Escaping to a Shared Experience
Movie Theaters
Particularly in the early years of the war, a trip to the movies would have plenty of war references. A theater ticket usually bought access to two full-length feature movies, previews, a serial, cartoons and newsreels. About 75% of newsreels showed military, naval or other war-related activities.
For many, they were the only view of the air, land and sea battles that punctuated the war. The combat footage, expertly shot and shown in the distinct style of The March of Time, Fox Movietone, and News of the Day, brought the war home for audiences across the country. At first, the coverage was heavily censored. For example, footage of the Pearl Harbor attack was not released by the government for a year. But by 1943 officials reversed course based on fears of waning civilian morale and allowed the release of films that showed the real carnage of war. Their hope was to shock Americans into strengthening their commitment to the war effort.Footnote 1
Government Documentaries
Feature Films and Cartoons
Movie Serials
Much of the allure of going to the movies for children came from their excitement about movie serials. Despite questions from parents about what effect this had young minds, children were insistent about not missing the weekly installment of their favorite heroes. The Spider, Batman, Captain Marvel and Spy Smasher joined other freedom fighters to fight arch villains and agents of evil. Many of these heroes were based on the Superman theme. Among the adventures, in 1942 Batman began his pursuit of Dr. Daka, the Japanese superspy who was conspiring to seize control of America. The next year The Masked Marvel went on the hunt for a Japanese spy named Sakima who was plotting to sabotage defense industries in the United States. And in 1944 the Nazis came face to face with superhero Captain America, outfitted in red-white-and-blue tights. Even a female superhero got into the act of fighting the enemy. Wonder Woman was wise, strong, fast, and beautiful in her red-white-and-blue costume as she fought Axis spies. Along with her superhuman skills, she employed fantastic gadgets such as bulletproof bracelets and a golden magic lasso. As if these weren't enough, she flew on her missions in an invisible plane that doubled as a time machine. Many movie serial superheroes also starred in comic books, which were wildly popular during the war.Footnote 5
Radio Programs
There was more to radio than children's programming. Radio news programs delivered reports from the battle fronts and from the centers of power. News pioneers such as Edward R. Murrow, William L. Shirer, Eric Sevareid, Robert Trout and Walter Cronkite brought moving stories of brutality, hardship and heroism to the living rooms of millions of Americans. Radio stations broadcast local programs educating neighbors how to use ration books or why they needed to grow a Victory Garden. National war bond drives and other campaigns brought big stars like Jack Benny, George Burns and Bob Hope to the radio. Big band music wafted through the airwaves with Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. Many solo singers made it big after stints with big bands, including Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Dinah Shore. The smooth sounds of Bing Crosby contrasted with the verve of Ella Fitzgerald and the power of Kate Smith. Of course, soap operas and melodramas couldn't be forced from the radio dial, even by war. Stalwarts such as Stella Dallas, Ma Perkins, and Portia Faces Life kept housewives entertained while tending to the endless chores.Footnote 7
Newspaper Editorial Cartoons
Many cartoons sympathized with the G.I. experience and explored the role of the expansion of women in the working world, particularly in factories. Thus, two astonished G.I.s looked on as a headless soldier walked by and one of the men said: "Frankly, I think they're overdoing these G.I. haircuts." Another showed two soldiers relaxing in a mess hall as one confided to the other: "I'm looking forward to the furlough, but I hate to think of eating my wife's cooking again." In another cartoon that displayed the shifting family responsibilities during wartime, a woman prepared for a factory job as her upset daughter held up a dirty towel and chastised: "Mother! Just look at what you did to one of our best guest towels!" Proving women were a match for men, a cartoon showed a group of energetic women standing in front of a number of exhausted and sobbing men in a munitions factory as the women told their boss: "We just settled a little argument about women's ability to turn out ammunition." (G.I. and women's role cartoons)Footnote 9
Oregon Popular Culture Offerings
Oregonians augmented national popular culture with more of the local, homegrown variety. They participated in the pageants, contests, concerts, recitals, plays, speeches and other entertainments, many designed to promote war efforts such as selling war bonds to collecting Victory Books. Throughout the war young people flocked to juke joints and teen canteens to dance to their favorite tunes.
Oregonians also celebrated at local fairs, parades, festivals, circuses and carnivals, though many were curtailed during the war. For example, in 1942 the State Fair was scaled back to include only 4-H displays, livestock exhibits and 27 county displays. The next two fairs were suspended entirely, with the grounds leased to military units as a bivouac site. The Portland Rose Festival court carried on, as did the Pendleton Round-Up, with the exception of 1942 and 1943. Other events or attractions, such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland and Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood, went on hiatus for most or all of the war. Despite gasoline and tire rationing, many Oregonians found a way to get to the beach to drink in the scenery and the popular culture of the coast at places such as Seaside. Others headed to the mountains to celebrate the winter culture romanticized by Bing Crosby's hit song White Christmas, with sleigh bells, skis, and hot apple cider.Footnote 11
Notes
- William M. Tuttle Jr., World War II and the American Home Front: Part Two (Washington D.C.: National Park Service, 2004), Page 73.
- Various Internet Film Description Sites.
- Ibid.
- William M. Tuttle Jr., World War II and the American Home Front: Part Two (Washington D.C.: National Park Service, 2004), Page 74.
- Ibid., Page 75-76.
- Ibid.
- Ibid., Page 76; Various Internet Radio Program Description Sites.
- Various Newspaper Editorial Cartoons, Civilian Front Newspaper, 1942-1943. Folders 5-8, Box 34, Defense Council Records, OSA.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Various Internet Institution and Event History Sites.
- "Teen Trouble: What Recreation Can Do About It" Booklet, National Recreation Association, 1943. Page 4, Folder 5, Box 31, Defense Council Records, OSA.
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