Command Performance #1 (From Eric Beheim)

On the April 16, 1942 John Ringling North made a radio appearance on COMMAND PERFORMANCE the spectacular 60-minute variety show produced weekly during World War II by the War Department for direct shortwave transmission to the troops stationed overseas. All of the top entertainers of the day appeared on COMMAND PERFORMANCE, yet it had no budget. All talent was donated, including the production staff. Both CBS and NBC made their studio facilities available at no charge. The program's basic premise was that the servicemen themselves would write in and "command" who and what they wanted to hear. It was not uncommon for the likes of Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, the Andrews Sisters, Red Skelton, Edgar Bergen, Ethel Waters, Spike Jones, Dinah Shore, Kay Kyser and Charles Laughton to all appear on same broadcast. (Eventually production had to be shifted to Los Angeles to accommodate the flood of requests for appearances by Hollywood screen stars.)