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
10.11.1945	command performance (195) truth or consequences special	+ Program #195. AFRS origination. A "Truth Or Consequences" show. The first consequence: An army ser...
10.18.1945	command performance (196) bob hope, maureen o'hara, jerry colonna	+ Program #196. AFRS origination. Kitty Kallen sings, "More Than You Know." The date above is the re...
10.25.1945	command performance (197) eddie cantor, mel torme	+ Program #197. AFRS origination. Eddie Cantor sings a medley of, "Ida," Margie" and "If You Knew Su...
11.01.1945	command performance (198) ginny simms. dennis day	+ Program #198. AFRS origination. Ginny Simms and The Sportsmen sing, "Gotta Be This Or That." The d...
12.20.1945	command performance (203) dennis day, jack benny, june christy
12.25.1945	1945 christmas special	+ AFRS origination. A special Christmas program. Harry James tries to blow a Japanese bugle (but can...
12.25.1945	1945 christmas special part 1	+ AFRS origination. A special Christmas program. Harry James tries to blow a Japanese bugle (but can...
12.25.1945	1945 christmas special part 2	+ AFRS origination. A special Christmas program. Harry James tries to blow a Japanese bugle (but can...
12.27.1945	command performance (204) jane wyman, alan young, jim backus	+ Jane Wyman is the Mistress of Ceremonies and she opens the show by introducing Olga San Juan who p...
01.06.1946	army day special
01.10.1946	abbott snd costello andrews sisters pied pipers	+ Program #206. AFRS origination. The Pied Pipers sing, "You've Got Me Where You Want Me." Abbott an...
01.17.1946	army nurse corps anniversary show	+ Program #207. AFRS origination. The program is dedicated to Army nurses. The first tune is, "Come ...
01.31.1946	command performance (209) robert young, jack benny, chico marx	+ Program #209. AFRS origination. Lena Romay starts the program with, "Did You Ever Get That Feeling...
01.31.1946	command performance 209 robert young 1st 'did you ever get that feeling in the moonlight	+ Program #209. AFRS origination. Lena Romay starts the program with, "Did You Ever Get That Feeling...
02.07.1946	command performance (210) johnny mercer, larry adler (assembled show)	+ Program #210. AFRS origination. Beatrice Kay sings, "The Curse Of An Aching Heart." An all-star (a...
02.14.1946	command performance (211) carole landis, vivian blaine, bob burns	+ Program #211. AFRS origination. Vivian Blaine sings, "Here Comes Heaven Again." Bob Burns does a c...
02.21.1946	bing crosby bob hope ann sheridan
02.28.1946	command performance (213) frank morgan, marilyn maxwell, jose iturbi	+ Program #213. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "Jeepers Creepers."
03.07.1946	command performance (214) ginger rogers, burl ives, kay starr	+ Program #214. AFRS origination. Kay Starr sings, "Honeysuckle Rose." Burl Ives sings, "On Top Of O...
03.14.1946	command performance (215) june haver, desi arnaz, red skelton	+ Program #215. AFRS origination. June's first tune is, "Give Me The Simple Life." Larry Storch imit...
03.21.1946	command performance 216 eddie cantor 1st 'let's sing a song about susie'	+ Program #216. AFRS origination. Eddie sings, "Let's Sing A Song About Susie." Billy Gilbert sings ...
04.14.1946	command performance 217 bob hope best picture 'the lost weekend'	+ Program #217. AFRS origination. A visit to the 1945 Academy Awards ceremony at Grauman's Chinese T...
04.14.1946	awards ceremony	+ Program #217. AFRS origination. A visit to the 1945 Academy Awards ceremony at Grauman's Chinese T...
04.19.1946	army day special	+ AFRS origination. A program in honor of Army Day. Dinah starts the program by singing, "Shoo Fly P...
04.21.1946	command performance (218) fred allen, jack benny, ginny simms (partial repeat of 135)	+ Program #135/218. AFRS origination. Ginny Simms sings, "Come To Baby, Do." Unable to get a room in...

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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