Vaudeville, Hollywood, and the Radio during World War II: The Intermedial Politics of Variety Acts

Abstract

The role of entertainment in the U.S. World War II propaganda seems well known, but media connections are rarely tackled. This article studies the way Hollywood musicals contributed to the American war propaganda at the confluence of various media featuring musical numbers where stars appeared as themselves: the radio and stage vaudeville. This era called for an intensification of the links between media, notably the involvement of Hollywood personalities on the radio. In parallel, more Hollywood movies included the kind of variety acts then featured on the radio or on stages, notably on tours for soldiers. Films such as Hollywood Canteen were not only Hollywood’s contributions to the national effort but also part of an intricate intermedial network that also benefited the film industry which proclaimed itself the authentic heir to old-time vaudeville.

Keywords

• World War II
• Hollywood
• radio
• vaudeville
• variety
• propaganda