The 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Program 126)

Fifty years ago, on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas while on a visit there.  No one who was alive that day will ever forget where they were and what they were doing when they first heard the terrible news.  Join us on Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site as we look back to that day, listening to some of the news coverage during the first moments as the shocking news was reported on radio.  We hear from some of our friends such as "Shotgun Tom" Kelly, Dave Leonard, and John Coleman as they recall where they were when they first heard the news.  We reflect on how the President's death changed the course of history, not only for the United States, but indeed, for the world.  We look back at how Americans reacted to the news that day.  Additionally, we examine how President Kennedy's death is still of great interest to so many people, including newer generations.  We offer a retrospective looking back a half century, to this tragic event that changed the nation and the world forever. Join us as we remember President John F. Kennedy.

Best Wishes This Holiday Season From Smitty and MIke!

Thanks for Making Us #1 This Year,
According to San Diego Press Club,
(and listener feedback!)

We wanted to take this moment to thank all the Galaxy Good Guys and Good Gals that have supported our shows for the past three years. Your e-mail feedback, Facebook "Friending", and word-of-mouth referrals to new listeners humbles us, but at the same time energizes and inspires us to continue on in 2014, to produce more shows that bring back those rich memories of growing up in the 1950s-1960s-1970s, and yes, even the 1980s. As we steam ahead toward 2014, we continue to ask for your ideas and input. With listeners on local San Diego FM radio, to those from around the country, and around the world who download our podcasts via Apple iTunes, we are eager to serve each and every one of you with the best in talk radio about nostalgia, and Baby Boomer memories.

Warmly,

Smitty and Mike
Galaxy Nostalgia Network

Galaxy Guys Bring Home the Gold at San Diego Press Club Awards

It was a big night October 29th, as Smitty, Mike B, and John Fox (station manager of Rez Radio / KOPA FM) were recognized for excellence in journalism by the San Diego Press Club. The results of the competition for entries produced in 2013 were announced at the event. Galaxy Nostalgia Network and Rez Radio shared 1st and 3rd place award recognition for radio interviews of San Diego TV host Ken Kramer, and Top 40 radio legend "Shotgun Tom" Kelly. Rez Radio station manager John Fox also took 1st place in the radio newscast category.

John Fox, Smitty, and Mike B. at San Diego Press Club Award Ceremonies Oct. 29th.

Rez Radio, also known as KOPA-FM, broadcasts from the Pala Indian Reservation in north San Diego county. Galaxy Nostalgia Network's shows are broadcast weekly over the station's FM channel, as well as via Internet streaming. For the past two years, John, Smitty, and Mike have shared live broadcast programs at the San Diego County Fair. 

Check out the great selection of independently produced news, feature, and sports programming that Rez Radio has to offer by clicking here. Interested in learning all about radio, and what it takes to have your idea become a radio show? Become an intern at Rez Radio 91.3 FM. John Fox's e-mail contact information is available at the above website. (Mike B.) 

The 75th Anniversary of the "War of the Worlds" Broadcast (Program 125)

Seventy-five years ago, on October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater on the Air, broadcast a dramatization of H. G. Wells' novel "The War of the Worlds". This broadcast caused widespread panic in the United States as listeners believed that we were truly being invaded by Martians.  Join us on Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, we look back to that evening 75 years ago, and discuss the many contributing factors that made this broadcast believable. The state of the world then which was heading toward war, the listening habits of the American public, and the infallibility of radio at that time, all contributed toward the panic that engulfed thousands of listeners. This fascinating event is truly worth remembering and more so on the 75th anniversary of this famous broadcast. In addition, we ask the question could something like this happen again? For the answer, as well as an enjoyable look back at the Golden Age of Radio, listen in to Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site!

Attention all Galaxy listeners:  Please make certain that you are subscribed to our NEW podcast channel in order to receive all of our latest shows.  The new channel uses the Baby Boomer Social Security Card graphic,  If you are subscribed to our old channel, which has the shirt pocket radio graphic, then you are not getting our latest shows.  Please check and make sure you are subscribed to our NEW channel and not the old one!  Thanks!

Part One of Four Part Series on San Diego Top 40 Radio Now Available at Apple iTunes Store

Radio historian David Leonard made a return visit to Galaxy Nostalgia Network recently to talk about AM Top 40 radio in San Diego. Legendary stations KCBQ, KDEO, and KGB are remembered during this four-part series. In part one, David talks about notable Top 40 radio hosts and how they got their cool "on-air names".

Mike B. (left) with Top 40 radio historian David Leonard at recent show taping.

Smitty checks out some of David Leonard's vast collection of Top 40 radio surveys
from the 1960s through the 1970s

Go back in time to the Golden Years of Southern California Top 40 AM radio. 

Click Here for Galaxy Nostalgia Network Shows, and Part I of the David Leonard
interview at Apple iTunes Store.

Remembering the "Ford 50th Anniversary Show", Sixty Years Later

On Program 113, we recall the Ford 50th Anniversary Show, a two-hour live television special broadcast on June 15, 1953.  The program was seen on NBC and CBS at the same time.  This was the only way Ford could assure the maximum number of people would be able to see the show, since this was still the early days of television, and each network by itself did not cover the whole United States.  The program was hosted By Edward R. Murrow and Oscar Hammerstein, and featured a history of the U.S. and the world from 1903-1953.  Appearing on the show were Mary Martin and Ethel Merman, as seen above, along with Wally Cox, Lowell Thomas, Marian Anderson, Rudy Vallee, Burr Tilstrom's Puppets Kukla and Ollie, and appearing on film, Bing Crosby, Eddie Fisher, and Frank Sinatra.  The program was produced by Leland Hayward, and featured an appearance by Henry Ford II at the conclusion.  A well-remembered special from the early days of television!

Vintage KFMB-TV Test Pattern

Following on our program about TV sign-ons and sign-offs, our good friend and listener Rick Bosscher, RF Systems Manager for the KFMB Stations, kindly donated an original test pattern slide that was used at KFMB-TV Channel 8 in San Diego.  Above is an image of the slide.  Smitty comments that he remembers this test pattern being used on the air, early mornings prior to sign-on as late as the early 80s.  These patterns are almost never seen today in the age of all-night infomercials and overnight news services.  We thank Rick Bosscher for his kindness in sharing this neat slide with us.  In case you missed this episode of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, just go to our podcast library and listen to show 99!

"Shotgun Tom" Kelly to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! (Program 108)

We are proud to announce that our dear friend "Shotgun Tom" Kelly will be the recepient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The ceremonies are scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, at 11:30 AM Pacific Time.  All are invited to attend this event.  If you are not in the Southern California area, the event will be streamed live at this site: www.walkoffame.com  The video of the ceremony will be available at the site for a time after the event.  For further information on Shotgun and this event, please go to: http://www.walkoffame.com/pages/upcoming-ceremonies

On program 108, Shotgun joins us to tell us the story of how he came to receive this honor, and he shares with us some details of the process involved.  He also recounts a few of his memories and achievements that have led up to his being recognized by this honor, for his years of radio broadcasting.

Galaxy Nostalgia Network salutes Shotgun, and we offer him our most hearty congratulations on the occasion of this great tribute!