'Entertainers Travel Rough and Perilous Circuit
| Taking USO-Camp Shows to Remote Fighting Fronts
p —-- ^
One Hundred Troupes
Play to Soldiers in
Open-Air Theaters
f That familiar truism of the
trouper—“the show must go
on”—has taken on a new and
vastly different meaning since
the advent of USO-camp
shows — those traveling
troupes that follow our troops
all over the world. True to
tradition, the show, of course,
does go on—from the back of
an army truck mired in the
jungles of New Guinea, to the
accompaniment of grinding
winches on a dock alongside
^ a troop transport, amid the
icy glaciers of the Arctic, at
base hospitals behind firing
lines, in the shadow of smoul
dering Vesuvius, or on newly
won territory in Europe.
No longer, however, does the audi
ence go to the show; the show is
taken to the audience—an audience,
by the way, that now numbers
more than 11,000.000 men and wom
en of our armed forces to whom, by
orders of the War department, the
show goes on in combat zones in
every area where our fighting forces
are located.
>
It s something new tor Doin me
show business and the army to in
clude traveling troupes in the
army’s special services. That is, it
was new until Pearl Harbor. Now
they’re as much a part of the army
fare as GI chow, and equally as
essential. One is a physical neces
sity, the other a psychological
stimulant.
In the last two and a half years,
USO-Camp shows have grown from
• mere experiment to a far-flung
activity that would stagger the most
traveled old trouper to contemplate.
Today, USO-Camp shows operate
approximately 100 units in com
bat zones in every sector of the
fighting fronts. For obvious reasons
of military expedience no estimate
of the “house count” at these per
formances has been made public,
but it’s a safe guess that the “SRO”
sign was out at every one. In the
western hemisphere another 100
USO-Camp shows are appearing at
army camps and naval bases, with
an estimated monthly attendance of
2.000,000 men and women of the
armed forces who are kept laugh
ing by professional entertainers of
stage, screen and radio.
USO-Camp shows are operated as
activity of USO (United Service
organizations) and are financed by
the National War fund, of which
USO is a member agency.
Stage Stars Volunteer.
From headquarters occupying
half a dozen floors in a building at
8 West Fortieth street, New York
City, USO-Camp shows plan, pre
pare and direct the assembling of
both talent and programs for the
various units. Paid entertainers,
recruited from theatres, night
clubs and vaudeville booking agen
cies, constitute the permanent or
ganization of the world-wide cir
cuits. Augmenting the regular staff
are stars of Broadway and Holly
wood, together with well-known
radio personalities, who volunteer
their services for a limited period.
In obtaining volunteers from the
screen colony, USO-Camp shows has
the cooperation of the Hollywood
Victory committee which has en
listed many of the foremost stars
of motion pictures. Among notables
of the cinema who have been mem
bers of USO-Camp shows to enter
tain our boys in combat zones were:
Joe E. Brown, William Gargan,
Comsdiaa Joe E. Brown toured
tho south Pacific area for many
months, pushing into remote jungle
islands. Here he is shown enter
taining soldiers a* an open air thea
ter in Australia. i
‘Home Talent’ Skits Prepared by Army Special Services
Give Soldiers a Chance to Entertain Themselves
There aren’t enough U. S. O.
troupes to get around, so Brigadier
General Byron of the army special
services division decided to help
the boys entertain themselves. He
had some playlets written under the
direction of George Kaufman and
other playwrights that men could
v produce themselves anywhere, with
Ipttle equipment and costuming,
frhesa are grouped into a sort of
review called “About Face” a broad
farce on military life, draft boards,
sergeants, WACs, and similar sub
jects. It was presented first in Camp
Shanks, N. Y., where it made a hit
with the G. I. audience. Soldiers and
WACs played all parts
“About Face” is full of army jar
gon and wisecracks. It consists of
a series of short skits which Gen
eral Byron said can be selected, im
Sgt. Robert Bank’s pulse and respiration went up several points
when this band of entertainers dropped into this hospital tent in the
Aleutians. Players left to right are Naomi Stevens, Mary Lee,
Grace and Harry Masters, and George Cerutti.
Marlene Deitrich, Adolph Menjou.
Paulette Goddard, Gary Cooper,
Una Merkel, George Raft, Phyllis
Brooks, Frederic March, Louise All
britton, Andy Arcari, Jean Clyde,
Bob Hope, Keenan Wynn, A1 Jolson
and John Garfield.
Although the screen luminaries
volunteer for a minimum of 12
weeks, some of them trouped the
various circuits for as long as 30
weeks, enduring all kinds of incon
veniences and hardships, but taking
them in stride and actually enjoying
the experience. Many of the lesser
known paid entertainers on “sleep
er-jumping” tours of 50,000 and
100,000 miles have been out for as
long as 11 months, visiting little out
posts in remote regions, isolated
camps in Central and East Africa,
army transport command stops in
the Arabian wilderness, or lonely
road camps in the snow-covered
mountains of Iran.
The business of obtaining the tal
ent and putting together a show unit
is the function of USO-Camp shows,
a function usually conducted on spe
cific orders from the army special
services division which requisitions
entertainment by much the same
method as GI supplies are ordered.
In typical army terseness, a direc
tive will be issued to camp shows for
a certain type of entertainment to
be provided by a specified number
of performers for a designated area
and time. USO-Camp shows follows
instructions.
At the designated time and place,
the show is turned over to the army,
and thereafter it is practically as
much a part of the army as the GI
Joes. Where the show goes, when it
goes, how lftng it stays and when it
“does its stuff” are all prescribed
by the army. Transportation, food,
sleeping quarters are furnished by
the army. Many performers give
their service; others are paid nomi
nal salaries.
Troupers Endure Heat, Cold.
Although details of the tours are
handled by the army with charac
teristic military precision, putting
on the show many times isn’t
exactly a cinch. In fact, it is often
attended by difficulties, hazards or
interruptions. Even the army isn’t
able to provide transportable the
atres, stage “props” and equipment.
"Tramping the boards," a familiar
expression of the trouper, is exactly
that with Camp show entertainers,
for the show is usually given from
a crude, improvised stage of boards
thrown up wherever the audience is
stationed.
The locale of a show may be in
a jungle where the temperature
climbs to as high as 130 degrees; it
may be at a lonely mountain side
outpost, or in the midst of desert
wastes. One USO-Camp show unit.
landing unexpectedly between
bombings on the Island of Pantel*
leria, gave a performance in an
underground airplane hangar.
Another camp show troupe actually
gave a show in a submarine.
Returning from an 11-month tour,
members of one camp show unit an
nounced that they had become
authorities on the sands of the
world. They had played in yellow
sandstorms in Egypt; in red sand
storms in Tunisia that had dyed
their hair, face and clothes a bright
red; and in white sandstorms in
Iran that made brunettes look like
platinum blondes. While up in snow
covered mountains, they suffered
sub-zero cold; down in the valleys,
they had to wrap themselves in
wet sheets in order to sleep in the
145-degree heat.
Travel Through Mine Fields.
Another troupe that spent months
with fliers at advanced air-flelds
never took a trip to a nearby
encampment when they didn’t have!
to pick their way through mine
fields. Once they parked their trailer
truck two feet from a live land
mine. It was the heartbreaking ex
perience of this troupe of getting to
know some of the boys who were
destined not to return from their
missions. Once the troupe went
miles in their truck to give an un
scheduled show when they learned
that a certain squadron’s com
manding officer had been shot down
that day.
Another camp show unit that
started a North African show with
an audience of 1,500 soldiers, had
the disconcerting experience of see
ing ten men leave, then ten more,
then another ten, until finally they
were playing to a mere handful of
restless soldiers. Afterward, they
learned that a landing by enemy
commandoes had been reported and
their audience had been called out
to track them down.
Camp show performances are
often attended by hazards and
perils as well as discomforts and
inconveniences. One troupe played
seven weeks at road camps in the
Iran mountains that were main
tained to keep open the route over
which supplies and arms were go
ing to Russia. Bandits were in the
neighborhood, and the troupers
couldn’t leave the camps without
armed guards.
Air Raid Halts Show.
Sometimes sudden enemy action
makes it necessary to halt a per
formance in the middle of its most
dramatic or interesting moment. In
Italy where the players are fre
quently close behind the front
lines, such interruptions are not in
frequent. In one instance when
enemy planes roared over during a
performance, the audience and the
troupers sat in darkness for hours
until the alarm passed and the show
could continue.
One troupe touring the Iran valley
outposts had to travel 140 miles,
through mountains, in a caboose.
There were 136 tunnels, and every
time the train went through a tun
nel it was like going into an oven.
At a mountain stop in Iran, the
players learned that the boys sta
tioned there hadn’t had fresh meat
in weeks. They organized a hunt
ing expedition and, armed with
army pistols, shot 11 wild boars.
Their show was a great hit that
night. “We gave them ham, and
fed them ham, too,” they said.
Thus, day in and day out, the
show goes on—-making every stop
on the “Icicle Circuit” along the Al
can highway in Alaska; the “Fox
hole Circuit” in the South Pacific;
the “Desert Circuit” in Egypt.
Africa, Iran, . Lybia and Arabia.
And as rapidly as our fighters ad
vance, USO-camp shows are ordered
up to entertain the battle-weary
combat troops and provide an anti
dote for operational fatigue.
provised upon and adapted to vari
ous local situations in the different
combat areas. The show can be
staged with props and costumes
made from scrap materials.
"The show has to afford the
maximum possibility for versa
tility,” General Byron explained,
“and appeal to the average soldier,
who, if he had more time, could
work out the details himself. They
not only like to entertain them
selves, but also w»ot to do some
thing in this line for themselves.”
Improved Milking
Method Saves Labor
Massaging Udder
Stimulates Flow
Because of the labor shortage on
dairy farms, many dairymen are
looking to a new, faster method of
milking. An improved system is de
scribed by Dr. George E. Taylor,
extension dairyman at Rutgers U.
The important steps, he says, are
these:
1. Start milking at approximately
the same time night and morning.
2. Have all equipment in readiness
for use before starting to milk.
3. Properly prepare each cow just
prior to milking by washing and
massaging the udder with chlorin
ated water heated to 110 to 120 de
grees Fahrenheit.
4. Remove a few streams of milk
from each quarter irito a strip cup
just before putting the machine on
each cow.
5. Examine and massage each
I quarter just before milking is com
; pleted, pulling downward on the teat
cups at the same time.
•‘Preparing each cow properly for
milking makes for cleaner milk and
a more pliable udder and stimulates
the cow to give down her milk
more promptly,” Dr. Taylor says.
Drawing a few streams of milk into
! the strip cup is equally stimulating
| to let-down of milk. It discards a
| little milk that is low in fat and high
in bacteria and detects gargety milk
j at its source. Many dairymen find
that hand stripping is no longer
necessary.
"Young cows and first calf heifers
| respond and adjust themselves more
readily to the improved milking
method than older cows. Even older
animals will become accustomed to
faster milking, but it may require
a little more time and care
ful handling.”
Wheat May Be Scarce
TEiEFACT
U- S. CROP YIELD PER ACRE, 1943
mu au
CORN
Hill III
OATS
& Hill/’
SOYBEANS —L_
4^ Bill
WHEAT
Coch symbol represents 4 bushel*
TIGHTER U. S. WHEAT SITUATION
FORECAST
NM !m M M. M m, i
PRESENT
CONSUMPTION
RATE I
QQQQ Of.
1944-45 CROP YIELD CARRY OVER
SUPPLY
(ESTIMATE) i
Each .ymbol rapiRMnlt JOO million bu.htli
Patch of Culinary Herbs
Helps Fill Spice Needs
If you are planting culinary herbs
for the first time, start with a few
varieties. Select such old-time fa
vorites as dill, sage, parsley, sweet
marjoram, chives, and caraway that
can pinch-hit for some of the sea
soners now cut off because of ship
ping conditions.
Plant only what you can use to
good advantage. Garden space is
at a premium this year and seeds—
even of herbs—are none too plenti
ful. Flavors and odors of most culi
nary herbs are highly concentrated,
and only a very small amount is
needed to season a quantity of food.
Overplanting means a waste of time
and energy as well as a waste of soil
and seed.
Most herbs will do well on any
rich, well-drained garden soil. All
annual herbs and most of the bi
ennials and perennials are grown
from seed, but the mints, penny
royal, tarragon and chives are prop
agated by cuttings or by division.
Homemade Egg Cases
To convert p citrus fruit box to an
egg case, nail a %-inch strip ol
board to the end boards and the
divider, to make the box deep
enough to hold the standard 30 dozer
eggs. A %-inch strip along each side
also helps to make the box safe tc
use. Homemade boxes of half-inch
lumber will last for years, if the
farmer collects the empty ones each
time he delivers eggs locally.
Million Farm Hoys in Service
About one million farm workers
have been inducted into the armec
forces since 1040 when the selective
service law became effective, ac
cording to War Food administrator
iigures. During the past year ap
proximately 250,000 were inductee
from agriculture. In addition to the
loss of these men, many others
have left farms for various reasons
and several million have withdraw!
from agriculture without changinj
I their residence,
i
36-52
Eye Pleasing:
'T'HE contrast afforded by the
yoke of this dress (which may
be smooth and tailored or soft and
ruffly) pleases the eye! The body
of the dress is cut to give you
slimmest possible lines.
Barbara Bell Pattern No. 1841 Is de
signed for sizes 36. 38 . 40. 42. 44, 46 . 48,
50, 52. Size 38. short sleeves, requires 39i
yards 39-inch material. Va yard for vestee.
or 2% yards ruffling.
COMPLETELY pretty play
dress and matching bonnet
which can be.done in colorful seer
suckers, striped chambrays or
flowered cottons. For very small
girls—aged one to three, this set
• • •
Summer Set
is adorable when done in white
polka-dotted muslin or pastel or
gandies and trimmed with fine
white lace.
• » »
Pattern No. 8G14 is in sizes 1, 2. 3, 4.
5 and 6 years. Size 2, dress, requires
yards 39-inch material, bonnet,
yard; 5 yards rickrack or ruffled lace for
trim.
Send your order to:
» ■" .—. i I. .
SEWING CIRCLE PATTERN DEPT.
330 South Wells St. Chicago
Enclose 20 cents In coins for each
pattern desired.
Pattern No.Size.
Name...
Address .
Big Task for Voters
American voters of 1944 will
elect not only a President, 33 sena
tors, 435 representatives and 34
governors, but also between 150,
000 and 175,000 officers for other
state, county and municipal posi
tions, says Collier’s.
Also, the ballots will probably
request a vote on between 4,000
and 6,000 proposed laws and other
measures.
Minds in Reverse
Two mind-readers met after an
interval of some months. One of
them immediately exclaimed in a
hearty voice:
“You’re all right 1 How am IT/*
Not Even an Old One
"And, doctor, do you think prunes art
healthy?”
“Well, rve never heard one complain."
Everybody is able to give pleas
ure in some way. One person may
do it by coming into a room, an
other by going out.
HOW TO “KNOW” ASPIRIN
Just be sure to ask for fit. Joseph
Aspirin. There’s none faster, non*
stronger. Why pay moroT World’s largest
seller at 10#. Demand fit. Joseph Aspirin.
SNAPPY FACTS I
ABOUT
RUBBER
Alcohol boio butadiene Is ex
pasted to provide on im
portant portion ol tho syn
thetic rubber used in tho U. S.
in 1944. Ono instance where
alcohol and the automobile
go well togetherl
Passenger car tire shortage Is ex
pected to continue well Into the
summer months, at which time syn
thetic tires may make their appear
ance in growing numbers. That's why
extreme tire care Is Important now.
In 1910 crude rubber said for
an average of $24)4 a pound
in New York. Since September
12, 1941, it has been fixed by
a government agency at 22Vi
cents a pound. In 1932 the
average price was 3.4 cents.
. he mi ci peace
BEGoodrich I
FIRST IN RUBBER
f°?.mA'
Tifcv ^
S-CWtHf SJtfed,
rfTftatn Sjfceef
One of CLARION’S major plans
after the war will be to serve
towns, smaller cities and farms
with radios best suited to the real
America through which runs
Main Street—the world’s greatest
thoroughfare.
In every locality there will be
CLARION dealers displaying the
red-coated figure which since
1922 has been the symbol of good
radios.
Whether battery sets for those
who have no power line facilities,
or combinations of modern de
sign, or in between, CLARION
will be completely prepared to
meet your peace-time needs.
CLARION’S work for the armed
forces has developed its engineer
ing and designing facilities to the
highest point in its history. We
are in an ideal position to serve
you radio buyers more efficiently
and with finer products than ever,
before.
Watch for the CLARION sign
when radios are again available.
WARWICK MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
4640 W. Harrison Street Chicago 44, Illinois
FARM SETS • TABLE MODELS • PORTABLES
RADIO PHONOGRAPHS • FM • TELEVISION