Army War Show #1 (From Eric Beheim)

Army%20War%20Show-1, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. In 1942, right before the opening of Ringling-Barnum’s New York engagement, John Ringling North fired general manager George W. Smith and replaced him with Art Concello. Shortly afterwards, Smith secured a position as general manager of the U.S. Army’s “War Show,” a railroad-transported stadium show with a cast of 1,2000 soldiers, put on by the War Department to show off American military technology and to raise money for the Army’s Emergency Relief Fund. The Army “War Show” moved on a total of 66 cars: 31 coaches, eight baggage cars, 11 boxcars, 13 gondolas, one flat car and two stock cars. Thanks to his circus experience, Smith was an ideal choice to operate and direct the show and move it from city to city. By all accounts, he did a superb job.