Student Scholarship

Document Type

Review

Abstract

This paper traces the historical development of the United States Army Entertainment Program from the Civil War through the mid-1950s. Initially, military entertainment was largely spontaneous and unorganized, consisting of informal singing and amateur theatricals produced by soldiers to pass the time in camp. During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate troops staged elaborate minstrel shows and satires despite a lack of formal support or professional equipment. Professional entertainment was rare during this era, and military leaders generally viewed such activities as extraneous to the mission of a fighting force. 

The first significant shift toward organization occurred during World War I with the establishment of the Commission on Training Camp Activities and the involvement of civilian organizations like the YMCA. This period saw the construction of Liberty theaters and the formation of the Over There Theater League, which coordinated professional talent for overseas troops. However, it was not until World War II that the program achieved a new level of military integration and support. The Army began to furnish direct funding, specialized equipment, and leadership for soldier shows, recognizing that such programs were essential for maintaining morale and reducing discipline problems. The founding of USO-Camp Shows, Inc. in 1941 further streamlined the delivery of professional entertainment, reaching millions of service members globally. 

In the post-World War II era and during the Korean Conflict, the program transitioned from a focus on sheer volume to one of professional quality and qualified leadership. The Army began employing civilian entertainment directors with specialized degrees to oversee theatrical and musical activities at various installations. Modern initiatives, such as the All-Army Talent Contest and the touring production Rolling Along, continue to provide opportunities for recreational participation and high-quality entertainment. The program remains a well-organized component of the Special Services Division, dedicated to the mental fitness and well-being of military personnel.

Research Highlights

  • The Problem: Prior to World War II, the United States Army lacked a formally organized entertainment program, relying instead on spontaneous soldier activities or external civilian agencies like the YMCA and the Over There Theater League to sustain troop morale. 

  • The Method: This 1958 historical analysis utilizes Army Regulations, historical books, and interviews with Special Services staff and USO directors to trace the evolution of "Soldier Shows" and professional entertainment from the Civil War through the Korean Conflict. 

  • Quantitative Finding: During World War I, the YMCA dispatched 418 professional entertainers for 18,417 performances; in World War II, approximately 10,000 performers in 3,000 units visited military installations; between 1944 and 1945, the military trained 50,000 personnel for soldier shows and distributed 1,652,536 copies of entertainment publications. 

  • Qualitative Finding: Military command philosophy shifted from viewing recreation as "unbecoming" or "non-essential" during the Civil War and early World War II to recognizing organized entertainment as a critical tool for maintaining mental fitness, increasing morale, and lowering AWOL rates.

Publication Date

1-1958

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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