Perhaps no other self-conscious effort to use music to inspire and lend comfort in hard times was as important as that made by the entertainment industry during World War II in support of our boys in uniform. Two enterprises remain burned in our national memory to this day: the Stage Door Canteens founded and run by American Theatre Wing in New York, London, San Francisco and several other American cities for the benefit of servicemen on leave, and the USO clubs and shows established and presented throughout the world by the United Service Organizations as "homes away from home" for U. S. uniformed military personnel. Founded in 1942 and 1941 respectively, the Stage Door Canteens and USO shows and clubs were two important means (the 3rd being radio) by which the American entertainment industry could lend much needed moral support in that time of extreme national-and international--crisis. During the war years, a tremendous number of Hollywood, Broadway and popular music stars leant their talents--Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, Judy Garland, Glenn Miller, Mickey Rooney, Danny Kaye, Fred Astaire, Joe E. Brown...the list goes on and on.
For our OFAM 2008 Grand Finale, Jazz Director Ken Peplowski and company (including our own long-time "girl trio"--Julie Alsin, Shirley Andress and Vicki Brabham--offering their take on the Andrews Sisters rep) put together a rousing tribute to the Stage Door Canteens and USO shows filled with a little bit of everything. Let's hope that the jokes are not too bad! And look for all the great songs: "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "In The Mood", "Jersey Bounce", "Well, Git It!", "Sentimental Journey", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "I'll Be Seeing You", "Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar", "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree" and many more!"
| | Opus One (1943) Sid Garris (w) Sy Oliver (m) |
| | Jersey Bounce (1941) Buddy Feyne (w) Bobby Plater, Tiny Bradshaw, Edward Johnson (m) |