The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-10-15

BY NEA Service
HONOLULU, Oct. Is. - How
to keep 'em happy in Hawaii
was, for time, a real poser to
Army, Navy and civil authori-
ties here. Up to this writing, no
professional entertainers have
been imported to the territory
/ from the mainland. Yet the
Islands service men and war
workers enjoy considerable we'll
organized entertainment and
recreation, thanks to about
community effort.
The service man here works
hard, practically every day of
/ the month. Once or twice a
month he gets a l0-hour pass;
more infrequently overnight
leave. Often he is stationed at
some remote camp so far from
town that most of his leave is
spent in transit. Up through the
middle of summer, there were
soldiers at isolated posts who
| hadn't been to town since the
attack of December 7th, 1941.
mo DRUG STORES
OUT IN THE FIELD"
SO getting entertainment to
the men was one of the most
important phases of the prob
lem. 1t was neatly overcome by
the Army's Special Service Of
flee in cooperation with the USO.
Today, hundreds of camp shows,
stated by local talent are
brought to the men in the field
each month.
Foundation of today's huge
recreation program was Mayor
Lester Petrie's Entertainment
Committee, organized in March,
1941, later merged into the Ha-
wall USO. Prior to December
7th, the committee planned and
administered USO program
that was largely on voluntary
basis, centering around home
entertainment, dances and tours
and performances by civic and
fraternal groups, churches and
schools.
But came the Japs, and war.
Service mems leave was sharply
curtailed, creating the problem
Of putting on road shows for
the men in outlying posts. Ev-
erybody pitched in. A unit OF
USO Camp Shows, Inc, was set
up in Honolulu. Don George,
professional Snowman, was APP
pointed director. with Mrs.
Edith w. Warren, local music
authority, as assistant. They,
with Army and Navy authori-
ties, proceeded to comb the
island for all available profess
sional and amateur talent.
UNCOVER MINE
OF AMATEUR TALENT
Surprisingly capable per-
formers turned up in the ranks
of service men and war work
ers. University and high school
students volunteered. House
wives and business men were
called upon and musicians, sing
ers, actors, dancers, magicians,
and others were rounded up
from all walks of life. Local
Hawaiians contributed their fin
est hula troupes.
Scenery and props were built
and costumes sewn by hand.
In an amazingly short time, sew
eral well-rounded shows were
built from scratch and sent out
TO wherever service men were
stationed. The demand increas-
cd, and today about 800 music
ians and entertainers are en-
ployed regularly to bring laugh
ter and good cheer to men in
the field.
Moving pictures are shown.
! USO Field Hostesses visit the
men as they work at their jobs,
bringing homemade candies,
cakes and jams, new magazines
and writing materials.
Musicians and choirs accom-
pany service chaplains far into
the interior to assist at religiuos
services. The Flying Squadron,
volunteer organization of
Honolulus young women, furn-
ishe- partners at service mems
dances. To reach one camp, the
girls must undergo a gruelling
six hour horseback ride over
treacherous mountain trails.
Every day mo;orcades OF
I Army trucks line up in front OF
USO headquarters and from
early morning throughout the
afternoon. they roll away, laden
with entertainers, costumes and
stage props. Where transporta-