Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Fred Waterer, who writes:
Longtime WBCQ listeners may remember The Tom and Darryl Show which was on WBCQ for several years.
I don’t know too many people with more knowledge of music or a larger music collection. Great guys too.
Here is an article about Tom, Darryl, and their radio station from their local community newspaper.
https://www.communitynewsmarket.com/article/1074,love-for-radio-brings-wtnd-106-3-fm-to-the-area
Fred Waterer
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Fred Waterer, who writes:
I’ve fallen down a YouTube rabbit hole.
This time a video that is part propaganda, part Hallicrafters ad, and part documentary.
Pretty interesting how they adapted the radios to wartime conditions:
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Fred Waterer, who tipped us off to Patrolling the Ether—a 1944 short film produced by the U.S. Office of War Information. This wartime documentary highlights how amateur radio operators and federal agents collaborated to monitor the airwaves and track down enemy spies. A fascinating glimpse into radio’s role in World War II era homeland security:
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fred Waterer, who shares the following post from James Cridland’s blog and notes:
Overseas listeners could listen to BBC Domestic broadcasts, then they couldn’t, then they might be able to and then they might be able to for a fee and then who knows….
https://james.cridland.net/blog/2025/bbc-radio-overseas-what-now/
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fred Waterer, who shares this update from James Cridland. After initially announcing that BBC Sounds and music radio stations would no longer be available outside the UK, the BBC has quietly revised its FAQ. While you still can’t access content directly from BBC apps or websites, international listeners can still tune in to stations like BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music via third-party platforms like TuneIn.
Check out the full story here: https://james.cridland.net/blog/2025/bbc-radio-overseas/
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fred Waterer, who writes:
At Noon on August 15, 1945, Emporer Hirohito spoke to his nation by radio for the first time, ever. The intrigue surrounding the recording of his speech and the effort to get it on the air would be worthy of a Hollywood film. When word started getting out that the broadcast would be made, fanatics who wanted to keep fighting staged an attempted coup. An NHK (Japan Radio Corporation) engineer had a gun to his head as an officer attempted to hijack the station at 5am. His coolness under pressure saved his life. He also temporarily severed the line to the transmitter, just in case the officer changed his mind about killing him.
Meanwhile at the palace, the NHK recording engineers had recorded two versions of the speech. The recordings (and the engineers) were hidden overnight, as was the Emporer, in the labyrinth of the palace. Coup leaders searching for the disks to destroy them failed. Eventually troops loyal to the Emporer took control of the situation, with many of the coup plotters killing themselves. At noon, the recordings were in the NHK studios and were broadcast as scheduled.
The actual broadcast:
In 1967 a film about these events was made in Japan, called Japan’s Longest Day and starring the great Toshiro Mifune.
The recording scene:
Looks like quite a film!
Thank you for sharing this, Fred.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fred Waterer, who writes:
This is going to meander a bit from shortwave, but I’ll give you a heads up in case it’s of interest.
October 31 is a Sunday this year and lines up with Michael Godin’s Treasure Island Oldies show
But…
This year there is a cool bonus!
Michael’s Annual Halloween Spooktacular, features four hours of great spooky and Halloween themed tunes. As usual, the show runs from 9pm EDT to 1am EDT (6pm PDT, 0100 UTC)
However if you tune in earlier at 6pm EDT (3pm PDT 2200 UTC) he will present Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre with their notorious 1938 edition of War of the Worlds. This will be followed by Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds, a musical version narrated by Sir Richard Burton and vocals by The Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward.
You can listen online via Michael’s website Treasure Island Oldies Radio Show, The Home Of Lost Treasures or some of the affiliates that carry him. My go to station in this regard is WTND.org, operated by former WBCQ broadcasters Tom and Darryl who had the Tom and Darryl Show.
It’s just not Halloween for me until I hear Orson Welles’ famous radio play.
Fred Waterer
PS Treasure Island Oldies is one of the longest running internet radio shows ever; broadcasting since 1997.
Thank you for the ip, Fred! And, yes, War of the Worlds is a must!