Betty Grable Marian Anderson Pat OMalley

Description

Betty Grable hosts a WWII variety show for U.S. troops, opening with "Song of the Islands." Freddie Slack plays "Cuban Sugar Mill." Marian Anderson sings "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child." The Charioteers perform "Hit the Leather and Ride." Pat O'Malley entertains with "Sam, Pick Up Thy Musket." Grable sends wishes to servicemen.

During World War II, Betty Grable puts on an entertainment show for American soldiers. She starts by performing "Song of the Islands." Freddie Slack plays his piece "Cuban Sugar Mill." Marian Anderson delivers "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child." The Charioteers take the stage with "Hit the Leather and Ride." Pat O'Malley performs "Sam, Pick Up Thy Musket" for the audience. At the end, Grable shares good wishes with the men and women serving overseas.

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

Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0. Updated May 11, 2026.