WELCOME EVERYONE TO KEITH'S KOLLECTABLES, ONE OF EBAY'S PREMIERE BUYERS AND SELLERS OF PRISTINE RARE RADIO SHOWS OF ALL GENRES ALONG WITH OTHER GREAT VINTAGE AMERICANA. 

PLEASE  NOTE FELLOW COLLECTOR FRIENDS THAT WHEN YOU BUY FIVE OR MORE ITEMS FROM MY STORE AT ONE TIME THAT EBAY WILL IMMEDIATELY DISCOUNT YOUR INVOICE BY 20%  IT IS THE LEAST I CAN DO FOR MY FELLOW COLLECTORS WHO LOOK FOR GREAT DEALS AS MUCH AS I DO!   THANK YOU!

AND IF YOU ARE A FAN OF THE BEST OF  EARLY ROCK AND ROLL PRESENTED BY ONE OF ROCK'S MOST POPULAR DJ'S, PLEASE READ ON FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THIS SERIES AND THIS SHOW AND THEN IF YOU DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT RADIO SHOWS, PLEASE CONTINUE ON FOR MY VERY HUMBLE 'RADIO SHOWS 101' WHERE I DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT RADIO SHOWS ARE.

I HOPE BY READING MY THOUGHTS THAT YOU WILL BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW VERY IMPORTANT THESE SHOWS ARE TO OUR CULTURE AND OUR MEMORIES, JUST AS MUCH AS THE MUSIC WE GREW UP WITH ALSO IS.

THIS SHOW IS CALLED  U.S.M.C. SOUNDS OF SOLID GOLD.  

  It was an enormously popular show in its day. 

 It was a 15 MINUTE SHOW PUBLIC SERVICE ROCK MUSIC SHOW THAT AIRED WEEKLY.  EACH LP REPRESENTS TWO 15 MINUTE SHOWS. 

Radio stations as part of their FCC license renewal had to demonstrate that they served the public good with a certain number of weekly hours devoted to public service broadcasting.  This included religious programming , community programming, and for a number of years, shows  like this one that were produced to provide information about the various military services

The United States Navy, Army, Air Force, and Army National Guard all provided weekly shows in various music genres that were broadcast on local radio stations.  This occurred in the 1950's through the early 1970's. They featured the top dj's in the country in whatever genre they were best known, and were produced mostly through Norwood Productions, a key syndicator of radio programming to stations across the country,

 After that, the military services decided that they could get more exposure if they did their 'advertising' on regularly syndicated shows like Dick Clark, Rick Dees, Scott Shannon, Bob Kingsley, Casey Kasem, Superstar Concerts, King Biscuit Flower Hour, and other popular shows, so they dropped their own shows and spent their advertising budgets on these shows.

This means the shows that they produced themselves, like this one, are extremely rare and sought after by collectors

EACH SHOW IN 'SOUNDS OF SOLID GOLD' FROM THE U.S. MARINE CORPS AND HOSTED BY THE 'MARVELOUS MARV BROOKS', ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DJ'S IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. METROPOLITAN AREA WHO WAS A HUGE STAR ON WPGC RADIO, HAD A FEATURED THEME FO REACH SHOW WITH ALL SONGS IN THAT SHOW RELATED TO THE THEME

Lynn Brooks, Marv's widow writes:

Marv started at WPGC in August of 1964. The first record he ever played on that station was Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman."

Marv has actually been doing voice work from the time he was 6 years old, in Detroit, MI. He worked on local radio stations in the Detroit area until college. He attended college at Ann Arbor (I can NEVER remember if that is Michigan State or University of Michigan!! -- It's the one with the Spartans!)

When Marv finished his Freshman year at college he wanted to try his hand at professional radio. He made his Mother a deal: Give me a year to make it...if I don't, I'll come back and finish school.

He got a job at WPAC - AM, Patchogue, Long Island, NY. That was in 1962 and 1963. One of the WPGC guys was driving through the area and heard him on WPAC. They needed a guy in the DC area and he was down here within 3 days!!

Marv was 20 years old when he started at WPGC. I had just turned 14 years old and listened to him everyday on the radio!! Marv was the biggest thing to happen to the DC area in a LONG, LONG time!!

He did many different shifts at WPGC,along with the requisite Hops and Promos.

He stayed at WPGC until 1968. As I recall, there were some political problems with the ownership / management and union. Marv was unceremoniously fired.

That's when he went to WMOD. Marv actually built that radio station from the ground up. It was the first Oldies station in the country AND the first totally automated radio station in the county. He was always very proud of that.

To be honest...I don't really remember why he left WMOD...I think they may have changed formats and he was unhappy.

He then started making his living as a free-lance voice talent. That is how he made his living for the rest of his life. Marv had his studio in the house and recorded anything and everything that needed a voice. Character voices were a specialty.

Marv also was the voice for many well know politians all over the country. His voice was heard in practically every state at election time!

When word came out that Abe Pollin was building the Cap Centre in 1973...Marv made an audition tape...complete with echo, crowd noises and cheers. He sent it to Abe Pollin and got the job as House PA Announcer for the Capitals. He had that job for over 23 years.

Marv also did the announcing for the Bullets in Baltimore and then when Abe brought them to the Cap Centre. He also did ring announcing for Boxing and Wrestling (I'm not a big fan of either!)

   THERE WERE NO COMMERCIALS BUT THERE WERE VERY BRIEF PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IN THE SHOW.

  AT ITS HEIGHT THE SHOW WAS AIRED ON RADIO STATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ON AFRTS (AMERICAN FORCES RADIO AND TELEVISION SERVICE) ACROSS THE WORLD. 

  OF COURSE FEW EXIST TODAY AS NO ONE EVER THOUGHT TO KEEP THEM AFTER BROADCAST

 THEY WERE BROADCAST AND THEN THAT WAS IT.  STATIONS JUST TOSSED THEM AWAY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE REBROADCAST AND SO DID NOT SEE THEM AS HAVING ANY FUTURE USE.

  BUT, FOR WE COLLECTORS THEY ARE A GOLD MINE!    

 IT IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR YOUR FAVORITE  MUSIC PRESENTED IN A FASHION THAT YOU CANNOT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.  MARV BROOKS BROUGHT HIS KNOWLEDGE OF MUSIC TO EVERY SHOW AND ADDED GREAT COMMENTS AND INFORMATION TO EVERY SONG

     THE SHOW COMES ON ONE LP, IN BEAUTIFUL VIRGIN VINYL, PLAYED ONLY ONCE ON THE DAY OF BROADCAST AND THEN CAREFULLY STORED SINCE.  THERE ARE NO CUE SHEETS IN THIS SERIES - THE SONGS ARE PRINTED ON THE LABEL.

       EACH 15 MINUTE SHOW CONTAINED  FOUR OR FIVE SONGS RELATED TO THE THEME OF THE SHOW ALONG WITH THE DJ COMMENTARY AND ALL SORTS OF STORIES ABOUT THE SONG AND THE ARTIST AS ONLY MARV BROOKS COULD RELATE .  

 Marv often featured rare songs on his show that you will often remember when you hear them but that you probably have not heard many of them since they were popular back in those days of your life     It is an enthralling pair of shows on each lp that will captivate you.  You will be disappointed when it is over and want even more!   Thankfully, I have many more to share with you

THIS LP FEATURED TWO WEEK'S SHOWS   #XVI 1 & 2

SO HERE ARE THE BIG QUESTIONS IF YOU DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT RADIO SHOWS: 

 FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS A RADIO SHOW? 

 WHY COLLECT THEM? 

 WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? 

Well, those are good questions, especially if you have never known of them. 

First allow me tell you my own personal story of discovering the wonder of radio shows.

  I discovered radio shows quite by accident while reading one of my favorite (long since departed) magazines called "Discoveries" (It was later bought by the same company that publishes "Goldmine" which I personally always considered a lesser publication, but that is another story.

  This was before ebay became the driving force in radio show sales (and everything else) in the later 1990's.

 I was especially attracted in "Discoveries" to a two page (or more) spread in each issue by a guy called "The Old Hippie". 

 Let me tell you, the Old Hippie had it all.  He was a real pioneer.  Way before anyone knew what radio shows even were let alone that they could be bought as rarities, he had the market cornered.

Most shows that he advertised were way beyond my budget but I drooled over those pages every issue and once in awhile I could afford one or two. 

 Now, I have attempted in my own humble way to take on the mantle of "The Old Hippie".  I have listed over 11,000 unique radio shows of all genres for you all to drool over, and most at prices, hopefully, that collectors can better afford!  I want to make available to collectors what I could not afford and especially in these days of higher prices and lesser availability.

Radio shows are harder and harder to find in quantity and the prices for the ones still out there just go higher and higher as they disappear from the market.  However, because of my large presence on eBay, I am always being contacted with selling offers, some of which I take advantage of and some I have to pass on because of the prices. I have found that by buying in bulk, even when many or most of the shows are lesser known but still amazing shows, I can offer the best prices on all titles.

And, even though I price all my shows so that I make very little on each sale, most of which I use to buy more shows to make available to you, if you find the price too high, let me know and we can likely work out something you can afford.  I want everyone to be able to have what they want for their collection.

 So, again, what is a radio show?  

 Well, those are good questions, especially if you have never known of them.  Radio Shows are syndicated productions by one of several large and small distributors who supply broadcast product to radio stations normally during weekends when the usual air personalities have a break. 

 Many aired on Saturday or Sunday mornings, afternoons, or evenings or less often during overnight segments.  They often feature some of the best known voices for their genre from across the country thus the Dick Clark's and Casey Kasem's and Rick Dees and Dick Bartley and so many others.  

People collect them for various reasons.  Some just collect the series because they like it and want them all.  Some collect their favorite artists or genre of music.  Rather than an album by the artist or a compilation downloaded or a podcast of one's favorite genre,  they provide a unique real presentation of their favorite artist or music not available anywhere else and always with dj presentations which were very entertaining. 

 AND, these shows are in limited quantity.  They were pressed just for affiliate stations in the United States.  Many have just a few still in circulation.  Some of the more popular shows may have as many as a hundred of each week's show that survived but think about it.  A hundred for some 200 million Americans and millions of overseas collectors who look for unique presentations of their favorite artists or form of music is about as rare as rare can be.  

AND they are increasingly hard to find.  They were first distributed on reel to reel tape or  on lp, later on CD and even later (after 2000 for most shows) on CDR.  Now they are not available at all to collectors since they are distributed by digital download much like you get your music from iTunes. These shows become rarer and rarer every day because the people who buy them hold on to them

The shows that you get now and hold on to will never decrease in value and only increase. 

 I have prided myself since the start to provide the best and fairest cost with a no holds barred guarantee that you will be happy or I refund your money. 

 I sell them for near what I bought them for.  I give volume discounts and discount postage always.  As the postal service increases their rates, my shipping rates over the years has decreased.

 And, I have one of the biggest radio show libraries in the world consisting of over fifteen thousand shows, so many that I don't even know all that I have and am sometimes amazed when I go to look for one show and find another that I did not realize I had.

  Finally, it is Americana at its best.  Whether the show be from the 60's or 2000's, rock, countdown, oldies, country, classical, religious, jazz or big band, it is unique and home grown. 

And you just can't find them anywhere.  Even record stores that still exist will rarely have any.   Radio shows are wonderful representations of the real golden age of radio at least music wise.  And every  one you buy is an original, not a copy, not a remake - all are limited editions in the hundreds at most and most much less. Once you get hooked, like me, it is a love affair for life!  Welcome to the Club! 

It is a great variety of music along with interviews and facts.   You will enjoy great music and the best part is that you can hear them again and again, over and over,  whenever you want.   

       Remember, when you buy this show, not only will you own the tunes but also interspersed between songs is fascinating commentary on the artists and songs.  

  Also, keep in mind that this and all  shows are not just about the music - the music can be found anywhere.  It is the mixture of great music and great announcing that makes it so entertaining. 

 As well, it is a piece of radio history.  IT IS AMERICANA!  MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THESE SHOWS EXIST AND SO DON'T KNOW WHAT TREASURES THEY ARE.  THEY ARE A PART OF HISTORY. EACH SHOW IS LIKE A DOCUMENTARY OF THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES.

  You just aren't going to find these shows anymore.  Think of what they will be worth in a few years!  (IF you wanted to sell.)  I am selling to share with other music lovers what I was able to get at a reasonable price    

  Good Luck and God Bless You.