RADIO CAROLINE

RADIO CAROLINE





An introductionThe aim of Radio Caroline is to provide musical entertainment 24 hours a day. There are two ships involved in the Radio Caroline network. One, which beams to the North, the Midlands, Ireland, Scotland and North Wales is anchored in...

An introduction

The aim of Radio Caroline is to provide musical entertainment 24 hours a day. There are two ships involved in the Radio Caroline network. One, which beams to the North, the Midlands, Ireland, Scotland and North Wales is anchored in international waters three-and-a-half miles off Ramsey, Isle of Man. The other, Radio Caroline South, is moored three-and-a-half miles off Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, and its broadcasts are heard in the Greater London area, The South, and East Anglia.

The first Radio Caroline took up position off Harwich on Good Friday, 1964. That night it began test broadcasting. The following day news of Caroline’s existence hit the newspapers. On Easter Sunday Radio Caroline began regular broadcasts.

In the first three weeks, Gallup Polls reported, Radio Caroline gathered nearly seven million regular listeners. This figure did not include listeners under the age of seventeen. Caroline was covering an area in which more than 19 million people lived… and the number of listeners was growing rapidly.

Radio Atlanta sailed in six weeks later and anchored some fourteen miles from Caroline. Between them the radio ships captured the second largest English-speaking audience in the world. The ships seemed to supply a need for non-stop music.

The Merger

In July 1964 Radio Caroline merged with Radio Atlanta under the Radio Caroline call sign. Allan Crawford, managing director of Project Atlanta, and Ronan O’Rahilly, who ran Radio Caroline, had been having merger talks since Radio Caroline started broadcasting in March.

The ships had been closely connected from the very beginning. Both were fitted out at the port of Greenore, in Southern Ireland.




When Radio Atlanta started broadcasting some weeks after Caroline, it was only a matter of time before both parties started to work together. The final decision to merge, and for one ship (the original Caroline) to cover the North was taken in view...

When Radio Atlanta started broadcasting some weeks after Caroline, it was only a matter of time before both parties started to work together. The final decision to merge, and for one ship (the original Caroline) to cover the North was taken in view of the enormous interest from people outside the original broadcasting areas.

Who hears Caroline now

When the good ship Caroline first started broadcasting, its signal was heard in London and the South East of England - as was hoped for. But no one thought the signal would extend much further. In fact it reached many other parts of Britain. Reports of strong reception came from listeners as far away as Glasgow in the North, and Bristol in the West.

People who could not hear Caroline started to write to the station asking if something could be done to extend the service. Advertisers wanted this too, so Radio Caroline and Radio Atlanta got together.

The decided that they should both now use the call sign Radio Caroline and that the original Caroline boat should sail north, leaving the renamed Atlanta to continue to broadcast to the Greater London area and South East England.

There is now a Radio Caroline in the north as well as the south. Radio Caroline North reached the North of England, the Midlands and most of Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Of especial satisfaction to the hard working engineers were reports that signals from Caroline South were also reaching Holland, France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Belgium. Late night broadcasts were even heard by British holiday makers on the Spanish Costa Brava!

Broadcasting equipment is being improved all the time and the service extended. But if you live in a pocket of bad reception due to surrounding hills or high buildings, ask your radio dealer to make the minor adjustment which will improve the reception.




The MusicRadio Caroline’s policy is to supply musical entertainment with a minimum of announcement. The disc jockeys pack as much music into an hour as possible by introducing their records simply and without too much dialogue,. This means that there...

The Music

Radio Caroline’s policy is to supply musical entertainment with a minimum of announcement. The disc jockeys pack as much music into an hour as possible by introducing their records simply and without too much dialogue,. This means that there is a flow of music without overmuch distraction. There is never more than six minutes of advertising in any hour.

Jazz, folk music and other specialised fields are beamed frequently during the week. And ‘unknowns’ are given a break as often as possible by playing records from the small up-and-coming recording companies.

Tin Pan Alley benefits from Caroline. Not only through the valuable airings of its music, but also through the arrangements made to pay fees to the society which looks after the interests of the writers, composers and publishers of music, The Performing Rights Society.

Commercial Radio

Radio Caroline became the third commercial radio station currently operating in Europe. Before her there was only Radio Sud off Sweden and Radio Veronica off Holland.

The world’s first commercial radio station started in America more than twenty-five years ago. Australia and then other Commonwealth and foreign countries followed soon after. In America some States receive as many as sixty radio programmes.




THE CAROLINE CLUBWhen Radio Caroline started in March 1964, letters started to pour in asking for information about the ship and disc jockeys, and requests for records to be played over the air. The figure eventually reached over two thousand letters...

THE CAROLINE CLUB


When Radio Caroline started in March 1964, letters started to pour in asking for information about the ship and disc jockeys, and requests for records to be played over the air. The figure eventually reached over two thousand letters a day. It became almost impossible to cope with them all. So it was decided to form the Caroline Club.

A programme was started on July 11 to play records to and from Club members and to announce items of interest to members. Answers to the most frequently-asked questions were condensed into this club brochure, and plans made for further benefits to Club members.

Then Caroline became nation-wide. And letters began pouring in from other parts of the country to supplement the continual stream from the South. So the club was extended North. Now it looks as if it might become one of the biggest of its kind in the world.

From us at Radio Caroline, thank you very much for your wonderful support.




Ronan O’RahillyRonan is 24 and joint managing director with Allan Crawford of the Radio Caroline network. He was born in Dublin, his father is Irish, his mother is American. Ronan has been in England since 1960 and has always been closely connected...

Ronan O’Rahilly


Ronan is 24 and joint managing director with Allan Crawford of the Radio Caroline network. He was born in Dublin, his father is Irish, his mother is American. Ronan has been in England since 1960 and has always been closely connected with the world of music. He founded the Scene Club in London, now acknowledged as the country’s Mecca of rhythm and blues.




Allan CrawfordAustralian born Allan Crawford has been a prominent figure in the world of popular music for many years. He is managing director of several successful music publishing companies and also controls two record companies. Through his...

Allan Crawford


Australian born Allan Crawford has been a prominent figure in the world of popular music for many years. He is managing director of several successful music publishing companies and also controls two record companies. Through his recording interests Allan gives opportunities to young unknown singers and musicians. His thriving labels include Rocket, Sabre and Carnival Records.




SOME OF THE FIRST CAROLINE DJ’s

SOME OF THE FIRST CAROLINE DJ’s





CHRIS MOORE - Programme DirectorChris is chief disc jockey and is in charge of programme planning. It is he who decides what sort of records are played on Radio Caroline, as well as the format of feature programmes, like the Caroline Club Hour.
Born...

CHRIS MOORE - Programme Director


Chris is chief disc jockey and is in charge of programme planning. It is he who decides what sort of records are played on Radio Caroline, as well as the format of feature programmes, like the Caroline Club Hour.

Born in Washington 23 years ago, Chris first came to Europe when he was eight and went to school in England. When he was 18 he travelled the world in the Merchant Navy and on his return to England joined an advertising agency. He moved from there into the music business.




SIMON DEESimon Dee was born in Ottawa, Canada, and is 28. He is married and has a son, Simon junior. He has lived in England since he was eleven, except for the five years he spent in the RAF in Cyprus and the Far East. When he was demobbed he became...

SIMON DEE


Simon Dee was born in Ottawa, Canada, and is 28. He is married and has a son, Simon junior. He has lived in England since he was eleven, except for the five years he spent in the RAF in Cyprus and the Far East. When he was demobbed he became a fashion photographer.

Simon met Ronan O’Rahilly at the Scene Club. Ronan told him he was starting a floating radio station and asked if Simon would be interested in a job as a disc jockey. Simon said yes. More than a year later Ronan phoned and confirmed the offer.