Command Performance – Retro Radio Podcast

Hosted by Harry “Bing” Crosby, who is congratulated for his win of the Academy Award. Bing sings, This Heart of Mine. Marilyn Maxwell flirts with Bing before she sings, Saturday…

Bob Hope spends a few moments as he jokes about it being Springtime, and of course chasing women. Ingrid Bergman joins Bob to dish out the jokes right back at…

John Garfield hosts, and after teasing with Ken Carpenter about girls, he introduces Ginny Simms. Ginny sings, Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week. John is joined by…

Normally done in a variety format stage show, today Command Performance features a star-studded cast to perform a short musical drama. Based on that all-time favorite detective, Dick Tracey. The…

The 19-year-old Jean Crane hosts the show, and has all the gents on the show going crazy. Harry james and his orchestra play, while Kitty Callan sings, I’m Beginning to…

Hosted by Betty Davis, who opens by reading greetings from the mailbag. Georgia Gibbs sings, Stormy Weather. Gary Moore arrives as an encore request. He chats with Betty about his…

Today’s host is a newcomer to the Hollywood scene, Gloria DeHavilland. She’s looking for a trustworthy man to guide her around town. She sings; the Man I Love. Jack Carson…

Hosted by Frank Morgan. He talks to announcer Ken Carpenter about girls, then brings out the Andrews Sisters to join in with the cutting up. The sisters dedicate their song,…

Hosted by Burns and Allen, Gracie introduces Rafia Mendez who plays, Flight of the Bumble Bee. George and Gracie talk about their guests, and the benefits of being married or…

A super colossal show filled with stars. Bob Hope is the main host to kick things off. He jokes about Bing, Frank Sinatra, Christmas, and military life. Kay Kaiser performs,…

Announcer is Ken Carpenter. Produced in Hollywood, and broadcast through military transmitters all over the world. Hosted by Bob Hope. He comes out with jokes about his travelling USO show,…

Ken Carpenter introduces Bob Hope. Playlist: Bob Christmas command hope shares a poetic rating with the troops. His jokes include food, presence, craters, scotch, Hollywood space and soldiers lifestyles of…

A show that is clearly mislabeled, but I’m posting it anyway. Connie Haines kicks right off to sing a song that will be in her next picture. But first, Bob…

Audio isn’t so good. Jack Benny and Deanna Durbin talk about his recent USO tour to the South Pacific, and generally tell jokes and puns. Deanna sings, Walk Alone. Deanna…

It’s the second birthday of Command Performance, and Dinah Shor leads off with Blues In the Night. She reads from the mail bag, and Ken Carpenter helps with a couple…

Hosted by Fred Allen. He teases with the announcer about Jack Benny. He introduces Genny Sims who sends out greetings to the troops overseas before she sings, No Love. Fred…

Its and all girl cast made of Judy Garland, Dinah Shore, Shirley Ross, and Genny Sims. Will Ken Carpenter have to play referee in the cat fight that is bound…

Though Command Performance has been on the air to the troops for most of the preceding year, this is the first time it has been broadcast over public networks. Elmer…

Hosted by Don Ameche. He takes a quick dip into the mailbag, then introduces the King Cole Trio who sing, Solid Potato Salad. Jack Douglas, comedian and singer takes over…

Dinah Shore is on hand to host, and sing, It Had To Be You. She reads greetings an requests from the mailbag. Then Louis Jordan plays and sings, Is Yu…

Hosted by Jean Tierney. She introduces Martha Tilton who sings, Besa Me Mucho. Jean is back to share greetings from the mailbag, and from all those guys with the crazy…

Bob Hope hosts the show, and tells about his recent touring at Army camps. Also he does a little teasing about a ski trip, even about some Valentines Day pranks,…

Hosted by Francis Langford, who was just voted as one of the 10 most important women of the war effort. Francis gets the show started when she sings, Shoo Shoo…

Hosted by Shirley Ross, she starts the all musical program off. She sings, Singing In My Heart. Harry James chats a little with Shirley, and dips into the mail bag.…

Hosted by Dinah Shore and Bing Crosby. A show full of music and adlibs. Ken Carpenter, Bing, and Dinah sing a musical introduction to the show, which is to be…

Host tonight is Herbert Marshall. He starts by reading greetings from the mailbag. Bob Wills, with his Texas Playboys, sings, San Antonio Rose. Anita Ellis sings, More Than You Know.…

Hosted by Marlene Dietrich who leads off with a song. Either she is one of the worlds worst singers, or she’s just making a joke of the song. Shirley Ross…

Hosting is passed around, but is mostly handled by Bing Crosby. Judy Garland leads off with a medley including, Embraceable You, and The Man I Love. She reds from the…

Hosted by Ginger Rogers. She introduces Frank Sinatra who sings, Embraceable You. After he made a successful appearance on an earlier Command Performance program, Mel Blanc returns. This time with…

Hosted by actress Rosalyn Russel. She turns the show over to bandleader, Xavior Kugot, who plays, Brazil. Judy Canova talks about her night out with the glamour girls of Hollywood,…

Host is Greer Garson. She introduces the Orchestra The AEF orchestra plays, I Know That You Know. mail bag request has the man who does the voice of Goofy to…

Announcer: Ken Carpenter. Ginger Rogers introduces the show, and keeps the fun coming. Virginia O’Brien picks up the greetings to the mailbag requests, then sings a swinging version of, Take…

Hosted by Fred MacMurray. Jimmy Lundsford performs, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore. MSgt Skinny Ennis jokes with Fred, then sings, I Got You Under My Skin. Gene Austin sings, Blue…

Hosted by Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore. Dinah sings, I Don’t Want Anybody At All. After a dip into the mail bag, Vaughn Monroe chats with the hosts, then sings,…

Hosted by Bob Crosby. Whith backup by the Charioteers, he sings, Whats the Good Word Mr. Bluebird. Bob dips into the mail bag. Count Basey plays, March of the Gremlins.…

Hosted by Betty Hutton. After a dip into the mail bag, she introduces Woody Herman. The band plays, Four or Five Times. In answer to the mail bag, sounds that…

Hosted by Dinah Shore. She sings, Taking a Chance on Love. Sportsmen sing, In My Arms. Bill Thompson, voice actor of most of the voices from the Fibber McGee and Molly…

Command Performance - Paulette Goddard, Jimmy Durante, Louis Armstrong. 440520. Hosted by Paulette Goddard, and though not known for her singing, comes out singing, Alexander's Ragtime Band. With altered lyrics, and cut short so she can deliver some personal greetings to the troops. Paulette dips into the mailbag to read requests from those guys with the strange nick names. Anita Ellis sings, I Remember April. After more requests are read from the mailbag, Louis Armstrong is on hand to sing, Lazy River. Jimmy Durante makes an entrance to joke around with Louie. Paulette keeps things on track to present a sound from back home, the sound of Times Square.

Hosted by Joan Blondell. Virginia O’Brian reads greetings from the mail bag before singing, Did I Get Stinking at the Club Savoy. Rochester talks to Joan about Jack Benny then…

Martha Raye hosts, and opens with a song, The Boy with the Wistful Eyes. Rudy Valley cracks some jokes with Martha before launching into a medley that includes, Old Man…

Announcer: Ken Carpenter Playlist Ain’t Misbehaving (Ginny Simms) Clare De Loon. Freddie Martin) I’ll Be Back (Sgt Gene Autry Comedian, Pat O’Mally shares a lyrical report on the family picnic.…

Announcer: Ken Carpenter Playlist Hey Good Looking (Kate Smith). I Got Spring for Sale. (Charioteers) Willie the Wolf oF the West (Cass Daley) South Paw Serenade (Piano instrumental, Freddie Slack)…

Host, Don Ameche comes out singing a welcom before introducing the Armed Forces Radio Trio who plays, Out of Nowhere. Don dips into the mailbag for some greetings. Then Faye…

Harry Vonzel introduces Barbara Stanwyck to get right to introducing the acts. Would You Like to Swing on a Star? (Dick Haymes) She makes observations that set him apart from…

Playlist Linda Darnel hosts the show. Ink Spots sing, Java Jive. Cass Daley sings, He Loved Me Til the All Clear Came. Yasha Heifitz plays, Ave Maria. Cab Calloway sings,…

Announcer is Don Wilson. Hosted by Nelson Eddy, he opens by singing, Come to My Heart. Who thought of the idea of an all male show? Despite the concept, comedienne,…

Usually broadcast from Hollywood, but tonight the show is in New York. Host is Claudette Colbert. Jimmy Durante joins her with hopes of being Claudette’s next leading man. At a…

Announcer tonight is Paul Douglas. Hosted by Spencer Tracey. He dips into the mailbag, then Mary Lee gets rolling with the song, Liza. After another brief dip in the mail…

Audio quality is mushy and poor, but generally understandable if you have earphones, or a quiet listening environment. Hosted by Joan Edwards who sings, I’m Beginning to See the Light.…

Ann Rutheford hosts a Let Yourself Go night. First, the King Sisters are up to sing, For You. Bob Hope shares his suppressed desire to cast cares away and play…