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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
05.06.1944	command performance (118) bob hope, bing crosby, betty hutton	+ Program #118. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "Swinging On A Star." The cast does a schoolroo...
05.13.1944	command performance (119) jerry colonna, dinah shore, helen forrest	+ Program #119. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "Besame Mucho." The show ends with a well-done ...
05.20.1944	command performance (120) paulette goddard, jimmy durante, louis armstrong	+ Program #120. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was released dur...
05.27.1944	command performance (121) dinah shore, dick haymes, virginia o'brien	+ Program #121. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was released dur...
06.03.1944	command performance (122) bob hope, bing crosby, judy garland, frank sinatra	+ Program #122/190. AFRS origination. Judy sings, "The Dixieland Band." Bing and Frank audition for ...
06.03.1944	all female program	+ Program #123. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Shirley Ross sings a G. I. v...
06.10.1944	bette davis jimmy durante artie shaw	+ Program #124. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. The first tune is, "Wish I I...
06.17.1944	command performance (125) jack benny, harpo marx, bing crosby	+ Program #125. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Bing sings, "You Must Have B...
06.24.1944	all western program	+ Program #126. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was released dur...
07.01.1944	command performance (127) george murphy, maxine sullivan, nelson eddy
07.08.1944	command performance (128) claudette colbert, jimmy durante, ronald colman	+ Program #128. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. Jimmy Durante sings, "I Ups ...
07.15.1944	bing crosby judy garland andrews sisters	+ Program #129. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby." The show f...
07.22.1944	command performance (130) ronald colman, ginny simms, cary grant	+ Program #130. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date, the program was released dur...
07.30.1944	barbara stanwyck dick haymes june allyson	+ Program #131. AFRS origination. The show is performed before an audience of four hundred WAVES. Th...
08.05.1944	command performance (132) ginger rogers, virginia o'brien, jimmy durante	+ Program #132. AFRS origination. What all the radio programs of the week sound like rolled up into ...
08.12.1944	command performance (133) spencer tracy, jo stafford, johnny mercer	+ Program #133. AFRS origination. The first tune is, "The Trolley Song." The program features ninete...
08.19.1944	command performance (134) judy garland, danny kaye, helen forrest	+ Program #134. AFRS origination. Judy stars the show singing, "I May Be Wrong." The date above is t...
08.26.1944	command performance (135) fred allen, jack benny, ginny simms	+ Program #135/218. AFRS origination. Ginny Simms sings, "Come To Baby, Do." Unable to get a room in...
09.02.1944	command performance (136) ladies' night
09.09.1944	command performance (137) groucho marx, gloria dehaven, frank morgan	+ Program #191. AFRS origination. Georgia Gibbs sings, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man." Groucho sings, "...
09.13.1944	command performance (138) bob hope, johnny mercer, june allyson	+ Program #138. AFRS origination. Bob's opening monologue is about the Armed Forces Radio Service. J...
09.23.1944	command performance (139) martha raye, jack carson, lina romay	+ Program #139. AFRS origination. "The Ken Carpenter Birthday Party." It's Ken Carpenter's second an...
09.30.1944	command performance (140) deanna durbin, jack benny, ginger rogers	+ Program #140. AFRS origination. Martha Tilton sings, "I'll Walk Alone." An all-star jam session is...
10.07.1944	command performance (141) dinah shore, art tatum, chico marx	+ Program #141. AFRS origination. Dinah Shore sings, "I'll walk Alone." A visit to "Duffy's Tavern."...
10.14.1944	command performance (142) highlights of 1944 (assembled show)	+ Program #142. AFRS origination. The date above is the recording date. This compiled program was re...

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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