Rare Lot of WWII Programs & More, Irving Berlin's "This is the Army"
"This is the Army" was performed from October 1943 through October 1945 during WWII. It was developed from the Broadway Musical and 1943 Hollywood Film, but used a smaller cast and crew. This show became the biggest and best known moral-boosting show of WWII in the U.S..
In the beginning of October of 1943 "This is the Army" left the U.S. for England, then traveled to several places including North Africa, Italy, Egypt, Iran, India, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Guam, Mogmog Island, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Hawaii, and other numerous locations. The cast and crew traveled by troop transport ships, rented cargo ships and landing crafts.
Included in this Lot:
- 8x10 Photo of Irving Berlin w/ some of the Cast
- Program-"The Army Air Forces Presents..." w/ Personal Appearance of Irving Berlin, possibly in England. (7 pages, 6.5" x 8" folded)
- Program-Teatro Reale Dell' Opera, Rome, 1944. (14 pages, 6" x 8.25" folded)
- Music Sheet- "The Fifth Army's Where My Heart Is, Italy 1944. (9" x 11.5")
- Program- Allied Military Theater, Santa Maria Italy, 5th Army Special Service, (3 pages, 6" x 8.5" folded)
- Program- Medical Center Music Hall, Bagnoli, Italy, from Summer 1944 (8" x 13")
- Invitation from Major General Donald H. Connelly to a performance at 'Open Air Theater, Camp Amirabad, Teheran October, 1944 (5.25" x 4.25")
- Program- Persian Gulf Command (3 pages, 7" x 10" folded)
- Program- Printed in Arabic, Fall of 1944 (8" x 10.5")
- Program- Naval Base Theater, Southwest Pacific Area-Admiralty Islands. Includes Ticket from the show, dated January 29, 1945. (8" x 10" , 1.5" x 4.25")
- Program- Printed in Russian on one side, and the other in French. There is a note on the bottom of the Russian printed program from one of the cast members to his wife, "Darling, These are the programs of the show we did while in Tehran, for the Ambassadors of thirty one nations, thought you might like to see them." (8" x 10.5")
In very good condition. All of the pieces in this lot are in similar condition, you will see varying degrees of creases from being folded, some faint stains, and small tears.
Please refer to the photos for condition and detail.