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
07.03.1943	command performance (073) kay kyser, lena horne, gertrude niesen	+ Program #73. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Let's Get...
07.10.1943	command performance (074) ronald colman, jeanette macdonald, ella mae morse	+ Program #74. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Ella Mae Morse starts the sho...
07.11.1943	bing crosby betty grable harry james	+ Program #75. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Wait For ...
07.24.1943	command performance (076) dinah shore, robert benchley, tommy dorsey	+ Program #76. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Blow, Gab...
07.31.1943	command performance (077) katharine hepburn, ed gardner, ted lewis	+ Program #77. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Happy Bir...
08.07.1943	command performance (078) greer garson, nelson eddy, cass daley	+ Program #78-A. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "I Know ...
08.14.1943	command performance (079) rosalind russell, judy canova, xavier cugat	+ Program #79-A. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Brazil....
08.21.1943	command performance (080) ginger rogers, frank sinatra, arthur q. bryan	+ Program #80. AFRS origination. Frank Sinatra sings, "Embraceable You." Arthur Q. Bryan appears as ...
08.28.1943	command performance (081) bing crosby, judy garland, jimmy durante	+ Program #81. AFRS origination. Judy starts the show with, "Embraceable You." Bing sings, "Sunday, ...
09.06.1943	command performance (083) dinah shore, garry moore, jimmy dorsey	+ Program #83. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "What Do Y...
09.09.1943	command performance (082) marlene dietrich, johnny mercer, zero mostel	+ Program #82 (ok). AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "See ...
09.11.1943	command performance (084) ginny simms, andrews sisters, roy acuff	+ Program #84. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Somebody ...
09.18.1943	command performance (085) ronald colman, jascha heifetz, lena horne	+ Program #85. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Lena Horne starts the show wi...
09.25.1943	command performance (086) bob hope, bing crosby, frances langford	+ Program #86. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The program was released late...
10.02.1943	command performance (087) don ameche, betty hutton, king cole trio	+ Program #87. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Solid Pot...
10.09.1943	command performance (088) robert young, tex ritter, charlie spivak	+ Program #88. AFRS origination. The first tune by Charlie Spivak and His Orchestra is, "Besame Much...
10.16.1943	bette davis john charles thomas georgia gibbs	+ Program #89. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Stormy We...
10.23.1943	command performance (090) bob hope, carole landis, cliff arquette	+ Program #90. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Make Beli...
10.30.1943	command performance (091) judy garland, dinah shore, ginny simms	+ Program #91. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was released lat...
11.13.1943	command performance (092) bob hope, judy garland, betty hutton	+ Program #92. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Betty Hutton sings her famou...
11.20.1943	command performance (093) ida lupino, phil harris, hoosier hot shots	+ Program #93. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Connie Haines starts the show...
11.27.1943	command performance (094) herbert marshall, edgar bergen, bob wills	+ Program #94. AFRS origination. The first tune by Bob Wills is, "New San Antonio Rose." Tommy Cook ...
12.04.1943	command performance (095) dinah shore, abbott & costello, fats waller	+ Program #95. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, Fats Waller died on December ...
12.11.1943	bob hope	+ Program #96. AFRS origination. The program is dedicated to the AEF North African Network (one-year...
12.18.1943	all music program	+ Program #97. AFRS origination. The program starts with Ken Carpenter singing the program's theme, ...

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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