Shirley Temple Anita Ellis Peter Lawford

Description

Ken Niles kicks off the program featuring Shirley Temple in a fun chat. Anita Ellis performs a song from "Gilda," while Larry Adler plays "The St. Louis Blues." The comedy bits include Peter Lawford, Hume Cronin, and Keenan Wynn telling dinner jokes, plus Jack Haley doing a funny take on opera. The show wraps up by thanking the soldiers and honoring their work.

Host Ken Niles introduces a show with Shirley Temple's playful exchange. Anita Ellis sings from "Gilda," and Larry Adler plays "The St. Louis Blues." Comedy features Peter Lawford, Hume Cronin, and Keenan Wynn with dinner jokes, and Jack Haley's opera parody. The show ends with gratitude to the troops, acknowledging their service.

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.