Evening star., 1941-01-25
SeIectees May GET
Best Entertainment
In Nation Gratis
Lawrence Tibbett Tells
War Department Unit
OF Artists Proposal

Americas rapidly growing con-
script army will receive free the best
and highest priced entertainment
this country has to offer if plans
presented to q War Department Ad-
visory Committee yesterday are fol-
lowed.
Two leaders in the entertainment
profession appeared before a meet
ing of the War Department Com
mittee on Education, Recreation
and Community Service in an effort
to break an impasse which has
existed between the War Depart
ment and thousands OF civilian
artists of the country.
Speaking rather informally"
Lawrence Tibbett, the noted BARI
tone, told the committee of a pro-
posal worked out by the Associated
Actors and Artists of America, of
which he is a member, that would
entail the formation Of a co-ordi-
mating committee for the associa-
ton, the War Department committee
and the Army Morale Division.
Artists Want to Help.
"All artists in this country are
most patriotic" Mr.. Tibbett said,
"and want to serve in every way
they can. This committee would
make 1t possible for them to serve
by acting as a central clearing house
for actors and actresses, singers,
musicians, or other artists who are
available to 60 to the various train
ing camps Of the country"
He thought CONSUMPTION would
last "at least 10 years" and that an
entertainment organization should
be set up which would be efficient
and permanent in character"
At the same time he emphasized
that it is not the wish Of the actors
of America to interfere with the
work of the War Department, that
the committee would merely be a
clearing house and final approval of
entertainment would rest with the
War Department and individual
post commandments.
The result of such a clearing
house would be a new entertain
ment circuit devoted exclusively tc
Army camps. 1t would also mean
that outstanding performers in their
various fields would be available.
Mr.. Tibbett added that the plar
was received "in a very friendly and
receptive spirit"
Army Has Been Chary.
Taking a lesson from the con.
fusion which often marked civilian
efforts in the World War, Army mo.
rale experts have been chary o.
volunteer work since they went tc
work last summer.
Since that time, however. offers
from artists have been flooding into
the morale division, and the officers
have altered their original beliefs
to the extent that they will apprecl-
ate good, free entertainment if the
administrative powers of the Army
men in charge of such activities are
not encroached upon.
Melvyn Douglas, the movie actor
who also spoke before the committee
reported that the committee men,
bers appeared to be rather in
trigued" by the plan.
On his own behalf he suggested
that Army officers would do well te
study the extra-curricular activities
at colleges and universities and
model the soldiers recreation from
such a pattern.
Origin Of Proposal.
The proposed co-ordinating COM
mittee is an outgrowth of the Friends
of the Soldiers and Sailors Com
mittee, which was set up by the A. A
A. A. in New York to provide en-
tertainment for men in the armed
services there.
Frederick H. Osborn, who has
been serving as chairman OF the
Selective Service Advisory Com
mittee. is chairman of the new War
Department Advisory Committee
which was formed the early part
of this month. Composed mainly
of men prominent in some phase
of civilian life, its function is to
make proposals to both the Secre-
tary of War and the morale division.
The nearest approach to civilian
entertainment in the Army posts
have been various broadcasts, some
sponsored by commercial concerns
and others by the broadcasting
companies.