A very special show

I don't want to get political on RUSC, because I know people have differing views on the worrying events that are going on at the moment and who am I to say what is right or wrong.

For the past few days I have been listening to special shows from the War years. I debated long and hard about putting some of them up on the site, but felt that maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do at this moment in time. I might put the odd one up, but it’s probably best if I leave them for another time.

However, there was one show I wanted to put up now because it seemed so poignant. It is not a show from the start of a war, but one from the very end of World War II. It was broadcast on 14 Aug 1945 and it celebrates peace. It is a combination of music and words and it is well worth listening to.

Just take a look at the amazing list of stars making an appearance in this ninety minute special; Bing Crosby, Dinah Shore, Jimmy Durante, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Burgess Meredith, Ginny Simms, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, Loretta Young, Lena Horne, Johnny Mercer, Edward G. Robinson, Orson Welles, Danny Kaye, Herbert Marshall, Claudette Colbert, and Ed Gardner.

Before the stirring Command Performance theme at the start of the show the following words are read very movingly.

Oh God thou Heavenly Father
Grant us peace, thy most precious gift
Oh thou eternal source of peace

And enable us to be a messenger of peace
Unto the people of the earth

Bless our country
That it may ever be a stronghold of peace
And the advocate of peace in the council of nations

May contentment reign within its borders
Health and happiness within its homes

Strengthen the bond of friendship and fellowship
Between all the inhabitants of our land

Plant virtue in every soul
And may thy love of thy name hallow every home and every heart

Praise be thou oh Lord
Giver of peace

Command Performance was referred to as “the best war time program in America” and this hour and a half special is a compilation of the very best that the show had to offer.

Happy listening my friends