Command Performance

Command Performance was a radio program that originally aired between 1942 and 1949. The program was broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Network (AFRS) and transmitted by shortwave to the troops overseas—with few exceptions, it was not broadcast over domestic U.S. radio stations.

Most episodes of the program were produced before an audience in the Vine Street Playhouse in Hollywood, California, and recorded via electrical transcription. The weekly listening audience was estimated at 95.5 million. Troops sent in requests for a particular performer or program to appear, and they also suggested unusual ideas for music, sketches, or sounds from home on the program, such as: “Ann Miller tap dancing in military boots”; “a sigh from Carole Landis” or Lucille Ball; “foghorns on San Francisco Bay”; “Errol Flynn taking a shower”; “a slot machine delivering the jackpot” and “Bing Crosby mixing a bourbon and soda for Bob Hope”.

The first Command Performance was broadcast on March 1, 1942, almost exactly three months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It was produced under the aegis of the Office of War Information and its success paved the way for the creation of the Armed Forces Radio Service in May 1942. Time magazine described Command Performance as being, “the best wartime program in America”.

The Stars

Top performers of the day appeared on Command Performance, including Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Fred Allen, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, and The Andrews Sisters. One memorable program, No. 162, was a 55-minute musical adaptation of Dick Tracy, with Bing Crosby in the title role, Dinah Shore as Tess Truheart, and Jimmy Durante as The Mole. The supporting cast included Judy Garland, Cass Daley, Frank Sinatra, Frank Morgan, Bob Hope, Harry von Zell, Jerry Colonna, Lou Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, and the Joe Lilley Chorus.

Key Dates

• The first Command Performance was broadcast on March 1, 1942, almost exactly three months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The final episode of Command Performance —the 415th in the series—was produced in December 1949.
• The program was one of nine AFRS shows that were ended as a result of a budget cut by the Secretary of Defense.

Other Information

The program was broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Network (AFRS) and transmitted by shortwave to the troops overseas, with few exceptions. It was not broadcast over domestic U.S. radio stations. At the outset, the AFRS was shortwaving the shows, but the reception was often distorted or spoiled by fading and static. Also, many servicemen had no access to a shortwave receiver. These problems were resolved when the Armed Forces Radio Service sought permission from the four major radio networks to record favorite programs on 16" transcription discs.

Performers volunteered their talents for the program. An article in a 1943 issue of Tune In magazine estimated if “Presented by a commercial sponsor, Command Performance would have a weekly talent cost of $50,000”. In addition, performing and production unions waived their rules for the war effort on the condition that the shows were only broadcast to service personnel.

A spinoff series, Request Performance, aired on CBS in 1945–46. In 2009, the Pentagon Channel revived the show with some of today’s newest acts. The AFRS produced several similar radio music and variety programs during World War II, including Mail Call, G.I. Journal, Jubilee, and GI Jive.