

 

The great Bill Boss Berry on the air on SRE 1322 kc[187].

 

Chuck Blair(Rick Phillips)

Boom Boom Brannigan(Bob Klingeman)

Jack Curtiss

Gary Stevens(on tape)

Rob Allen(also a Boom Boom Brannigan)(Alan Roberts)

Tom Cooper(Tom Hatala)Also as Greg Warren?

Greg Warren(Tom Cooper/Tom Hatala?)

Errol Boss Cat Bruce

Mark Stevens(aka Ted Delaney/ Ron Rose)

Bruce Wayne

John Ross Barnard(JRB)

Gordon Bennett(Gary Kemp)

Ed Moreno

Jim Henry[188] [189]?

Mike Barron[190]

 

Britain Radio

 

Derek Burroughs(Jack Wagner on Carousel automation)

Rick Randall

Jerry Smithwick

Ron OQuinn

Johnnie Walker

Roger Day

Phil Martin

Alan Black

 

 

Graham Gill. From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 14th, 1967.

 

Greg Warren(Tom Cooper/Tom Hatala?)

Tom Cooper(Greg Warren?)

Gordon Bennett(Gary Kemp)

Ed Moreno

Jack Curtiss

Errol Bruce

Ted Delaney(aka Mark Stevens/Ron Rose)

John Ross-Barnard

Johnny Dark(Harry Putnam)

Dave MacKay(Dave Gilbee)

Woolf Byrne[191]

Jack McLaughlin

 

 

Jack McLaughlin went from Radio Scotland to Britain Radio on January 25th, 1967 and was the presenter of Nightbeat from 7pm-midnight. From Melody Maker, February, 1967. From Hans Knots archive.

 

Tony Meehan

Alan West

John Wall(Gary Kemp/Gordon Bennett?)

 

Newsreaders:

 

Bee Bee Brannigan. On news July 29th.

 

Radio Dolfijn:

 

Peter van den Hoven

Look Boden[192]

Jos v. Vliet

 

Jos van Vliet on the air in the 227 studio on the Olga Patricia. From Hans Knots archive.

 

Thijs Lieffering

Jacques Soudan

Rob Klaasman

Pieter van Dijk

Boudewijn van Hengst(Lex Harding)

 

Radio 227:

 

Look Boden

Tom Collins(Tom Droog)

John v.Doorn

Lex Harding

(Harald)Harky(Harold v.Gelder)

Bob Lens

Jos v. Vliet

Dick Weeda

 

Radio 355:

 

Derek Burroughs(Jack Wagner on Carousel automation)

Phil Martin

Alan Black

Dave MacKay

Graham Gill

David Allan

Alan West

 

Woolf Byrne. From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 7th, 1967.

 

Clement Shaw

Sheldon Jay

John Aston

Tony Monson

Tony Windsor

Mark Sloane

Martin Kayne

 

 

For a more comprehensive list of Olga Patricia broadcasters with curriculum vitas, go to Jon Myers site

http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk

See also his great SRE/BR presentation at

http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/sre1.htm

 


Chapter 4: Inputs from and on Olga Patricia broadcasters.

 

This is Rick Randall.[193]

 

 

WLCY Tampa-St.Petersburg Swinging Gentleman Rick Randall in front of the Newsroom board (He says it was a "Yard") and mike with an Ampex reel-to-reel in the background - Photo taken in either 1966 or 1967.

 

My first time to work with actual studio equipment was in a closed circuit AFRTS facility in a military hospital in North Dakota while I was recovering from surgery there. My commercial broadcast career began while I was still wearing an USAF uniform at a radar site in central Montana.  When I was discharged, I accepted my first full time civilian radio gig at a great, but unstable station, KUDI, in Great Falls, Montana.

 

After a year, I placed a classified ad in Broadcasting, not knowing Don Pierson had contacted this magazine for talent to broadcast from the Olga Patricia, while the ship was still anchored in a harbor in Miami, Florida.  He told me he came across my name in the ads. He called me and asked if I was interested in going to England. The same day I got on a plane and went down to Miami.

 

Though admittedly terribly "green" at the time – I was the first presenter as you call it to be recruited to join Swingin Radio England and Britain Radio.

 

I was in Miami with Don, helping to put together the studios and transmitter facilities for the ship for about 3 weeks before we set sail on the Olga Patricia.

 

When Ron OQuinn came along it was clear that he knew radio a whole lot better than I, so he was the natural leader. It was great working with him and he was a wonderful friend as well.

 

Don had originally planned basically an automated operation, but when Ron joined, he didnt fancy that, wanting to play records as a dj. Therefore plans were changed, and we put in turntables and a Collins mixing board with large round knobs. We had a rack manufactured where we put our commercials, IDs and jingles on tape carts.

 

We left Miami in a hurry because a Miami Herald Reporter was nosing around the dock, and as Don didnt want to get tied up in any legal problems, we got the heck out of Dodge.

 

Jerry Smithwick and myself were on board, while Ron flew to London to make arrangements ahead of our arrival.  

 

We ran into a storm our first night at sea, causing our antenna to come crashing to the deck with an eerie, reverberating sound that echoed throughout the steel hull of our vessel.  The seas were pretty rough, and I found myself thinking that I might not make it through the night without giving up my supper.  But that did not happen, and the next day the weather calmed down considerably, and most of the rest of our journey was quite pleasant, with some rock and roll.  It took, I believe, 11 days before we saw land again, stopping in the Azores, where Don had arrived by air and rented a taxi to give us a tour of that beautiful paradise.  Then, because of the damage to our antenna, we diverted to Lisbon where we enjoyed an unscheduled holiday, while engineers crafted a new mount and design for the antenna and secured it in place before our voyage north to our final destination. I remember it was cool and wet.

 

The finishing touches were also put on the studios and transmitters. As I had been a radar technician in the USAF, I knew a little bit of wiring simple equipment. There is some movie footage of me wiring the control panel, which was what I was doing when we sailed over.

 

All the while at sea, I noticed the ship listing to the port side by what I would guess was at least 3 or 4 degrees, which seemed odd at first.  But then I realized it must surely have been because of a huge, bell shaped anchor Don had acquired in Miami and strapped to the deck along the port railing. I thought at the time, it was big enough for the Queen Mary. Don explained to me that the Radio Caroline ship had suffered the fate of a bad storm in England in January and consequently had broken free of its anchor and washed up on shore.  He was determined to make sure that would not happen to us.  Finally I concluded that once we reached our destination and dropped it, it would probably never be raised again.  I bet it is still there, a sort of silent monument to the American Pirate Radio invasion that shook the British and European airwaves.

 

On shore leave there was hustle bustle and a lot of activities going. I stayed in an apartment in Berkeley Square with four flat-mates. I went to The Party of the Year, and remember going to the Hilton and being surrounded by a huge crowd clamouring for autographs. It was kind of fun to feel like a star for a little while.

 

I also did a lot of touring around the Continent, to France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland.

 

But I was a long way from my family and decided I wanted to go back to the USA. I was the first presenter on board, but also the first to leave. I was getting kind of burnt out from what we were doing.

 

I remember getting a letter from my mom reminding me that school would start up in the fall, so I got on thinking maybe I should return to the States and get into college. Later, I went to the University of Florida.

 

Ron helped me into work with a legendary station in the 60s, WLCY Tampa-St.Petersburg 1380. I was working at first for a buck and a quarter an hour, until I was put on the full time payroll at $80 a week.

 

I did news in the evening shift opposite one of the several Jack E. Rabbitts (Gene Pope) who worked there (one other of them you well know - Ron O'Quinn!), followed by Swingin' Sweeney (Rick Morgan), and put on my "Swingin' Gentleman" hat on the weekends.

 

After my time at WLCY, I came to WFLA 970 also in Tampa, where I was the mid-day personality between 1969 and 1972.

 

Other Florida stations I worked at: I spent a couple of years at WGUL when it was a New Port Richey AM/FM combo and 5 years at WTAN in Clearwater (also 96 Fever and Magic 96 FM) with Rick Bruce as my on-air name. I also was on 1470 when it was WWQT Newsradio 1470 in the 80's with my current employer Bud Paxson – (when the Home Shopping Network was conceived), and News Director when it was operated out of West Pasco as WFNN.

 

I also got first taste as a country jock at its sister station called "Your Country 106", WVTY-FM.

 

My last on-air assignment ended in 1992 on 570 WHNZ in Tampa where I was again in the newsroom.

 

Besides around Florida (including Gainesville, St Augustine and Panama City), I also worked in Thomasville, Georgia(with Larry Dean); Allentown, Pennsylvania; Toledo, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; KGA in Spokane, Washington; and of course Montana, where it all began in 1964.

 

I've been working off-air with Paxson Communications (newly renamed ION Media Networks in 2006) since the early 90s, though no longer on-the-air as what you call a presenter.  Instead I am now in network operations at our satellite uplink for PaxTV (also renamed the i network (meaning Independent), in Clearwater.

 

Ive got some programmes on the air called Worship for Kids. Those are the only programmes on the air that I am aware of are on the air anywhere where my voice is still heard, and I am the Voice of God. I feel like you cant do much better than that.

 

From an American point of view, and as one who was involved in the pirate radio events of the mid-60s, it is quite unexpected indeed to find there is still interest in our adventures back then, and to learn how radio and broadcasting has evolved since. Nothing like the pirate era has ever occurred in the US, and few Americans are even aware such a thing ever happened. 

 

I have always regarded my few months in the North Sea being part of the staff of "Boss Jocks" as unique and unforgettable.  It was a privilege to have been a part of it.

 

The Larry Dean show[194]:

Id known Ron OQuinn since 3rd grade, in the small town of Hazlehurst, Georgia, where we had the same elementary school teacher. My family then moved to Moultrie. Then, about the 9th grade, Rons family also moved there, so we caught up with each other again. But Ron got into radio first, at WMGA Moultrie. When Ron left and they had an opening, he said: Youve got to go for this. I got a part-time job working at night-it was my senior year at high school.

 

Later Ron and I were both working in Tampa. I was at WALT 1110, Tiger Radio. We had a real live Bengal tiger kept in a cage. The station would send it round to Esso stations-put a Tiger in your tank. But the tiger keeper got himself jailed, and the general manager of the station called me in, and wanted me to go to Orlando to take care of the tiger. I told him, No Way. I got fired. But they gave me a great reference.

 

Id been up at WPTR Albany for about a year when Ron called me and said: What do you think about being a pirate. Id read about pirate radio, and it fascinated me. So I said, sure. I think that prior to Ron, only Rick Randall had been hired. Then Jerry Smithwick was hired.

 

Ron had flown to London to get things set up. I flew to London about a month before the ship got there. We spent a lot of time talking to promotion and record people, just trying to get the contacts within the industry. Before the ship arrived, Ron and I did most of the sights in London. We would do our promotion rounds, and then we go and take the tube and see what we could see. So we saw a lot of London and I really enjoyed it. I had a great time. The food was marvellous-the restaurants in London cant be beaten. They had such a variety, it was superb. On land we had an apartment in Wimbledon not far from Ron.

 

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. No crew facilities or living facilities were put in. So we have a full crew of announcers, go out to the ship and theres no place for us to sleep. They brought in some little canvas cots, which we had to put together. Jerry and Rick were lucky, they went over with the ship and had a stateroom together. The rest of the ship was occupied by crew. They eventually built decent facilities later on. But it was pretty bad to begin with[195].

 

When the ship arrived none of the equipment had been tested. We had steel cable stays on the mast and insulators on the cables. We put the transmitters on the air, and within a week all the stays had been burned-they would arc around and just burn the insulators and just burn the cable in two. At the point I left, the mast was just sticking up-there was nothing holding it up, other than the base.

 

I was not used to living on a ship and being at sea. The first month or so, I ate very little, and what I did, usually went over the side. It was a strange situation because you had all the beer you could drink, and all the cigarettes you could smoke. But you were so seasick all the time.

 

The reaction to the radio station was very good. I think I saw some figures that within the first month or two, it was up to 3 million a week.

 

But The Swinging66 Tour was a disaster. Nobody seemed to know what was going on. In Birmingham we were using wireless mikes on stage. But the local police were apparently using the same or adjacent frequency. Our mikes would pick up some of this stuff, and about halfway through the show, they made us stop using them. Apparently we were coming through on their radios as well. After the show, we went out to a local club, and a woman comedienne came on and began doing a parody of what we had done on stage earlier that evening. It was really, really funny. Jerry and I stood up and bowed. They invited us to a party after hours. We partied about half the night and had a great time.

 

The organisation became worse. Decisions were made without full coordination. Management were brilliant at making money, but had their limitations in running a radio station.

 

We began to get the idea that we might go back when Ron got his immigration problems. But after thinking about it for a while, it was another month before we actually left. Bale out before any problems.

 

I went back to Tampa and ended up working at a radio station in Thomasville, GA. Within a few months Ron and Jerry also started working for the stations in same area. We stayed there for a couple of years. Later I was at WQTR in Whiteville, North Carolina where we did an AOR format.

 

 

This is the radio station of News Director Frank Laseter(since 1993), aka Larry Dean ex Radio England, Country Station WSOC Charlotte, NC. 103,7 FM. Illustration from http://www.wsocfm.com

"They wanted us to sound slick, pacy and fast"[196]

 

Roger Day started his career in 1966 on the MV Olga Patricia as a deejay with Swinging Radio England — a.k.a. BOSS Radio — and stuck it out to the end with that station.

 

How did you become interested in radio?

 

What got me going was listening to Radio Veronica. I didn't know what it was and I didn't even know it was on a boat. I used to live in south-east England and Radio Veronica used to bounce in. There were no English stations apart from Radio Luxembourg, and Radio Veronica was playing music and it was great. I only found out later that it was on a boat when I started working for the stations themselves. At school I was known as Juke Box Joe because I was so besotted with the radio.

 

Radio Luxembourg and Radio Veronica did deviate from what you heard on British radio in those days?

 

Well, in England it was two record shows a week and when I listened to Radio Luxembourg I thought that I'd like that job because I love music and I really did want to play it. I guess I was about 13 and I had no idea of how you went about it. I practised with a tape recorder in my bedroom.

 

In 1966 a group of American businessmen started two radio stations on the MV Laissez Faire: Swinging Radio England and Britain Radio. How did you get involved with them?

 

I had sent some audition tapes to Radio Caroline and Radio London and, like everyone else, I was rejected. I met Dave Cash, who worked for Radio London and I asked him whether there was any chance of a job on the boat. He said that it was unlikely because I had no experience but there was a new station starting up run by Americans who'd just flown in that day and were staying at the Hilton Hotel in Mayfair and why didn't I go and see them. So with my girlfriend, we went to see them and they asked me what I wanted. I told them that I wanted a job and because I was the first English person they'd had, they said I could have one[197]. They didn't know whether I was good, bad or indifferent!

 

Some of the other guys on Britain Radio were Brian Tilney and Colin Nicol. I heard, that Brian Tilney also hadn't done any radio before ...

 

No, Brian was a bingo caller! Good qualification! I used to be an accountant and Johnny Walker was a car salesman and, apparently, that's why they picked us because they didn't want us sounding like the other English deejays who they thought were bad. They wanted us to sound slick, pacy and fast like the Americans and they wanted to teach us how to sell like they do and I'm very grateful because I never got into the bad British habits.

 

American style radio was introduced to Britain by Radio London. Swinging Radio England was meant to go even beyond that. Did you have to listen to tapes just like the Radio London jocks did to learn the trade the American way?

 

Yes, we listened to tapes from WFUN in Miami and I'd never heard American radio until then and I thought it was superb and they wanted to sound like that. Swinging Radio England is still one of the best stations there's ever been.

 

 

 

WFUN survey from October 25th, 1964, from http://www.las-solanas.com/gallery.php The coming radio ship Galaxy has just left Dade Drydock in Miami, bound for San Juan, Madeira and the UK. Almost 1 1/2 years later WFUN disc jockey Jack Armstrong hears a knock on the door by Rick Randall representing a man called Don Pierson who soon will have another radio ship ready. He also started the first...[198]

 

Swinging Radio England and Britain Radio were created by some of the Texan backers who had broken away from Radio London. Among them was Don Pierson. So Pierson had also been involved with Radio London. Was that fact known to the staff of the station?

 

Well, I didn't know and it was only later on that I found out that he'd set it up and they'd done the dirty on him.

 

Did Don Pierson or Bill Vick often visit the ship?

Bill Vick not so much, but Don Pierson was always on. He'd come on with his wife and every time he came on, he'd ask to play "The Yellow Rose Of Texas" which was hardly the sort of music we played. Well, Britain Radio did! They were fabulous characters, just like you see in Dallas, if they wanted it, they bought it.

 

How big was the cultural gap between the British and the American deejays?

They didn't understand us, but I don't think we understood them either. It used to really annoy the American deejays, who used to work for really professional Top Forty radio for years. They were better deejays than Johnny, Brian and all the other guys, including myself. But who was getting all the mail? We were! Simply because we were English and the English are always strange about foreigners.

 

How were the conditions on the MV Olga Patricia when you first went on board?

It wasn't really ready when they came over and the first place I slept was in the mess room. There used to be a big refrigerator and we thought it had been a body boat from the Vietnam war. We were convinced there were ghosts on board. Friendly ones, though. I slept in the toilet, the bathroom and I think just before I left, they built the cabins.

 

You made your programmes for Swinging Radio England. Did you also do any programmes on Britain Radio, as the station was airing from the same ship?

 

Yes, I did. But I don't think any tapes exist, thank God! I was a rock 'n' roll fan and I didn't like doing the "Hello, This is Britain Radio" in a posh voice.

 

Much has been said about the concept of BOSS Radio. They didn't understand Europe very well, though, did they?

 

Not really. They heard Radio Caroline and Radio London and they thought those were crap and that they could do it better. I have to agree. Compared to what we were doing, these other stations were boring. We moved, we were pacy. I think, we were too early. The station was at least ten years before Britain was ready for it, and that's why we didn't pull in a great audience. They made some wrong decisions with frequencies but, even to this day, it was still a great radio station,

 

The ship was equipped with a Carousel unit. Was it difficult to use?

 

Well, this was one of the first stations to have automation. I mean, you have it now, but we had it in 1966! I used to sit in the studio, at night and watch this thing go round with announcements that "This Is Britain Radio", etcetera.

 

Apparently the Swinging Radio England organisation hired an advertising agency that, before that time, had only sold advertising in cinemas?

 

And they weren't very successful for us. That was another bad decision. They made a lot of bad decisions. They had new ideas but they didn't come off.

 

The Radio England broadcasters were expected to read the news on their sister station Britain Radio and vice versa. Was it difficult for you to read the news?

 

Yes, we had to read the news over this jingle backing and trying to read as fast as the music. The weather one was the fun because it used to have a countdown in it so by the time it got to 1, there was a big explosion and off into some music. I used to be so nervous doing it that I read it that fast that I'd finished by 8!

 

The types of music aired by the offshore stations were different. What can you tell about the music of Swinging Radio England?

 

We used to play things a lot earlier. A lot of stuff was American and we were always the first with Motown Records. A lot of the young people liked us for that. We played a lot of Beach Boys too, which was great, and we were way in front of everyone else. The trouble was, we used to drop things before they were released in England. Musically, we used to be very quick and had a prediction chart like Radio London, but we were way ahead of them.

 

How was the BOSS Fun 50 compiled?

 

Sometimes by me! I thought that a record was good so I put it in. Never mind research. Research is the biggest enemy of radio.

 

You all shared the same tender with Radio London? How did you all get on with each other?

 

Well, on-air we were rivals but off-air we were all friends. We would get stuck in Harwich so we'd have a few beers. The first time I met Tony Blackburn was when we went out on the tender. Now this is a man I listened to and he was a god to me.

 

There was some rivalry , though, as the jingles of Radio Swinging England were stolen by Radio Caroline and Radio London?

 

We were the first radio station to have our jingles custom made whereas Radio London had their jingles doctored so that sounded like they were Radio London's but they weren't. They put Radio London over the top of them. We had two great packages, which for a radio station that was only on the air for six months was amazing. When we used the first package we were so naive that we played the jingles on air without talking over them and Radio Caroline and Radio London recorded them and they were on-air before we used them. Stupid, or what?[199]

 

Gary Stevens, who worked for one of the top stations in New York City (WMCA), was sending taped shows across the Atlantic to go out on Swinging Radio England. Was there any contact between him and the guys on the ship?

 

No, I never met him. We used to run a tape which he used to start with "Hi everybody, it's whatever day it was" except one day we put the wrong tape on the wrong day so it might have be a Sunday but it was Tuesday.

 

One of the guys on board was Graham Gill, who came from Australia?

 

Yes, he was a great guy. He was a little bit more reserved than the rest of us and he didn't take part into many of the jokes that we played on each other.

 

At the end of the year the owners decided that Swinging Radio England was to become a Dutch station. On 13 November 1966 Radio England closed down and some days later, on 14 November the new station Radio Dolfijn went on air, aimed at the Dutch public. How did you react on that?

 

The way we found out was absolutely awful. The tender came along and we were on the deck and Johnny Walker was reading the paper and he said that we were going to be a Dutch station. And that's how we found out. Literally Johnny said that he was off and he jumped on the tender there and then and went back. I wished I had joined him at the time. He got on Caroline before I did, the swine!

 

Your next station was Radio Caroline South. Did you apply for a job there or did they ask you?

 

No, I didn't apply. I stuck it out to the end with Radio England and then I went back to work in the clubs. About June, 1967, a lot of so-called superstars got cold feet and I knew the guys at Radio Caroline and they knew me. I got home one day and my Dad told me that Terry Bate from Caroline had rang and wanted me to call him. They were desperate for anyone who'd had radio experience and he asked me when I could start and I said tomorrow. So I told my disco "Bye, I'm off to the boat."

 

Johnnie Walker remembers Radio England whilst at Radio Caroline South

 

Let me tell you something about the work on Radio England.(from?)11 oclock. Radio England(news) at 7.15, Britain Radio at 8. Radio England at 8.15, Britain Radio at 9. And Radio England at 9.15, and then at about 9.40 I used to go to bed. I couldnt sleep very long because one of the big snags thats always been with the radio ships has always been that the crew onboard tend to forget it is housing a radio station.make lot of noise and banging thru the dayI used to find it very difficult to sleepdid not get any meals thru the nightif you wanted to eat3 hours get up and eat and then have 3 hours sleeppretty hard scenecrew on Radio Englandsome Spanish, some Dutchpretty hard on that shipRoger Day would verify that.(Play)Radio England aircheck from about let me think September of last year(played recording we have placed here on October 8th, 1966 see diary.) Played Remember this Golden Classic Jingle without Swinging Radio England at the end, and remarked Naughty Caroline pinched the jingles...Radio England pinched jingles too.[200]

 

You are listening to the Jerry Smithwick program!

 

I sailed from Miami on the Olga Patricia once the outfitting for the two radio stations was completed. The trip turned into an extended sailing venture when the mast collapsed at sea between New York and Bermuda.

 

The mast was bolted on a plate to the deck and the top heaviness of the mast with the antenna added probably created enough force that it just snapped the bolts and it fell over the side. Once that happened I think our top speed was about six knots so it took us forever!

 

We had to put in at the Azores Islands for several days and then limped on to Lisbon for 2, maybe 3, weeks of repairs before sailing on to our site in the North Sea off Harwich[201].

 

Ron OQuinn, Larry Dean and myself all came from a little town in Georgia called Moultrie, and all of us were involved in the radio business. At that time I was working in Gainesville, GA. Ron was down at WFUN in Miami and was approached by the leader of the project team putting the ship together in Miami, to become programme director and one of Rons responsibilities was hiring disc-jockey staff. So he called myself and Larry and I thought it sounded really great. I left my job the next day and flew to Miami and that was the first time that I had ever been on the ocean!

 

The studios were completely built and operational, except that the actual frequencies for Britain Radio and Radio England hadnt been selected, so Ron and I got on top of the London Hilton with a transistor radio and we just sort of dialed through until we hit a silent spot, and thats how the frequencies were decided! We got on top of Radio Moscow and we had to re-adjust one of the frequencies but that was the only thing that had to be done once we(made)the stations operational.

 

 

Jerry Smithwick on the tender in May 1966(r) with Dick Sharp, a staffer of 32 Curzon Street.(l). Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.

 

Ron and his wife had a little flat in Wimbledon and allowed me to rent a bedroom from them. Wed work a couple of weeks on the ship then we had a week off to visit and meet folks and it was absolutely wonderful. It was the first time I had been to England and I loved it.

 

32 Curzon Street was the office for the radio operation on the ship and Don Pierson and Bill Vick set up their offices there. The sales operation was actually based there as well. It was also where we got our pay cheques! For those times, we were making fairly decent money, about 150-200 dollars a week.

 

There was some internal strife with the management between Don Pierson and Bill Vick, which made things a bit uncomfortable for some of the Americans. Rick Randall actually left before the three of us did. Ron and I were on the same flight coming back and Larry a week later.

 

I thought the response was phenomenal. We came out of small-market radio and it was almost inconceivable when we put Radio England on the air and after people found us, to have the tender draw alongside the ship and have sometimes thousands of letters each day. It was just unbelievable. The DJs were as popular as the musicians of the music we were playing. When we came off the ship in Harwich, there would be two or three hundred people there wanting to see us. We all liked it and I dont think any of us were stars but personally I didnt know how to deal with it because I had never been faced with it before.

 

The thing that really sealed it for me was there was a lot of effort to put the ships out of business. One of the things we heard was that the FCC indicated it would revoke the US licence of any Americans associated with the pirates. This meant itd be difficult to get a job in radio when we got back to the States. But I didnt really want to leave. The ship was beginning to come into its own. We had built a faily loyal listener base, which was increasing from month to month and the DJs were becoming known. We would probably have become more accepted if we had stayed around longer.

 

Following Radio England I worked at WFUN for a few months and then moved around various stations and in late 1968 I went back into the Army. After that I went back into radio until 1974 and then went into TV in sales, programming and later on, General Manager. In 1987 I came to Panama City, FL as President and GM of the NBC-affiliated TV stations. But in 1996 I went into politics.[202]

 

Phil Martin reporting.

 

Phil Martin is from London, but was a student in Bristol. Back in London he worked for Lintas, an ad agency which was a division of multi-national Unilever. He lived in a flat at Bruton Place off Berkeley Square with some mates working in the PR trade.

 

Through these, Phil was introduced to Rick Randall, working for SRE and BR. He was given a script to read, Randall said: Sounds fine to me, come along and join us[203], and took a three week holiday and went out to the Olga. He stayed on, and broadcast on both stations, being newsreader on 227 and also making it to Programme Controller on Britain Radio , where he stayed on after SRE went away.  When Radio 355 appeared Phil went back to the ship for a couple of months, but did not stay for the close down.

 

Later Phil worked as a journalist of the Daily Express, after which he went back to broadcasting in the form of morning presenter of BBC Radio Newcastle and then to producing TV at Tyne Tees.

 

In an interview in 2004, Phil said about his time on the Olga: It was an exciting, hectic, amazing, fun era, that gave us familiarity with the microphone.

 

 

Phil Martin at the Carousel[204].

 

Summer 1966 brings the Second US Wave[205] to the 227 microphone.

 

In Don Pierson's files[206], there is a note written by Don dated July 8th, 1966. This mentions the following new personnel for the station:

 

Klingeman-25 Claremont Dr. Harrisburg, PA

Phillips-RFD 1 Nashua, New Hampshire

Curtiss-1139 Second St.,No.4, NW Roanoke, VA

Henry-713 W 4th St., St.Louis Town, PA[207]

Berry-77-28 Manor Dr., Harrisburg, PA

 

From now existing information it is evident that

 

Klingeman-was Robert(Bob) Klingeman, the late Boom Boom Brannigan.

Phillips-was Rick Phillips, the late Chuck Blair(appeared on promos and ads on SRE/Britain Radio(like the 3 "Music, in the air everywhere" ones on Britain Radio) even after he went to Radio London)

Curtiss-is Jack Curtiss

Henry-unidentified. Who could he be? Some sources mention a Jim Henry briefly on the Laissez Faire,we have  never heard him.

Berry-Bill Berry(Now WKPQ Hornell, NY 1320)

 

This July 8th note does not say anything about the third US wave of Boss Jocks:

 

The late Tom Hatala, broadcasting as Tom Cooper-and Greg Warren? A recording from July 29th, 1966 from Britain Radio seems to indicate they are the same person. However, he reads the news on Britain Radio on November 8th, 1966 as Tom Cooper.

Ron Rose?, broadcasting as Mark Stevens and Ted Delaney. Replaced Johnnie Walker? Mark Stevens was in the lead in the final show on SRE Nov.13th, 1967 from 2300-2330. He then interviewed Bill Berry and said he had come from PA while he(Mark)came from CA. Heard doing 2300-0600 in October, 1966, and reading the 8.15 news on October 28th. Continued on Britain Radio which left in January, 1967, and returned to California where he came from.(San Francisco)

 

Other additions to the staff were

 

John Ross-Barnard, see separate chapter. Read news on SRE at least until October 22nd.

Gordon Bennett was earlier on Radio Caroline as Gary Kemp, and worked also for the BBC at the same time under another name![208] Now seems to live in Tulsa, OK as Gary Kemp. He has worked there on KVOO 1170.

Alan Black, the cartoonist of the Olga, see separate chapter. Alan Black joined the Olga in September, 1966, and appeared on SRE at least until mid-October 1966. Then Britain Radio. On the final day of Radio 355, Alan was Senior dj and was the longest-serving dj on the ship, his voice had been on both channels and on all 5 stations.

Canadian Errol Bruce was earlier on Radio Caroline, went to Britain Radio, later on AM1430(then CKFH call letters) in Toronto. On air on SRE on November 13th until 1515. Might have gone ashore? Later re-appeared on Britain Radio.

Johnny Dark(Harry Putnam) , see separate illustration. Of Britain Radio's R&B Nite Ride he was also a salesman and is the voice on the Oscar's Groovy Grotto ad on SRE, as well as on a BOH ID.

Graham Gill, see separate illustration. He joined SRE in June 1966 from Radio London, later only on Britain Radio? Summer 1967 on Radio 390. Later on Radio Caroline and Radio Noordzee Int. off Holland. Then Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. Now retired, lives in Holland.

Phil Martin, see separate chapter. He read news on SRE and was dj on Britain Radio until its end on Feb.28th, 1967. Later back on Radio 355.

Bruce Wayne(David J Bennett).

SRE Boss Jocks Roger Day, Bill Berry and Bruce Wayne were called Britain Radio djs in a newspaper AD for The Uppercut Club as of December, 1967.

Willy Walker of Radio London gave Jerry King(Fred Riley)(ex ZBM Hamilton, Bermuda just like Big L djs WW, Duncan Johnson, and Mike Lennox) an Olga role[209]. Jerry went at any rate to Radio Caroline North.

 

"Boom Boom Brannigan" or Bob Klingeman

 

Boomer broadcast on "Swinging Radio England" from sometime in August 1966 to 12th of November 1966. He was a very good presenter, much loved by his listeners[210].

 

 

1966-1967 scribbling at a school in Norway

 

The person we are dealing with here is not the Boom Boom who was on WPTR 1540 in Albany, NY, but his identity came from a jingle tape copied by Larry Dean who came to Radio England in the spring of 1966.

 

On Sunday, November 13th, 1966, in the final programme on Swinging Radio England, which started at 2300, Phil Martin went through a list of all the Boss Jocks having worked on the station. Martyn Webster adds: Well listening to the last half hour I think that Phil Martin mentions that Boom Boom Brannigan "of the B B Spree" left the ship yesterday I think. This would point to him leaving November 12th, 1966 the day before closedown.

 

Phil Martin has described Boom Boom in this way: very much a dj before his time who had a lot of personality.[211]

 

In this chapter we will try to take a closer look on the fascinating Boom Boom character, along with a peek at what might be called the second US wave of Boss Jocks for Radio England.

 

Suggested real names for Boom Boom, or Boomer were from 1966 Bob Wayne, and "Steve Mathews" or "Mathers".  The note in Don Pierson's files[212] mentions Klingemans address as 25 Claremont Dr. Harrisburg, PA.

 

But the late Boom Boom Brannigan was Robert(Bob) Klingeman. The address above is hopefully a lead to find Boomers' family. We hope to track his relatives down if that is all possible, and let them know how much he and his station is still remembered fondly by those who heard him so long ago. If we could uncover his Social Security Number (SSN) then we might be able to match it with any remaining payroll records on file. Surely thre must be many that would like to tell them we remember him and his station with fondness.

 

 

Boomers short life is summarized in this copy from Peter Alex book Whos Who in Pop Radio(1966), out of print long ago, but a copy is on the web at

http://www.paulplu.demon.co.uk/whos_who/england.htm

 

 

Picture: SRE publicity photo headshot taken in London. Boom Boom Brannigan(Bob Klingeman) from Peter Alex book Whos Who in Pop Radio(1966), out of print long ago. Unknown photographer. As far as we know, the only picture of Boomer anyone has besides the picture from a Roanoke gig in early 1967.(below)

 

April 4th, 1967: Boomer's accident, by Jack Curtiss.

 

Jack, formerly General Manager operating the twin stations Radio England/Dolfijn-Britain Radio) trading in the UK/Holland in 1966/67 and now living in Australia has given a very valuable input on Boomer:

 

Boom-Boom (Bob Klingeman) as I recall may have also used the Wayne jingle before settling in under the Brannigan monicker.

 

Boomer and I toiled on the pirate radio ship Laissez Faire off the English coast in the summer and fall of 1966.

 

I do remember telling my later SRE crewmates (including Boom Boom) how very much I enjoyed working at WROV in Roanoke, what a splendid chap Burton Levine was, and how highly I regarded him.

 

How ironic that Boom Boom, who as far as I could tell had never heard of Roanoke till I started talking about it, headed there after returning home.  He was still in England until mid-November 1966, not a whole lot of time to get back to, maybe spend the holidays with family in Pennsylvania and then work at two different stations WROV and then WPXI. Here at Channel 91, or Pixie, he would play the same jingles as he did in the North Sea:

 

http://www.roanokeradio.com/WPXI/

 

If my hunch is correct that Boomer didn't arrive in Roanoke until January, then he would have spent scarcely three months between the two stations. Sadly, Boomer did not remain at WROV but joined another new station across town, WPXI at 910 on the dial. While working there, he was killed in an accident.

 

 

The last known picture of Boomer making a publicity appearance for WPXI just before he died on April 4th,1967. Marty Shayne(Boomer's roommate at the time) ,"Pixie Girls" Valeria Cook & Michele Lowe, Boom Boom Branegan, along with fans. (Boomer changed the spelling when he got to Virginia). Marty Shayne supplied the photo. Marty has told that he Boomer were dating these girls at the time and he drove them both to his funeral in Harrisburg. Valeria later became Marty's wife and is now a successful attorney. Michelle died apparently in 2003 from health problems.

 

Jack Curtiss concludes:

 

In a way, I think Boomer's life was truly emblematic of sixties pirate radio itself... brash, cocky, bursting with adolescent energy, full of promise.. and cut short way too soon before its time. If you get a chance, raise a glass in fond recollection of the "B-B Spree" and its host.

 

And then its over to Perry Woods, former Operations Manager at WPXI:

 

Bob was brash, but I always attributed that to youth. I had only been on WPXI a few weeks(I think I arrived sometime in March with the title Operations Manager) when the accident happened.

 

I was supposed to program WPXI-Pixie and WCFV in Clifton Forge. With Buford Epperson, everybody had a title. You could take it and 10 cents and go to a restaurant and get a cup of coffee with it. I believe Bob did have the title of PD. He did a regular weekday show from 2pm until sign-off. I know I spent most of my time in those days explaining to Bufords creditors that they would have to see him about the money he owed them. We made do with what we had and Boomers death was the beginning of WPXI having less and less of everything. By the time I left WPXI they owed me a couple thousand dollars (which I never got). The good news was, we ran the radio station the way we wanted to because Epperson was too busy hiding from his creditors to put in much time at the station. WE had a great sound, and nobody to go out and sell it. I only knew Bob for about a month or 6 weeks. He was easily the most talented member of the staff and with him doing afternoons, I felt we had an honest chance to hold our own in the market. After Boomers accident, things really started to go down hill even more rapidly. People kept wondering when they were going to get paid, since there was no sales staff, there just wasnt much happening to give anyone much to be optimistic about. Because I had two small children to take care of, I ended up going to WROV, at least there I got a check on a regular basis. Thats really the story, by the time I arrive, WPXI had become sort of the skid row of radio station. We could have done very well in Roanoke had Buford stayed out of whatever he was into. The sound was fresh, it was clean and we were holding our own against WROV. I wish I could paint a better picture for you, but that is the way it was.  Marty and the rest of them were kids, they would have worked for free (come to think of it, they were working for free). From a standpoint of the work, Pixie was a great place to work because there was no interference from management. But from the standpoint of a father trying to raise a family, it left something be desired. 

 

But from an operations standpoint, Pixie was terrific. From a management standpoint, well, lets just say I got there a little late. I do remember coming in one morning to do the show and Bob and Marty had spent the entire night moving everything around (including the console) to make the control room more efficient. I remember the panic I felt when I saw what theyd done and thought to myself, well well never get on the air today. But to my surprise, everything worked like it was supposed to. I guess what I am really trying to say here is that we had really wonderful people on the air staff. They were truly the most inventive and resourceful group of people I ever had the privilege of working with.

 

To be honest, April 4th, 1967  wasnt one of my better days. I was still in the process of getting to know everyone when the accident happened. I remember it was in the afternoon. Bob Klingeman was killed in a motorcycle accident just two blocks from the station. He did not own a motorbike but had borrowed the motorcycle from another jock, David Warf, working at sister Station WCFV. Warf apparently had brought it to WPXI(probably from a dealer)where some of the staffers each took turns riding it. Everybody wanted to. I was scheduled to go next after Boomer. The result was, Ive never been on a motorcycle since.

 

Bob was sitting on it at a stop sign at an intersection when a lady did not see him. Her vehicle drug him about a block. I remember going to the accident scene and I remember holding Bob before the medics arrived.  As Id left my medical degree in my other pants that day, I cant honestly say if he died in my arms or not. I knew Bob wasnt going to make it, for all intents and purposes, he was not responsive and not conscious but he was still breathing.  So I know he was still alive when I got there and when the medics got there, they took over and told me after he had been put in the ambulance that he was gone. Officially he was pronounced dead at the hospital. Bob Lackeys dad actually saw the wreck and came to the station and told us about it.   

 

I was the one who had to go back to the studio and do Boomers shift that afternoon.  As I recall, I had been on the air only a few minutes when I got the official word that he had died.  It certainly made for a long afternoon for me and I know it wasnt pleasant for Boomer either.

 

Finally the word passes to Steve Richards(Steve Nelson), also formerly of WPXI:

 

When Boomer left Radio England he went to Roanoke and worked at WROV (where Jack Curtiss had been a DJ prior to joining the ship). Boomer had brought with him a copy of Herman's Hermits' No Milk Today and the song was played there as an exclusive. The record company released it in the States and it became a big hit. Marty Shayne, with whom he shared a flat, urged Boom Boom to leave WROV after a short time and subsequently joined Marty at rival rock station WPXI, also in Roanoke.[213]

 

 

Roanoke Times for April 5th,1967 reporting of Boomers death.

 

Radio England Boss Jocks in LIFE International Magazine October 31st, 1966.

 

 

War on the Radio Pirates. Front Page of LIFE International Oct.31st,1966. Submitted by Lars Holm.

 

 

Will Radio Pirates Walk the Plank? LIFE International Oct.31st,1966.

 

 

How djs enjoy the freedom of the seas. LIFE International Oct.31st,1966. Submitted by Lars Holm.

 

 

 

Ron OQuinn and Larry Dean in the messroom. Jerry Smithwick, Brian Tylney, and Rick Randall behind.

And Australian Boss Jock Colin Nicol climbing a rope. Unknown photographer. LIFE International Oct.31st,1966. Submitted by Lars Holm.

 

Redundancy to you, buddy.[214] A format change on 227 and Bill Berry shows leadership.

 

In Mid-October 1966, a promo on SRE announced a format change to Swinging Radio Holland in Dutch in Tom Coopers evening show. Also so in Bruce Waynes Midnight Early Show  on October 22nd, 1966. And Johnnie Walker mentioned the change in his farewell show on October 15th, 1966. But on November 11th, the new station was unnamed in the Errol Boss Cat Bruce afternoon show, while in a promo in the same show on November 13th, the last day, also no name was given.
 
 
Swinging Radio Holland to come. From Dutch press via Hans Knots archive.

 

John Ross-Barnard of the Radio England news staff has his story:

 

I left SRE/Britain Radio in October 1966 to join BBC 2 TV. But on the day I received the word from my wife that I had been offered work with the BBC, the information that SRE was to close, very soon, was delivered by (I think) Brian Tylney who had formerly been a broadcaster on the ship but joined the Supply & Tender company as a manager. When the news broke everyone was devastated so I realised that my good news would not go down very well. (My own memories are included in Keith Skues's splendid book 'Pop went the Pirates'.) It was the first experience for many on board to be part of a station close-down. But of course the American DJs were very used to format changes, station closures etc and I recall that Bill Berry got the boys (we were hardly more than boys) together and gave us a good talking-to, right there on the deck of the Laissez Faire. "Life will go on" he said "You will survive this experience, you will have a career in radio if you are persistent and if you are not you might as well forget radio as a career." It was a salutary lesson and lecture and one which I have never forgotten. In fact Bill Berry was an unsung catalyst to those of us who had very little experience of what "real" radio was all about. Many of us took his words to heart and not only survived in radio & TV but some even succeeded!

 

I am sorry to hear that Tom Hatala has died. He too knew what English radio would become in the future. The US Boss Jocks must have thought we were very naive. But they had the good manners not to say so. We did not deserve the courteous treatment we received from Don Pierson and others, well from most of them in fact.

 

 

 

The Olga Patricia carrying the Laissez Faire name and the new station IDs on the side spring 1967.

Eric Gilder. Used with permission.

 

David Gillbee, also known as Dave MacKay came to the Olga Patricia as News Editor for Britain /Dolfijn in November, 1966, replacing Chuck Blair, who went over the road to Radio London.

 

Dave MacKay had then been in aviation for a time after leaving Radio City 299 on Shivering Sands. He relates something quite unknown before:

 

When Ted Walters, the Chief Engineer was on shore leave, Alan Black, Phil Martin and myself opened up again the Radio Dolfijn transmitter who usually closed early and made Swinging Radio England come back for a couple of hours some nights. We played some music and SRE jingles and said the transmission was coming from Ronans mushroom farm, relating to the fight between Caroline and Roy Bates for Rough Towers, now better known as Sealand.

 

When asked about the Carousel automation system onboard the Olga Dave recalls that the Derek Burroughs tapes were originally 10 inch and were categorized into instrumental, vocal, male and female. The tapes were made by Ovation Programmatic in the USA.

 

Dave also remembers when the Olgas antenna mast was damaged on February 28th, 1967. Going over with the ship to Wijsmuller in Zaandam, he and Alan Black became sailors and took their stint at the wheels. While at the wharf they had plenty to eat drink, but no money. It was in Holland they heard that Peir-Vick Ltd. was insolvent and that Britain Radio was no more.

 

Some of the Britain Radio staff remainded after the name and format change to Radio 355 in the evening of March 16th, 1967, but with Ted Allbeury taking over from Bill Vick as Managing Director, also former Radio 390 announcers took to the high seas. Dave recalls some culture differences between the two groups and the feeling that the new boys were a bit unseaworthy.

 

The new format did not last long, and Radio 355 took on Britain Radios format. Also Radio 227 changed back to the format used by SRE. On 355/227 Dave was production director, and made the new versions of the SRE Pams #27 jingle set into Swinging Radio Double 2-7 and Radio 227 in 8 hours overnight at the end of May,1967.

 

When asked about the evening related in the diary of this essay on July 29th, 1967, where Derek Burroughs is going home, Dave explains some of the staff were ardent card players and had a North Sea Canasta Championship. Here TW was an eager contender, whilst Derek had a great hand and was a great caster. And David OBrien, a Newzealander present that evening, was the Sales Manager of the 355/227 operation.

 

But who gave the Derek Burroughs name to the Carousel announcer? I think it must have been Ted Delaney or Jack Curtiss. And then Dave gives us the identity of Derek Burroughs: It was Jack Wagner, a bespectacled comedian in the Rowan and Martin US TV Show Laugh-In.

 

Dave stayed on the Olga for some time after the closedown in the morning of August 6th, 1967 being involved in the run-down process of the radio stations that had been there.

 

Alan Black, assistant programme director on Britain Radio from December 1966 and senior dj on Radio 355 in 1967 was also the great cartoonist of the Olga Patricia and Radio News.

 

 

Alan Black joined the Olga from Radio Scotland(there from January 1966) in September, 1966. From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of January 31st, 1967.

 

Alan Black appeared on SRE at least until mid-October 1966. Then Britain Radio. On the final day of Radio 355, Alan was Senior dj and was the longest-serving dj on the ship, his voice had been on both channels and on all 5 stations. In his farewell speech on the final transmission on 845 kc he mentioned the friendship with Boom Boom Brannigan. Bill Berry, Bruce Wayne, Mark Stevens, Ed Moreno, Phil Martin, Jack Curtiss. I hope theyve all gone on to greener pastures... When I first came to the Laissez Faire I worked for the other station Swinging Radio England. We really had to swing. We played the Tamla Sound. (The Elgins Put yourself in my place. )Just one fine example of the sounds you could hear on Radio England. But of course in November of 1966 England swang no more and was replaced by Radio Dolfijn. And when they said Postbus 1390 in Amsterdam(Postal address of Radio 227-editor) the listeners on the continent really did respond.

 

 

An appearance by a Dolfijn in November, 1966. From Dutch Press. From Hans Knots archive.

 

 

From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 7th, 1967.

 

 

Is #2 from left Alan Himself? From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 7th, 1967.

 

 

The general feeling onboard the Olga in late 1966? Which US call letters are in the wall? From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 14th, 1967.

 

 

From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 21st, 1967.

 

 

Texas Radio in Europe seen through a Scotsmans pencil. From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 28th, 1967.

 

Look Boden, formerly on Radio Dolfijn and 227 writes:

 

a great job (done)putting all this information on your site, some of the time I was on board of the Laissez Faire. -I'm gonna use it for my programme "Laissez Faire" on the new 227. By the way, Jos van Vliet was the one who brought the ship to IJmuiden and Lex Harding was the one who brought it back to England.[215]

 

 

Look Boden acknowledgement. From Bert Bossink in Boxtel in the Netherlands and Hans Knots archive.

 

And then its over to Dick Weedas Radio 227 Memories[216]

 

Hans Knot relates:

 

At the Dutch broadcasting museum(121-131 Amerfoortseweg) in Hilversum, where there are several collections and the museums own broadcast archive, Arno Weltens(handed)me a few pieces of paper belonging to Dick Weeda, who was a dj on the Laissez Faire in 1967. Hed given these to the museum some years ago. Dick Weeda began his memories at the end on August 5, 1967:

 

Reception

 

Unfortunately after dark Radio 227 was inaudible in Holland due to the fact that Radio Leipzig, an East German Propaganda station broadcast on the same frequency 1322 kc with 150 kW whereas we only had a maximum of 50 kW. Our station closed early evening because after eight oclock we where blown away by GDR propaganda.

 

Radio ship

 

The Laissez Faire also housed Radio 355 and was used during the Korean war as an American transport ship for fallen American personnel.

 

The owner of the ship as far as we could find out was Pierce Langford III, (and?)a senator from Texas. On board the ship however, we heard strong rumours that the real owner was Lady Bird Johnson, wife of American President Lyndon B. Johnson.

 

Programme director and djs

 

Tony Windsor(Tony Withers)(Tee-Double-U/Tie Dubbeljoe) who was the programme director of Radio 227 had big plans to steal the audience from other stations which he was unsuccessful at doing. He was hoping to attract the audience in Holland, who listened to Radio London[217].

Lex Harding (Lodewijk van Hengst)(Hitwerk)

Tom Collins(Tom Droog)(Easy Listening)

Look Boden(Country and Western)

Harky(Harold van Gelder)

Dick Weeda was a DJ on Radio 227 from first of May 1967 until the closing of the station in august 67.

He presented two programmes- from 5.00 to 6.30 Folk Time and from 18.30-19.00 Only Dutch (Louter Nederlands).

John van Doren(Jaap Paardekoper, but with 3 other names)was a land-based DJ on radio Veronica before coming over to Radio 227, He worked for a beat group, which came from Amsterdam and the Hague called Daddys Act, which had a record contract with EMI. He had several hit singles in Holland. One was a very slow version of Eight Days A Week by the Beatles whilst Babys in Black was another. Also under his own name he recorded two solo singles in 1967, Last Night and We Waren Zo Optredens (We Were So Very Happy). John went to Paris in 1969 where he became a very big star and made a great career in France with several concerts in the Olympia in Paris. He was contracted to the Riviera label. In October, 1969, he had a big number one hit with "Oh Lady Mary", but that was recorded under his other name, David Alexander Winter, recorded for the Eurovision Song Contest for Luxembourg. After that he recorded "Vole S'en Vole" and in December, 1973, "Laissez-moi LeTemps". He didn't have any more hits and sadly died in the 90's In France.

There was no tension between the DJs outside the studio. Evidence : Not only I but also other DJs from the pirate-time of 227 have joined the new 227.

 

Salary and logistics

 

"The deejays of Radio 227 had good salaries. We were two weeks on, one week off. On board we had four DJs, each doing a three hour show. We earned 210 guilders net a week after paying tax and national insurance. As a 17 year old I earned 350 guilders a month gross. Whilst the DJ's were on board the ship they didn't have to pay for anything as it was provided. After being on board for two weeks we left the ship for a week and went home to our parents. (We) travelled from Holland to the ship by Channel Airways, which was a very important advertiser on the station, from Zestienhoven, near Rotterdam to Southend airport. (We) then went by taxi to Harwich and to the ship by a small boat. If it was low tide we couldn 't get to the ship from Harwich, we went by taxi to Felixstowe. Our tender did not come everyday, but once a week when two DJs came on board and 2 left for a week time out.

 

The format of Radio 227

 

The format of the station was the same as Wonderful Radio London-with one difference. We tried a Fabulous 50 instead of the 40 records played on Big L. Next to the Fab 50, we had a Tip chart of 15 records. It meant we played 10 records every 30 minutes. We had to play two records out of the Top 10, two from the Tip list, one golden oldie, one request[218] and four records out of the 10-50 range. When the new records came in, we listened and then decided whether they would make an entry in the Fab 50 or the tip parade. Between 0600 and 1800 we had three-hour shows. I often presented programmes after 6pm. The Fab 50 and Tip list were made by all the deejays and the programme director and not record sales. As a British company the people behind Radio 227 received a lot of flexi-discs, which were like promotional records from the record compares to see if they were successful. Therefore Radio 227 played a lot of records earlier than the other Dutch language stations. For instance, A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum and All You Need is Love by The Beatles were played as soon as the flexi-discs came on board and we had them immediately at no.1 the following week, making these records smash hits and not only in the Netherlands.

To prove the point that if one played a record often enough it would become a hit long after other radio stations had neglected it.

We picked a Dutch carnival record that flopped(Dan moet je mijn zuster zien" by Ria Valk) and played it continuously in June, 1967. It had been released seven or eight months earlier but didnt do anything. We decided to play it 12 times a day and it became a no.1 hit in Holland and all the other Dutch stations began to play it.

 

Censorship

 

"During Folk Time, it was forbidden to play protest songs about American politics and America's involvement in the Vietnam war so Phil Ochs couldn't be played at all. Also "What Have You Learned In School Today?" by Tom Paxton couldn't be played either. " It seems Weeda was reprimanded by the programme director for playing this. On May 18, Rod McKuen's "Seasons In The Sun" had its first airing but "Soldiers Wanna Be Heroes" was refused because it was anti-war. But I discovered it for the Dutch listeners. That number became McKuens first hit and went to no.1 in August 1971, and stayed in the Veronica Top40 for 17 weeks. His number Freight Train by the Folk Singing Harpsichord was the theme tune for the programme Freight Train.

 

The concert of Jos Feliciano.

 

In July 1967 we had Jose Feliciano on board of to do a live and an exclusive concert in the studios of 227 and 355 for a joined broadcast . An absolute unequalled technical achievement, also because Jose is blind and handicapped. Alan Black of Radio 355 had been to London to interview Jos but his tape recorder broke down and Jos being quite sympathetic thought that it was quite romantic about broadcasting from a pirate station so he offered to do a concert for nothing from the ship. So he came out to the ship with his secretary on the tender but not only was he blind he was also partially disabled and couldnt climb the rope ladder to get on the ship. So he was hoisted on board. But our studios were down in the belly of the ship. So we also had to lower him and after the show the vice-versa. He did the concert, which was hosted by Alan Black and Tom Collins. John van Doorn(another DJ who also used four other names) tried to chat up the secretary on board and he was partially successful. She didn't want to go to his cabin but she promised to go out with him the next time he was in London. Otherwise we never had woman aboard.

 

The mutiny attempt

 

This wonderful happening ended in a disaster as a part of the crew started a mutiny, leaving us a few dreadful hours until they left the Laissez-Faire for IJmuiden. 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.

 

The end

 

On 21st July, 1967 all of the Dutch djs left the ship and went back to Holland, leaving only taped programmes to be played later.

"Due to the fact that Great Britain had signed the Act of Strasbourg as the fourth country which made working, advertising, supplying and tendering from the UK to the offshore radio stations illegal.

Lex Harding, Tom Collins, Harky and myself left the ship for the last time. Harky didnt travel with the others to Holland but went to London to get his last payment in cash which was a sensible decision because the other people never got their final wages for the three-week period on board the ship.

 

John Aston takes the microphone[219]:

 

On Radio 355,we always refered to Derek Burroughs as the voice on the automation tapes. The tapes we supplied by Alto Fonics of  Palo Alto C.A. The playout system consisted of two 6 ft cabinet racks,the left hand rack housed two Scully Tape Machines,the right hand one had One Scully Tape Machine at the bottom with a Carousel Multi Cart Machine above.

 

The programme tapes were supplied on 14 inch NAB spools and their format was 7 1/2 IPS Mono Half Track. Inaudible cue tones were placed to start/stop and trip into next player or carousel and as such continue ad infinitum, this way the system played song one with its back announcement and cue tone,this in turn started tape two, meanwhile machine one ran until its song start cue tone placed it in pause mode...........tape two in turn started tape three and this in turn could be routed through the carousel for Ads or ID's...and then back to tape one,and so on.At the end of the tape the unit would reverse direction and play the other track(one capstan and pinch roller either end of the head block.)

 

The biggest fault with the system was the Tape Tension Switch,it was fine on 14 inch NAB's but not so clever on 7 inch or smaller spools. The units also required longer leader tape on the smaller spools.A 3 inch spool would be too small and the tape would stretch and break!

 

Our religious programmes (World Tomorrow etc ) would sometimes break, as they were recorded on very low quality acetate backed tape. Other than that they were State Of The Art Machines.

 

Martin Kayne was the last dj who did breakfast on the Olga[220]:

 

Studios

 

The radio conversion on  the Laissez Faire was constructed differently that other pirate radio  ships. Rather than the studio and transmitters halls being constructed  within the vessel. With the Laissez Faire both the transmitter hall and the 2 more or less matching sound proof studios were built on land. Looking  like 2 large Portacabins, one contained the 2 studios with a connecting  door, the other the two transmitters. These Cabins were lowered through the 2 big hatch covers into the the ships hold, one in front of, and the other to the rear of the main mast. Resting on specially constructed  supports they were welded to the lower deck, in fact there were several  steps up to get into the studio block. The funny thing about the studios  was the fact that they were like a soundproof box, you couldn't hear the  generators but the air-conditioning could usually be heard on air.

 

Studio equipment

 

I think the studio equipment is already well documented. It was one hell of an experience for me working in austere conditions of Radio Essex, then suddenly being confronted by what was  then the latest broadcasting kit. Though the enthusiasm and ethos behind  the people on the station was exactly the same, I certainly never expected,  in my wildest dreams, to be hired by and work with the legendary Tony  Windsor. In fact Tony seldom operated his own equipment preferring to  use a radio engineer. However new DJ's were given this job to give them  technical operators experience. At first I thought this was a baptism of fire, but soon realised there was no mistake one could possibly make  that Tony would not only recover from, but turn into a jolly good joke.

 

Accomodation

 

The ships marine crew were accommodated  at the rear of the ship in the cabin area originally constructed with the vessel. The DJ's quarters came as an afterthought, I have heard that  in the early days radio staff slept wherever they found a suitable space.  However by the time Radio 355 arrived there was a sort of shanty town  of timber constructed accommodation at the bow of the vessel. There were  no windows or doors on the cabins, though laundered bedding, comfortable  mattresses provided a quiet place on the ship fine for sleeping, perhaps  aided by the pitching motion of the the vessel at anchor

 

Anchor trouble

 

Experiences like dragging the anchor when the captain took the bold decision of lower both bow anchors to prevent  the vessel entering UK waters. Unfortunately due to the wind and tides  the ship turned and for some time the twin anchor chains were badly  entangled to the extent they could not be pulled up! Another temporary anchor arrived along with what seemed miles of very heavy chain. This  anchor was placed on the port side of the ship and the chain duly arranged  in a ziz-zag pattern on the forward hatch cover and secured by rope  every few metres. The idea was for a sort of controlled decent for this emergency anchor. However once this anchor was pushed over the side, using  a wooden plank, the chain followed...the rope that had been indented to  control the decent snapped like string. The sight of such power was awesome,  fortunately the far end the chain had been shackled to a bollard which  held tight, causing the ship momentarily sway to the port side. It took several days for the crew untangle the original anchor chain whilst it  was gradually hoisted on deck by winch.

 

Johnny Dark

 

I remember Johnny Dark/Harry Putnam as Sales Executive at Radio Essex, the money was poor but job titles were cheap:-)  I believe it were he that provided Radio Essex with an impressive collection of American RandB records.  I know little of him as we only met briefly in Southend-On-Sea, but he did produce and voice many Radio Essex commercials while he was there.

 

God tapes

 

On the Laissez Faire in the summer of 67 it was the British 'Radio 355' and 'Radio 227' in Dutch. I usually have a good long term memory, but am stuffed over things that happened yesterday.  I remember the recorded religious programmes like Garner Ted Armstrong, and a guy that Revived Your Hearts for 15 minutes each breakfast show on 355 called Eric Hutchings, of Eastbourne.  Actually playing back the 'God' tapes on the Carousel could be a nightmare unless you first checked it was set to play the tape in 'forward mode' as the prerecorded Carousel tapes were double track and when a spool came to the last tune it would switch tracks and play backwards from right to left on the second track.  Certainly a wonderfully innovative machine, a music box that never stops....happy radio?

 

355 'live read' radio commercials

 

I have dug us some 355 'live read' radio commercials.  How things have changed since 1967, the wages for a start and London phone numbers were much shorter then. Heres one:

 

STAFFORD HOUSE.

 

Here's news of an exciting career offering immediate high salary prospects and requiring no previous experience or qualifications.

 

If you are under 35, Stafford House Computer Courses Ltd will in a 20 week part-time course qualify you as a computer programmer.  Graduates are given every assistance in finding employment in the computer industry, where a drastic shortage of programmers has caused salaries in this field to soar, and well over 2,000 per year is within every programmers reach.

 

If you are ambitious, telephone this number for details...FREmantle 3746...Freemantle 3746.

 

A visit by Roy Bates

 

During the last week of transmissions I was taking a snooze on my bed when I was awoken and told "Roy  Bates is outside and wants to speak to you". Immediate thoughts were  we are almost 4 miles offshore how can he be 'outside'? Anyway it transpired  that he was alongside in a fishing boat with half a dozen other people.  Everyone was a bit nervous, the military had just blown up Sunk Head Tower,  Radio 390 and Radio City had recently closed and the MOA was only  a few weeks away, so what would he want here? Anyway on my way up to the  deck I was told, you don't invite them aboard, you don't get off this  ship and you don't stand in line of sight between the bridge and their boat. Well the first two commands I understood, but queried the line of  sight business. In fact the captain had refused permission for Bates and  his entourage to come aboard and intended to open fire if they tried.  A short but polite conversation took place, after which Bates and crew  then sailed away, but I never really believed this was a purely a courtesy  call.

 

May Each Day

 

I am always reminded of my time  on the Laissez Faire each time I hear the Radio 355 evening closedown  record. Andy Williams singing 'May Each Day' I also get the feeling  that the floor should be rising and falling beneath my feet with the  gentle swell of a rising tide.

 

 

Tony gaat van 227 een zogenaamd format station maken. Tie Dubbeljoe en zijn broer John in de Hitburelem gekiekt met de Polaroid.(Weekblad no.35 18 Mei 1967. From Hans Knots archive)) (John Withers was Tony Windsor(Withers)s half-brother, editor.)

 

Chapter 5: Today, this song is Boss Sound no.1-1-1. Olga Patricia music and jingles.

 

Radio Englands playlist was far ahead of (Radio Londons)Fab 40. (SRE)constantly scoped its rivals by playing new Detroitproduct.[221]

 

The last Boss Fun 50, of November 5th, 1966[222].

 

TW LW TITLE ARTIST/S

1 11:  GOOD VIBRATIONS. BEACH BOYS (NUMBER WONDERFUL SOUND)

2

3  HIGH TIME. PAUL JONES

4 2:  STOP STOP STOP. THE HOLLIES

5

6

7  A LOVE LIKE YOURS. IKE AND TINA TURNER

8  1  IF I WERE A CARPENTER. BOBBY DARIN

9

10  HELP ME GIRL. ERIC BURDON AND ANIMALS

11  REACH OUT AND ILL BE THERE. FOUR TOPS

12 HAPPENINGS TEN YEARS TIME AGO. THE YARDBIRDS

13  I CAN'T MAKE IT ALONE. PJ PROBY

14

15

16  RAIN OF THE ROOF. LOVIN SPOONFUL

17

18  I LOVE MY DOG. CAT STEVENS

19 NO MILK TODAY. HERMAN'S HERMITS

20  JOIN MY GANG. OSCAR

21 50  PAINTER MAN. THE CREATION

22 DON'T WORRY MOTHER YOUR SONS HEART IS STILL PURE. MC COYS

23

24

25

26

27

28 AIN'T LOVE GOOD. JIMMY JAMES

29

30  A FOOL AM I. CILLA BLACK

31

32 FRIDAY ON MY MIND. THE EASYBEATS

33

34

35

36  I CANT CONTROL MYSELF. TROGGS

37

38

39

40  THE HAIR ON MY CHINNY CHIN CHIN. SAM THE SHAM&PHARAOHS

41

42

43  10 STORIES HIGH. DAVID&JONATHAN

44

45 MARBLE BREAKS. PETER FENTON

46 FEEL SO BAD. JACKIE EDWARDS

47

48  IM THE ONE YOU NEED. MIRACLES

49

50

HITBOUND:  THE TOWN I LIVE IN. JACKIE LEE

HITBOUND:  CUPID. HAYDOCKS ROCK HOUSE

HITBOUND:  GET IT AND TAKE IT. LUNA 2

HITBOUND:  YOU ARE SHE CHAD AND JEREMY

HITBOUND: PEEPEEPPOPOP DEARLY BELOVED

HITBOUND: WE'LL MEET AGAIN LLOYD BANKS

BOSS JOCKS PICK OF THE WEEK?

 

BOSS 40 and (BOSS)FUN 50 #1s:

 

#1 Sat.5th November 1966: GOOD VIBRATIONS THE BEACH BOYS

 

#1 Sat.29th October 1966: IF I WERE A CARPENTER BOBBY DARIN

 

#1 Sat.22th October 1966: REACH OUT, I'LL BE THERE THE FOUR TOPS

 

#1 Sat.15th October 1966: REACH OUT, I'LL BE THERE THE FOUR TOPS

 

 

#1 Sat.8th October 1966: I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF THE TROGGS

 

#1 Sat.6th Aug.1966: GET AWAY GEORGIE FAME

 

#1 Sat.18th June 1966: PAPERBACK WRITER BEATLES

 

#1 Sat.1st May 1966: MONDAY MONDAY MAMAS&PAPAS

 

 

The first Radio 227 Top 50 after another format change to The NEW Radio Double 2-7 in late May,1967, inspired from Radio London and KLIF. From Hans Knots archive. Its is preserved due to the effort of Gerard van Keeken in Amersfoort. Gerard also noted the last no.1 on 227s Top 50 was

 

#1 (July 16st 1967): SAN FRANCISCO. SCOTT MCKENZIE.

 

Chapter 6: A radio hybrid. Olga Patricia programming.

 

Robert Chapman[223] describes the(initial SRE broadcasts)to be New York City(radio stations) influenced very up and very frenetica blurring montage of motor skills and corporate ego. And that SRE introduced many of the gimmicks and techniques familiar to American audiencesecho and reverberation effects took the station into the realm of the avant gardenot used only to enhance announcements This is partly right. The Jet Set jingles were there, also used by WABC, and Gary Stevens from WMCA came in with a taped show from Summer 1966. But format-wise, The Olga Project was a hybrid of several stations from various parts of the USA. Here are some of them:

 

US Station Roots

 

KLIF Dallas, TX 1190

KBOX Dallas, TX 1480[224]

WFAA Dallas, TX 570

WFUN Miami, FL, 790

WLCY Tampa-St.Petersburg, FL 1380

KHJ Los Angeles, CA 930

WPTR Albany, NY 1540

WFEC Harrisburg, PA 1400

WROV Roanoke, VA 1240

WBZ Boston, MA 1030

WABC New York, NY 770

WMCA New York, NY 570

 

 

New York radio roots from Billboard, 1978. Talking about American radio in Europe, Alan Freed also had a Luxembourg show in the 50s.( Eric Gilder.)

 

In excess of 50000 watts. SREs Legal IDs atop the hour(TOH)

 

The Legal ID is an USA term for station identification atop the hour(TOH). The FCC requires stations there to identify themselves by call letters, assigned frequency and licence city. Listening to Bill Berry on ID #9, its almost as hes saying WSRE!

 

1. From 4 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres in the MW band, youre tuned to Swinging Radio England Home of the Boss Jocks and Much More Music.(June 19th,1966)

2. 1322 kilocycles, 227 metres in the MW band, 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast of Great Britain with 55000 watts of power this is Swinging Radio England. Radio England, your most music station. This is the Ron OQuinn show. On the much more music stn SRE.(July,1966)

3. Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast youre listening to the Capital Sound of SRE, SRE on 227 metres in the MW band its 5pm.(Jerry Smithwick, August 1966?)

4. Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres, this is SRE your first 24 hours Most Music Station Jingle: The Boss Jocks(twice) play more music now! (August and September 1966?)

5. Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast this is Swinging Radio

England, Britains only 24 hours most music station where the time now(Roger Day, October 13th,1966)

 

 

A 1966 Texas radio venture has impact.  School scribbling in Norway on October 2nd, 1966. Submitted by svennam.

 

6. Broadcasting  4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres with 55000 watts of power, this is Swinging Radio England your first 24 hour music station where the time now ...(Johnnie Walker, last show, October 15th,1966)

7.Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres this is Swinging Radio England, your first 24 hour music station. (October 16th, 1966)

8. (Fanfare) With 55000 watts of power. Youre listening to the worlds most powerful offshore station Radio England. With facilites for combining power to 110000 watts (Bill Berry)

9. (Fanfare and Drums) (This is)SRE-Swinging Radio England. Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres, 24 hours a day, in excess of 50000 watts of power, SRE-First and Foremost is BOSS! Jingle: The Boss Jocks(twice) play more music now! (Bill Berry, used as late as final day at 1400)

10. Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres this is Swinging Radio England.(Over Surf track from Jet Set, spoken by Mark Stevens. Used in final programme, Nov.13th,1966 at 2302.)

 

 BOH/Bottom of the Hour IDs:

 

This is the Ron OQuinn show. On the much more music stn SRE.( July,1966)

 

Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast this is Swinging Radio England, 227 metres in the MW band(Tom Cooper, October 14th,1966)

 

Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres this is Swinging Radio England, your first 24 hour music station. (October 16th, 1966)

 

Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex Coast on 227 metres this is Swinging Radio England, your first 24 hour most music station. (Harry Putnam/Johnny Dark October ?, 1966)

 

 

Here he is! Fans favourite Harry Putnam, or Johnny Dark formerly of formerly of WTOW Towson, Maryland and Radio Essex, the voice on IDs, ads and not forgetting the R&B Nightride achieving cult status on Britain Radio from January to February 1967.

 

The Sound of the International Giant-SRE special promos.

 

1. Mr. Businessman#1

 

With 55000 watts of power, youre listening to the worlds most powerful offshore station at Radio England. With facilities for combining power to 110000 watts. Mr.Businessman, to get your product before the largest audience in the world call Colin Brown at Mayfair 7494 or Mr.Bill Vick at Mayfair 3742. You may write direct to Colin Brown, 33 Dover Street, London W!. Anyone may receive a free brochure simply by calling or writing. Radio England reminds you to always advertise with the leader!

 

Mr. Businessman#2

 

Mr.Businessman, I am a housewife. I have never heard of your product or your service. I may be in need of one or both of these right now, cause Ive never heard of you. By the way, I listen to Radio England all the time. Dont let a prospective customer such as this housewife buy your product or obtain your services elsewhere. Radio England covers the entire country, the local businessman pays only for the area. For further information call the Radio England business offices at Mayfair 3742 today. Lets face a fact Mr.Businessman, everyone listens to Radio England, youre listening right now.(Spoken by Mark Stevens)

 

2. Thatman

 

To Thatman jingle bed: Its another Fun first for Boss Radio coming soon to to 227 Your Much More Music Station Swinging R England.

 

3. Boss radio Bumper stickers.

 

a. You asked for it, Boss Radios got it. The brand new Boss bumper stickers are available NOW! Send for fabulous bumper stickers- please send a stamped addressed envelope to Boss Bumper stickers, 32 Curzon Street London W1. Its free from the Boss!

 

b. You asked for it, Boss Radios got it. The brand new car stickers are available NOW! To get your FREE Boss-fabulous car sticker- send a self-addressed stamped envelope to car sticker, 32 Curzon Street London W1. Its free from the Boss!

 

4.The Magnificent Seven.

 

The style of this approx. 30 secs  promo is similar to the three Chuck Blair made for Britain Radio and for all I know, it could be him at least writing the script on this slightly cryptic one too.

 

Theme mx: The Magnificent Seven by Elmer Bernstein. Bill Berry: From the fishing banks of the Thames to the all-night (buckle?)(muscle?)(music?) of the markets at Covent(?) Garden. All England waits, watches and listens as the leaves begin to dawn their fall jackets of many color.. [225]

 

5. Ja, ja-Going Dutch.

 

a. 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.

 

b. Ja, ja nog maar even de Radio England wordt een nieuwe nederlandse zender op de 227 meter. Anstande maandag kunt u al gaan luisteren naar dit fijne station darin komt alle nieuws op deze niuewe zender op de 227 meter.

 

Saturday morning at 8-SREs Promos(for) special shows

 

1.Saturday morning at 8-the Boss Fun 50

 

The chart changed name at some stage from Boss 40 to Boss Fun 50 but was also called Fun 50(or Top 50, Tom Cooper) towards the end.

 

2. Sunday at 3.15 the Rock n Roll Revival Hour w Mark Stevens and Errol Bruce.

 

(Spoken by Errol Bruce) This programme was also broadcast on the closing day, but when did it start?

 

3. Gary Stevens show.

 

Recorded at WMCA New York. Started July 17th. Heard last October 28th, 1966? Gave 17 Argyle Street, London W1 as address[226]. relayed his brash and abrasive New York style without compromise[227] The show was important as music source for the station, as it gave the British market early plays of records with hit potential in the UK. Alan Black mentions in his final show on Radio 355 in 1967 that the Olga djs lifted off music from the GS tapes such as Left Bankes Walk Away Renee.

 

4. The Swinging Radio England Great Gathering of Golden Goodies.

 

Radio England was the first station to program a part-time oldies format. From the official start in June Every other record each weekend from Fri Midnight to Sun Midnight was an Oldie Goldie.

From September until the end each Sunday was a The Swinging Radio England Great Gathering of Golden Goodies. Ie every record played a Golden Goodie from Sat Midnight to Sun Midnight.

 

5. Boss Beatles Weekend.

 

In an interview with Maureen Cleave in London Evening Standard of March 4th,1966[228] John Lennon said the Fab Four were more popular than Jesus. The American reaction was instantaneous. Radio stations across the country, but especially in the Midwest and the South, one being WAGY 1320, stopped playing Beatles records. On August 13, KLUE Radio in Texas organized a Beatles bonfire. The Texan SRE hosted this event to boost the group, coinceding with the Beatles USA  tour in August, - every record played was by the Liverpool 4.

 

6. Musical Carousel.(Britain Radio)(Producer Chuck Blair, autumn 1966)

 

1.From the shivering heights of the Eiffel tower

2.As the busy girls of London scurry back from lunch and into office

3. As the days events roll from the presses of the evening newspaper

-music in the air everywhere from Britain Radio-and this is Musical Carousel.

 

7. Music for every mood.(Britain radio)( Producer Alan Black, autumn 1966)

 

8. Another STAR dj(Radio 227)(Producer Dave MacKay/Tony Windsor, late May, 1967)

 

Jingle: Swinging Radio-Double 27 Hullo! This is TW... Happy indeed to introduce another STAR dj on the NEW Double 27!...(Sample) This is Dick Weeda... Radio 2-2-7...

 

 

when form was more important than content.[229] Bannerlines, Space News Hotlines, Weatherwords and Ionospheric Weatherchecks-SRE News and Weather.

 

Radio England made news bulletins into pure theatreit didnt just report the news, it presented bannerlines[230]

 

As it well known, from its inception, SRE had the most complicated news bulletins ever heard on UK radio, easy to hear on the opening day, June 19th, 1966. In Bannerline News every hour 15 minutes past the hour the presenter had to coordinate jingles, echoes and sound effects while reading the news stories[231].

 

Although simplified after some weeks, later the format was slightly changed to Space News Hotlines, not exactly easy to present either: From the North, East, West and South, this is Radio England news live and up-to the minute at –fifteen. N.N. reporting in the public interest. Hotline(Hotlines)This is N.N.Hotline(Hotlines)And then the R England Weatherscope reports This has been N.N. for Radio England.(Jingle) The station that keeps you informed. News every hourMore Music NOW!

 

The weather reports were broadcast at 15 minutes before the hour, and during the night also at 15 past. Two different jingles were used seemingly without any clear format: Pams Ionospheric weatherchecker and Theweatherwordtheweatherword, sometimes followed by Weatherword-go go!

 

Ron OQuinn explains how the news concept was put together[232]:

 

I wanted us to sound professional. We had two information services, a teletype machine and shortwave radio and it could be really garbled. We could get UPI or AP News from their shortwave broadcast on to the teletype which would type it all out. We could also pick up the English teletype version of the Russian news agency TASS so we got American and Russian slants on the news, and somewhere in the middle was the truth. We could also listen to the BBC News because we could hear the facts as the British are quite dry in their news delivery. In my opinion it was extremely accurate and it wasnt political.

 

We tried to present headline news as we couldnt get the meat of the story. News at 15 past and 15 to the hour means accuracy of your eye and that you have excellent vision and I thought by using that would give the same impression.

 

Weather forecasting was a different thing and where we were out in the North Sea I couldnt understand British meteorologists and how can you forecast for an island? The North of England weather is going to be totally different from the South of England and we covered all of that so all we could say was Hey, its a pretty day here in the North Sea.

 

The Bannerline news format came from WFUN.

 

Go to Richard Irwins(Uncle Ricky) great Reel Radio site(subscription) at

 

http://www.reelradio.com/ricky/index.html

 

and listen to great recordings from WFUN 790 Miami, FL and Fundamental News with Jay McKay from July, 1961 and Britt Huey from 1961,

http://www.reelradio.com/jay/index.html#funcast2

http://www.reelradio.com/ricky/index.html#funcast

 

On his site, Uncle Ricky says about the latter:

 

Cuban Embargo Pending!

 

This is (I think) a fairly rare clip. I first heard this in 1968. The clip begins with the ending of "Bonanza" by Al Caiola (got to #19 on Billboards HOT 100 in 1961). The newscaster is "Britt Huey". Britt bumps the mic stand at least once during this unbelievably noisy newscast. No wonder - he did it with  McKenzie Repeater[233] tape loop machines - there were no carts. One deck of the Repeater needed a second start - you'll hear the authentic dead air where a tympani should be within the first 15 seconds of the newscast. But it wasn't too bad - with two underscores (teletype and strings) and that "shimmering" reverb, there was no such thing as "dead air."

 

The echo and filter effects were applied LIVE by the newscaster. PARIS! France set off its fourth Nuclear Explosion! HAVANA! Russian Goods on the Way! All the elements of todays tabloid-style TV newscasts are here: The recorded "features" (WFUN REFLECTS THE PUBLIC OPINION! WFUN PREDICTS!) intermixed with hard news, noise and dramatic musical bridges. Note the "Weatherscope" and "COUNT! DOWN!" at the end of the newscast, climaxing with the big TWELVE O'CLOCK NOON annoucement, followed by THE major hit of the year - "Runaway", by Del Shannon! Whew! Whadda rush!

 

This is a marvelous, silly and stylish treasure, but a genuine example of Reel Top-40 news - when form was more important than content!

 

Radio City parody

 

On Radio City 299 on Shivering Sands, a parody on Radio England news was broadcast on Aunty Mabel Hour on 1034 kc hosted by Ian McRae and Tom Edwards with Bang Bang Brannigan reporting in the public convenience on Swinging Radio Worksop.[234]

 

Its Thatman -Olgas jingle sets.

 

Ron OQuinn and Larry Dean explains[235]:

 

I had done jingles with other stations I had worked at. I went to Pams which was the premier jingle house in Dallas, Texas and I told them what I wanted. I got Series #27 but it was possible to re-arrange it a bit and make them sound the way you wanted to. We would spend $35-45.000[236] a year on jingles, which was a lot of money then, and we cut new jingles on a regular basis. I didnt come up with Swinging Radio England, which I would never have used, but Don Pierson thought it was a good idea because of Roger Millers England Swings hit. When I came back to the USA I heard the The Who album using all our jingles with Radio London stuck in! But Radio London never had Pams series #27 and they stole all of those. They spliced them all.

 

Later, I bought jingles from Spot Productions, because Batman, the TV series was coming to England, and we adapted the jingles to the Swinging Radio England ID and the DJs name so that when people heard the Batman theme, they would automatically think of Radio England.

 

 

KHJ 930 Boss 30 February 9th, 1966. Source: Unknown.

 

Regarding the Dick Starr material: Dick was very talented. We had gone to a radio convention in Los Angeles and met Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys. We wanted him to do some one-liners like: This is Carl Wilson on the Jack Armstrong show and he thought that was great and said; Hey, thats Boss. So we thought this was a neat idea and we came back and cut the Boss Jock package. It probably didnt fit in England because Boss was not a phrase that was used over there and it wasnt even used a great deal on the East coast. But we got it going in South Florida. Dick sadly passed away in 1977.

 

 

And where did Carl Wilson pick up Boss? On LAs Boss Radio, KHJ featuring Robert W. Morgan, The Real Don Steele, Charlie Tuna and many others. [237]

 

We used DJ names from WPTR Albany, New York. I brought tapes of the DJ jingles from there, when I came over. [238]

 

 

Inside of WPTR 1540 QSL card from 1965. Donated by John Sgrulletta of the National Radio Club. http://www.nrcdxas.org

 

While I was at WPTR, we had PAMS jingles Series #30[239] for the likes of Chuck Blair, Boom Boom Brannigan, Johnnie Walker etc. Jack Walker was his real name, but he used Johnnie on the air. He was a great disc-jockey a very funny man-he was originally from Ohio.

 

We knew we had a PAMS jingle package for Swinging Radio England, and you could splice these things together really well. I just took a copy of the jingles with me, and as new people were hired, they were played some of these things and asked which one do you want. So thats how the whole thing came about.

 

Jingles used on the Olga stations

 

Pams, Dallas, Series #14 Dramatic Signatures

 

Its blastoff time on the Action Satellite were going into orbit

Its blastoff time on funny radio were going into orbit

 

Pams, Dallas, Series #16(from WFUN Miami)Sound of the City

 

The Fun spot

With you all the way Fun spot

Do you remember

You are on the go go - the fun spot

Cool summer sounds The Fun spot

 

Pams, Dallas, Series #22 Sono-Magic

 

Fun Radio-Yes Indeed(?)

 

Pams, Dallas, Series #24 His and Her Radio

 

Let the good sound roll

We dont want all the listeners

 

Pams, Dallas, Series #27[240]. Jet Set

 

Swinging Radio England Where the Action is

You get a positive charge here on Swinging Radio England

Surfin Swinging Radio England

Jet Set Sig Swinging Radio England

Remember this Golden Classic - Swinging Radio England

Lets look into the future time, pick the tune that's gonna climb, breaking with the sound of tomorrow - Swinging Radio England

The fastest thing in the air, Swinging Radio England

Swinging Radio England brings you up to the minute reports from the Ionospheric weather checker

England's Finest - Swinging Radio England -Where the Music is News

Skyliner Swinging Radio England

Swinging Radio England Out-a-Sight!

Stay with the fun, Whoopie, hear all the hits on Swinging Radio England

Live this weekend where the action is on Swinging Radio England

In Swinging England we pamper people...

Good Morning the world is bright and new, sit tight you're always right with Swinging Radio England

You're a winner with Swinging Radio England

 

 

Invoice from Pams to Laissez-Faire Ltd. for Series 27 and Smart Set. Eric Gilder. Used with permission.

 

Pams, Dallas series #29 Radio au Go Go

 

Space News Hotline

Weatherword-go go!

 

Pams, Dallas, Series #30The N Set

(from WPTR Albany)

 

Hes here, Hes on intros

 

 

 

Pams #27 Jet Set master delivered to WTMA Charleston, SC on 1250.

 

Pams, Dallas, Series #32 Swiszle/Good Timer [241]

 

Let the good sound roll

We dont want all the listeners

 

Spot Productions, Dallas

Thatman

Thatman(ex.WPTR Albany)[242]

 

CRC[243]

Fundamental News

Bannerline News/News sounders/Weatherprediction Time(Ex. WFUN Miami)

 

Futursonic[244]

The station that keeps you informed(?)

 

 

 

 

Larry Deans(and Roger Scott[245]s) WPTR anno 1966. 1540 survey for February 19th, 1966. From http://www.fifteenforty.com

 

Dick Starr(of WFUN)[246]

 

The Boss Jocks...play more music Now!

Boss Radio

Boss Radio(Alt.version)

More Music More Music

Boss Radio Instant replay

Today-this song is Boss Sound no.1

Today-this song is Boss Sound no.2

Today-this song is Boss Sound no.4

Flashback-Flashback-(?)

Twin Spin(?)

 

BRITAIN RADIO JINGLES

 

Pams Smart Set[247]

 

International standard for quality, Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio The Smart Set

Tha Hallmark

There's never a dull moment on Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio The Smart Set

Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Step up, step up to a new level of musical velvet, smooth sounds of the Smart Set - Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Swinging, smart, satisfying sounds, sharp and syncopated.... Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio Wonderful Music

Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio with music for this that and the other.

Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Britain Radio

Britain Radio

Britain Radio

Britain Radio

Britain Radio

Britain Radio

The Sound of News

The Sound of News is heard only on Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Britain Radio-Weather

Around the clock, you know more when you listen to Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

The Bright Sounds of the Smart Set Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Around the clock, irresistible music Hallmark of Quality Britain Radio

Around the clock for all the best in music, turn to us...

 

Global Medium(NAB)(Also used by WRUL/WNYW Radio New York Worldwide)

http://www.northernstar.no/wnyw3.htm

 

Wherever you go(?)

Have a happy happy weekend(?)

 

RADIO DOLFIJN

 

Dolphin cries

CRC Fundamental News bits for News

 

RADIO 227

 

used edited jingles from Pams, Dallas series #27 Jet Set and Pams, Dallas series #29 Radio au Go Go.

With Double 2-7 and 2-2-7 spoken by Dave MacKay in English and inserted instead of England.

CRC Fundamental News bits for News

 

RADIO 355

 

Pams, Dallas series #26

 

Instrumentals

 

Olga Patricia Programme names[248]

 

Radio England

 

Dj theme tunes was not used on Radio England.

3,4- and 5-hour long Boss Jock stints, some had names like Roger Day Groove, Walker Fiasco and BB Spree/Boomers Broadcasting Company.

Gary Stevens Show Weekdays 1700-1800 from July 17th?

Gary Stevens Musical Museum Saturdays 1100-1200, later 1200-1300, in October 1966.

Midnight Early Show

Boss Fun 50

Rock nRoll Revival Hour

Chickenman(Syndicated)

 

Britain Radio

  

Breakfast club

Morning Serenade

Musical Carousel

Rush Hours

Evening Spin

Late Date

Memory Lane

Nightbeat

Rock nRoll Revival Hour?[249]

R and B Nite Ride

Request Show

Spotlight

Echo

World Tomorrow

 

 

Prizes to be won on 355(and 390 metres) From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser), February 7th, 1967.

 

Radio Dolfijn

  

Caroussel

Flipside

Lichte Muziek vanaf The Laissez Faire

Matinee

Middagshow

Muziek in de Vroege Morgen

Radio Dolfijn na Sluitingstijd

Showtime

Top 30

  

 

 

and on 227 metres. Radio Dolfijn ad From Hans Knots archive.

 

Radio 227

  

Aubade

Beat Boot

Beatles Show

Carrousel

Country Rise

Country Style

Jim Reeves Show

Koffie Verkeer

Louter Nederlands (Dick Weeda)

Matinee

Middle of the Road Show

Night Beat Show

Ochtend Parade

Radio 227 Fab Fifty

Saturday Evening Party

Spits Uur

Ster van de Dag

Zeebanket

 

Radio 355

  

355 Countryfied

AB Spree

Afternoon Star

Allegro

At the keyboard

Breakfast Club

Caf Continental

Children Time

Coffeebreak

Continental music

Country corner

Country Rise

Country Style

Double Feature

Easy Listening Hitparade

Easy Listening Top 40

Eight by Ten

Elevenses

Encounter

Epilogue

Evening Requests

Evening Spin

For the children

Hour of Decision 

Kayne's Kingdom

Late date

Light and Bright

Lunchtime Requests

Mainly Instrumental

Make mine country style

MacKay's Music

Melody Hour

Middle of the road

Midnight Party

Music in the night

Musical Carousel

Pause for prayer

Requests

Revive your heart

Rise and Shine

Rush Hours

Saturday Night Party

Showcase

Show Music

Something that you won't forget

Sunday Selection

Sunday's Folk Night

Sunday Story

The Beat of G and S

The R and B Show

Thursday's Selection

Top of the morning

World Tomorrow

 

Chapter 7: On 3-5-5 and 2-2-7. Technical stuff.

 

The Olga Patricia frequencies.[250]

 

The original frequencies planned for this operation were 650 and 850 kc, and both Don Pierson, Jerry Smithwick and Ron OQuinn seem to have had a hand in the planning. The latter two seem to have tuned around the dial for free spots. 650 proved to be used by the BBC Third Programme (Daventry, 647 kc, 150kW, editor), so it was thought one should double the frequency and find a quiet spot in that area[251]. But the evidence points to SRE starting on 355 metres, 845 kc on May 3rd, 1966. The station opened that day at approx. 1030am with a test tone followed by Mitch Miller's Yellow Rose of Texas.

 

 

 

She's  the sweetest little rosebud

That Texas ever knew,

Her eyes are bright as diamonds,

They sparkle like the dew.

(The Yellow Rose of Texas, first record played on Radio England on May 3rd, 1966)

 

There were then three music tracks nonstop (The Animals' Don't Bring Me Down being the first record), including 3 Pams #27 Jet Set jingles before Ron OQuinn made the first test announcement: Radio England on the air on 3-55 on your meter dial, 355 on your standard broadcast dial, Radio England on the air for broadcast purposes. Another signal with Classical music(?) was noticeable below SRE on the occasion. It might have been a spurious signal? The station was on 845 24 hours with RAI Italy complaining until May 20th at 2300 per Benelux DX Club, while Oyvind Stenberg of Norways DXLC says he heard it May 21st. Britain Radio on 1320 continued until May 25th at 1855 also per BDXC. Rolf Mong of DXLC logged Britain first on May 16th, and has both stations still on their original frequencies May 29th with massive daytime signals in South West Norway.

 

 

Norways top dxer in the 60s, Rolf Mong had top signals from the Olga Patricia on May 29th, 1966. Rolf notes interestingly enough 850 for SRE on this occasion. How many transmitter crystals were onboard?

 

The editors log has them for the first time on May 21st and 22nd. As just mentioned, Italy complained about the Radio England signals on 845, and the closure of the SRE tests on this frequency are confirmed in The Times of June 7th which also mentions the closure of Britain Radios 227 transmissions on Friday, June 3rd, due to a transformer failure. It had then already been run on 1/4 power at least nighttime.

 

 

US Pirate Radio station blacked out. The Times of June 7th, 1966. From Hans Knots archive.

 

The Daily Telegraph of May 15th stated that of the twin stations, Radio England on 355 was heard more clearly, and that 3000 reports had been received. Later the frequencies were swapped with Britain Radio taking 355 from June 10th. From Norwegian DX-News, it seems SRE first came back on June 16th, 1966 on 1317[252]. Then, on June 18th, it was on 1322[253].  An official start on that date cannot be confirmed by tapes or reliable information. The note in Offshore Radio Files about SRE having broadcast on 1331(225 metres) does not appear to be right. In July, a SRE Legal ID by Ron OQuinn announced 1322. 

 

 

DX report about the new stations from Benelux DXClub. Transmissions have been monitored until May 20th (21st?-editor) until 2300 on 845 kc and until May 25th until 1855 on 1320?kc, and then transmissions were resumed on 845 kc with a new call sign on June 10th, and on June 16th on 1320, and June 18th on 1322, according to this source, which also has its theory of why the shift was made. SRE has gone 24 hours and Britain is 0500-2300 GMT with an overnight relay of SRE. From Hans Knots archive.

 

 

DX report about the new stations from -Medium Wave Circle in UK? Transmissions were resumed on 845 kc with a new call sign on June 10th, and later on 1320, and June 18th on 1322, according to this source, which has another theory of why the shift was made. From Hans Knots archive.

 

But the SRE frequency situation did not calm down as far as we can remember. Signal was OK during daytime, but Radio England was very prone to interference and night-time whistle[254]. 1322 was the channel of the Radio Moscow relay from the GDR[255]. 355 was a much clearer channel on the North East coast of England and in Norway at the time than 227. Britain Radio was much clearer and further away from other stations, and the transmitter reduced power at night, relaying SRE from July 9th 2300-0500. On a Britain Radio tape from July 29th, Graham Gill announces that station now on 24 hours. On February 28th, 1967 at 12.45 a part of the aerial mast on the Olga Patricia broke, and the twin Texas owned stations went off the air. When the SRE transmitter came back on the air in the evening of March 16th, 1967, it was on 1322 kc[256].

 

The Olga Patricia Transmitters.

 

1. Radio England/ Britain Radio/Radio Dolfijn/Radio 227: Continental Transmitter model 317-C serial no.10, which later ended up at Swazi Radio in Mbabane, operating there on 1376 AM.

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

On August 15th, 1983 John England wrote a letter to Bill/(Wayne? –editor) Cookson, Chief Engineer and Station Manager of Swazi Radio at Mbabane, Swaziland. On September 29th, 1983 he received this very helpful reply: Dear John,  We are, indeed in possession of the Continental Electronics 317-C, 50 Kw MW AM transmitter, serial no.10, which was at one time utilized by Radio England. The transmitter is, at present, in daily use on 1377 kc. We utilize a skywave and we broadcast with it for 9 hours daily. It had been one of the most trouble free units its my pleasure to work with. As to the other one, it is being used by Trans World Radio(also in Swaziland). Enclosed is a picture of our transmitter. John England: Much More Music! The story of Don Pierson a broadcasting pioneer. First published in OFFSHORE ECHOS #82, August 1990.

 

2. Britain Radio/Radio England/ Radio 355 Continental Transmitter model 317-C serial no.11(?), which ended up at Trans World Radio, Swaziland, operating from Manzini on 1170 AM[257].

Note: Radio Caroline South got Continental 317-C serial no.14 delivered to The Mi Amigo in April 1966. They were due to get number Twelve; but as it was the time of the Rhodesian crisis, the U.K. Government set up BBC Bechuanaland(Botswana)to broadcast into Rhodesia. Therefore the BBC had to get no.12 and 13[258].

But, The Yellow Rose of Texas beat both BBC and Caroline[259]!

 

History repeats itself, with new format changes on serial no.10! The Olga Patricia Transmitters in South Africa[260].

 

 

The present Liberty Radio 1377 kc transmitter originally operated in the North Sea. Picture from 1983: Wayne Cookson via John England.

 

Swazi Music Radio 1376 kc

 

Swazi Music Radio broadcast from Sandlane in Swaziland from about 1970 - 1978. They had two medium wave transmitters and two short wave transmitters. The medium wave transmitters were both second hand and one, a Continental, definitely came from Radio England. I'm not sure where the other one came from. The primary transmitter was either 50kw(but might have been used at less power)and the backup one was low power - something between 5kw and 10kw. Wayne Cookson was an American radio engineer who came to South Africa and recently died there. Transvaalers from the 70s will remember his voice "This is Wayne Cookson, Chief Engineer for Swazi Radio...".

 

Swazi Music Radio (known as SMR) was established by the Kirsch brothers who ran a big South African Media company. It was intended to compete with LM Radio[261] for the youth radio market in South Africa but because of the transmitter sites physical location the coverage into the main capture area of the Johannesburg area was poor. Signal strength during the day was very marginal and at night fading was heavy because it was located in the skip region. So the SRE story was in many ways repeated. In the mid 70s the Kirsch gave up and introduced some new services which shared the facilities[262][263][264].

 

 

Sounds familiar? World Radio TV Handbook 1974 with the entry for SMR, your Much More Music station. Note also the first indication of new use for Britain Radios 50 kW rig under TWRs entry.

 

 

The distance from the Frinton Essex Coast is large, but the distance to the October 1966 slogan The sound of the International giant, Radio 227 is small. Wayne Cookson via John England.

 

 

World Radio TV Handbook 1978 with the entry for Swaziland Commercial Radio.

 

Swazi Music Radio-format changes

 

Swazi Music Radio now became several services still using the old Radio England transmitter:

 

Radio SR was mixed English Language and Zulu and was aimed at the urban, up and coming black youth. Much of the programming was based on Black American music and local South African music.

 

Radio Paralelo 27 a Portuguese service targetted towards the large Portuguese speaking white population who had fled Mocambique in 1975 when Frelimo took over.

 

Radio Truro an Indian culture service which broadcast in English and Asian languages and was aimed at the Indian ethnic population of Natal. Radio coverage of Natal was excellent. It closed on Feb.1st, 1986 as the commercial revenue was not sufficient for such a service.

 

Also The Jewish Sound and paid Christian programs in English and Afrikaans used the facilities.

 

The mentioned services used both medium(1377 kc after the implementation of the Geneva Plan in 1978) and short wave(3223, 4980 and 6155 kc) transmitters. Some reports also indicates it used 9750 kc for a while.

 

Here then this input from 2006:

 

The former Radio England transmitter was observed broadcasting on MW 1377 kc from Sandlane, SWZ, fading in around 1600 UTC 6 January 2006, via the DX Tuners[265] web receiver sited at Johannesburg, SA formerly known as Radio Cidade International[266], was observed variously identifying as "Liberty Radio" or "Radio Liberty, 1377 k of love". Programming in Portuguese and English, with lots of music - including a show presented in Portuguese called "Cidade Tropical" - spiritual messages and some religious programming. Reception varied from poor to fair.[267]

 

You may have a listen to how the SRE transmitter has sounded in Swaziland at Dave Kernicks site

 

http://www.intervalsignals.net/countries/swaziland.htm

 

Here are recordings of Swaziland Commercial Radio on 1376 with Colin Miller signing on for the day, Radio Cidade Internacional(see below) on 1377 kc, Liberty Radio as well as Trans World Radio Swaziland on Shortwave.

 

The transmitter that started its life in Dallas, was installed on Dodge Island in Miami in the spring of 1966, and then for just over a year sat on a pirate radio ship off the Essex coast broadcasting Britain Radio, then Boss Radio, and Dutch language services, went back to Miami in the autumn of 1967, and then to Swaziland in the early 70s has the later years-in addition to local and regional coverage- been heard all over the world on DXPeditions in Finland, Newfoundland, Australia and New Zealand.

 

So, stations and formats have passed, but the old Continental slogan: Worlds Most Powerful seems just right after-almost 40 years!

 

 


 

Britain Radios Continental transmitter(The original Radio England rig) is alive and well after 40 years on 1170 kc broadcasting as TWR Swaziland. http://www.twrafrica.org

 

 

 

TWR Swaziland QSL. From http://www.willphillips.org.uk/QSLs/

 

 

Continental Transmitters. Ad from autumn 1965, published in WRTH 1966.

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

Original downpayment for the Olga transmitters on Abilene National Bank signed by Don Pierson on Feb.17th, 1966. Eric Gilder. Used with permission.

 

 

 

Continental Transmitters today,

http://www.contelec.com

 

Chapter 8: 32 Curzon. Addresses and other administrative data.

 

 

 

SRE/Britain stationery. From Hans Knots archive.

 

 

SRE/BR Station Information per summer 1966. From Hans Knots archive.

 

INVESTORS:

It is understandable that investors often for many reasons want confidentiality about their investment. This we want to respect. But for historic reasons and as it is 40 years ago we would like to mention that some of the investors behind the Olga Patricia stations seem to have been Don Pierson, Pierce Langford III, Red Livingstone, Vincent Murphy, Bill Vick, World Wide Investments and City National Bank.[268]

 

 

Enter a Texan with two big pirate radios in Daily Mirror for April 21st, 1966 it is said that the Olga backers were British, American and Canadian, which was very inaccurate. From Hans Knots archive, seemingly a contribution from Gerwyn Roberts, Wales(+Swedish source?) and the NRC/IDXD.

 

5-station information, WRTH style.

 

RADIO ENGLAND(Comm.)

Owner: Worldwide Investment Corp.

Operated by: Peir-Vick Ltd, 17 Berkeley Street, London W1. Tel: MAYfair 3742.

Addr: 32 Curzon Street, London W1.

LEADING PERSONNEL. Man.Dir. William E.Vick. Dir.Progr. Rick Randall, then Ron OQuinn, later Bill Berry. Gen.Man. Chuck Blair, later Jack Curtiss.

SALES: Radiovision Broadcasts(International)Ltd.(A member of the Pearl&Dean Group)33 Dover Street, London W1.

STATION: Located on the former US Army/Navy ship Olga Patricia anchored 4 ½ miles off Frinton-on-Sea.

CALL LETTERS: HO..(Panama)HR..(Honduras)

COORDINATES: 51 49N 0123E.

FREQUENCY: 1322 kc 50 kW, ¼ power used before summer 1966, ½ power by October, 1966.

CHIEF ENGINEER: Ted Walters. ASSISTANT CHIEF ENGINEER: Bob Gittis

D.PRGR: 24 hrs. N: Every h 15 mins past the h. Wrp: Every half h. 15 mins past the h. and 15 mins. Past the half h.

ANN.: Swinging Radio England on 227 metres. Boss Radio. V.by card.

 

BRITAIN RADIO(Comm.)

Owner: Worldwide Investment Corp.

Operated by: Peir-Vick Ltd, 17 Berkeley Street, London W1. Tel: MAYfair 3742.

ADDR.: 32 Curzon Street, London W1, later 17 Berkeley Street, London W1.

L.P. Man.Dir. William E.Vick. Dir.Progr. Ron OQuinn, later Phil Martin. Gen.Man. Chuck Blair, later Jack Curtiss.

SALES: Radiovision Broadcasts(International)Ltd.(A member of the Pearl&Dean Group)33 Dover Street, London W1.

STATION: Located on the former US Army/Navy ship ship Olga Patricia anchored 4 ½ miles off Frinton-on-Sea.

CALL LETTERS: HO..(Panama)HR..(Honduras)

COORDINATES: 51 49N 0123E.

FREQUENCY: 845 kc 50 kW, ¼ power used before summer 1966, ½ power by October, 1966.

CHIEF ENGINEER: Ted Walters. ASSISTANT CHIEF ENGINEER: Bob Gittis

D.PRGR: 24 hrs. N: Every h. Wrp: Every h.

ANN.: This is Britain Radio broadcasting on 355 metres. Hallmark of Quality. INT.SIG.: Rule Brittania[269]. V.by card.

 

 

RADIO DOLFIJN(Comm.)

Owner: Worldwide Investment Corp.

Operated by: Peir-Vick Ltd, leased to 3rd party?

UK ADDR.: 32 Curzon Street, London W1, later 17 Berkeley Street, London W1.

DUTCH ADDR.: Verkoopmaatschappi NV., Amsteldijk 63, Amsterdam 2(Z?).

POSTAL ADDRESS: Postbus 4022, Amsterdam, Holland[270].

Tel:760816.

L.P. Man.Dir. William E.Vick. Gen.Man.:Jack Curtiss. Dutch repr: Basil van Rensburg.

SALES: Radiovision Broadcasts(International)Ltd.(A member of the Pearl&Dean Group)33 Dover Street, London W1.

STATION: Located on the former US Army/Navy ship ship Olga Patricia anchored 4 ½ miles off Frinton-on-Sea.

CALL LETTERS: HO..(Panama)HR..(Honduras)

COORDINATES: 51 49N 0123E.

FREQUENCY: 1322 kc 50 kW. ½ power used.

CHIEF ENGINEER: Ted Walters. ASSISTANT CHIEF ENGINEER: Bob Gittis

D.PRGR in Dutch: 0600-2200 hrs. N: Every h. 15 mins bef.the h. Wrp: Every h. 15 mins bef.the h.

ANN.: Dit is Radio Dolfijn op 227 meter. V.by QSL-card.

 

RADIO 227(Comm.)

Owner: Worldwide Investment Corp.

Operated by Carstead advertising Ltd.

ADDR.: 114 Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3.

L.P. Man.Dir. Edward Allbeury. Gen.Man.: John Withers. Programme Director: Tony Windsor.

POSTAL ADDRESS: Postbus 1390, Amsterdam, Holland.

SALES AND PROGRAMMING: Admiralengracht 101, Amsterdam, Holland.

STATION: Located on the former US Army/Navy ship ship Olga Patricia anchored 4 ½ miles off Frinton-on-Sea.

CALL LETTERS: HR..(Honduras)

COORDINATES: 51 49N 0123E.

FREQUENCY: 1322 kc 226.9 metres 50 kW. 27 kW K.W ERP used.

CHIEF ENGINEER: Ted Walters. ASSISTANT CHIEF ENGINEER: Bob Gittis

D.PRGR in Dutch: 0600-2200 hrs. N: Every h. 15 mins bef.the h. Wrp: Every h. 15 mins bef.the h.

ANN.: Dit is Radio 227. The new Double 2-7  V.by letter.

 

RADIO 355(Comm.)

Owner: Worldwide Investment Corp.

Operated by Carstead Advertising Ltd.

ADDR.: 114 Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3.

L.P. Man.Dir. Edward Allbeury. Gen.Man.:John Withers. Programme Director: Tony Windsor.

POSTAL ADDRESS: BCM 355, London WC1.

TEL.: KEN 1551.

STATION: Located on the former US Army/Navy ship ship Olga Patricia anchored 4 ½ miles off Frinton-on-Sea.

CALL LETTERS: HR..(Honduras)

COORDINATES: 51 49N 0123E.

FREQUENCY: 845 kc 355 metres 50 kW. 27 kW K.W ERP used.

CHIEF ENGINEER: Ted Walters. ASSISTANT CHIEF ENGINEER: Bob Gittis

D.PRGR in English: 0600-2200 hrs. N: Every h. Wrp: Every h.

ANN.: This is Radio 355. V.by letter.

 

 

Chapter 9: Sales and ratings.

 

 

Front page of SRE/BR Twin Stations Rate Card. Reproduced in its entirety in Offshore Echos #117, April 2000.

 

 

To get an idea of the ad prices, look at the inside of SRE/BR Twin Stations Rate Card. Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.

 

 

Press release by Radio Caroline, July, 1966. National Opinion Poll survey also show strong listenership for Radio England and Britain Radio. Normally, 2,2 and 0.7 Million listeners would be a good result for commercial radio stations today being able to find a niche. From Hans Knots archive.

 

 

Radio Dolfijn rate card montage. From the Hans Knots archive.

 

 

1% in the ratings. Dutch listener survey from January-Februar 1967. From Hans Knots archive.

 

Little market research was done by any of the offshore stations during the last few months of the pirate era. Unsubstansiated figures suggested that Radio 355 had 2.25 million listenership at the time of the stations demise.[271]

 

Ad clients[272].

 

Smiths Crunch

Silexene Paint

Crazy Foam

Harry Fenton Fashion Center

H.Reynolds&sons Tilbury, Gravesend and Chapel St.Mary. TV Rentals

Noxene Skin Crme

Kent cigarettes

Tippin Where did I put that sixpence

Fabulous Magazine

Sunbake bakeware(Multi-language)

Colgate

Oscars Groovy Grotto

Weetabix

Keele Insurance

Reveille

Kelloggs

Silver Boots from shoes 475 Oxford Street, and Gumages, Holborn

Family Pack. Soup from Cross&Blackwell

Golden Kipper

Tartan Racing Pools, c/o Radio Scotland/Racing pools agents, c/o Radio England

Inter-Cham

Big Fry Picnic

Bakery

Uppercut Club of Billy Walker

London's Edgeware Road-Victoria Sporting Club

Silver Circle Bingo Club at 1200-1215

 

Clifton Sales Room: Mail order sold from 32 Curzon Street

 

Transwave Sony 7

Cocktail Watch

Fishing Set

Permashort razor blades

Stars paintings

Camera Offer

 

Chapter 10: What happened to the Olga Patricia?

 

Ship details.

 

Homing in on the Olga Patricia in May, 1966. Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.

 

 

John Cronnollys research, dated April 7th, 1983. From Monitor magazine.

 

A blueprint from just before the Olga was to be converted into a radio ship (it still has guns on it from WWII)is stamped "American Bureau of Shipping, Miami, Florida." It reveals that the vessel was a US Army 176 Supply Vessel - renamed MV Olga Patricia. It is drawing number 381-2 - Marine Design Branch, Engineering Division, Office of Assistant Chief Transportation for Supply, War Department, Washington, DC. Dated as approved by the Army(which she was built for) on June 18th, 1943. On the backside where it was folded someone has written in handwriting: Olga Patricia Plans.

 

 

 

Blueprint of the Olga Patricia. Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

Design and Engineering by Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Consultants - W.C. Nickum & Sons - Naval architects, Seattle, Washington. Prof. L.A. Baler, N.A., Ann Arbor, Michigan[273].

 

The Olga Patricia was formerly called Deal.[274]

 

Deal (AG-131) was built in 1944 for the Army as FS-26S[275] by Wheeler Shipbuilding Corp., Whitestone, Long Island, N.Y.[276]; acquired by the Navy 2 March 1947; and commissioned at Guam 3 August 1947, Lieutenant (junior grade) P. G. Pattern in command. She was reclassified AKL-2, 31 March 1949.

 

Based at Guam Deal carried cargo to the small islands in the Marianas, Marshalls, and Carolines until arriving at Pearl Harbor 11 August 1949. She conducted cargo operations from this base to the outlying islands of the Hawaiian chain, Palmyra, and Canton until 16 May 1950. She sailed to Kwajalein for a brief period, returning to Pearl Harbor 3 July.

 

With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, Deal got underway from Pearl Harbor 14 September 1950 for Sasebo, arriving 8 November. She operated as a part of the 7th Fleet under the control of Commander, Service Squadron 3, in logistics support of the United Nations forces in Korea[277], and visited other ports in Japan, Formosa, the Pescadores, Okinawa, and the Philippines until 28 February 1955 when she departed Yokosuka for the United States. After a short visit to Long Beach, Calif., she arrived at Astoria Bay 13 April to start inactivation. She was placed out of commission in reserve at Portland, Oreg., 8 September 1955 and sold 18 December 1961.

 

 

What was to be the Olga Patricia became a cargo ship in the banana trade in the Caribbean and named Don Carlos.

 

For this period in her life we do not as yet have more facts than these documents from Panama authorities dated Aug.11th, 1964 and Feb.15th, 1966[278]:

 

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Renamed? the Olga Patricia she was purchased by Viscaya Inc. and fitted out as a radio ship at Dade Drydock Coporations shipyard at Dodge Island, Biscayne Bay, Miami.

 

M.V. OLGA PATRICIA renamed LAISSEZ FAIRE 177ft. Length; 32ft.beam; 9ft.10ins.draft. Rigged on March 21, 1966. With permanent antenna mast atop the existing mainmast for radio broadcasting at sea. Heights above deck: mainmast stub: 37ft., Antenna mast 123ft. Total Height: 160ft. Job accomplished by Dade Drydock Corporation, Miami[279].

 

Map from msn.comof the area where the Galaxy and Olga Patricia radio ships were converted showing where they left for the UK in 1964 and 1966, and for one of them, where it returned in 1967. Also try this terraserver.com link for a 1972 local map of the area:

http://www.terraserver.com/imagery/image_lv.asp?ulx=580390.512&uly=2854442.049&zone=17&res=12.5&provider_id=501&t=pan

 

 

Dodge Island and Biscayne Blvd. in Miami today from the versatile mapquest.com system

 

 

Satellite photo of Dodge Island and Biscayne Blvd. today shown on the fabulous Google Earth system.  Why not download the free version at http://earth.google.com/

 

The ship was cleared for sailing by the transmitter factory engineer, but Don Pierson told him he didnt think the antenna would stay up. He was given assurances as to the contrary, but he antenna fell down two hours after leaving harbour.

 

It was a lumbering old ship and I think the top speed on it was 10 knots and we sailed out of Miami and once we hit the Gulf Stream between New York and Bermuda the mast of the ship, which had been converted to the antenna for the radio station, actually snapped because the sea was so rough and fell overboard. It had huge stays attached to it and the crew didnt have anything to cut the stays with so we actually dragged the 100ft. mast hanging off the side of the ship all the way to the Azores! We put in port there for about a week so they could cut the stays and then hauled the mast back on board. We then went to Lisbon in Portugal and were there for about three weeks to have the mast refitted and then we went to Harwich...[280]

 

The stop in the Azores was instigated by Continental Electronics, but no engineers were there, so what was to be a very expensive detour found the Olga in the Tejo river in Lisbon. It was maintained a new antenna could not be made here[281]. The Dallas engineer was unaware that the transmitter factory had a resident agent in Lisbon. The ship was then ordered to sail for England.

 

On 28th February, 1967 at 1.45pm the station left the air suddenly as the antenna mast broke. On 7th of March the ship sailed to Zaandam harbour for repairs. On 14th March the Olga Patricia left Zaandam harbour, sailed towards IJmuiden and during the next day back to its anchorage at Walton on the Naze.

 

 

It is March 14th, 1967 and the Olga Patricia is almost ready to go back to the Essex Coast. Still the old names are used on the two stations. From Haarlems Dagblad and the Hans Knots archive.

 

On 19th August 1967 the Olga Patricia sailed to the Southern Dutch port of Vlissingen. From there she set sail for Miami on September 1st where she arrived on 22nd September the mast having been bended and destroyed. Crew on board claimed that the damage was caused by a hurricane.

 

I last saw the radio ship marooned in a Coast Guard impound site in Miami in the late 60's.[282]

 

In Miami the Olga was embroiled in a long series of lawsuits. It had been hopen to lease the ship for a variety of purposes before the settling of all of the outstanding bills came to a head. This did not succeed before the lawsuits started.

 

Offshore radio station: Radio England from 3rd May 1966 to 13th November 1966, Radio Dolfijn from 14th November 1966 to 28th February 1967, Britain Radio from 3rd May 1966 to 28th February 1967, Radio 227 from 16th March to 21st July 1967, Radio 355 from 16th March to 6th August 1967.

 

Location: International Waters 4 1/2 miles Frinton-on-Sea, Essex (UK)[283]

 

Owner: Viscaya(Bahamas) Inc.(1966-1967), later Laissez Faire Inc.(1967-1968), later Steamship Laissez Faire Inc.(1968)

 

 

Abilene Reporter-News September 15th, 1967. The Olga Patricia is anchored off the Azores. Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.

 

The Captain(s) of your ship.

 

 

Tender alongside. Rick Randall to the left plus seamen receiving the Offshore 1. Olga Patricia May, 1966. Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.

 

 

and Colin B.Lukehurst, who stayed onboard until the August 1967 close down. From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser), February 21st, 1967.

 

Capt. Lukehurst in the final broadcast of Radio 355 said he had more than 6 months onboard in command of a floating radio station and found it hard to say goodbye. He mentioned these crew members: Chief Engineer Tony Fisher, Jack Wayne, Gerard Nievenhuys, Jan Zaan, Jan de Kersey, Jaap Kokker for all their good work onboard this vessel, also his past crews, especially his agent on shore, Mr. Niles Martin of Harwich. We shall all miss the radio personnell on board and I should all like to wish them all the best for the future. With the closing of this station we have all lost the pleasure of listening to 355 and with it just another little bit of freedom and life. To all our listeners goodluck and goodbye. Later regards to Coast Guard and Walton Lifeboat.

 

Up for sale.

 

With the implementation of the Marine(etc.) Offences Act on August 15th, 1967, the two radio ships having their origins in Texas were put up for sale.

 

As is well known, the Galaxy sailed to Hamburg, and later to Kiel where it met a sad fate in 1986. When 1967 came to a close, several would-be takers had shown an interest in buying or leasing this ship from Panavess Incorporated, two of these being the Swiss Radio Gloria International and Radio Nordsee projects, the latter eventually taking it on the air from another ship. But there was also a group wanting taking the Galaxy to South America as a relay station[284].

 

Ben Toney relates a very interesting event in Rome in January, 1968 which led him into contact with King Constantine and Queen Anna Marie of Greece who fled from the Military Junta of Greece the month before.

 

The King said to Toney: I had a call last night from Don Pierson in Abilene, Texas, do you know(him)? I said yes, I know Don. ...Hes trying to lease me his Radio London ship. Don had both of these ships, the Radio England/Britain Radio ship and the Radio London ship...and he was trying to lease them out or to sell them off or anything to get rid of them... Then the King told Toney Pierson wanted to lease him the ship for $200,000 a month, and that he would like to broadcast to the Greeks. Toney was also offered the job as project leader which he accepted provided the station would have protection from NATO. But he project did not proceed as NATO would not support it.[285]

 

Regarding the Olga[286] Don Pierson was given trusteeship of her once again to see if he could lease or resell the ship station as a going concern. He began offering the Olga for lease or sale in July 1967 and the first ads for it appeared from September 1967. One ad was in the US Broadcasting. In late 1967 and early 1968 he also approached numerous governments all over the world offering to lease it to them. Correspondence and some replies exist. Some interest was shown by a group to use it off India, seemingly exiles from the former Portugese colony enclave Goa, another off Brazil, one Peru, one off Taiwan. Don also got involved with a group wanting him to relaunch it as Wonderful Radio London off New York. He even offered it to Dayan in Israel and his spokesmans telegram reply is saying "No thank you."

 

Lloyds had listed both the Olga Princess and the Olga Patricia (sister ships which previously had the same owner - before Don's SRE/BR project.) According to Lloyds the Olga Patricia had ended up with Zapata Haynie Corporation of Reedville, which also have confirmed they have the Olga Patricia. Also there, the vessel was renamed according to Lloyds. The company also had the sister ship Olga Princess. There were at least two identical ships-parts of a fleet that served Central and South America and Florida. But something have happened in the 70s at Lloyds Records, as they seem to have merged two ship stories into one. Lloyd's Registry has the Laissez Faire listed as being previously known as the Olga Princess - the sister ship. So which ship is now owned by Zapata Haynie company under the Earl J. Conrad Jr. name is anyone's guess and how two ships became mixed into one ship is also a mystery. Why has Olga Patricia disappeared into the blue, and the sister ship Olga Princess lost part of her own identity and taken on part of the history of the Olga Patricia? The harbour master of the mentioned companys fleet confirmed that he thought that the ship they owned had been used as a radio station, but since it was now a fishing ship and all equipment had been removed, he could offer no more information. Nobody has been able (or willing) to explain why. It is also possible that the stories about Vietnam body bags relate to the history of the Olga Princess. Or the story about the Olga broadcasting to the troops in Vietnam for AFVN or being used as a clandestine radio station[287].

 

When the Olga deal ran out of time and Don lost the ship he planned to buy another, and started planning on this with a new transmitter. The dry dock bills for the ship and details of the transmitter exist. It was to be used for WRL off San Diego, CA tied to Disneyland, and that did not work, then he was going to use it in his Haiti freeport and after two failed freeport ventures in Haiti and Dominica following, Don retired and worked with a local FM station KMWX-FM.

 

 

Autumn 1967. The Olga Patricia is back in Miami. Is she here marooned in a Coast Guard impound site in Miami?[288]Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.

 

"Last Voyage of A Musical Pirate" (Joan Brazer in Miami Herald "Tropic" magazine, February 22, 1970)

 

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Via Eric Gilder. Used with permission.

 

This article has a picture of the ship docked in Miami and another of Larry Dean sitting in what was left of the SRE studio. He tells his story about his days on SRE to the reporter. He relates how he was driving down the causeway and telling his friends about SRE and did a double take when he saw the ship in dock. At the end the article mentions the court case over the Olga operation with somewhat inaccurate facts. It also talks about an evangelist taking the ship to Italy, but the article says that the radio equipment has already been taken off and that the ship is to go back to the Wichita Falls investors.

 

The article begins:

 

"A silent vessel lies docked in Miami. Two hundred and eighty tons of what was once a "pirate" radio ship was until recently a prisoner, held by federal orders at Albury Shipping Dock off the MacArthur Causeway. 

"For one man in Miami, the ship remains alive. 'I was riding along MacArthur Causeway, "says WFUN radio disc jockey Larry Dean, rapping with my friends. We were talking about old times and I was telling them about the pirate radio ship I had lived on for eight months. Then I turned around, looked out the car window and there she was. I've never been so stunned in my life."

 

The last three paragraphs:

 

"Two years ago the ousted pirate radio ship made its way back to familiar waters. Upon its arrival in Miami, a suit arose between Continental Electronics Corp. and Langford Broadcasting Corp. as to who owned the vessel. The case was recently settled, and the courts gave Continental Electronics[289] possession of the radio equipment, while Langford Broadcasting was awarded the ship itself

"However, there is a new chance that the Laissez Faire's role as a radio ship may still be revived - this time off the Italian coast. John McTerman, a Protestant missionary, has made a firm offer to buy the ship's radio equipment and is thinking of purchasing the entire ship. [290] As of this writing both corporations have agreed to the negotiations underway

"McTerman plans to broadcast Protestant oriented programs off the coast of Rome, hoping to strike a responsive chord from Italian Catholics. He claims that the Italian government, unlike the British, has no objection to this. Meanwhile, the Laissez Faire remains docked in Miami, its future uncertain, its past still echoing the music that once rolled across its decks."

 

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Via Eric Gilder. Used with permission.

 

Nothing came of the Pierson attempts to lease out or sell the radio ship, which eventually led to the demise of the entire project in court. In early 1970 the fate of the Olga Patricia renamed Laissez Faire was settled but the radio equipment does not seem to have been physically removed from the ship, although this may have happened a short time afterwards, as Swazi Radio started broadcasting about the same year.(See Chapter 7.) So the evangelist project never materialized.

 

When the radio ship arrived off Frinton on May 2nd, 1966, it did open transmissions the day after. However, the twin stations were certainly not commercial being on and off every day. In August, 1966 the factory engineer instructed the station engineers not to exceed the approximately half power(25 kW) it had reached then. Additional equipment would be needed to get to full power.

 

According to the laywer of World Wide Investments, the transmitters were to be completed by March 24th, 1966, in Miami, Florida. By the end of September, 1966, the Olga Patricia project had lost approx. $450,000 per month gross revenue during the 5 months delay, a total loss of $2,250.000.00[291].

 

 

The court case. Dallas Times Herald May 10th, 1974. Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.

 

Perspectives on the Olga Patricia stations[292].

 

"SRE-Swinging Radio England. Broadcasting 4 1/2 miles off the Frinton Essex coast on 227 metres, 24 hours a day. In excess of 50000 watts of power, SRE-First and Foremost is BOSS!"

 

In this connection "First and Foremost" thanks to the Grey and the Pierson family, Roger Day and Rick Randall for everything and for the invitation to this reunion.

 

Thanks also to you great "Boss Jocks", be it of the 1st, 2nd or 3rd waves. Together with Britain Radio presenters and those of the other stations, you did extremely well.

 

You are most missed from the airwaves!

 

"This is the start of something BOSS", the slogan said. I hope this little speech may be at least a "Boss" Word with some

 

"Perspectives on the Olga Patricia."

 

We all know the official story. Radio England failed because it was too American, etc.

 

But this may be a myth. By careful gathering of facts from documents, press reports, recordings, and interviews, it is possible to find at least indications of a deeper story, which I will only hint at this evening.

 

The main players are not only Don Pierson and Bill Vick. They have important roles in the drama, of course. In the greater picture Don was the founder of 5 of the 6 Texan stations that operated in the North Sea from 1964-1967. Bill Vick on his side was designated by the investors to be the twin stations' Philip Birch, with Vick's company Peir-Vick doing the same job as Big L's Radlon Sales.

 

One player that was to be very decisive for the project was Continental Electronics Manufacturing Company Inc. of Dallas.

 

Another very important player was Radiovision Broadcasts(International)Ltd. the radio advertising arm of Pearl and Dean, who handled cinema advertising. RBI had been formed as late as January, 1966 to assist with ABC TV and radio station(USA) marketing in the UK and the Continent. Peir-Vick Ltd. alias Bill Vick had given them an exclusive contract for advertising sales, and on June 17th they threw a very large party at the Savoy for would-be clients, with 250 guests[293].

 

 

Pearl and Dean early emerged as key figure on the Olga Patricia operation. Pearl and Dean had set up RBI in January of 1966 to represent 44 commercial radio stations owned by ABC International TV, Inc. in Britain and the Continent, and through Bill Vick, they added SRE/BR to their portfolio as exclusive sales representatives. Don Pierson very much disagreed with this move. WPN&AR April 22th, 1966. Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

 

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A presentation leaflet of Pearl and Deans subsidary Radiovision Broadcast International from April, 1966. There are 4 VERY large pages meaning 8 sections. Of RBIs people we note Colin Brown, mentioned in SRE ad promos as well as Basil Van Rensburg, later to appear in key roles with Radio Dolfijn and Radio 227. The other names are: Peter Banham, John Cross, Diana Good Dixon, John Havard-Davies and Stuart Littlepage. Note also the famous picture of the SRE Boss Jocks was also published in the Daily Sketch of May, 5th, 1966, see above. Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

A third important player is Herbert W.Armstrong of the "Worldwide Church of God" of Pasadena, CA with the "World Tomorrow" program broadcast on Britain Radio and later on Radio 355. Its political-religious message may have worried the British Government.

 

Then there are the WWI investors. They were seemingly 3 different groups, from Abilene and Wichita Falls, but also from the Midland-Odessa region in Western Texas. They had different opinions on key persons and the way to go. Of the investors, the late Pierce Langford III seems most important. He also had connections very "high up."

 

Also Radio Veronica and Radio London may be in the picture in different ways.

 

When we ask: What happened to the Olga, all those players tend to link to that question!

 

With that in mind, let me only give you a quick rundown of the main facts.

 

I do not have all the answers, but would like to invite you to help answering the main questions that arise and tell what you know of what happened.

 

On February 10th, 1966, Continental installed radio equipment aboard the vessel "Olga Patricia", later known as the "Laissez Faire" costing 315,000.00 Dollars. Continental retained a claim to this equipment.

 

In the spring of 1966, Pierce Langford III, of Wichita Falls, having previously invested in Radio London, now learning that a new radio ship was being prepared by World Wide Investments Inc. for use off the coast of Great Britain as an unauthorized broadcasting station, contributed 50,000 Dollars to the promoters of this new venture. Thereafter, from time to time Langford and four of his associates made additional contributions to World Wide and others connected with the broadcast operation.

 

As you know, there were numerous problems with the equipment. In the beginning the transmitters only ran on 1/4 power, and by September 1966, the two stations only were able to use 27 kW each, and here the designation ERP is used, which may mean a much lower actual transmitter power. In addition, there is the fact that as the Olga was on the high seas, the salt water would create an immense rocket platform for even low-powered radio signals. A good example of this is Radio 390, Red Sands, which used only 10 kW, but easily had the strongest signal of all the pirates.

 

At the end of September, representing World Wide, Mr. R.F.Burget, wrote to Continental describing the problems that had arisen due to the falling down of the antenna and later, what could not be called a commercial signal.

 

On October 7th, there was a very stormy meeting in Abilene with the result that Don Pierson was booted as Project Manager. So he was kicked out for the second time, just as he was from Radio London 2 years earlier. Present at the meeting was a RBI representative from the UK who gave verbal assurance of the contacts of P&D and projected an absolute minimum sales volume of 15% of station capacity!

 

The events that followed are not clear, but some facts have been established:

 

Radiovision Broadcast (International)Ltd by this time had prepared a report suggesting Dutch programming on one of the Olga channels. The name should be Radio 227 as Radio 390 and 270 already had shown numbers could work as a good brand. This because of ad agencies locking in their 1967 budgets at that time, and there was no other Dutch competitor. Radio Veronica, that one should go head-to head with, had more advertising then it could handle, it was said.

 

There were press reports of the format change from October 13th, and "Radio Holland" promos on air on 1322 kc from October 14th. Johnnie Walker "jumps ship" after his nighttime show on October 15th. Roger Day has earlier described the mood among the remaining "Boss Jocks" around this time and it is amazing that Roger and the others managed to put up such excellent programming in the last month of SRE.

 

Press reports in the UK and Holland for the coming weeks repeated the story in varying versions, even saying Radio Holland would be on a different frequency. Radio England would continue during nighttime on "227". In the "Return of the Seven" promo in these last weeks of SRE "Radio 227" is billed as "The International Giant" and "SRE Country".

 

In London, there is now a Press Conference on October 20th. It is not fronted by Vick, who seems to be in Texas, but by Jack Curtiss, who must have had a very difficult task doing it alone, because the decision of a change, as he already has said, was taken by the owners.

 

And then comes the change, and the appearance of-Radio Dolfijn on November 14th. What has happened here? Why not Radio 227? And why MOR? At the Gooiland Press Conference in Amsterdam, broadcast on "227" on November 14th, several names are mentioned as having been considered, even put to a poll, like Radio de Lage Landen, Ameland, Albatros and Piet Hein. And Dolfijn. Who came up with that? But neither 227 or Holland are mentioned! Two indications of what really happened are found in

#1: a letter from November, where Vick is authorized by the owners to negotiate with Veronica!

#2: in the fact that "Dutch representative of Radio Dolfijn", Basil van Rensburg, in January 1966 was an employee of RBI!

 

We cannot know for sure if there is any connection, but also Radio London was going Dutch as this time. Only in the Summer it had planned to buy out Radio City Shivering Sands to create UKGM(LGM?) to compete with Britain Radio.

 

Being pressed from all sides, did Vick receive an offer, from a Dutch, or maybe an UK corner he was not able to withstand?

 

However, it soon became clear that Radio Dolfijn was not a success. And in a letter to Don Pierson of January 1st, 1967, where the Midland-Odessa investors are saying they represent the majority opinion, Don is reinstated as Project manager  and asked to undertake the following:

 

1.Put independent sales reps in the Holland market immediately on a commission basis and under Don's direction.

2.Format change of Radio Dolfijn to Top 40.(The foregoing is top priority, but also Don was to)

3.Put independent sales reps in the UK market immediately on a commission basis and under Don's direction. P&D must re-double their efforts. End of exclusive sales representation by P&D.

4.Pop format on Britain Radio 3-6pm, and from 10pm until morning.[294]

 

The selling of the ship is also a factor which I will come back to.

 

Between the lines, Vick is asked to see the situation, as already at the Abilene meeting on October 7th, the "majority of the joint venturers agreed to a trial operation under different director". This does not seem to have been implemented, as Vick continues. But maybe Ted Allbeury was approached already by this time, but for the time being rejected the Texan offer? In an interview with Steve England the old colonel seems to indicate hed had several invitations before he joined in early 1967.

 

The West Texans now in early January point to Pearl and Dean has had more than enough time to present results. They cannot understand why Radio London is enjoying profits at near maximum levels and the Olga results are so meagre. They also show to the fact that the popular stations at home are Top 40! Very much similar thoughts as Don's initial plans with Big L and SRE.

 

You know what happened, Don was only able to put through some of this. Johnny Darks program comes in on BR on Sundays(as a sort of new version of SRE's "Rock n' Roll Revival Hour"), as does Jack McLaughlin's "Nightbeat", both from late January Ted Allbeury finally succeeded Vick, who claimed in the Dutch Press he was a "schlachtoffer", but now only was left with liquidating Peir-Vick, which happened on March 11th.

 

It is amazing under these circumstances that Phil Martin and the other BR djs managed to put up such excellent programming in the last months of that station.

 

As you have already heard, Langford and his associates gradually took more control over the operation. Some of the investors from his part of Texas may have been sceptical to Don, but clearly tolerated him now as all the investors now had a common agenda, namely to recoup some of the losses and sell the ship.

 

Langford then sent Vincent Murphy to London to investigate the situation. But on February 28th, 1967, when he played back Britain Radio's 845 kc signal over the phone to Langford in Texas, the station went dead, the radio mast having been damaged for the second time.

 

The repairs in Zaandam followed for the next fortnight and now Langford suddenly appears in Holland and is smilingly pictured in Dutch Press with Ted Allbeury's 2nd in command, John Withers and who else but-Basil van Rensburg!

 

The agenda seems to have been do as well as possible radio-wise for the last months up to the implementation of the MOA, but also to sell the Olga as quickly as possible. At the end of May an "upbeat" Dolphin format on 1322 and the 390 format on 845 was axed and the Olga stations finally found its niche, and I feel it is quite a paradox that this was effected by the half-brother of John Withers, Tony Windsor, TW, who Radio London sent off on the middle of February. As you have understood, the selling process was to be Don's task. It seems he also was to sell the Galaxy.

 

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September 8th, 1967: Don Pierson has placed an ad in the Wall Street Journal. Is this ad for the Galaxy, lying unused, but ready in Hamburg, Germany? Eric Gilder. Used with permission.

 

At least from July 1967 it is documented that Don is offering the ship to virtually every country in the world, Peru, Nigeria, Israel, Iraq, Norway(!) United Nations[295]. It almost ended up with Armstrong[296]. By letter, ads in "Broadcasting" and press.

 

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September 8th, 1967: The Olga Patricia is waiting off the Azores and Don Pierson has placed an ad in Broadcasting for its two stations. Eric Gilder. Used with permission.

 

The most positive reaction came from the USIA, VOA[297]. After all they had had several radio ships, the most recent being the Courier broadcasting The Voice beyond the Iron Curtain off Rhodes. Don also planned a new pirate from the Olga in 1968, namely Radio London off California.

 

 

 

July 26th, 1967 and only Radio 355 is left of the Olga stations. As usual, Norway seems to turn down good broadcasting opportunities. Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

 

Also Iraq was offered the Galaxy and the Olga in mid-summer 1967. Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

On April 18th, 1967, Langford acknowledged the existence of Continental's claim to the broadcasting equipment in writing and assured that the claim would be recognized. Langford and Continental in a business deal had agreed that if the vessel and radio equipment were sold as a package a better sale price could be obtained and it was decided to go for at least 550,000 Dollars.

 

For the Galaxy, the Radio Gloria International project, which was surpassed by Radio Nordsee had appeared, which was why that ship went to Hamburg. The Olga it was decided to return to Miami, but there might have been hope of a buyer in Europe, as in September 15th it is anchored off the Azores, to arrive in Miami a week later.

 

Continental paid a portion of the insurance to cover the broadcasting equipment on the voyage, and, at Langford's request, Continental made an inspection and made an inventory list of the vessel upon its arrival in Florida.

 

On July 18th, 1968, Langford purchased the vessel for 65,000 Dollars at a Marshal's sale earlier ordered by court. He also paid a smaller sum to Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock Co. of Miami who had furnished labor, material and services to the Olga in Spring 1966 to settle their claims.

 

But now complications arose. Without our knowing the reason, a representative of the company insuring the radio equipment for Continental was denied permission to board the Olga. To secure their interests, Continental went to court on Miami. A decision in this case was made on Jan.21st, 1970.

 

Continental was now given back the transmitters and resold serial #10 of the 317 model to Swazi Radio 1376(845 kc on the Olga), "Your Much More Music Station" which the Kirsch Bros, were starting in South Africa, and #11(1322 kc) to TWR Swaziland 1170, starting transmissions in 1974.

 

The Olga without the transmitters remained with Langford.

 

Was the ship used for clandestine work in the Caribbean as Don Pierson indicated in the mentioned mid-80s interview?

 

He seems to both have hinted to this for the period before the court case and after, in the latter case as a relay station. But he clearly did not want to have any focus on this question.

 

We will not know until someone steps forward with parts of or the full story.

 

So we have to look in the radio logs of the dxers as well as radio essays from this period.

 

Both Larry Magne of "Passport to World Band Radio" and Alice Brannigan of "Popular Communications" have touched on this theme.

 

At least two regular clandestines were monitored around this time, The Howard Hunt operation on MW/SW, Radio Swan/Radio Americas had been closed at this stage, but Radio Libertad was still active on SW and maybe on MW from early in the 60s with a Miami address. And Radio Free Cuba was even said to operate from a ship in the Caribbean on SW.

 

Regarding operations closer to the US government, the VOA Sugarloaf Key 1040 station was closed in 1965, but VOA Marathon Key, FL 1180 existed from 1962 through the period of interest until it became Radio Marti in the 80s. In one source there is indeed an indication that the VOA used another relay at the time we are interested in. After all, in the 80s they built relay stations on 1580 kc in Belize and Antigua. Both were heard with local Ids at sign off by this writer.

 

Finally, regarding what happened to the Olga there are leads in what has been said. But it is a difficult story to map. And the following, which is also my final, creates even more questions:

 

From it was built in 1944, the Olga had several identities according to Lloyds Registry:

1.FP263

2.FS263

3.Deal(Doing service in the Korean War, not in Vietnam)

4.Don Carlos

5.Olga Princess

6.Laissez Faire

7.Akuarius II

8.Earl J.Conrad Jr.(Fishing vessel of Zapata Haynie Inc.)

 

Where does the Merrill-Stevens document that Grey Pierson has uncovered listing the Olga as being in Miami since May, 1965 bearing the name ALGR PATRICIA fit in?

 

 

 

Merrill-Stevens Yachts  prospectus for a former Navy ship for sale in South Florida. Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.

 

From that time,

 

 

(owned by Merrill-Stevens Drydock Co.[298]) as broker has had her for sale.

 

And where do two ships looking exactly like the Olga spotted in Miami in Spring of 1966 fit in, one called the Titan and one the Star 5-0?

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

The Star 5-0 from Florida Lines tied up at a dock. Looks just like the Olga Patricia. Picture also shows NASSAUNP underneath which may refer to Nassau in the Bahamas or something else. This might be the ship which Don Pierson once remarked became the Olga Princess. Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

The Titan also looks like the Olga Patricia and it is tied up at dock. Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

The Titan in dock from another angle but being loaded by a fork lift with the Hillman on the deck. On the back it says "Titan showing all four booms". Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

 

Don Pierson was a dealer for Hillman in Texas and once remarked he took his Hillman on board. Here is Don's Hillman car on board the Titan at dock and on the back of the photo it says: "Titan taken from the bridge forward." Someone (maybe Don) can be seen in the faded part at the top extreme left looking down at the hold. The other people are all Black/Hispanic in both shots and they are either crew or dockside workers. Was the Titan planned as a tender to the Olga Patricia as SRE/BR? Or was it considered for the broadcasting operation? Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

 

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

 

Merrill-Stevens Yachts document from December, 1965 about the Titan. Eric Gilder. Used by permission.

 

There may even have been other ships considered.

 

And the ship you guys worked on on 1966 and 1967 was indeed called the Olga Patricia, not the Olga Princess.

 

The Galaxy finally sank in Kiel. But where is the Olga Patricia? Is it still riding the waves somewhere, is it torn up or at the bottom of the sea?

 

Where the Heck is the Olga Patricia[299]?

 

There once was a ship that was destined to be

A famous, mysterious ship of the sea

It sailed from a port in the south US

To take part in a plan to invade, can you guess?

 

A storm the first night sent a sound and a fright

Through the hull with a crash and a shudder

When the mast it did fall with antennae and all

As the ship rocked about on her rudder

 

So the trip took a turn as the world would then learn

And made stops for repairs in a hurry

First the Azores and then to Lisbon to mend

As the boss paid the bills with a worry

 

Portugal, it was nice and the crew once or twice

Toured the town and drank down with the best

It took two weeks, or three, to get back out to sea

And head north --- was it east, south or west?

 

The day finally came when the wind and the rain

In the North Sea were met by those bad boys

There were Yanks, and some Blokes, and a Aussie with jokes

Would would soon file the air with their noise

 

Radio Caroline, and well, yet another – Big L

That were just off the Felix Stowe sea shore

When the Boss Jocks arrived with their fast talk and jive

They would soon play their music, and much more

 

This ship it was true, with not one sound, but two

But not destined to be there for too long

For on land was a fight, about whats wrong and whats right

And the law would soon silence their sea-song

 

With the Maritime Act it would simply be fact

That the days we remember are past us

The American sound that was heard in London town

Would die out, though the memory would last us

 

Here we gather again to look back with a grin

To a time that we faintly remember

A tale that was born with the sound of a horn

On a ship that is vaguely familiar

 

So heres to the lady we loved and we knew

Was her name...Bonnie, or Jenny?

Oh yeah, I recall, it was Olga, yall

A friend who is gone with our memory

 

For now nowhere we see is our old friend at sea

There are stories we just can not follow

They weave plots with no clues, like a clown with no shoes

CIA...Laissez Faire...all sound hollow

 

What happened when the fun, it was all said and done

And the boat and her crew they did sever

Did she sail off in fright to mysterious night

Or sink to the bottom forever?

 

There is no end that we know to this story, and so

The truth may never to told her

How the real story ends, or if destiny bends

Around Olga as we all grow older

 

Lets call out the Air Force, the Navy, and then

Lets call out the Army militia

Weve all got to know, before we all go

Where the Heck, is the Olga Patricia

 

A surprising development: Radio Galleon.

 

At the Radio England Reunion in May, 2006, Radio 355 presenter Mark Sloane presented a bunch of very interesting documents describing a fascinating 1968 offshore twin radio project off Florida for the USA and Bahamas(but UK funded): Radio Galleon. And the ship to be used was the Laissez Faire/Olga Patricia. The Radio London ship Galaxy was also on offer.

 

The documents are as follows:

*3 pages ship documents.

*2 pages bill from Dade Drydock dated April 26th, 1968. to owner B.Goodman, agent.[300]

*8 pages(incl attachments) of Galleon Communications meeting June 18th, 1968, draft finished June 26th, 1968.

Location: Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1.

Present: Col. D.S.Richard

Colin GN Campbell, Esq.

Cmdr. J.Gordon-Nixon

Tim Proctor, Esq

(plus Mark Sloane and Anne)

Short extract of meeting:

Benny Goodman has offered the Laissez Faire.

Mark has planned programming for Bahamas based station with one Florida and one Bahamas station from the vessel.

Colin Campbell has had an input from Jim Reed whilst in New York the week before and was there offered the Galaxy.

Col.Richard says about his contact with B.Goodman:

Latter says he owns the boat with 3 partners, will have legal title on July 5. He will crew-up the boat and bring it to the UK if they so wish.

Has put in a new 50 kW transmitter.[301]

Boat clear of all mortgages

Price as is $500000.

They are also willing to lease with crew and djs.

Partnership, putting boat in for an unspecified equity share.

 

-B.Goodman should not be told of Bahamas location, but he will be very keen when he learns this.

Col. Richard thinks B.Goodman does not own ship but acts for a number of shareholders.

Leasing not on, only purchase or partnership.

Will pay maximum $300000.

 

*3 pages evaluation of radio equipment MV Laissez Faire dated June 24th, 1968(by Mark Sloane, reflecting the situation in August, 1967?)*

*Letter to Mark Sloane from Col. Richard at 20/21 C Kipling Bldg, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. Dated Aug.6th, 1968. Terms for Mark and Anne. Reference to one Jean in UK, Richard's wife? Expects to meet Texan group "next week".

*Letter to Mark from Col. Richard. Dated Aug.6th, 1968. (High priority and) confidential. Have been in contact with the Texans through Mike Barrell. Pringle's connection with them is only third hand. Pringle wanted to buy the boat himself for $200000.

And then a most interesting note:

Philip Burch(!)has made enquiries for purchasing the Galaxy as a radio ship, location unknown. $225000 needed for seagoing order.

Texans will sell Galaxy?? to Galleon for same price. Not partnership but mortgage, $60000 with the balance over 5 years at 71/2/8%.

Richard now asks Mark if Burch(!)has learnt of the project because of June meeting and enquieries.

Is PB also going Bahamas or does he want some other location?

Any news of finance?

Jean not leaving London until Aug.14th, 1968.

 

Obviously the project fell through after this.

 

Does any reader have any more info on Benny Goodman

Jim Reid

Pringle

Mike Barrell

or any of the other names?

 

(Is there any possibility that these persons would be agents of Don Pierson and/or Pierce Langford III?)

 

Chapter 11: Meanwhile on the Galaxy.

 

 

Radio London entry in WRTH 1966.

 

Wonderful Radio London[302] was the cousin of the 5 Olga Patricia sisters. It had its studios and transmitter aboard a former US Minesweeper anchored close to the Olga, but this station broadcast for a longer time, from December, 1964, until 3 PM on Monday, August 14th, 1967. It was never heard again.

 

Just like the original Olga Patricia stations, Radio England and Britain Radio, Wonderful Radio London was the brainchild of  the Eastland, Texas entrepeneur, Don Pierson, and was set up together with fellow businessman Tom Danaher of Wichita Falls. Don Pierson got the idea to start the station while reading the Dallas Morning News[303].

 

Pierson compared the number of stations then serving the population of Northwest Texas where he lived, with the two original offshore stations serving the population of England. He concluded that he had an idea that would be worth a lot of money.

 

 

Radio Londons popular My Home Town song(Pams Series #16, Song of the City) was only one of several 100s of cuts of this tune, sung by Trella Hart. Here is the KOGT Orange, Texas version for 1600 on the AM dial[304].

 

Pierson caught the next available "red eye" flight from Love Field in Dallas to England where he investigated the British broadcasting scene. He flew out over the North Sea and after taking photographs, he returned to Texas with the idea of creating a station that was bigger and better than bot the BBC and existing offshore radio.

 

Don Pierson took his inspiration for the station and for the name from two sources.

 

The station was originally devised as an actual clone of Gordon McLendons[305] highly successful radio station KLIF in Dallas, Texas. Don Pierson wanted to use recordings from that station and remove the local commercials and then retransmit the tape-recorded output with local British advertisements. In other words KLIF in the Big D would become KLIF London broadcasting to "Big L".

 

However, the PAMS jingles used by Big L, were modelled on those heard over KLIFs Dallas competitor branding their station "Wonderful KBOX".

 

The investors behind the project were based in Texas and they used a series of totally different names for interlocking companies for ownership purposes in order to disguise their interest.

 

This as the British authorities would not allow the registration of a British sales company called "Radio London" and so it was registered as "Radlon (Sales) Ltd." which was the name plugged on the air for advertising sales.

 

Because of a boardroom battle Don Pierson was pushed out of direct management (while remaining an investor[306]) and this led him to start Radio England and Britain Radio.

 

 

Looking over to Radio London from Radio England, May, 1966. Unknown photographer. LIFE International Oct.31st,1966 .

 

Radio London became an enormous success, Published reports show sales of approx. $2,800,000.00 a year in less than 18 months of operation.(1966)Today the station is still fondly remembered as "Wonderful Radio London", and it formed the main inspiration for the BBCs later(1967) copy. As a PAMS jingle sang it: Radio One is Wonderful-BBC when the new radio network took the air on Sept.30th, 1967.

 

 

As of the implementation of the Geneva Plan in November for the LW/MW bands in late November 1978 BBC Radio One moved from 1214 and 1484, to the better channels of 1053 and 1089 kc. It was no longer a bleak copy of Don Piersons great stations, and was doing great with its own identity.

 

But-the roots of Radio One are in Texas!

 

 

Don Pierson and his stations on the Galaxy and Olga were also part of the inspiration for UK commercial radio. These two stations General Entertainment and News were the first modern licensed commercial radio stations in Britain, taking to the air in early October, 1973. Although with modest power from a provisional site at Battersea Power Station, their coverage was considerable, and took on big names from one of the Pierson stations, like Kenny Everett, Dave Cash and Tommy Vance. Operating now from another site and with different names, the stations still exist 33 years after.

 

 

When the word got out to Philip Birch about Don Pierson's new SRE/BR, Birch sprang into action with his counter plan for a competitor to Britain Radio(here called LGM, not as commonly known UKGM) using able staff, like Keith Skues and Duncan Johnson. But when the news broke that Calvert had been killed by a Big L rival amidst the dealings for a takeover of Radio City Birch immediately played down both his role and the entire project[307] TV Mail, June 17th, 1966.

 

 

According to this Dutch press report from Nov.17th, 1966, Amerikaan Birch would discuss with one R. v. der Waart van Gulik of Holland the possibility of creating a Dutch arm in view of the incoming MOA. It was of course also competition to the new Radio Dolfijn, having started only November 14th. From Hans Knots archive.

 

 

Dutch dj rehersals for Radio London November 15th-18th. 1966. From Hans Knots archive.

 

Chapter 12: See you around. The end of Texas Radio in Europe.

 

The 2 offshore radio projects and 6 radio stations that were founded by Don Pierson, of Eastland, Texas came to end on August 14th, 1967 on 1137,5 kc at 3pm in the afternoon with A Day in the life by the Beatles and Paul Kayes famous last words: Radio London is now closing down, followed by Pams series #18 Sonowaltz(Big Lil). Only dead air was left of a highly successful sound, that never returned.[308]

 

Dons other project was closed 8 days earlier amidst less publicity. But the final broadcasting hours from the Olga Patricia and close-down of Radio 355 at 0022 hours on August 6th, 1967 was undoubtedly also a very sad occasion. Commercially, that project was a flop.

 

The late Tony Windsor chaired the final programme on 845 kc, over the 50 kW Continental transmitter that also carried Ron OQuinns opening words almost to the day 13 months earlier. Ron was the first PD, TW the last. The year before TW had said forget Radio England because of the term Boss Jocks[309]. But the year after Windsor himself was on the Olga with Radio 355s brighter broadcasting, closing down his station with the speech of a former British Colonel, Auld Lang Syne, and  God Save the Queen. So the Texas project with roots in different radio stations across the USA in one year had transformed into a true British(and one Dutch) Broadcasting Station!

 

Don Pierson believed that the twin stations project could have worked because in the end Radio 355 and Radio 227 went back to the original formats, 227 having become a Dutch SRE. But the constant changing of formats lost everything. TW seems to have been in agreement with this, as both 355 and 227 were re-launched as virtual clones of Britain and England in late May, 1967, even though 1322kc was in Dutch. We do not know any listening figures, but an estimate in Summer, 1967 put 355 well over 2 Million, and 227, Alan Black said, had many very responsive listeners writing in to Postbus 1390.

 

The last Managing Director of the Olga stations, Ted Allbeury, emphazised that a continued operation was discussed and considered. Foreign advertising was also sought for, but from certain contacts Allbeury was assured that if he was toslip across to Holland, hed be watched and arrested under the MOA. Therefore the plans were abanonded[310].

 

From later information it seems Allbeury must refer to the contacts between the project and Herbert W.Armstrong[311]. The World Tomorrow brought in a large part of the revenue of Britain Radio and later, Radio 355, at least twice a day. Allbeury offered 1322kc and he turned it down. But Allbuery became a friend of Armstrong and was a guest in his Pasadena home.

 

Boss Radio in 1966 created mixed reactions, but the editor is quite sure that had a World Tomorrow station seen the light in 1967, with a controversial theological and political agenda, the reaction in the North Sea countries would be very negative, even if there was available money for it.

 

 

Page of Radio Log of The Plain Truth a free magazine offered on The World Tomorrow, for February, 1967, a very controversial magazine/programme theologically and politically. The entry of Radio Britain shows 2 daily offerings of Garner Ted Armstrong, continuing later on Radio 355 until its closing day. Armstrong in the heyday of the pirates had 8 other outlets per day on the North European radio dial. Until the middle of 1966 he was also on Radio Luxembourg 208 on 1439 kc 7pm daily.(Contribution from Grandview,Texas)

 

If there had been wiser politicians, and not any MOA there might have been a future. If the Texan pirates had got broadcasting licenses in the UK or Holland, a merger of the 2 projects would have been a wise move. 3 50 kW transmitters working on full power is no little feat.

 

This could have led to a MOR, brighter broadcasting service on one channel, a Dutch SRE on another, and the Sound of the International Giant[312], on the third. Just like in Canada and Australia, such commercial stations could have thrived side-by side with national broadcasters in this part of the world.

 

The editor thinks this is only a sweet dream, though. The ships could not have been saved from extinction with the stubborn socialist politics of the day. They didnt stand a chance.

 

And if the licenses had been given, one day the founders, enthusiasts, OQuinns and Days, and radio aficionados of The Yellow Rose of Texas would be gone. And even if format changes may affect both loyal listeners and good staff, they are, regrettably, sometimes necessary. Kelsey Grammar, portraying the famous talk show host Frasier Crane covers this subject in one early episode of the TV series where KACL 780 Seattle goes from All Talk to Mexican! He then arranges a party for all the sacked presenters, only to experience that they all get new jobs except from him.

 

If the Texas stations had been swallowed by a buyer with different ideas, who knows how they would have sounded today? And would they have been on AM? FM? DAB? Satellite? Would they have been looking into Digital AM, DRM, like their old rival Radio Luxembourg[313]? We will never know.

 

The Olga stations had both money and the talent. The Galaxy had money, talent and success. It was very sad everything ended up as a short episode in broadcasting history. It has ended, though.

 

But what memories!

 

Derek Burroughs, jr.

 

 

Good try, but a hoax Christmas 1970. From Hans Knots archive.

 



[1] When Radio England came on the air at 1030am on May 3rd, 1966, the first record played was The Yellow Rose of Texas.

[2] To commemorate the Olga Patricia leaving Miami for Europe.

[3] To commemorate the start of test transmissions from Radio England.

[4] See http://www.northernstar.no/afrs.htm

[5] For Sewe Ungermarks Radio Nord-the true pirate story, go to http://www.ungermark.se/mediaradionordeng.html

[6] At The Party of The Year at the London Hilton on Thursday, July 28th,1966, each of the ladies were presented with a Yellow Rose. But in an interview Don Pierson talked about singers and songs he liked and promoted like Simon and Garfunkel, but he wanted to start Britain Radio with the "Girl from Ipanema". Don said on tape it was the engineer who wanted "Yellow Rose", while Don did want the "Girl" song because he just loved that song!

[7] This source is always in this essay marked Eric Gilder, all copyrights reserved. Material used with permission. The material is based upon a preview of "The American roots of British Broadcasting during the 1960s and its impact upon European politics and mass culture", the use of which for this essay has been granted with kind permission. A part of this work has already been published as:

Dr.Eric Gilder: "Mass Media Moments in the United Kingdom, the USSR and the USA." Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu Press, Rumania 2003 ISBN 973-651-596-6, especially: London, My Hometown, p.69-109.

[8] http://www.uckg.org.za/radio_programs.htm

http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld6006.txt

[9] This is still on the web in an updated version at www.northernstar.no/sre.htm

In Hans Knots International Report of September, 2004, he said (he)hoped anyone interested would be able to assist him in answering some questions:

http://www.hansknot.com/sept2004b.htm

[10] Quotations from  unnamed, former presenter, interviewed by Robert Chapman, 1987: 'Selling The Sixties' Routledge, London and New York, 1992. ISBN 0-415-07817-2/0-415-07970-5.

[11] Errol Boss Cat Bruce, formerly of Radio England and Britain Radio has suggested another name for the Carousel voice: It seems to me, through the fog of time, that the 'Voice' on the carousel was referred to by the guys as  'Otto Mayshun'.(automation) Hans Knots archive, all copyrights reserved. Material used with permission.

[12] We will be looking for more information of the CV of Derek Burroughs, jr.

[13] To see more progress on this radio historical research, it is important that all surviving recordings of these stations are looked upon as shareware, to compare with computer language, in order that as many people as possible are able to enjoy them. It should be added that even if collectors have done a great job in preserving recordings of the 5 stations, it is evident that many are wrongly dated and that there are a lot of doubles. On the other hand, establishing the right dates and times are not always easy and the data in the diary of this essay are not guarenteed.

[14] Hans Knots large archive and Soundscapes

http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/

Hans Knot International Radio Report.

http://www.hansknot.com

We are looking for a translator of the relevant parts of De 5 van de Laissez Faire, to appear in the November, 13th, 2006 edition of this essay.

[15] Hans Knot also wrote the related Historie van Radio London, 1987.

[16] John Lilburne Research Institute (for constitutional studies), Inc., President Dr.Eric Gilder, PhD, all copyrights reserved. This source is always elsewhere in this essay marked Eric Gilder. Material used with permission. The material is based upon a preview of "The American roots of British Broadcasting during the 1960s and its impact upon European politics and mass culture", the use of which for this essay has been granted with kind permission. A part of this work has already been published as:  Dr.Eric Gilder: "Mass Media Moments in the United Kingdom, the USSR and the USA." Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu Press, Rumania 2003 ISBN 973-651-596-6, especially: London, My Hometown, p.69-109.

http://radlon.bravehost.com/index.html

[17] Name inspired by the Wonderful Radio London version of Pams Series #16, Song of the City.

[18] http://www.dxlc.com(DX-News)

[19] http://www.brucebase.org.uk

[20] Robert Chapman.

[21] http://www.historyofklif.com

[22] See essay: The rise and fall of the Mighty 11-90. NRC DX-News, 1986.

http://www.northernstar.no/klif.html

[23] http://www.560.com

[24] The Marine Broadcasters site:

http://www.marine-broadcasters.tk

[25] When pirates rules the waves(1968) and The stations of the sea(1977/2006). Impulse Press/Paul Harris publishing, Edinburgh

[26] http://www.reelradio.com

[27] Short tape made by Dick Palmer for the CRNA. The CRNA must have been a small free radio lobby group publishing a magazine called Tune In. Its address was: Commercial Radio News Agency, 1 Heathfield Avenue, Birmingham 20, England. This per a news item sent in by Lars-ke Andersson in Sweden's (dx-magazine)Eter-Aktuellt #7, 1968.-Editor.

[28] Broadcasting Stations of Exile, Intelligence, Liberation and Revolutionary Organizations. (Larry Magne/Danish Shortwave Club Intl 1/72)

[29] http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk

[30] http://www.nrcdxas.org

[31] http://www.offshoreechos.com

Parts from the following editions reprinted here with kind permission:

OFFSHORE ECHOS #57 June 1985 John England: The Real Don Pierson

OFFSHORE ECHOS #82 August 1990 John England: Much More Music! The story of Don Pierson a broadcasting pioneer.

OFFSHORE ECHOS #110 February 1998 The Graham Gill interview

OFFSHORE ECHOS #112 November 1998  Interview Ben Toney

OFFSHORE ECHOS #114 May 1999 Interview Tom Danaher. Also at

http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME04/Tom_Danaher.html

OFFSHORE ECHOS #117 April 2000 Radio 227 Memories

OFFSHORE ECHOS #117 April 2000 Radio England Britain Radio Rate Card no.1

OFFSHORE ECHOS #117 April 2000 Ron OQuinn Interview By Steve England

OFFSHORE ECHOS #118 June 2000 Jerry Smithwick Interview By Steve England

OFFSHORE ECHOS #124 December 2001 Roger Day Interview

OFFSHORE ECHOS #126 May 2002 Interview with Larry Dean By Steve England

OFFSHORE ECHOS #143 March 2006 Rick Randall interview By Steve England

[32] http://www.radiolondon.co.uk

[33] http://www.lmradio.org

[34] http://www.offshoreradio.de/fleet/laissez.htm

[35] http://www.las-solanas.com

[36] http://www.teddwebb.com

[37] http://www.roanokeradio.com/WPXI

[38] A knock-out idea!(Phil Martin)

[39]  Phil Martin expression.

[40]  LIFE International magazine has ceased trading long ago. The article of the Oct.31st, 1966 edition is also unnamed as well as the photos. A hint of the origin is given with the name Jim Hicks, Lifes Bureau Chief in London, with whom wed like to get in touch if at all possible. Contact with Time-Life International has been tried in vain. For historical and non-commercial objectives the magazine material is published here to preserve it, and let it add its valuable angle to our story.

[41] Rick Crandall(lyrics) and Keith(Keefers)Hampshire(vocal) 2006 recording with a new version of The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, originally recorded in 1976 by Gordon Lightfoot, Reprise Records.

[42] Street address: 777 Biscayne Blvd., Miami.

[43] OFFSHORE ECHOS #126 May 2002 Interview with Larry Dean By Steve England.

[44] OFFSHORE ECHOS  #143, March, 2006. Interview with Rick Randall By Steve England.

[45] The Texan Pirates Daily Mail, Friday, April 7th, 1966

[46] Ian Balk, Daily Telegraph, April 8th, 1966

[47] OFFSHORE ECHOS  #143, March, 2006.

[48] From Eric Gilder. Used with permission.

[49] This led back-benchers of Labour to express worries in Parliament that Tony Benn was refusing to take any action against the stations. The PMG published a written reply: There is nothing I can do at present to prevent these two stations from broadcasting. That is the problem. However, as the house knows, legislation to give us certain necessary powers will be introduced by the government as soon as the legislative timetable permits. The MP for Meriden, Christopher Rowland, replied that the Parliaments schedule was full until October 1967:

I think the need is urgent in view of the fact that these two stations will represent the most serious breach yet of the internationally agreed system of wavelength alllocation. The longer action is delayed, the more difficult it will be to take it.

On April 29th, 1966 the Sun wrote: Pirate radio stations transmitting off the British Coast are safe for a year at least. No legislation to prevent them broadcasting will be introduced this year-and probably not until adequate alternative local broadcasting services are available. The Cabinets Broadcasting Committee are to make a report on broadcasting by the end of the year.

[50] Spelt this way on stationery and on the Swinging 66 tour booklet, but as Pier-Vick on Radio England/Britain Radio Station Information. The company was formed on March 11th, 1966 with an issued capital of 2, and liquidated exactly a year after, with over 100,000 loss on Radio England/Dolfijn and Britain Radio. See also The Texan Pirates Daily Mail Friday, April 7th, 1967.

[51] The Times. April 21st, 1966. See also Peter Knight in Daily Telegraph, April 20th, 1966: 2 more pirate radios on the air soon. An investment sum of 1,450,000 is indicated here.

[52] In the following, #1 means a position on the radio stations record chart. HB means Hitbound, PH means Pick Hit. SE Stateside Extra. O and FB(Flashback) Oldies/Solid Gold record. Most of these surveys are submitted by Lars Holm.

[53] The yellow rose is immortalized in the popular cowboy song The yellow rose of Texas is the only girl for me and speaks of love familiar, of home and the often overlooked glories of domestic happiness. From Language of Flowers

http://www.sagekitchen.com/

[54] Played by request of engineer who had this as his favourite song by permission of Don Pierson.There seems to be a Jack Nixon letter to Don saying that Bill Meeks of PAMS had been in NY and no one had passed on the order to create a special "Girl from Ipanema"(the song which Don would have preferred as opener) jingle and so it was not done. Nixon in his letter said that it might be possible to create something over in the UK using existing music. (Eric Gilder.) You may listen to the actual track by Mitch Miller here:

http://ihs55.org/revisit55.htm

For an instrumental version of the Yellow Rose of  Texas  by Don Carroll go to:

http://www.2hit.dk/MIDI/Don%20Carroll/Don_Carroll.htm

 The song was originally conceived as a folksong in early  Colonial Texas history, the first recorded copy of the Yellow Rose of  Texas was handwritten on a piece of plain paper circa 1836 by an unknown  author. Historical records indicate this copy was most probably transcribed around the time General Sam Houston lead his brigade of Texas loyalists  against the army of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at the Battle of San  Jacinto on April 21, 1836. The folksong tells of a black soldier who left  his sweetheart (a yellow rose) and yearns to return to her side although  other sources think the song refers to General Santa Anna's mulatto  girlfriend, who stole his battle plans before the battle of San Jacinto and delivered them to the American army. In 1858, the first copyrighted edition of the  song was published in New York. The cover states the song was Composed and  Arranged Expressly for Charles H. Brown by J.K. As  the American Civil War began, it was adopted as a marching song by soldiers  everywhere, especially those in Texas.  Finally, in  1864 with the end of the war nearing, a fourth stanza was added to reflect the  dismay and hopelessness of General John B. Hoods retreating Confederate Army after a disastrous Tennessee campaign.  Some of his troops were so  disoriented after the loss, they thought the war may be over and started  returning home - singing, of course, Yellow Rose of Texas.  After  the war, the song grew in popularity with the U.S. Cavalry on western outposts  and along the cattle trails and became a hit song in 1955:

There's  a yellow rose in Texas

That I am going to see,

Nobody else could miss her,

Just half as much as me.

She cried so when I left her,

It like to broke my heart,

And if I ever find her

We never more will part. 

 

She's  the sweetest little rosebud

That Texas ever knew,

Her eyes are bright as diamonds,

They sparkle like the dew.

You can talk about your Clementine

And sing of Rosa Lee,

But the Yellow Rose of Texas

Is the only gal for me.

http://www.joanncastle.com/tracks/y.html

http://www.hetzlersfakebook.com/NBYellowRose.html

[55] It seems to me, through the fog of time, that the 'Voice' on the Carousel was referred to by the guys as 'Otto Mayshun'. (Errol Bruce in Hans Knot International Report..) See also Dave MacKays comments on Derek Burroughs and his real identity elsewhere in this essay, and the diary for July 29th, 1967, where Derek alias Mark Sloane is going home.

[56] From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of January 31st, 1967.

[57] According to DX-NEWS 6-7/66 this test Transmission gave DX Feedback: SRE heard for the first time at 2001 hours on May 21st, using both 845/1320. The station sent a card, showing station/ship, after 30 days. Britain Radio heard on 1320 or 845. Address is 32 Curzon Street, London W.1.

[58] Ron OQuinn, 2-6pm show, June 19th.

[59] US pirate radio station blacked out. See The Times of June 7th, 1966. News story in full under The Olga Patricia Frequencies, Chapter 7.

[60] Radio England boss jocks used to switch the echo on for certain words and dramatic effect.

[61]  Regarding the establishing of the right dates for the Gary Stevens shows this is not easy. and the data in the diary of this essay are not guarenteed. We are interested in the actual broadcast dates here, and we suspect that shows may be labelled the day they were recorded in New York City. "Gary Stevens is the evening personality on WMCA, New York. According to Billboard  Magazine, Stevens is the most popular influence on pop single record sales  in New York and the nation. WMCA is the most influential pop singles station  - again. But the margins have never been bigger for the station. Stevens  says it has to do with a number of things. He believes that WMCA and its  personalities keep in touch with their audience like no other station.  There's even a direct phone line to the studios, in case you want to call - MU 8-5715. He keeps up with music trends, which can change fast in pop  music. One music trend that Stevens has noted on college campuses is an upsurge in  blues. As for the teen audience, it still enjoys the Beatles, but the  Beatles are no longer a phenomenon. But, there's certainly nothing bigger at  the moment. Currently, he sees a tinge of a Middle Eastern influence in pop  music as heard on "Paint It Black" and "Mother's Little  Helper" by the Rolling Stones and "Bus Stop" by the Hollies.  Of course, the Beatles have also used the Middle-east type of sound, says  Stevens."(http://www.mrpophistory.com)

[62] From When pirates rules the waves(1968) and The stations of the sea(1977) both by Paul Harris, Impulse Press/Paul Harris publishing, Edinburgh.

[63] With what could only be described as unwarranted optimism, (he)organised a champagne party...We will be celebrating massive public support in favour of licensing us, plus the support of the entertainment industry...(guests would be invited to) set sail on a sea of champagne. From When pirates rules the waves(1968) and The stations of the sea(1977) both by Paul Harris, Impulse Press/Paul Harris publishing, Edinburgh.

[64] From When pirates rules the waves(1968) and The stations of the sea(1977) both by Paul Harris, Impulse Press/Paul Harris publishing, Edinburgh.

[65] Songs in capital letters are in the top 20 from http://www.musicradio77.com/wmca/surveys/1966/surveyaug2466.html

[66] http://www.geocities.com/dsmurashev.geo/history/1966.htm

[67] Is there a mix-up here with September 3rd, 1966? –Editor.

[68] http://www.musicradio77.com/wmca/surveys/1966/surveysep1466.html

[69] The record seems to be GARY STEVENS 22 GOOD GUY OLDIE - LOST NITE 114 with these tracks:

AD LIBS - BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY

BILLY STEWART - I DO LOVE YOU

CHIFFONS - HES SO FINE

CURTISS LEE - PRETTY LITTLE ANGEL EYES

DEL SHANNON - HATS OFF TO LARRY

DION - RUN AROUND SUE

DIXIE CUPS - CHAPEL OF LOVE

DON & JUAN - WHATS YOUR NAME

DOVELLS - BRISTOL STOMP

FONTELLA BASS - RESCUE ME

GENE CHANDLER - DUKE OF EARL

ISLEY BROTHERS - TWIST AND SHOUT

J FRANK WILSON&CAVALIERS - LAST KISS

JACKIE LEE – DUCK

LITTLE CEASAR - THOSE OLDIES BUT GOODIES

ORLONS - SOUTH STREET

REFLECTIONS - ROMEO & JULIET

RONNIE & DAYTONAS – GTO

SHANGRI LAS - LEADER OF THE PACK

SHIRELLES - SOLDIER BOY

TYMES - SO MUCH IN LOVE

VELVETS - TONIGHT

[70] http://www.musicradio77.com/wmca/surveys/1966/surveysep1466.html

[71] John England: Much More Music! The story of Don Pierson a broadcasting pioneer. OFFSHORE ECHOS #82, August 1990.

[72] http://hawkins.pair.com/wmca.shtml

http://www.wmca.com

[73] In Telegraaf.

[74] Cited in Daily Telegraph.

[75] When Radio England closed, Tartan Racing Pools continued on Britain Radio w this address: Tartan Racing Pools, 212 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2.

[76] Ian Biggar has written in about this recording and says: I don't think it was broadcast between 0645-0715. I have two options;

1) The recording is in the evening and for some reason Roger Day has set his programme on automatic for a period and played the same pre recorded bulletin on the carousel.

2) This is NOT a genuine recording of SRE. Maybe an enthusiast has put together a non stop tape of music and jingles and inserted that news bulletin from the Roger Day tape. I think there is a studio version of Roger's tape available and it would be easy to play the news from that to make an authentic sound. I think this may well be the case!

[77] In Norwegian listener svennams log from late October or Early November 1966 this program schedule/Dj rota is found: Gordon Bennett 0600-0900, Boom Boom Brannigan 0900-1200 Tom Cooper 1200-1500 Boss Cat Errol Bruce 1500-1800 Thatman Bruce Wayne 1800-2100 Roger Day 2100-2400 Alan Black 0000-0600

[78] For reference, check out http://www.560.com/html/pams_numbered_series.html

[79] Does anyone have any notes of the last week of SRE from Nov 6th up until November 13th, such as the program schedule? Especially sought is one morning or more where Gordon Bennett(Gary Kemp of Caroline South, also John Wall of Britain Radio???) did the breakfast show(from 0500?) instead of Bill Berry and was followed by Boom Boom Brannigan(Bob Klingeman) from 9am-2pm. Boom Boom started his show with Rain on the Roof by the Lovin Spoonful.(-Editor)

[80] After Sat. 29th of October, before Sat. 5th of November.

[81] Information contrasts with that given in Roger Days shows from Nov.5th and Nov.7th, 1966.

[82] After Sat. 29th of October, before Sat. 5th of November.

[83] After Sat. 29th of October, before Sat. 5th of November.

[84] DX-NEWS 11/66.

[85] Jack Curtiss in interview Deze zender wordt iets groots (This Station becomes something big.) Telegraaf Friday, November 4th 1966. See Jack Curtiss section in Chapter 3. The Swinging Radio Holland name resurfaced in the spring of 1968 in another project with a.o. DJs Jacques Soudan and Pieter van Dijk(Radio 227) being involved.(Dick van Schenk Brill in Eter-Aktuellt 5/1968)

[86] The full Roger Day interview is found on Hans Knot`s excellent Soundscapes webpages:

http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME04/Roger_DayUK.html

[87] Floods of Italy Nov.3rd-5th, 1966

[88] Jon Myer mentions Bennett/Kemp leaving the Laissez Faire each Monday for a BBC assignment. And, on which date did Gordon Bennett leave the Laissez Faire? I have noted he was on tape approx.2310 hours on November 13th in SREs farewell programme hosted by Mark Stevens.

[89] Plaatjes jassen op piraat. Interview with Jos v.Vliet, Dutch press Nov.29th, 1966.

[90]There was an earlier version of this ad covering October 27th-29th, 1966, with Billys Bag by Billy Preston as backing tune.

[91]I have listened to my tape of Errol Bruce on Friday, November 11th, and he says that 'The Boss Jocks will present a special programme this Sunday night at 11p.m.'. Phil Martin reads the news on the coming Sunday at 3.15 during which he mentions an aircrash in Matsuyama, Japan. I have checked this on the internet and it happened on 13th November 1966. Then there is the 'Rock n Roll Revival Hour' of the coming Sunday where Mark Stevens says this is the last show on Radio England. I didn't listen to the final programme myself as I wasn't listening to SRE much at that stage, I preferred Radio London or my local station Radio 270. I think the close down took everybody by surprise - that's why there aren't many recordings around.(Martyn Webster)

[92]I have a recording of the 3:15pm news on a Sunday afternoon, in which mention is made of the Queen (of England) laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in London, which would have happened on Rememberance Day, 13th Nov. In any event, the station most definitely did NOT close on 4th Nov.(Ray Robinson)

[93] The disc jockeys in the studio during the last half  hour were Mark Stevens, Bill Berry, Roger Day, Errol Bruce, Phil Martin and Bruce Wayne. Gordon Bennett's 'contribution' was on tape. Boom Boom Brannigan apparently left the ship the day  before closedown.The show ran from 2300 to 2330 and ended with a strange version of 'Auld Lang Syne' (I haven't been able to trace who's version this was) followed by the 'Boss Radio' jingle. Even though I have now got recordings of the complete last half hour, most of the bits are poor quality and I have so far been unable to get a complete recording of all of it in good quality. I'm sure one must exist as the good parts are actually quite reasonable. The Phil Martin part is one of the good portions and does indeed come from the last half hour. After running through the various DJ's he played a Harry Secombe record after which Roger Day said his thankyou's and played 'Monday Monday' by the Mama's and Papa's I am convinced that the date of closedown was 13th November 1966. The date given by several respected books seems to conflict with this but I have made my own checks. Gerry Bishop in 'Offshore Radio' says it was 4th. Nov.  The Offshore Radio Files, and seemingly Hans Knot in De Vijf van de Laissez Faire does the same. Robert Chapman in 'Selling The Sixties' says 11th. Nov. Both of these days were a Friday. But Paul Harris in When pirates ruled the waves indicates the 13th. (Martyn Webster)

[94] For a comprehensive web page about the TV Show, see http://www.legionsofgotham.org/TV60sbatmanshow.html

You may listen to the actual TV theme here:

http://www.wavsource.com

[95] This is not correct. Rick Randall never worked on WFUN.(Ron OQuinn),

[96] In an evening broadcast on Radio 355 in July, 1967, it was said that Mark Stevens/Ted Delaney/Ron Rose got back to California/San Francisco after his time in the UK.

[97] Just over a month later, many of the final djs on SRE would host the Christmas Day celebration on Britain Radio: Phil Martin. 12 noon Ted Delaney on tape(Mark Stevens) 1 Errol Bruce 3 Graham Gill.

[98] When Radio 355 closed on August 6th, 1967, it used a vocal version of Auld Lang Syne before God save the Queen.

[99] Radio-Dolfijn, de tweede piraat die Nederland entert.

[100] Norwegian log in afternoon of Nov.14th after school: Instrumental soft music with Dolphin sounds.  An enormous change from Radio England, active until Nov.13th -2338 on same frequency.

[101]Radio England Nov.13th, at 2300. Last program in English with many of the DJs saying goodbye. Gordon Bennett, Bill "Boss" Berry, Roger Day and others were there, former dj Johnnie Walker is now on Caroline. and dj Rick Randall went back to WFUN Miami(This is not correct. Rick Randall never worked on WFUN.(Ron OQuinn),according to announcement. SRE ceased transmissions at 2330 in English with jingle "Boss Radio". The carrier left the air at 2339. R.England became Radio Dolfijn 227 m on Nov.14th broadcasting in Dutch from 0500-2300 every day. First day non stop instrumental music only... Second day djs were doing the show with pop and light music.(DX-NEWS 11/66)

[102] In Telegraaf Tuesday November 15th, 1966.

[103] Telegraaf

[104] Per DX-NEWS 1/67: Amsteldijk 65, Amsterdam, Amsterdam Zuid, Holland.

[105] From a recording on http://www.geocities.com/themcr2001/

[106] Does anyone know if it was considered in October 1966 to broadcast SRE in English from Midnight till morning after a Swinging Radio Holland had closed for the day?-Editor.

[107] According to a recording by Tore Larsson, Falkping, Sweden.

[108] According to a recording by Tore Larsson, Falkping, Sweden.

[109] After the demise of SRE, Britain Radio changed its address to 17 Berkeley Street, London W1, the registered address of Peir-Vick Ltd. (Eter-Aktuellt 2/67)

[110] From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of January 24th, 1967.

[111] One pirate station's top show, Johnny Dark's R&B Night Ride, (Harry Putnam, American sales director on Radio Essex, formerly of WTOW Towson, Maryland, he also broadcast as Johnny Dark on Britain Radio) attracted more fanmail than any other. (This really bugged the other deejays as the show was played from US-recorded tapes. "Johnny Dark" was never actually on the ship... but that's another story!)

http://www.ritchie-hardin.com/soul/lookback.html

[112] From Radio News in: Time and Tide, 25-31 May 1967

[113] From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of January 31st, 1967.

[114] From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of January 24th and 31st, 1967.

[115] From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of January 24th and 31st, 1967.

[116] From Radio News(in London Weekly Advertiser and National Advertiser) of February 28th, 1967, and March 14th, 1967.

[117] For more on The World Tomorrow see http://www.hwa-research.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_W._Armstrong

This radio program and the Worldwide Church of God may have been more important in the history of the offshore radio stations and for the stations founded by Don Pierson than has been recognized so far. Broadcast daily on Radio London and Britain Radio/Radio 355 and presented by Garner Ted Armstrong, this program was founded by his father, Herbert W.Armstrong. Originally a Seventh-Day adventist, HWA formed a breakaway group under the name Radio Church of God, preaching his messages on commercial radio stations in the USA, gradually growing to other parts of the world. The WT advertised a Time-sized(and styled)magazine called the Plain Truth. Theologically, Armstrong differed from the Christian Church by denying the Trinity while recognizing Jesus. Besides of this vital point, Armstrongism added the belief that the USA, British Commonwealth and Western Europe composed the legacy of the The Ten Lost Tribes of ancient Israel. This sectarian view was also utilized politically. Armstrong was warning since before the end of WW2 against a German-led United Europe would rise again like the old Roman Empire with another dictator at his head. When HWA died in 1986, his entire organization fell apart.( Eric Gilder, p.107-108)

Kenny Everetts send-up of the WT programme for which he got sacked from Radio London, is well-known. More information in Ben Toney interview, (OFFSHORE ECHOS #112, November, 98)and the Fab 40 section on Mary Paynes radiolondon.co.uk page

http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/fabforty/jun66/june661/fab050666.html

[118] This format seems to have been quite well liked in Holland because 227 had better coverage than Veronica.

[119] From Hans Knots archive

[120] Ted Allbeury offered to shut down Radio 227 and make Radio 355 broadcasting full time the programs of Ambassador College at Bricket Wood, Herts. The college near Watford and St Albans ran what was at that time a pirate Radio Ambassador from the studio on the grounds and into a transmitter hooked into the college's electricity grid. Anyone with a transistor radio on the grounds who was near to a power cable could tune in the station. However, this offer was turned down because the British Government informed the British college that if it continued to broadcast from offshore after August 14, the British Government would close down the college. Herbert W. Armstrong railed at the government and claimed that the stations were neither pirates nor illegal. But nothing came of this. Instead Armstrong announced he was going on a new super-power station from West Germany. However, those plans came to nothing and Armstrong turned to buying full page newspaper and magazine pages in the British press instead. Gilder in Knots International Report)

[121] See more in Radio 227 Memories presented by Dick Weeda in Chapter 4.

[122] Dick Weeda.

[123]  The Radio England File. Music Radio Promotions, 1977.

[124]  The Radio England File. Music Radio Promotions, 1977.

[125]  Ed Stewart live on 1137,5 kc.

[126] Like SRE, the closedown of 227 was very sudden and might have coincided on the day the contract with the Dutch side ran out.

[127] Joined on June 27th, 1967.

[128] Tony Monson came to the UK from work at ZBM Hamilton, Bermuda May 1967. Told about his time on ZBM Radio.

[129] Incl. a parody cut on Jimmy Savile: Radio Pinafore. Joined in September last year from Radio Scotland. Mentioned Boom Boom Brannigan/Bill Berry/Bruce Wayne/Mark Stevens/Ed Moreno/Phil Martin/Jack Curtiss. I hope theyve all gone on to greener pastures. After record by Big Ben Banjo Band: When I first came to the Laissez Faire I worked for the other station Swinging Radio England. We really had to swing. We played the Tamla Sound. The Elgins Put yourself in my place. Just one fine example of the sounds you could hear on Radio England. But of course in November of 1966 England swang no more and was replaced by Radio Dolfijn. And when they said Postbus 1390 in Amsterdam(Postal address of Radio 227-editor) the listeners on the continent really did respond.

[130] TW: Not Luke Hurst! Good evening Tony and everybody. Then said he had more than 6 months onboard in command of a floating radio station and found it hard to say goodbye. He mentioned these crew members: Chief Engineer Tony Fisher, Jack Wayne, Gerard Nievenhuys, Jan Zaan, Jan de Kersey, Jaap Kokker for all their good work onboard this vessel, also his past crews, especially his agent on shore, Mr. Niles Martin of Harwich. We shall all miss the radio personnell on board and I should all like to wish them all the best for the future. With the closing of this station we have all lost the pleasure of listening to 355 and with it just another little bit of freedom and life. To all our listeners goodluck and goodbye. Later regards to Coast Guard and Walton Lifeboat.

[131] Announced by Tony Windsor as the one who made the first announcement on offshore radio! Chief engineer on 355 for a long time, previously on Caroline. During the 31/2 years I do hope that someone somewhere have enjoyed my efforts. Sitting in front of me, not my son, its Bob Gittis. Thank you Bob.(silence) Bob Gittis: Its been a happy time right through. Not regretted any moment, well, regrets now of course. TW: Mention of Frank Campbell. Sad thing with 227 close. Regards to Lex Harding, Tom Collins, Dick Weeda, Harky, John van Doorn. Bright future.

[132] Steve England.

[133] Steve England.

[134] Interview by svennam  with Chris Cary in Radio Novas Dublin 19th Herbert Street headquarters in July 1983.

[135] Abilene Reporter-News September 15th, 1967. Photo from the Pierson family collection, kindly provided by Grey Pierson.

[136] "Last Voyage of A Musical Pirate" Miami Herald "Tropic" magazine, February 22, 1970. via Eric Gilder.

[137] Sources: Grey Pierson, son of Don Pierson, press release, funeral notice

Fort Worth Star Telegram April 1st, 1996 page 16.

Daily Telegraph – London April 9th, 1996

And these internet references:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Pierson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swinging_Radio_England

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/5497/X23B-b-piers.html

(Eric Gilder)

[138] Time Magazine May 24th, 1954: Clint Murchison, jr. A big wheeler-dealer. Eric Gilder.

[139] When asked specifically what he was reading, Pierson referred to the Wall Street Journal which he also had available. Eric Gilder. Tom Danaher might also have been present. Grey Pierson.

[140] Don Pierson and many other people was led to the impression that the name of Radio Caroline was inspired by a photograph of Caroline Kennedy playing in the Oval Office. The actual fact is that the picture was of John Kennedy jr. The Caroline name must have another source.(Eric Gilder)

[141] Editor: Radio Caroline South and Radio Caroline North were the names at this stage after the Caroline/Atlanta merger in June 1964.

[142] From reconstructed interview(2001/2006) with Don Pierson(Sound recorded in 1984.)( Eric Gilder)

[143] Grey Pierson comments: I believe this took place in 1961 or 1962.

[144] On Jan.14th, 1964 per Year diary in Swedish Naer Var Hur 1965.

[145]  Of course, as is well known, on the day before Radio Caroline on the Fredercia and Radio Atlanta on the Mi Amigo had merged and the Fredercia sailed to Ramsay Bay to become Caroline North.

[146] Our source comments: It is possible that better shots than the initial ones were also taken by Don Pierson and given by him to either Tom Danaher or Bud Dillard or one of the other original Radio London investors in an attempt to explain what he had observed during his initial investigation.(Gilder.)

[147] Comment by Grey Pierson.

[148] From the book The Radio Nord Story, by Jack Kotschack. Impulse Press. Original edition Radio Nord kommer tillbaka.

[149] For Sewe Ungermarks Radio Nord-the true pirate story, go to http://www.ungermark.se/mediaradionordeng.html

See also http://www.samlaren.org/radionord/

[150] For more about KLIF, go to http://www.northernstar.no/klif.html

Also look up Steve Eberhart fantastic History of KLIF site at

http://www.historyofklif.com/

Don Pierson:

...the top station I was aware of was KLIF in Dallas. And I was simply going to copy their format, since it was so terrifically successful. And that would be simply a Top 40 format of the most popular music, and brief news and brief weather.

...I found out that(Gordon McLendon)had in years past put together a similar radio ship off the coast of Scandinavia, I believe it was Sweden, but he was very helpful in the suggestions that he gave me.

...Id never met Gordon McLendon, but he was very helpful in the suggestions he gave me...(on)engineering, and...programming and (on) the highly successful jingles that KLIF was using. He told me...there was this company called PAMS, and a Mr.Bill Meeks. So I simply went to PAMS...there in Dallas, and I told him I wanted to order the same jingle packages they had sold KLIF, that were so very successful.(Eric Gilder, p.83)

Bill Meeks was PAMS founder. The story of how he became associated with Gordon McLendon and then formed the world famous PAMS jingle company(The four letters in the company name stand for Promotions, Advertising and Merchandising Services)may be found at Steve Eberharts History of KLIF at

http://www.historyofklif.com/

[151] Gilder asked Pierson on his feelings in that respect, and if he saw a way to save the stations he had founded from extinction: being an American, I felt like it was ill considered, but it was kind of interesting (too).I contacted...the Head of the Post Office department and the telecommunications department, and suggested that, in lieu of that Bill being passed, that they simply grant us a temporary license of twelve months, and wed bring the ship into British jurisdiction. In fact, I suggested the Thames Estuary, whereas we would tie it to a dock, use local power and pay for it. At the end of twelve months..., both the ship and all the equipment on it would become the property of the British Government. But he response we got back was simply that the British Government was opposed to free enterprise radio as we were offering it, even though they recognized that it was what the British public wanted. And they felt like it would compromise their stated position of being opposed to uncontrolled, American style radio to accept the offer. It did kind of surprise me that they turned it down. (Eric Gilder, p.85-86)

[152] Sources: Grey Pierson, son of Don Pierson, press release, funeral notice

Fort Worth Star Telegram April 1st, 1996 page 16.

Daily Telegraph – London April 9th, 1996

And these internet references:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Pierson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swinging_Radio_England

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/5497/X23B-b-piers.html

(Eric Gilder,)

[153] Does anyone remember if Bill Vick ever did broadcast?

[154] From an interview with Larry Dean in OFFSHORE ECHOS #126, May 2002.

[155] A new version for this essay originally published on Paul De Haan's website http://www.marinebroadcasters.tk/

[156] Grey Pierson comments: As the person who put it together, Don Pierson was obviously the person most responsible for the stations successes and failings.  However, the most serious problem, in my opinion, was the stations inability to stay on the air for any consistent length of time, and this problem was caused by poor engineering. As a consequence, Continental was never fully paid for the equipment and subsequently filed suit against the Radio England principals in Dallas. Continental lost the suit because the jury was convinced that faulty engineering was a key factor in the failure of the station.

[157] Grey Pierson comments: This is true. He was the creator of Radio London, and he resented being cut out at the very point the station began making serious money.

[158] Grey Pierson comments: He clearly knew something about it, since he created Radio London, hired the program director, personally selected the jingles, etc.

[159] Grey Pierson comments: Unfortunately (since the station was not a financial success), a significant portion was his money, although most of the money came from others.  Regarding Bill Vick:  I personally liked Bill Vick, as did most people who met him.  He was vibrant, robust and charming. However, he was not a businessman.  Prior to Radio England, Don Pierson had personally enjoyed a number of major business successes.  Had he not established a track record of business success, he could not have attracted investors to the Radio England venture. The investment that Bill Vick made in Radio England came from his wife, Dorothy Mead Vick, who was a childhood friend of my mother.  Dorothys money was inherited from her father who had owned Meads Bakery, a company headquartered in Abilene, Texas.

[160] Grey Pierson comments: My experience was otherwise.  I found him to sometimes stubbornly stick to a plan even after it became clear that the plan should be changed.

[161] Grey Pierson comments: The purpose of the party was to jump start Radio England and generate attention by having a large number of celebrities attend.  In retrospect, it was a bad idea.

[162] Grey Pierson comments: No, he didnt.  The firm of Pearl & Dean was hired by Bill Vick without the knowledge or approval of Don Pierson. Ron OQuinn is correct about their incompetence, and my father was furious with Bill for signing a contract with them. Bill was impressed by their pedigree as a fine British firm.  My father was disgusted by their laziness and incompetence.  This was a major source of friction between Don Pierson and Bill Vick.

[163] Grey Pierson comments: Don Pierson would have surely agreed with Ron on this.

[164] Grey Pierson comments: In terms of living accommodations, Ron is probably right.  The Olga Patricia had been a freighter with few staterooms, and the carpenter was kept busy trying to build bedrooms in the hold.  Regarding equipment, I think Ron is incorrect.  The studio facilities were fully assembled modular structures that were dropped into place.  As I recall, they were much nicer than the facililties that were installed in Radio London.

[165] Parts of Steve England interview in OFFSHORE ECHOS #117, April 2000.

[166] From ITV/Anglia TV, May, 1966? Supplied by Martyn Webster.

[167] OFFSHORE ECHOS #112, November,1998.

[168] From an interview with Tom Danaher by Franois Lhote

http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME04/Tom_Danaher.html

Also published in OFFSHORE ECHOS #114, May 1999. See also The day I attended the funeral of Don Pierson. A postscript to Tom Danahers's memories of Don Pierson by John England.

http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME05/Postscript_Pierson.html

[169] By Grey Pierson, son of the late Don Pierson, March, 2006.

[170] Most of the Chuck Blair information in this essay comes from the Radio London website http://www.radiolondon.co.uk where you can read the full Chuck Blair story by Mary Payne. Used by permission.

[171] Eric Gilder.

[172] From Steve Young, who did 12 midnight to 6 on Radio Caroline South in those days.

[173] The following detailed CV was received by Mary Payne in 1967 from Chuck's Fan Club Secretary.)

CHUCK BLAIR 1967

BIRTHPLACE: Boras, Sweden. Chuck's family moved to Swampscott, Mass., when he was three years old.

AGE: 31

RELIGION: Methodist

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Caucasian, light brown hair, hazel eyes

Weight: 14 stone. Height: 5ft 10ins Build: Stocky. No physical handicaps.

Present address: Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK.

EDUCATION: Tracy Grammar School (diploma), Lynn Classical High School (diploma), University of Maryland (BSc. degree), Northeast School of Broadcasting (cert.), NY School of Theatrical Arts (cert.), Emerson College of Drama and Broadcasting (post-grad degree).

MEDIA EXPERIENCE: Began broadcasting aged 17, for Armed Forces radio.

Announcer: WKVT, WKIX, WHAV(Mass), WBZ, WMEX.

WSJR, (anncr, PD, Gen. man), CKBC (Canada)(anncr, Ad man, Prod. man).

CBS Network NY (advertising, production).

WBZ radio and TV (TV compere, anncr, sales and advertising).

Radio England (anncr, Gen. man), Radio London (staff anncr).

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

Appeared in several off-Broadway productions, including 'Stalag 17', 'The Caine Mutiny' and a self-penned three-act play; was on TV coast-to-coast hosting teen pop show 'Where the Action Is'; awarded '8th best announcer East' by Billboard mag; award by BSA for voluntary youth service work, Johnson & Johnson Advertising Award 1964; Gillette Advertising Award UK 1967.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & PERSONAL

Plays piano (professionally), bass, vibes and drums. Speaks Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and Italian. Has had several short stories published and has written many articles for British magazines. On the Youth Service Committee of Harpenden Youth Club. Member of Harpenden Conservative Club. Friends have nicknamed him 'Chuckles', because of his consistent smiling and friendliness.

HOBBIES

Dogs, bridge and cooking exotic foods.

MUSICAL TASTES

Beatles, Beach Boys, Four Seasons.

[174] If you look carefully in TV Mail for Augsut, 1966 reprroduced in the essay, Jay/Chuck is mentioned as the actual compree at the Hilton Party of the Year on Thursday, July 28th, 1966.

Jerry Smithwick: Jay Kay was probably the name that he was using in the U.S. just prior to coming to England. That would not have been unusual since O'Quinn was working in Miami as Jack Armstrong; Frank Laseter was in New York State working as Larry Dean; and I was in Gainesville, Georgia working as Jerry James. Often times in the US a DJ got a new name when moving from one radio station to another. O'Quinn and I simply decided to use our real names I do have faint memories of Chuck. I remember that he was a very likeable guy andartist extraordinaireI remember that while on the ship, spirited conversations occurred concerning some of the claims that Chuck made regarding what he had or had not done while in radio in the States! (Information on http://www.radiolondon.co.uk )

[175] For reference, check out http://www.560.com/html/pams_numbered_series.html

[176] Bill Berry. (Information on http://www.radiolondon.co.uk )

[177] Dave Gilbee. (Information on http://www.radiolondon.co.uk )

[178] Mary Payne. (Information on http://www.radiolondon.co.uk )

[179] Peter Young. (Information on http://www.radiolondon.co.uk )

[180] Mary Payne. (Information on http://www.radiolondon.co.uk )

[181] TV Mail, April 15th, 1966.

[182] http://www.offshoreechos.com/Ted%20Allbeury.htm

[183]  Robert Chapman, p.152.

[184]  Steve England.

[185] See Bob Preedy: Johnnie Walker - Cruisin' The Formats 60 A5-size pages long available for 6.99, post free, from R.E.Preedy, Wetherby Cinema, Wetherby LS22 4RU, Yorkshire.

http://www.kingqueen.org.uk/yorkshirebooks/johnniewalker.html

[186] (While at Radio London)I was offered a job on Britain Radio England. Id come off the Galaxy with Kenny, Mike and Tony on the tender and we were waiting to take the train to London from Harwich. There was a big Greyhound bus at the front and this guy called Don Pierson the man behind Britain Radio&England. He asked us if we wanted a ride back to London which we did and when we got on the bus he asked me whether I would like to work for him which I told him I would.(OFFSHORE ECHOS # 110, Feb.1998)

[187]  From the collection of the late Bill Vick, Managing Director of SRE/BR.

[188]  Who was Jim Henry?(editor)

[189] I also have one Mike Clark in my log from SRE, and another source maintains Mike Barron of later Radio 270 also being on the Laissez Faire.(svennam) Can anyone confirm?-Editor.

[190] The late Mike Barron of Radio 270 has said that he was on board the Olga for a short time.(Ian Biggar)

[191] Woolf Byrne joined Britain Radio in January 1967, also on R355 Spring 1967.

[192] You may find Look Bodens pictures from The Olga Patricia here:

http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/album13.htm

http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/album14.htm

[193] Richard Crandall (Rick Randall) March, 2006,  This is an updated version of material in OFFSHORE ECHOS #143, March 2006 and www.teddwebb.com/.../rick_randall.html

[194] From an interview with Larry Dean in OFFSHORE ECHOS #126, May 2002.

[195] Roger Day has told of sleeping bags on the floor in the lounge and that one was bothered by cockroaches. Interview on the Steve England Radio England story.

[196] From an interview with Roger Day by Jelle Boonstra and Hans Knot. Soundscapes— online journal on media culture ISSN 1567-7745. http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME04/Roger_DayUK.html

Also published in OFFSHORE ECHOS #124, December 2001. 

[197] Roger Day has told more about this incident in an interview on the Steve England Radio England story: Bill Vick: You better come up and see us, boy. Roger Day: It was just like in the movies, you know! Room 604 at the London Hilton served as the de facto office of Radio England prior to the lease of the Curzon Street facility.( Grey Pierson, February 2006)

[198]  OFFSHORE ECHOS #117 April 2000 Ron OQuinn Interview By Steve England.

[199] As I recall, one of the first things that happened when we did start broadcasting with our jingles and the regular sound of the station was I believe Caroline, one of the other ships, no it was London, was recording our jingles right off the air. They then took them into their studios and edited out Swinging Radio England, and put in Big L. We realised we really were pirates and stealing from each other as well.(Rick Randall, OFFSHORE ECHOS # 143, March, 2006.) (During test transmissions)We let the jingles go all the way through without talking and..those swines on Radio Caroline and Radio London were listening and Caroline taped them and next day they came on with our jingles with our name edited out and Caroline on them we were accused of copying them and it was our jingles! (Roger Day in interview on the Steve England Radio England tape.)

[200] Transcription of a recording of Johnnie Walkers 9-12pm show on Radio Caroline South 1187 kc in October(October 15th?)1967.

[201] Via Mary Payne.

[202]  Radio Moscow relay station in Leipzig, GDR, 1322 kc.-Editor.

[203] Interview on the Steve England Radio England tape.

[204] From the collection of the late Bill Vick, Managing Director of SRE/BR.

[205]  Phil Martin expression.

[206]  Eric Gilder.

[207]  Who was Jim  Henry? Editor.

[208] This per Jon Myer of Pirate Radio Hall of Fame. http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk

[209] Does anyone remember this?

[210]  Boomer was not much older than I was at the time, and he was there on the radio just at the right time and right place. The editor must have heard him last with Boomers Broadcasting Company  the week Good Vibrations topped Big Ls Fab 40. ie the week after Sunday, Nov.6th, 1966.

http://www.radiolondon.co.uk I remember so well his morning show a day(November 9th, 1966) I was home from school, the records, the jingles, quite much of it is glued to my mind, and I think it is right to say that that day in Nov.1966 and SRE was a peak of my youth experiences with the radio, even if there before and later have been a great number of other dj favorites and stations. On that occasion, BB also played the song several times. The same day Big L played Good Vibs by the Beach Boys all day after their half-hourly news, as it was no. 1 in the Fab 40.( Roger Day: I was the first DJ to play Good Vibrations and I did play it three times back to back because I was so knocked out with it.) Boomers life was short. And the end is a sad, sad story. Think about it, he was only 19 at the time. Not easy for parents to send away kids that early, I suppose.(veteran radio listener svennam, Norway)

[211] Interview on the Steve England Radio England story. You may be interested to look up the new(May, 2006)OEM CD production here:

http://www.offshoreechos.com/Radio%20England/Radio%20England%20-%20Main%20Page.htm

[212]  Eric Gilder.

[213] http://www.wrovhistory.com/main.htm

Editor: We'll keep looking for more data. If you do remember any other info concerning Boomer, including things he might have related about his pirate days, and those having worked with him, I'll be glad to include them here. It is important to get get the story straight as possible and to make sure the true story is preserved.

[214] Boom Boom Brannigan in morning show on 1322kc, October 30th, 1966.

[215] Read more from Look Boden in http://www.radio227.nl/herinneringen_look.htm

Luister nu LIVE naar Radio 227: http://www.radio227.nl

[216] From Radio 227 Memories OFFSHORE ECHOS # 117, April, 2000. Transcribed by John Cronnolley. van Dick Weeda, deejay op het zendschip The Laissez Faire. http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME01/Herinneringen_aan_Radio_227.html

Dick Weeda: Look Boden, who did a country program in 1967, took the initiative to bring back 227 on air. And he succeeded. In the south of Nederland, provinces Zeeland, Noord-Brabant an Limburg and parts of Utrecht and Zuid -Holland 227 is on cable. Since December 10, 2004 I am back on 227. This part is augmented by Dick Weedas input in 2004. Read more from Dick in Enkele herinneringen aan Radio 227. Uit de aantekeningen van Dick Weeda, deejay op het zendschip The Laissez Faire. http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME01/Herinneringen_aan_Radio_227.html

[217] Former chief announcer of Radio London, Tony Windsor said in Spring 1966 he had to advise his disc jockeys as SRE offered them fabulous salaries. Then in Londons Savile Row Cliff Richard had told him SRE would call their djs Boss Jocks. That had relaxed Windsor who thought the English audience would not take the word Boss Jocks. So he had said forget Radio England. The year after Windsor himself was in charge on the Olga with Radio 355s brighter broadcasting.(Steve England.)

[218] Later input: One own choice.

[219] John Aston(John Hatt) – April 2006.

[220] Martin Kayne(Andy Cadier) – April 2006.

[221] Robert Chapman

Editor: The Tamla Motown UK office was not far from Radio Englands offices in 32 Curzon Street.

[222] Does anyone have notes of the last Boss Fun 50?

[223]  Robert Chapman

[224] KBOX was owned by Euel Box, who worked at PAMS, and incidentially was the composer of the famous My Hometown song(Pams series #16) used by Radio London. The "wonderful" in Wonderful Radio London also came from Euel Box (who may have instigated this slogan on several US stations, editor)KBOX 1480 in Dallas – the same station where the format of SRE came from, but with the same type of jingles used by Radio London. So not only Gordon McLendons KLIF 1190 , was the background of the stations Don Pierson founded.(Eric Gilder.)

Here are some links to KBOX, first Mike Shannons great memorial site:

http://www.knus99.com/kbox1480.html

See also at Uncle Rickys for two great recordings of Dave Tucker(from John Rooks collection)

http://www.johnrook.com/

and Frank Jolle on KBOX from 1966:

http://www.reelradio.com/rook/index.html

http://www.reelradio.com/gifts/fjkbox112166.html#fjkbox112166

[225] Can anyone help with the correct text of the SRE "Magnificent Seven" "SRE Country" promo? It seems to be spoken by Bill Berry. And, does anyone know if it was considered in October 1966 to change SRE into country music?-Editor.

[226]  Now the Alhambra Hotel.

[227]  Robert Chapman

[228] How does a Beatle live?

[229]Uncle Ricky at reelradio.com

[230]  Robert Chapman

[231] Roger Day said reading news was like flying Concorde.(Interview on the Steve England Radio England story.)

[232]  From Ron O Quinn interview by OFFSHORE ECHOS #117, April 2000.

[233] http://www.reelradio.com/ricky/reports/mackenzi.html

[234] Interview on the Steve England Radio England story. There also seems to be a parody made by Larry Dean, with only one Bannerline: A 4 feet Tidal Wave had allegedly washed away West Bridge and parts of the Embankment!

[235] From Ron O Quinn interview by OFFSHORE ECHOS #117, April 2000.

[236]  Editor: Printing error?

[237] For a case of British export to KHJ, listen to a recording of Tommy Vance on KHJ from 1966 here: http://rockradioscrapbook.ca/air1965.html

[238] Frank Laseter aka Larry Dean.

[239] For reference, check out http://www.560.com/html/pams_numbered_series.html

[240] See http://www.pams.com/pams/series.html

Featuring the soaring vocals of Glenni Tai. See Don Worshams page http://www.jingles.org

You might also want to check out Steve Geislers #27 collection at

http://www.560.com/html/pams_series_27.html

[241] Featuring the vocals of Trella Hart.  http://www.fifteenforty.com/sounds.html

[242] http://www.fifteenforty.com/sounds.html

[243]  Commercial Recording Corporation, founded by Tom Merriman, prior to his forming TM Productions, editor. See Don Worshams http://www.jingles.org

[244] See Don Worshams http://www.jingles.org

[245] Famous UK dj in the 70s on Capital Radio, Roger Scott, started his career on WPTR, and was a later British export to the USA. Hear his farewell show, before going to CFOX 1470 in Montreal here:

www.fifteenforty.com/airchecks/WPTRscott1966.html

[246] Later Century 21 Productions, editor.

[247] Used on Dallas WFAA-570, it had ... Magnificent orchestral arrangements. Probably the biggest group of musicians PAMS assembled. It also had a nice logo, although that was probably originally written by Tom Merriman for WIFE(AM)'s "Starbright" package at CRC. Very cool for the "better music" stations.(Ken R. on a Radio World Special Report, also giving some new insight in Pams #18 track Sonowaltz and Euel Box, creator of the same set, the owner of Wonderful KBOX in Dallas. See http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/special-report/06_ss_ask_ken_r_.shtml

See also The Second Jingle Book available through ken@kenr.com

[248] From Offshore  Radio Programme Names by Hans Knot.

[249]  Said by Mark Stevens on Radio England November 13th, 1966 to be starting on BR Sunday, Nov.20th.

[250] Continental Transmitters(later CEMCO, Inc.) were given 650 and 850 to research and(to)get as close to(these)as possible. But the follow-up from this party lacked somewhat. (John England: Much More Music! The story of Don Pierson a broadcasting pioneer. OFFSHORE ECHOS #82, August 1990.)

[251] See The Jerry Smithwick program and The Texan Pirates Daily Mail Friday, April 7th, 1967, both elsewhere in this essay. The Larry Dean interview in OFFSHORE ECHOS #126 also seem to support this. Here is Ron OQuinns account(1999) of this subject: I spent many evenings at the London Hilton listening (to Radio Luxembourg) and trying to decide what frequency to put Swinging Radio England on http://home.planet.nl/~dickoffringa/radiolux.htm

[252] 1320? Information may stem from insufficient selectivity on receiver, editor.

[253] June 11th,(?)at 0857 Ron O Quinn on Britain Radio: "For those of you listening to Radio EnglandRadio England will be back on 227 metres in the MW band in a weeks time. 227-Radio England. Johnnie Walker: Our Top 40 music station Swinging Radio England is due to resume broadcasting next week on 227 metres.

[254] DX-NEWS 8/66 reports SRE as on 1317 kc.

[255] All the same, on the Steve England Radio England story there is a fine recording of Bill Berrys Legal ID with evidently good modulation and the East German audible, but well below SRE.

[256] DX-News 4/67: Britain Radio and Radio Doifijn returned on March 15th following repairs of the antenna mast on board "Laissez Faire". During the first day Britain changed to R355 and Dolfijn to R227. Dave MacKay(Interview on the Steve England Radio England story)describes a hectic night of converting R Dolfijn to R227 by initative of the new programme director Tony Windsor, including editing the Swinging Radio England jingles. The new format. MacKay said, was basically the old SRE one..but in Dutch.

[257] The transmitter engineers when the change was made to 355/227 were Bob Gittis and Ted Walters(formerly Caroline) according to Dave MacKay, in an interview on the Steve England Radio England story.

[258] Carl Thomson story in Monitor Magazine 20 year(1984) Radio Caroline anniversary issue.

[259] See more on Continental transmitters here:

http://www.rossrevenge.co.uk/tx/continental.htm

[260] By Chris Turner, 2005

[261] http://www.lmradio.org

[262] Leon Furie's late night show on Swazi Radio was a rare beacon of rock music in a sea of pop. Nick Shears, http://www.sarockdigest.com

[263] Listen to a Pams Series #29 jingle Swazi Music Radio-Good morning! in a collection called 60s jingle sampler at

http://www.pams.com/audio/pams/sampler2.mp3

[264] More on 70s and 80s Commercial Radio in South Africa By Chris Turner

Radio 702

In 1980 the Kirsch brothers of the Swazi Radio enterprise then set up Radio 702, the first independent commercial radio station which broadcast on medium waves from the nominally independent homeland of Boputatswana a few kilometres north of Pretoria. 702 had excellent medium wave coverage into the Johannesburg capture area and employed many of the former LM Radio announcers who had also worked on Swazi Music Radio in the early 70s.

Capital Radio Transkei

Another commercial independent radio station which broadcast to South Africa was Capital Radio Transkei which ran two medium wave transmitters on 604kc and 557 kc and 2 or 3 short wave transmitters aimed towards South Africa from the independent homeland of Transkei on the East Coast of South Africa between Cape Province (East London) and Natal. Capital also had technical problems and their high power medium wave transmitter below up in the first week of broadcasting as did their main short wave transmitter. Capital also employed many of the same announcers as SMR but then went on to recruit heavily in the UK. People like Dave Guiselli, Dave Simons and others who had worked in pirate radio in the UK. Capital did not get the listenership that they had hoped, advertising revenues dropped and they cut back their broadcast coverage to a single transmitter on 603kc beamed towards Durban with studios based on the Durban beachfront. The main transmitter site was dismantled. However coverage in Durban was not all that good and they could not compete with the FM broadcasters and eventually shut down during the mid 1990s. Many of the announcers moved to work on 702, and other regional commercial stations in South Africa. You may wish to visit

http://www.capital604.com/

[265] http://www.dxtuners.com

[266] Radio Cidade, PO Box 1586, Alberton, South Africa, in English and Portugese. Here are some loggings of it from the Newfoundland DX-Pedition at Cappahayden, NF from 2004:

SWAZILAND R. Cidade, Sandlane, NOV 8 2212 – Talk show in Portuguese; SINPO 22432.   NOV 10 2006 – Portuguese talk behind Tanzania; SINPO 22432-1.  NOV 11 2111 –English and Portuguese pop tunes back-to-back, occasional jingles, religious program at 2204, IDs: SINPO 24232. NOV 11 2156 – mostly music heard here, with occasional Portuguese announcements.  Cidade ID finally heard at 2156, then again at 2230.

www.nrcdxas.org/articles/2004_NF_Team_Report_0225.pdf

[267] On the website of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, at

http://www.uckg.org.za/radio_programs.htm

there is one reference to  "Liberty Radio 13.77 AM" - with a programme guide.

[268] See The Texan Pirates Daily Mail Friday, April 7th, 1967, and Radioschip Dolfijn in Zaandam-Geheimzinnige financier nu bekend: Telegraaf March 9th,1967.

[269] By Band of the Grenadier Guards. Decca F10084(Research by http://www.offshoreechos.com/offshorethemes

[270] Per DX-NEWS 1/67: Amsteldijk 65, Amsterdam, Amsterdam Zuid, Holland.

[271] Robert Chapman, p.154.

[272] To compare with Radio London, go to  http://www.hansknot.com/london.htm

[273] Eric Gilder.

[274] An island off the coast of Maryland.

[275] Earlier, the ident has been found to be FP263 or FS263.

[276] These data found under Deal in Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: AG-131: dp. 520; l. 177'; b. 33'; dr. 10'; s. 13 k.; cpl. 26; cl. Camano.

One source says: ...as a 480 ton landing craft 186 feet long.

[277] The story of the ship being used to carry the bodies of GI's killed in Korea back to the USA during the Korean war cannot be confirmed.

[278] Eric Gilder.

[279] Eric Gilder.

[280] Jerry Smithwick in OFFSHORE ECHOS #118.

[281] Contrasts with information given by Rick Randall, 2006.

[282] Rick Randall, February 2006.

[283]  Partly from http://www.offshoreradio.de/laissezfaire.html

[284]  Per Sweden Calling DX-ers, 1968. There was also talk of other opportunities in SCDX and Eter-Aktuellt for the Galaxy as

1.Investors in New Zealand wanted to create a competitor to Radio Hauraki. Later this project became a land-based station, Radio i 1590 kc.

2.Madagascar was mentioned but with an unknown use.

[285]  The Wonderful Radio London Story. p.261 Chris Elliott, 1997. For some clandestine radio stuff, see http://www.northernstar.no/clandestine.htm

[286] Eric Gilder.

[287]  Dave MacKay on the Steve England Radio England tape, mentions a mothball situation for the Olga in Miami until 1970, and then a new radio ship period off Vietnam? -The Olga Princess? -Editor. Any AFVN, American Forces Vietnam Network work is unlikely per Trent Christmans book: Brass Button Broadcasters, p.127-131, 133.(Turner Publishing, Paducah. Ky., 1992) –Editor. For some clandestine radio stuff, see http://www.northernstar.no/clandestine.htm

[288] Rick Randall, February, 2006.

[289] From existing documentation, it would seem that there was a suit in 1969/1970 with the transmitter company versus Worldwide Investments. There was also one brought by William Vick as plaintiff because he was claiming unpaid wages. (He was a mere front man in the early days following the same pattern established for Philip Birch of Radio London.)Eric Gilder.

[290] Was this missionary tied to Trans World Radio and does this explain why the transmitters got to Africa? Eric Gilder.

[291] John England: Much More Music! The story of Don Pierson a broadcasting pioneer. OFFSHORE ECHOS #82, August 1990.

[292] Text commisioned for the Radio England Reunion, Red Lion Pub, Mayfair, London. Written in Greenwich, London. May 11th, 2006 in connection with the Radio England/Britain Radio Reunion, May 12th-14th, 2006, London. For the most parts based on the archive of Eric Gilder.

[293] When it was clear that SRE was not a success, RBI was commissioned to make a report about the future of the 227 wavelength.

 

Obviously from this lengthy and faded report the change on 227 was in the works and the competition was seen as Radio Veronica. A complete study of Radio Veronica was therefore made and this is in the report which contains these chapter headings:

 

1.  RBI Brief and Introduction

2.  What competitors exist at present - Physical and Social

3.  What market is available

4.  Sales representation

5.  Alternative sales representation

6.  Proposed name for the new commercial radio station

7.  Advertising agency and client reaction

8.  Conclusions

9.  Summary

10. Sources of information and acknowledgements

 

Under 6 it says:

 

"Experience in the UK has shown that offshore stations who title themselves with their wavelength, eg Radio 390 and Radio 270, benefit most from editorial publicity as their frequencies are always announced with their titles.

 

"Whilst names such as Radio Holland or Holland Radio appear to be obvious choices, we are told that there are at present Dutch radio companies operating under those names. These companies are service houses who hire out freelance radio operators and equipment to ships.

 

"It is suggested that the name of the new station be Radio 227. Press publicity announcing the opening of the station would immediately identify the frequency."

 

There is no date on this report which sees the competitor as Radio Veronica, but states that the big problem will be advertising budgets already decided for 1967 and therefore immediate switch should be made in the hope of getting some undecided budgets. The main impact of SRE is West Holland and it says that Luxembourg has lost its Dutch advertising to Veronica and a Swedish competitor was thinking about starting an offshore station:

 

"The radio executive of de Lar Mar informed me that he had heard of a Swedish interest who are thinking of establishing an offshore radio station."(Eric Gilder. Used with permission.)

 

-This report of September(?) 1966 proposes a Dutch Radio 227 to replace Radio England.. However, soon after, in Mid-October, it is announced on Radio England that Radio Holland will broadcast on 227. And when we see November 14th, the name is Radio Dolfijn!. Why?-editor.

 

[294] Don is out until January 1, 1967 when the investors in far west Texas at Midland send Don a letter to his address at 61 Conduit Street, London W1. Now Don is instructed to do the kicking:

 

Midland, Texas

January 1, 1967

 

Dear Don;

 

I regret the inability of any of the West Texas backers to accompany you to London to discuss pressing business problems because of our own conflicting schedules. Perhaps we can join you later, but in the meantime, please convey the thoughts expressed in this letter to Mr. W. E. Vick and other to who this subject concerns.

 

Business conditions are obviously in a critical state demanding an immediate change in operating procedures. Following the meeting of last October 7th, West Texas backers who represent the majority of the joint venturers agreed to a trial operation under different director. (Ted Allbuery?- editor.) Continued operation in Britain and the move into the Holland market with Dolphin was approved with sales direction and program format to be arranged by Pearl and Dean. (P&D were in Texas with Vick, editor.) At the October 7th meeting, Mr. Colin Brown (The RBI/P&D representative, editor) gave verbal assurance of the strength of Pearl and Deans contacts and projected an absolute minimum sales volume of 15 percent of station capacity. Obviously, this trial period has proved to be totally unsuccessful for Dolphin. In a similar manner, virtually no increase has been noticed for Britain (Radio, editor) whereas London (Big L, editor) is enjoying profits at near maximum levels according to factual reports. Immediate changes in procedure for the joint venture are therefore mandatory. These changes, in our viewpoint, are as follows.

1 Put independent sales representatives in the Holland market immediately on a commission basis and under the direction of Don Pierson.

2 Effect a change in programming for Dolphin as rapidly as practicable and oriented principally to popular or top 40 music. Following institution of the above steps as top priority items, proceed along the following lines.

3 Put independent sales representatives in the English market as in Item 1, and encourage Pearl and Dean to re-double their efforts.

4 Insert popular or top 40 programming for Britain at selected intervals such as; 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in order to capture teen-age and young listeners who largely influence station popularity.

 

Don Pierson is willing to give his assistance in expediting the sales effort and his enthusiasm in the directing of the independent sales representatives is considered to be mandatory. We feel that Pearl and Dean has had ample time to demonstrate results and that the continued low volume of sales developed by that organization which ranges far below their own stated minimum expectation rules out continued exclusive sales representation by Pearl and Dean. From their own viewpoint, the continuation of this project made possible with the added stimulus of independent efforts obviously would benefit Pearl and Dean much more than the present course of business which trending towards liquidation. (That is of course exactly what happened just a few months later to Peir Vick Ltd., editor)

 

An immediate change in programming for Dolphin to be followed shortly thereafter by a less extensive change in programming for Britain is also deemed mandatory despite Pearl and Deans recommendations to the contrary. This opinion is based upon the following:

 

1 Continued demonstrated success of top 40 programming in similar ventures.

2 Feed-back from Holland listeners citing the drab and conservative tone of Dolphins programming.

3 National recognition of top 40 programming on American television programs in early evening hours in lead-ins to other network shows of suspense, situation comedies or other musicales for example, Hullabaloo and The Monkees have been successfully aired at 7 p.m. leading into performances such as I Dream of Jeanie, The Andy Williams Show, Run for Your Life, etc., and

4 Our considered comparative analysis of the success of various types of programming for radio in our own communities which, we believe, are not radically different in cultural tastes and other important factors from the areas served by the venture.

 

In support of this last statement, consider Midland, Texas, a city of 65,000 people. Headquarters offices of 20 major oil firms, more than 200 smaller firms and countless independent oil operators and professionals are located in Midland which yields one of the highest per capita income statistics in the United States and which has resulted in substantially more than half of the adult population being made up of college graduates. Community theater, symphony and chorale, and guest concert artist series are among the finest in the United States. Despite this background, the four successful radio stations which serve Midland have top 40 programming, while the least successful station presents good music. One good-music FM station went out of business and its replacement is in service due largely to subside from a commercial service offering a closed-circuit, office or background music specialty. The adjoining city of Odessa, with a population of 165,000, is quite industrialized with a broader spectrum of backgrounds resulting from a large number of resident blue-collar refinery and plant workers. The demonstrated success of top 40 programming for radio in this community is also quite obvious. These facts plus the comparative and observed family experiences of the West Texas group lead us to believe that listening habits, and consequently advertising sales potential, are governed by tastes of teenagers and young adults regardless of the taste and preferences of adult and more serious-minded station directors and adults in the listening audience. It would be very surprising, indeed, to find that the situation abroad is any different that it is here.

 

In summary, we again urge the redoubling of sales efforts with the instigation of independent sales representatives in the field under the direction of Don Pierson as outlined above and with the changes in programming as indicated. Speaking for the West Texas group including W.B.S., F.K.O, W.K., E.L.B(names anonymized, editor) and others, I remain,

 

Very truly yours,

(signature cut off)

 

[295] United Nations New York

 

Jully 19, 1967

 

Dear Mr. Pierson,

 

 This will acknowledge your letter of July 12 to the Secretary-General.

 

While thanking you for your communication, I am directed to say that the United Nations, under its terms of reference, cannot avail itself of the suggestion put forward by you.

 

Yours sincerly,

(signed)

G. L. Obhrad

Officer-in-Charge

Office of Public Information(Gilder)

[296] Armstrong declined because the UK threatened to close his British campus if he accepted.(Gilder)

[297] United States Information Agency

Washington 20547

 

July 21, 1967

 

Dear Mr. Pierson:

 

Leonard Marks has asked me to reply to your letter of July 12.

 

We at VOA have watched with interest the fortunes of the floating radio stations off the British coast in recent years. As you note, it does appear that Britisih legislation is about to end this colorful footnote to the history of international broadcasting.

 

We very much appreciate the thought that prompted your offer of these ships to USIA, but regretfully we must decline. The possibilities are intriguing, but they are heavily out-weighed by negative factors including legal, political and budgetary problems.

 

Many thanks for your interest in the Voice of America, and best wishes for a successful solution to your problem.

 

Sincerlely,

(signed)

Richard G. Cushing

Acting Assistant Director

Broadcasting(Gilder) 

 

[298] http://www.merrillstevens.com

[299] Rick Crandall(lyrics) and Keith(Keefers)Hampshire(vocal) 2006 recording with a new version of The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, originally recorded in 1976 by Gordon Lightfoot, Reprise Records.

[300] This is a name never noted before in connection with neither the Olga Patricia or the Galaxy, editor.

[301]  This seems strange, as it seems the two Continental transmitters were in full working order when the Olga Patricia left Europe, editor.

[302] Eric Gilder. Also an entry at http://www.factbug.org

[303] Eric Gilder.

[304] In 1961 the Pams jingle company in Dallas launched it's "My Home Town" series of jingles(Series #16, editor). The basic premise was a two minute song that sang the praises of a particular city, naming the best sites, attractions and such. They all start with "Let me tell you about my home town....." Orange is a small town of about 35,000 just up the water from Port Arthur and Beaumont, near the Louisiana border. Where many of these discs sing about the big things in their cities in this small-town song they're bragging about the waterways, mighty industry, Chemical Row, the shipyards and the community band. It's got the same song on both sides of the record.(Reel George) If you are interested in this subject, let REEL GEORGE of PO BOX 1222, ROWLETT, TX know if you have one for sale.

[305]  Contrary to popular belief, McLendon did not invent Top40 radio. That credit must go to Robert Todd  Storz of KOWH 660 in Omaha, Nebraska. Read more on Uncle Rickys page:

http://www.reelradio.com/storz/

[306] Together with Radio London co-investor Mal McIlwain, Pierson was still a frequent visitor to the Galaxy.(The Wonderful Radio London Story. P.176) Chris Elliott, 1997.

[307] Eric Gilder.

[308] Jingle from Pams Series #18.

[309] Steve England.

[310] Steve England.

[311] Eric Gilder.

[312] But one thing remains consistent as the season change(s)-the sound of the International giant, Radio 227. This is SRE Country! Promo on 1322kc with Bill Berry, October, 1966.

[313] Broadcasting in DRM

http://www.drm.org

from Wertachtal, Tyskland in the 41 metre-, and Junglinster, Luxembourg in the 11 metrebands Shortwave, since September, 2005.

http://www.radioluxembourg.co.uk