This Is the Army [program from stage performance at Civic Opera House, Chicago, Jan. 1943]

Chicago: Civic Opera House, 1943. Paperback. [24] p.: illustrations; 25 cm. Stapled white wrapper printed in red and blue with American flag on front. The Army Emergency Relief was established in Feb. 1942 to assist soldiers and their dependents. In July 1942 "This Is the Army" by Irving Berlin opened on Broadway to raise funds for the AER. The production consisted of an actual Army unit, which included a cast and crew of over 300 soldiers. A national road show was then organized, and in the summer of 1943 the movie was filmed. This program was for the performances at the Civic Opera House in Chicago in the first half of January, 1943. It lists every performer, including Burl Ives (1909-1995); Claude Watson on the banjo and Cesare Pascarella on the cello; Gary Merrill (1915-1990); Julie Oshins (1906-1956); Marion "Spoons" Brown (1915-1947); and, of course, Irving Berlin (1888-1989). Includes cartoons and advertisements; information about the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is on the inside of the front wrapper. Very scarce. In Very Good Condition: wrapper is lightly soiled; minor scraping on 2 pages of ads; a few light pencil marks; otherwise, clean and solid. Very Good. Item #006005

Price: $125.00