The Pacific Ramblers Live on KTOH, Kauai, Hawaii March/April 1945
In 1945 the band the Pacific Ramblers were entertaining listeners on radio station KTOH, located in Kauai, Hawaii.
Dale Halleron wrote to us:
I have a picture from inside the studio in 1945. My dad and some other guys playing music live on the air in front of the microphone.
I think the date reads 1-25-45. The band was called the Pacific Ramblers. The man on the far left was my dad, William Lee Halleron. I still have that guitar. I don’t know the other names. There is even a woman hiding behind one of the men, I see her dress.
Dale has also donated rare recordings of three shows performed by the Pacific Ramblers on KTOH in 1945.
He writes:
The attached music was recorded live on KTOH on March 22, 1945. I still have the original 16″ discs, although they are deteriorating. There are a few skips and scratches as can be expected. I converted them to CD format around 2005.
Show Aired 22nd March 1945
Playlist: 01 Opening Theme - Pacific Ramblers 02 Avalong Town - Pacific Ramblers 03 Prisoner's Dream - Gladys and Ida 04 Chinese Breakdown - Mandolin Bill 05 Where the Silent Times are Bending - Smitty 06 That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine - Ida 07 That Good Old Mountain Music - Pacific Rambler's 08 Marmaduke Hornpipe - Pacific Ramblers 09 I Hung My Head and Cried - Mary Jane 10 Under the Double Eagle - Mandolin Bill 11 I'm Glad I Met You After All - William L Red Halleron 12 Closing Theme - Pacific Ramblers 15 Ragady Ann - Pappy Adams 16 Log Cabin Waltz - Pappy Adams 17 Closing Theme - Pacific Ramblers
The shows were popular with listeners as this request letter shows.
Dale writes:
A copy of a fan letter written about this very broadcast. She mentions “Red” who is my dad William Halleron. I tried to find her to give her a copy of her letter, but it seems she has passed away.
Show Aired 18th April 1945
Show Aired 26th April 1945
Playlist: 01 Opening Theme - Pacific Ramblers 02 Back Home In Indiana - Pacific Ramblers 03 Montana Queen - Ida 04 Voice From The Old Villiage Choir - Don 05 Little Brown Jug - Pacific Ramblers 06 Roger Dodger Reporter - Pacific Ramblers 07 Riding The Trail Back Home - The Silver Sisters 08 Home In San Antone - Smitty 09 Unknown - Pacific Ramblers 10 Grandfather's Clock - Don 11 Funeral Home Commercial - Pacific Ramblers 12 I Told You So - Mary Jane 13 PFC On A 3 Day Pass - Pacific Ramblers 14 Worried Mind - William L Red Halleron
© Laurie Boyer Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation
This feature was compiled from audio recordings and clippings kindly donated by Dale Halleron
Read more about the Pacific Ramblers on KTOH in our feature KTOH Kauai Under Musical Attack
Explore more Hawaiian radio history in our features Blue Hawaii Radio 1961 and Art of Radio Hawaii ©.
For modern Hawaiian radio listings please visit our Hawaii Radio Guide
The closing credits of one of these shows mentions the Pacific Sweethearts, presumably the female vocalists for the Ramblers. Does anyone have any more details on them?