30 minute wartime variety show
The best wartime program in radio that listeners in the States never heard!
Command Performance was a weekly variety show produced by the War Department and only aired for our troops serving overseas, it was dubbed by Time Magazine as “the best wartime program in radio.” The program featured the most spectacular stars: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, the Andrews Sisters, Cary Grant, and many, many, more. Broadcasters donated their studios, the stars donated their acting, Vick Knight (the director) left the popular, and well paying, Fred Allen show to donate his skills. The show was seen by stars and studio hands as a way for the entertainment industry to contribute to the war effort, and to make a connection to the soldiers. The idea behind the title is that the soldiers would write in and request what they wanted. The show includes some heartfelt letters from soldiers who might request a particular sound from their home, like the sounds of Fifth Avenue, NY, the emcee would give a shout out to a particular solider or unit, or theater of war, then play what was requested.
To counteract what could be sad or moving letters from those serving and risking their lives, the show had a lighthearted feel, plenty of peppy music and jokes. It is basically a USO show on the radio. Two specific programs stick out: On Christmas Eve 1942 the show was aired in the states, and was played on all four radio networks. As an example of how star studded the show was, in 1945 the show outdid itself with an episode called “Dick Tracy in B-Flat” (subtitled – “For Goodness Sakes, Isn't He Ever Going To Marry Tess Truehart”). The Dick Tracy rip off starred Bing Crosby, Dinah Shore, Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante, Judy Garland, the Andrews Sisters, and Frank Sinatra.
“Command Performance USA the greatest entertainers in America, as requested by you, the men and women in the Unites States Armed Forces throughout the world. Command Performance presented this week and every week till your back from over there.”
Text from Wikipedia
Purchase as a download, purchase as CD(s), or listen for free
All of our Old Time Radio Programs are in MP3 format. You can play them on your computer, you can transfer them to MP3 players (like the IPod), but, by and large, you cannot play them on stereos, walkmen, or car radios.
The sound quality of Old Time Radio Programs can vary greatly. Some episodes are excellent, others you have to turn up the volume a little and ignore the static. All of the episodes can be listened to and enjoyed. You can listen to our free samples to get a feel for how the programs sound.
You may also like: Bob Hope
Episode List Set 1
command-performance_420308 001 Eddie Cantor, Da.mp3
command-performance_420309 002 Fred Waring, Joe.mp3
command-performance_420313 003 Kate Smith, Henn.mp3
command-performance_420318 004 Fred Allen, Kenn.mp3
command-performance_420329 005 Gjessel Cboswell.mp3
command-performance_420401 006 Kkyser, Bwain, E.mp3
command-performance_420407 Unknown Guests.mp3
command-performance_420419 009 Stemple Mtilton .mp3
command-performance_420423 010 Po'brien Fmorgan.mp3
command-performance_420507 012 Betty Grable, Ja.mp3
command-performance_420514 013 Edward G. Robins.mp3
command-performance_420518 014 Graft Ddurbin Ds.mp3
command-performance_420618 018 William Powell G.mp3
command-performance_420630 020 Groucho, Victor .mp3
command-performance_420630 020 Spencer Tracy Gm.mp3
command-performance_420714 022 Edward Arnold Ew.mp3
command-performance_420830 034 Cary Grant, Ginn.mp3
command-performance_420904 029 Tbankhead Jfroma.mp3
command-performance_421013 036 Bing Crosby, Mar.mp3
command-performance_421224 Christmas Special.mp3
command-performance_430220 053 Francis Langford.mp3
command-performance_430224 054 Bob Hope Dshore .mp3
command-performance_430828 081 Bing Crosby, Jud.mp3
command-performance_431009 088 Robert Young, Te.mp3
command-performance_431127 094 Herbert Marshall.mp3
command-performance_431204 095 Dinah Shore,fats.mp3
command-performance_431211 096 Bob Hope, France.mp3
command-performance_431218 097 Dinah Shore, Bin.mp3
command-performance_431220 098 Fred Allen, Ginn.mp3
command-performance_431221 099 Fred Waring, Kat.mp3
command-performance_431225 Christmas Special.mp3
command-performance_440108 100 Carmen Miranda, .mp3
command-performance_440115 101 Francis Langford.mp3
command-performance_440122 102 Bob Hope, Deanna.mp3
command-performance_440201 104 Dinah Shore, Bin.mp3
command-performance_440325 112 Donamecheroyroge.mp3
command-performance_440422 116 Gene Tierney, Ro.mp3
command-performance_440506 118 Bob Hope, Bing C.mp3
command-performance_440520 120 Paulette Goddard.mp3
command-performance_440527 121 Dinah Shore, Dic.mp3
command-performance_440603 122 Bob Hope, Garlan.mp3
command-performance_440603 123 Connie Haines, B.mp3
command-performance_440610 124 Bette Davis, Jim.mp3
command-performance_440617 125 Jack Benny, Harp.mp3
command-performance_440624 126 Maxine Sullivan,.mp3
command-performance_440708 Command Performance.mp3
command-performance_440715 128 Claudette Colber.mp3
command-performance_440722 130 Ronald Colman, G.mp3
command-performance_440730 131 Barbara Stanwyck.mp3
command-performance_440805 132 Ginger Rogers, V.mp3
command-performance_440819 134 Judy Garland, Da.mp3
command-performance_440826 135 Fred Allen, Jack.mp3
command-performance_440902 136 Betty Grable, Be.mp3
command-performance_440909 137 Groucho Marx, Ge.mp3
command-performance_440913 138 Bob Hope, Johnny.mp3
command-performance_440930 140 Deanna Durbin, J.mp3
command-performance_441014 142 Compilation - Hi.mp3
command-performance_441026 144 Clark Gable, Joe.mp3
command-performance_441026 144 Winged Victory E.mp3
command-performance_441101 145 Ethel Merman, Ed.mp3
command-performance_441101 145.mp3
command-performance_441101 148 Edgar Bergen & C.mp3
command-performance_441107 149 Claudette Colber.mp3
command-performance_441108 146 Fred Waring, Kat.mp3
command-performance_441118 150 Linda Darnell, M.mp3
command-performance_441125 151 Ginny Simms, Lar.mp3
command-performance_441125 152 Irene Dunn, John.mp3
command-performance_441127 Thanksgiving Special.mp3
command-performance_441216 154 Bob Hope, Bing C.mp3
command-performance_441224 Command Performance .mp3
command-performance_441225.mp3
command-performance_4609XX 235 Tyrone Power, Wa.mp3
command-performance_47XXXX Martha Tilton, The C.mp3
Episode List Set 02
command-performance_450118 158 Burns & Allen, C.mp3
command-performance_450125 159 Frank Morgan, Fr.mp3
command-performance_450201 160 Gloria Dehaven, .mp3
command-performance_450208 161 Jeannie Craine, .mp3
command-performance_450215 162 Dick Tracy In B .mp3
command-performance_450222 163 John Garfield, G.mp3
command-performance_450301 164 Helen Forrest, J.mp3
command-performance_450308 165 Frank Sinatra, E.mp3
command-performance_450315 166 Jimmy Durante, H.mp3
command-performance_450322 167 Dinah Shore Lina.mp3
command-performance_450329 168 Bob Hope,ingrid.mp3
command-performance_450405 169 Bing Crosby, Ma.mp3
command-performance_450419 170 Kay Kyser, Herr.mp3
command-performance_450503 173 Ken Carpenter, H.mp3
command-performance_450510 174 Jackbennypaulett.mp3
command-performance_450531 177 Rita Hayworth, C.mp3
command-performance_450608 179 Bob Hope, Ann R.mp3
command-performance_450614 Command Performance.mp3
command-performance_450621 180 Joan Edwards, Jc.mp3
command-performance_450622 181 Hmarshall Mmaxw.mp3
command-performance_450705 182 Bing Crosby, G.I.mp3
command-performance_450712 183 Janet Blair Vbo.mp3
command-performance_450719 184 Judy Canova, Her.mp3
command-performance_450809 187 Walter O'keefe, .mp3
command-performance_450814 Victory Special.mp3
command-performance_450815 Command Performance .mp3
command-performance_450830 189 Frank Sinatra, B.mp3
command-performance_450902 Vj Day Special.mp3
command-performance_450906 190 Bingbobfrankandj.mp3
command-performance_450927 193 Betty Grable, Ju.mp3
command-performance_451004 Dshore 194 Pied Pi.mp3
command-performance_451011 195 Ralph Edwards, C.mp3
command-performance_451101 199 Bob Crosby, Gild.mp3
command-performance_451108 Command Performance.mp3
command-performance_451213 202 Andrews Sisters,.mp3
command-performance_451224 Command Performance.mp3
command-performance_451225 Christmas Special (p.mp3
command-performance_460110 206 Abbott & Costell.mp3
command-performance_460124 208 Repeat Of Cp 102.mp3
command-performance_460131 209 Chico Marx, Jack.mp3
command-performance_460307 214 Ginger Rogers, B.mp3
command-performance_460407 Army Day Special.mp3
command-performance_460421 218 Fred Allen, Ginn.mp3
command-performance_460505 220 Kay Kyser, Lina .mp3
command-performance_460616 226 Shirley Temple, .mp3
command-performance_460922 232 Janet Blair, Jan.mp3
command-performance_461208 242 Rudy Valleedorot.mp3
command-performance_461226 254 Carole Landiis, .mp3
command-performance_470323 257 Glenn Ford Mmax.mp3
command-performance_470330 258 Lina Romay, Garr.mp3
command-performance_470504 272 Marilyn Maxwell,.mp3
command-performance_470708 280 Esther Williams,.mp3
command-performance_470729 Command Performance.mp3
command-performance_470902 288 Penny Singleton,.mp3
command-performance_471021 300 Doris Day, Frank.mp3
command-performance_471216 295 Peter Lind Hayes.mp3
command-performance_471223 302 Kay Kyser, Marsh.mp3
command-performance_480120 307 Anita Ellis, Har.mp3
command-performance_480907 340 Lina Romay, Gmoo.mp3
command-performance_480914 341 Ava Gardner Kni.mp3
command-performance_481020 Command Performance.mp3
command-performance_481130 353 Vincent Price, K.mp3
command-performance_481225 Christmas Special Pa.mp3
command-performance_481225 Christmas Special001.mp3
command-performance_481225 Christmas Special002.mp3
command-performance_481225 Christmas Special003.mp3
command-performance_491018 397 Alexis Smith, De.mp3
