Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-12-26
1000 US0 Iroupers
% Play Khaki Circuit
During Coming Year
~ tho Asseeiaisd prss,

BY The Asseeiafsd Press
NEW YORK, Dec. 26.-The
biggest travelling SHOW since World
War II will hit the road In 1852,
according to plans Of USo Camp
Shows.
| Over 80 professional variety
companies comprising almost 1000
entertainers and featuring some
of the brightest stars Of stage,
screen. radio and, television are
scheduled to go overseas.
In addition to the war zone Of
Korea and United States bases.
the camp shows will visit the
Alaskan Command; the North
east Air Command in Labrador,
Greenland and Iceland; soldiers
lin Trieste, Tripoli, Morocco and
the Azores: United States bases
in France and England; occupied
Germany and Austria: the Carib-
bean zone, and bases where the
Military Air Transport Service
Operates.
Many Go to Frontlines.
Since its reactivation last May,
the camp shows so far have been
concentrating on Korea. The first
Iall-star review to play the rice
paddy" circuit in Korea was
headlined by Jack Benny. Cur
Ivaceous movie stars Audrey Totter
and Marjorie Reynolds, singer
Monica Lewis and funnyman
Danny Kaye have already invaded
the battle zone with their tension
swapping routines.
Some Of the shows have had
unexpected bits Of humor and
drama. Not so long ago some of
the blond members Of one show
ran into a crisis-no peroxide.
A group of needles concocted q
messy looking liquid which didn't
look too good to the gals. But
having no alternative they tried
it and to their surprise their
blond tresses came out better than
ever.
Reds In Audience. Captured.
Because Of the mobility of u. N.
forces in Korea it is often neces-
sary for the shows to roll right
up close to the frontlines. In
fact, one show was watched by
two Communist soldiers who got
so engrossed in the jugglers and
dancers they got themselves cap
ltured.
AL Schacht, the Clown Prince
of Baseball" put on his act at
one Korean command post and
reported later the reception &C
corded him was 100 per cent
almost. While the rest Of the
boys guffawed and heehawed, one
soldier stood there looking like a
CT whose three-day pass had Just
been cancelled. Later Schacht
found out he was a Korean who
didn't understand a word Of Eng
lish.
| On their jaunts the stars eat
CT chow. jeep around on rough
Korean roads. sometimes wear
CT clothes. perform under dripping
skies while soldiers hold canvas
over their heads. But when the
Il girls give shows or visit the hospi-
tails. they dress like girls-but
feminine.
Some Actors Play Cupid.
| An extra-curricular service the
entertainers provide Is bringing
back messages to the home
folks. One USo showgirl, Peggy
Alexander, called up Is people
when she got back to the States.
She says the mothers usually burst
Iout crying. The wives want to
know how their husbands look and
III they are lonesome.
Sometimes Peggy even plays
cupid. as in the case where a COM
bat CT and his sweetheart had
quarreled via the United States
mails. The soldier gave Peggy $40
to buy his girl flowers.
| USO Camp Shows is civilian
organization authorized by the
Department Of Defense as the sole
agency for providing entertain
Iment units for servicemen. Funds
come entirely through voluntary
contributions made available
through the United Red Feather
Community Chest.