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
03.29.1945	command performance (168) bob hope, ingrid bergman, charles boyer	+ Program #168. AFRS origination. The King Sisters sings, "On The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe." Th...
04.05.1945	command performance (169) bing crosby, lionel barrymore, marilyn maxwell	+ Program #169. AFRS origination. Bing starts the program singing, "This Heart Of Mine." The date ab...
04.12.1945	kaye kyser and gary cooper	+ Kay Kyser is the Master of Ceremonies, and opens the show with a little cheeky flirting with his g...
04.19.1945	command performance (170) kay kyser, gary cooper, edward g robinson	+ Program #170. AFRS origination. Pat Friday starts the program singing, "Iowa." The date is the rec...
04.19.1945	command performance (171) martha stewart, peter lorre, sydney greenstreet	+ Program #171. AFRS origination. "A Visit To The Stars." Martha Stewart starts the program with, "M...
04.26.1945	bing crosby jimmy durante ella mae morse	+ Program #173. AFRS origination. A tribute to Walt Disney. An all animal program! The first tune is...
05.03.1945	command performance (173) tribute to walt disney	+ Program #173. AFRS origination. A tribute to Walt Disney. An all animal program! The first tune is...
05.10.1945	command performance (174) jack benny, paulette goddard, hoagy carmichael	+ Program #174. AFRS origination. Miguelito Valdez sings, "El Cumbanchero." Paulette Goddard and Jac...
05.24.1945	command performance (176) suppressed desires	+ Program #176. AFRS origination. "Suppressed Desire Night"...what the stars really want to do on th...
05.31.1945	command performance (177) rita hayworth, charles boyer, nat king cole	+ Program #177. AFRS origination. The cast does its version of "Gaslight." Who will play the lead, J...
06.14.1945	ann rutherford bob hope king sisters	+ Program #179. AFRS origination. The King Sisters sing, "For You." The stars act out their secret d...
06.21.1945	command performance (180) joan edwards, jack carson, arthur treacher	+ Program #180. AFRS origination. Joan Edwards starts the show with, "I'm Beginning To See The Light...
06.22.1945	command performance (181) herbert marshall, jack haley, les paul	+ Program #181. AFRS origination. Marilyn Maxwell sings, "A Kiss Goodnight." The date above is the r...
07.05.1945	command performance (182) juke box night (salute to gi jive's 1000th show)	+ Program #182. AFRS origination. "Juke Box Night." The first tune is, "Sentimental Journey."
07.12.1945	command performance (183) janet blair, victor borge, rise stevens	+ Program #183. AFRS origination. Janet Blair sings, "It's Only A Paper Moon." The date above is the...
07.19.1945	command performance (184) judy canova, hoosier hot shots, danny kaye	+ Program #184. AFRS origination. The Hoosier Hotshots start the program with, "The Indiana Corncert...
08.02.1945	all male program	+ Program #186. AFRS origination. Announced as an "all-male" program, "Vera Vague" is nevertheless h...
08.09.1945	command performance (187) walter o'keefe, rita hayworth, les paul	+ Program #187. AFRS origination. Marilyn Maxwell sings, "I Got Rhythm." Rita Hayworth and Walter go...
08.14.1945	victory extra	+ This show was broadcast on 14 Aug 1945. It is a combination of music and words and it is well wort...
08.14.1945	command performance victory extra (part 1)
08.14.1945	command performance victory extra (part 2)
08.30.1945	command performance (189) frank sinatra, humphrey bogart, victor borge	+ Program #189. AFRS origination. Frank sings, "What Makes The Sun Set?" (with the wrong words at th...
09.06.1945	bing bob and frank	+ Program #122/190. AFRS origination. Judy sings, "The Dixieland Band." Bing and Frank audition for ...
09.27.1945	command performance (193) first song it's only a paper moon (afrs)	+ Program #193. AFRS origination. Betty Grable sings, "It's Only A Paper Moon." The date above is th...
10.04.1945	command performance (194) dinah shore, lum and abner, alan reed	+ Program #194. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was distributed ...

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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