New York Memories

I worked at the Armed Forces Press, Radio and TV Service in New York City in 1965 and 1966. My main job was to secure permissions from the networks and program producers to air programs on AFRTS. From time to time, I anchored the evening shortwave radio news which was broadcast to Europe. I also interviewed celebrities including Tom Jones and the Supremes. Most interviews were conducted on sets of television shows such as "Shindig," "Hullabaloo," and "The Bell Telephone Hour." We had members of all the service branches plus Department of Defense civilians. We shared offices and studios with the Voice of America at the Fisk Building, 250 W. 57th St. It was a great place to be, accessible to the commercial broadcast studios and Broadway theaters. I also moonlighted in master control at WOR-TV located on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building.

Some notable members of the crew were Col Joseph Hornsby, USAF, Officer-in-Charge; Navy Journalist Jim Brumm, who went on to work for a number of news organizations on the east coast; and Army Pfc Cal Thomas. (Yes, that Cal Thomas). Writing in one his columns, he described his work there as "fighting commies on 57th St." One of my favorite staff members was Gordon Bridge, a civilian sports announcer with a dry sense of humor and nefarious friends along Eighth Avenue.

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Burt Schneider said…
Happy to report that former Captain Paul Bue is doing well and living in Florida. He retired from the Army and is living in Florida where he is mayor of Penney Farms. He recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary.
9:37 AM
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