Entertainment industry during World War II The entertainment industry during World War II underwent changes to help aid the cause of the war . The entertainment industry during this time was often controlled by a country ' s government . Since the governments believed that a supportive home front was crucial to their countries ' victory , they generally sought to keep the civilian spirits high and to depict the war in a positive light . With this motive in mind , governments engaged in the regulation and censorship of the forms of media , as well as the introduction of new methods of informing citizens through these media outlets . Government censorship of mass media was enforced in much of the world during this time period in fear of threatening the domestic harmony of a nation . Some of the most popular forms of entertainment during World War II were radio , film , and music . In conjunction with one another , these forms of media kept citizens entertained with a pastime , informed about their country ' s war efforts , and motivated to contribute to the cause of the war . Radio . In comparison to television , radio was a much more affordable form of entertainment . Because of this , the radio was the most popular form of entertainment at the time . Radio stations fueled propaganda and reached a countless number of citizens . Many shows popularized and quickly gained influence in certain countries . Radio broadcasts , like other forms of entertainment at the time , were regulated by the government and were pushed to keep citizens informed about war efforts and to encourage citizens to help the cause . Radio stations , along with other media outlets , were major fuels of propaganda during World War II . Popular Radio Programs . An example of one of these shows is Tommy Handley ' s " It ' s That Man Again , " which continued airing throughout the war in Britain until 1946 . Comedian Tommy Handley utilized his radio broadcasts to keep citizens informed about the war efforts and to keep the spirits of Britain high during this time of hardship . " It ' s That Man Again " garnered substantial influence - up to 40 % of the British population listened to this show during World War II . The show ’ s last broadcast occurred on January 6 , 1946 , with Handley passing away only three days later . To further demonstrate the show ’ s influence , two memorial services were held in his honor , with thousands of listeners present at the funeral grounds . " It ' s That Man Again " was hosted on BBC , a broadcasting service program still widely known in Britain today . Like BBC , other broadcasting companies also attempted to keep civilian spirits high and expressed certain opinions on the war . Hosts of radio programs took sides regarding the war ; for example , the Voice of Russia , the government ' s international radio broadcasting station , expressed the country ’ s opinions and eventually targeted the United States . Radio programs were broadcast in up to twenty - three different languages , which widened the appeal of these stations . Film . Though Philo Farnsworth had invented the first working television system in 1927 , only few people owned television sets because of its price and scarcity . Since most citizens did not own televisions , they relied on cinemas to keep informed and educated . Cinemas of Europe and the United States were mostly regulated by the government . Films made during this time period were more realistic than escapist , in contrast to entertainment during the Great Depression . Cinemas provided for a good place to watch information films . New films that showed in cinemas were often informative of a country ’ s war efforts or the progress of the war itself . Furthermore , the government released additional films that were designed to model the desired human behaviors and actions during the war . These government films often suggested methods of coping with the loss of families and homes and to inform the audience to caution the presence of enemy spies . British films . The Ministry of Information was formed on the day that followed the start of war . It was the department of government that managed propaganda and publicity for Britain during World War II . The Ministry of Information recognized the significant influence that the entertainment industry had over the citizens , so they kept their work close to film makers . British war films typically incorporated a suspenseful story of war while infusing the messages that the Ministry wished to deliver into the storyline . Another popular example of one of these films is the British propaganda film " Miss Grant Goes to the Door , " which taught audiences how to recognize German spies , how to hide Ordnance Survey maps from enemies , and how to be of aid to soldiers and sailors – women were encouraged to knit socks and mittens for sailors . This film further reminded citizens that ‘ ’ Cromwell ’ ’ was the codeword to signify the invasion of Britain . Hollywood ( United States ) . Theater attendance was at an all - time high in 1946 , proving to be Hollywood ’ s most profitable year of the decade . For the United States , the propaganda agency that coordinated actions with the film industry was the Office of War Information . The agency worked with film makers to record and photograph wartime activities while regulating its content . The agency worked to display the war in a positive light and censored negative content like pictures of soldier insanity and casualty ; pictures of American casualties were banned from being published until 1943 . With the growth of the film industry came the growth of the influence of Hollywood celebrities . Hollywood stars appeared in advertisements and toured the country to encourage citizens to purchase war bonds to support their country in the war . In 2008 , documents published by the National Archives leaked to the public regarding the involvement of numerous Hollywood celebrities with the Office of Strategic Services during World War II . Some 750 , 000 documents reveal that famous American public figures were actually spies for the Office of Strategic Services . These celebrities include celebrity chef Julia Child and baseball player Moe Berg , who were hired to gather information required by the US military ’ s Joint Chiefs of Staff . Music . The theme of war took a popular role in the development of pop music . Artists expressed their feelings of hardships during the war . Others sang songs that aimed to lift the spirits of the citizens . British singer Vera Lynn , or the Forces Sweetheart , sang popular songs such as " We ' ll Meet Again " and " The White Cliffs of Dover " , which restored an optimistic outlook for soldiers and families while uplifting Allied spirits during a time of hardship when Nazi Germany was bombing Britain . " song " was a 1941 Academy Award - winning song by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein , which illustrated memories of the magnificent city of Paris that had been taken over by Germany prior to the song ’ s release . The Andrews Sisters ' " Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy " expressed the feelings of a man ' s draft experience . Many listeners could relate because of the number of people drafted into the war . Government Involvement in the Music Industry . Government agencies pushed music producers to record more patriotic and uplifting songs . The Office of War Information especially pushed for this following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in the United States . In her book " God Bless America " , Kathleen E . R . Smith states that only twenty - seven war - themed songs had reached the top ten charts during the span of the war . This suggests that these patriotic war - themed songs , pushed by the government , did not sell well . Billboard archives suggest that the public preferred escapist and rather lighthearted songs . Female singers became more prominent by singing songs expressing the war from the woman ’ s point of view , illustrating feelings of separation and loneliness . Furthermore , as musicians joined the military , larger bands shrunk and often disbanded , creating a trend towards soloists and smaller music groups . Musician Contributions to the War . Many musicians contributed to the war effort . Musician Glenn Miller enlisted in the army to perform in the United States Organization , in which he established the Army Air Force Band . Musician Irving Berlin assisted in the war effort by creating the " This is the Army " musical , which raised millions by playing on Broadway and for the US troops . Impact of the War on Music . Because of the war , approximately 15 million people " crossed county lines " and brought about the spread of different music styles like country music and African - American styles . Even the war itself influenced the music industry through its technology . The capture of Germany ’ s magnetic tape technology became a staple in music production for independent producers . Magnetic tape sound recording allowed for independent producers to produce high quality sounds without the assistance of major labels . Music and Dance . Changes in music correlated to the evolution of dances . Ballroom dancing gained popularity when people were looking to have a good time . The Grafton Ballroom in Britain was famed for its architecture and interior at the time . The evolution of music brought about new sounds such as jazz and swing music . These sounds translated to new dances . Jitterbug dancing grew in popularity . The Jive , which was taken to England by American troops , eventually became a dance of the International style of Ballroom dance .