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Duty, Honor, Applause: America's Entertainers in World War II
From the backlots of Hollywood to the radio studios of New York, America's entertainers, like so many American men and women, made the abrupt transition from show business to the lifeand- death realities of war.
Painstakingly researched and profusely illustrated, DUTY, HONOR, APPLAUSE tells the stories of the entertainers whose public exploits brought another type of fame, but whose battlefield duty has long been overlooked. Here are the stories of Jimmy Stewart, risking one of the most important careers in film to fly bombers; Ronald Reagan, enlisting in 1937, and called up in 1942 to assist in the production of training films; and Glenn Miller, joining the army in 1942, and dying in a plane crash toward the close of the war.
Also includes stories of Clark Gable, Mickey Rooney, Martha Raye, Robert Stack, Tyrone Power, Gene Hackman, Sid Ceasar, and many more.
DUTY, HONOR, APPLAUSE covers World War II from the origins of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in the 1930s through their defeats in 1945. It is an uplifting account of talented and famous Americans making the ultimate sacrifice for their homeland.
Painstakingly researched and profusely illustrated, DUTY, HONOR, APPLAUSE tells the stories of the entertainers whose public exploits brought another type of fame, but whose battlefield duty has long been overlooked. Here are the stories of Jimmy Stewart, risking one of the most important careers in film to fly bombers; Ronald Reagan, enlisting in 1937, and called up in 1942 to assist in the production of training films; and Glenn Miller, joining the army in 1942, and dying in a plane crash toward the close of the war.
Also includes stories of Clark Gable, Mickey Rooney, Martha Raye, Robert Stack, Tyrone Power, Gene Hackman, Sid Ceasar, and many more.
DUTY, HONOR, APPLAUSE covers World War II from the origins of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in the 1930s through their defeats in 1945. It is an uplifting account of talented and famous Americans making the ultimate sacrifice for their homeland.
497 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2004
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November 13, 2013
Imagine today’s top actors such as Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, T.O.P, Lady Gaga, Rhianna or Drake stopping their public appearances, acting or entertaining roles to take up arms to defend this nation against aggression, WON’T HAPPEN.
But that’s exactly what happened during WWII, approximately 2700 actors, actresses, band members and other entertainers such as Jack Nickolson, Humphrey Bogart, Lee Marvin, Jack Benny, James Cagney, Henry Fonda, Andy Rooney and hundreds others put their careers on hold to join the fight against the Axis Powers. Even those that were deemed unfit for uniform such as Bob Hope, Red Skelton and Bing Crosby went on tour traveling the world to entertain and provide morale for those in the fight. Betty Davis opened the “Hollywood Canteen” that was filled with entertainers such as Doris Day, Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth that catered, cooked, served and danced with the troops shipping out. Marlene Dietrich traveled to within a mile of the German lines to entertain the troops even with a bounty on her head issued by the Furher.
This is a well researched book depicting many of the greatest generations best known and not so well known entertainers who served their country during WWII from many different styles areas of the entertainment fields. This included actors, actresses, producers and singers. It gives an accurate account of the service and sacrifice they provided for their country not only on stage but also the battlefield.
But that’s exactly what happened during WWII, approximately 2700 actors, actresses, band members and other entertainers such as Jack Nickolson, Humphrey Bogart, Lee Marvin, Jack Benny, James Cagney, Henry Fonda, Andy Rooney and hundreds others put their careers on hold to join the fight against the Axis Powers. Even those that were deemed unfit for uniform such as Bob Hope, Red Skelton and Bing Crosby went on tour traveling the world to entertain and provide morale for those in the fight. Betty Davis opened the “Hollywood Canteen” that was filled with entertainers such as Doris Day, Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth that catered, cooked, served and danced with the troops shipping out. Marlene Dietrich traveled to within a mile of the German lines to entertain the troops even with a bounty on her head issued by the Furher.
This is a well researched book depicting many of the greatest generations best known and not so well known entertainers who served their country during WWII from many different styles areas of the entertainment fields. This included actors, actresses, producers and singers. It gives an accurate account of the service and sacrifice they provided for their country not only on stage but also the battlefield.
Displaying 1 of 1 review