Was there an American Vera Lynn?

Steve


By BIG - I meant tall - and a great singer

Cheers

 

The later story of the Andrews sisters is rather sad. One of the sisters left the group without telling the others; then Laverne Andrews died and the surviving pair eventually reunited only to become estranged again towards the end of their lives.

 

Agree with everything you say there.

This one makes me tear up every time.

During this hospital concert, when Francis Langford sang ‘As Time Goes By’, a young soldier with head wound began to cry. Langford finished the song in a whisper, left the ward and broke down. Bob Hope then walked into the aisle looking very serious, and said:

“ Fellows, the folks at home are having a terrible time time about eggs. They can’t get any powdered eggs at all. They’ve got use the old fashioned kind that you break open.

John Steinbeck — Bob Hope

 

"4 Jills in a Jeep" (1944) is based on the actual experiences of Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Martha Raye and Mitzi Mayfair, members of the Feminine Theatrical Task Force who left the United States on October 16, 1942 and performed several shows per day for American and British troops in UK, Ireland and North Africa. They also presented a command performance for the then Queen Elizabeth.

The film itself did not draw much critical acclaim - doubtless the actual live audiences on the tour itself were more appreciative - and also featured Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, Betty Grable and Carmen Miranda, together with Alice Faye reprising the Oscar winning wartime favourite "You'll never know":

 

I second Frances Langford

Frances Langford: GI Nightingale | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans

 

It's a brunette thing for me, and;

"Simms entertained troops during World War II, and after the war, she continued to help servicemen. In 1947, a radio station's newsletter noted: "Now she is helping provide new homes for them. Ginny is sponsoring the construction of 450 homes for vets in Los Angeles.""

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

Ginny Simms - Wikipedia

 

I think Jo Stafford was another Allied favourite, earning the sobriquet 'GI Jo', so a 'Forces Sweetheart' parallel of sorts:


and Helen Forrest must be up there too:


and Kitty Kallen: