Evening star., 1943-05-02
A Military Establishment
Is Host to a Broadcast
Men of Quantico Cheer Their Pals
While the Public Listens
And Sponsor Looks On
Bv J. ". Sfebb.

IL y ~
The little car bounced and skit.
tered over the endless hills Of North.
ern Virginia. Past slit trenches ex-
perimentally excavated alongside
Route No. /, near Belvoir, across the
Pohick and the Occoquan, through
the neatly clipped glade that Is
the immediate approach to Quantico
It was at Quantico last week thai
the radio show called "vox Pop
stopped in the course of its restless
Nationwide peregrinations in and
out of military posts, there to pro-
vide something for the boys and for
the listening public.
''Vox Pop" Of course. was only
one of countless entertainment pro-
grams. radio and otherwise, to be
brought to the armed forces at home
and abroad From the standpoint
of the heartily vocal pleasure in
variably accorded the visiting Bob
Hopes, the Kay Kysers and the
Martha Raves, the advent of CHS S
johnson and Hull show at the Ma
rine base was typical. And like
wise the reaction of the entertainers.
So up we go into the huge and
well-appointed auditorium that has
been supplied for the recreation of
Quantico's Marines. The place is
packed Men in the traditional dull
olive uniform are lined expectantly
across the foremost rows two-thirds
Of the way back. Officers with their
families, and added smattering of
civilians occupy the less-choice seats
remaining. Half an hour before
showtime the fun-the less tense
fun-begins.
Marines with their feminine ac-
quaintances, and Marines with their
pals are hied onto the stage. The
masters of ceremonies twit. The
participants blush and giggle as
they go through the prescribed
absurdities. Everything being in
the best of good nature, the specta-
tors roar their delight.
Then the engineer and the Jack
of-all- begin to show signs
of nervousness. The broadcast hour
Is at hand. Marines are admonished
into silence; the hand goes down.
And the introduction and sacred
commercial is read to the networks,
while banner thoughtfully pinned
to the backdrop sternly reminds all
that If 1t wern't for certain head
ache remedy this show wouldn't be
there at all. BY nature unhampered
by such pedestrian ailments as
headaches, the warriors seem un-
Impressed.
Their complacency changes to en-
thusiasm as the first guest-one of
their pals-approaches the mike to
speak his unrehearsed though cau-
tious peace to restore listeners.
Mr.. Jack Assistance, a combined
cheer leader and all-around pep
inducer, is always in evidence from
this moment on. Obedient to disci-
pline, the spectators keep half an
eye uncomfortably on this indi-
vidual; but for the most part allow
their the-hell-with-i attitude full
freedom, and laugh and cheer when-
ever they please. This probably ex-
plains the quality of spontaneity
which may be noted in military
camp shows on the air. AS for
Jack, he is only doing his duty.
The parade of interviews con-
tinues. as hundreds cheer. And in
asmuch as there must be climax to
every show, no matter what it's
origin, Quantico throats grow lusti-
est when their particular hero, Capt.
Joe Foss. takes the spotlight. Joe
Foss, aviator. who has shot down
more than score of those sons
OF heavenses, looks embarrassed Just
as the next civilian in uniform
would, He is as popular among
Marines as he Is among YOU, YOU
and you. The house comes down,
especially when his wife joins him
before the microphone and discusses
something like washboards.
At last, the assistance fellow
waves his final signal for applause.
The Marines rise and sing their
anthem. cappella and in a fashion
reminiscent of Hollywood. The
broadcast over, confusion reigns
backstage as Vox Peppers move
around thanking and acknowledge
ing thanks, Marine stagehands drop
the movie screen into place for the
next show, the Movietone sound
apparatus relentlessly descends
threatening to crush all below, and
the post mascot, a heavy jowled
bulldog, pants impatiently in the
Vincs