Command Performance | Variety | Old Time Radio Downloads

Thanks

Command Performance was a radio program that lightened the hearts of everyone touched by the ravages of World War II. This series of old radio shows began airing in March of 1942 and lasted for two years until 1946. Each episode consisted of 30-minutes of non-stop action and entertainment, featuring the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Command Performance was produced by the War Department to be broadcast to the troops the show was described as "so important and expensive that only Uncle Sam is big enough to sponsor it." Despite the fact that this particular old time radio show was expensive to produce, there was never a lack of sponsors as even civilians across America helped contribute to this war effort. The likes of CBS and NBC donated free studio use to the program and big name stars from across America provided their talents on the air.

Command Performance is WWII entertainment at its finest, as it was made to be sent overseas to support our troops. Begun in March of 1942, it became a weekly wartime 30 minutes of star-studded fun.

Each and every show gets several, or many, stars together to do comedy, songs and even dances, based on the ideas of the GI's listening. At first, the crack writing staff actually took ideas firsthand from the troops themselves. Later, the shows was transcribed by the Armed Forces Radio Service from Hollywood, but continuing to use the requests that poured in from all over the world. All donated their services to this war effort show, including the networks production studios.

Longer sketches are featured on some shows, and seasonal specials tug at the heartstrings. The big bands and singers of the day are featured, too, sometimes together!

The patriotism and dedication of those times shines forth in these performances, and in the comedy, the song and the banter, there is always a simple message - we appreciate what you are doing for us, and we miss you!

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Please enjoy these 297 old time radio episodes:

Air Date	Title	Synopsis
07.28.1942	command performance (024) cary grant, judy garland, woody herman	+ Program #24. AFRS origination. Shirley Ross starts the program by singing, "Donegal." The program ...
08.04.1942	command performance (025) clark gable, bette davis, count basie	+ Program #25. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was distributed i...
08.11.1942	command performance (026) walter pidgeon, mary martin, marlene dietrich	+ Program #26. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was distributed i...
08.18.1942	command performance (027) cary grant, virginia o'brien, freddie slack	+ Program #27. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was distrubted in...
08.25.1942	command performance (028) red skelton, betty hutton, benny goodman	+ Program #28. AFRS origination. The program was released in the Autumn of 1942. The first tune is, ...
08.30.1942	command performance (030) bing crosby, james cagney, larry adler	+ Program #30. AFRS origination. The date above was the recording date. The program was mastered Sep...
08.30.1942	bing crosby abbott and costello kay kyser	+ Program #31. AFRS origination. The program was distributed in the Autumn of 1942. The first tune i...
09.04.1942	command performance (029) tallulah bankhead, gene krupa, jane froman	+ Program #29. AFRS origination. The program originates from New York City. The first tune is, "One ...
09.22.1942	command performance (032) don ameche, edgar bergen, tommy dorsey	+ Program #32. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was distributed i...
09.29.1942	command performance (033) bob burns, tommy dorsey, lionel hampton	+ Program #33. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The program was released duri...
10.07.1942	command performance (034) cary grant, spike jones, rise stevens	+ Program #34. AFRS origination. Spike Jones and The City Slickers play, "Hotcha Cornya." Joan Davis...
10.09.1942	command performance (035) bob hope, judy garland, claudette colbert	+ Program #35. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Judy Garland starts the show ...
10.13.1942	bing crosby mary martin	+ Program #36. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "You Are M...
10.13.1942	bing crosby	+ Program #36. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "You Are M...
10.21.1942	command performance (037) frances langford, bob burns, jimmy dorsey	+ Program #37. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "At Last."...
10.24.1942	command performance (038) linda darnell, red skelton, erskine hawkins	+ Program #38. AFRS origination. Virginia O'Brien sings, "Boy, Did I Get Stinking At The Club Savoy....
10.27.1942	command performance (039) rita hayworth, lena horne. cass daley	+ Program #39. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The program starts with a med...
11.03.1942	betty grable judy canova bergen and mccarthy	+ Program #40. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Judy Canova starts the show b...
11.10.1942	command performance (041) jack benny, alice faye, cass daley	+ Program #41. AFRS origination. The first tune is a clever parody by Cass Daley. The date above is ...
11.15.1942	command performance (042) leopold stokowski	+ Program #42. AFRS origination. The first selection is, "The Hungarian Rhapsody" (Liszt). The date ...
12.09.1942	command performance dinah shore, ethel waters, lionel hampton (assembled show 42a)	+ Program #42A. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "Mad About Him Blues." The date above is the re...
12.24.1942	command performance 1942 christmas special	+ AFRS origination, pool feed to all nets. A Christmas program. The Andrews Sisters sing, "The Penns...
01.02.1943	command performance (045) linda darnell, ink spots, cab calloway (assembled show)	+ Program #45. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "The Java Jive." A compilation broadcast release...
01.06.1943	command performance (046) robert taylor, lum and abner, king sisters	+ Program #46. AFRS origination. The date above is the recoCommand Performance USA brings you the gr...
01.10.1943	command performance (047) joan blondell, roy rogers, connie haines	+ Program #47. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "I've Got ...

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That's a great show

Chris

deserve an Oscar in this film but also many others like "Casablanca."

Scott

Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart one of my favorites.

Armand

here will always be only one Marilyn. Beautiful, sexy and despite what critics said, a good actress. Loved her in Some Like It Hot.

William

Love him in everything, but especially as Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities ("'Tis a far, far better thing...") The Halls are fun to listen to.--Mrs. F

Pat

Love him! He had one of the greatest voices!

Jane

“Command Performance” was one of the mainstays of Armed Forces Radio Service programming during World War II. Listeners heard a variety of performances — such as music, comedy and drama — from some of the biggest names in entertainment in that era.

Eddie

command performance is a great show.

Andy

Featuring all of the current existing programs dated from 1942 until 1949. This series is one of my favorites, having radio & movie stars appearing in each program. Every show has a main guest star, but many others appear along with the main star. A show might have Shirley Temple as main guest, but Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Abbott & Costello might appear too. The stars all worked for free on these programs that were produced by AFRS to be sent to GIs around the world on 16" transcriptions, and they did some of their best work on these programs.

COMMAND PERFORMANCE