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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
N/A	benny goodman lina romay hoagy carmichael	+ AFRS origination. The Hoosier Hotshots start the program with, "Wahoo." A tour of Tin Pan Alley st...
03.08.1942	eddie cantor	+ Program #1. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The program was broadcast Marc...
03.09.1942	fred waring	+ Program #2. AFRS origination. The program was recorded March 9, 1942, released April, 1942, and or...
03.09.1942	command performance (002) fred waring. joe e. lewis, tallulah bankhead	+ Program #2. AFRS origination. The program was recorded March 9, 1942, released April, 1942, and or...
03.13.1942	command performance (003) kate smith, henny youngman, robert benchley	+ Program #3. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The program was released in Ap...
03.18.1942	command performance (004) fred allen, henny youngman, gladys swarthout	+ Program #4. AFRS origination. Fred Allen starts the program by talking about his feud with Jack Be...
03.29.1942	command performance (005) george jessel, connie boswell, oscar levant	+ Program #5. AFRS origination. The program was recorded March 29, 1942, released April/May, 1942 an...
04.01.1942	command performance (006) kay kyser, eddie cantor, lou holtz	+ Program #6. AFRS origination. The program was recorded April 1, 1942, released May, 1942. The firs...
04.12.1942	command performance (007) gene tierney, edgar bergen, betty hutton	+ Program #7. AFRS origination. The date above is the date of recording, the program was released in...
04.16.1942	command performance (008) clifton fadiman, dinah shore, phil baker	+ Program #8. AFRS origination. The date above is the date of recording, the program was released Ma...
04.19.1942	command performance (009) shirley temple, abbott and costello, fanny brice	+ Program #9. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree." Baby Snooks and...
04.23.1942	command performance (010) pat o'brien, frances langford, frank morgan	+ Program #10. AFRS origination. The program was recorded April 23, 1942 for release May/June, 1942....
04.28.1942	adolphe menjou fibber mcgee and molly red skelton	+ Program #11. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Virginia O'Brien starts the s...
05.07.1942	betty grable	+ Program #12. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "Some Of These Days." Clem McCarthy calls the si...
05.13.1942	command performance (015) national association of broadcasters show	+ Program #15. AFRS origination. The program originates from the convetion of the National Associati...
05.14.1942	command performance (013) edward g robinson, hedy lamarr, glenn miller	+ Program #13. AFRS origination. Cliff Edwards starts the show by singing, "It Had To Be You." The d...
05.18.1942	command performance (014) george raft, deanna durbin, rudy vallee	+ Program #14. AFRS origination. The above date is the date of recording, the program was released d...
06.02.1942	command performance (016) mickey rooney, amos 'n andy, harry james	+ Program #16. AFRS origination. The above date is the recording date, the program was released late...
06.11.1942	command performance (017) don ameche, bing crosby, carole landis	+ Program #17. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "I Got Spurs That Jingle, Jangle, Jingle." The d...
06.18.1942	command performance (018) william powell, gene autry, judy garland	+ Program #18. AFRS origination. The program was released during the Summer of 1942. The first tune ...
06.23.1942	command performance (019) loretta young, ella fitzgerald, phil silvers	+ Program #19. AFRS origination. Ella Fitzgerald sings, "A Tiskit A Taskit." Ransom Sherman lectures...
06.30.1942	command performance (020) spencer tracy, groucho marx, barbara stanwyck	+ Program #20. AFRS origination. The program was recorded June 30, 1942, released during the summer ...
07.07.1942	command performance (021) bob hope, lena horne, rosalind russell	+ Program #21. AFRS origination. Bob's opening monologue is about the rubber shortage and other wart...
07.14.1942	command performance (022) edward arnold, jack benny, ethel waters	+ Program #22. AFRS origination. Richard Haydn appear as the only "fish mimic" in the world! The rec...
07.21.1942	command performance (023) pat o'brien, harold peary, dick powell	+ Program #23. AFRS origination. Frances Langford starts the show singing, "Night and Day." The cast...

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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