After a long hiatus, we’re back! We appreciate everyone’s patience as we worked through some technical and staffing issues, but now we’re ready to get back to it! It’s been a while, so feel free to refresh your memory on Joe and Agnes’ story in Episodes 1-4.
This week we’re picking up with the topic of raising morale. USO shows were just one way troops sought entertainment and escape from the war. Celebrities such as Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, The Andrews Sisters, Abbot and Costello, Fred Astaire, Cary Grant, Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Marlene Dietrich, Mickey Rooney, Danny Kaye, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Laurel and Hardy, Cab Calloway, Dorothy Lamour, Judy Garland, Betty Grable, Donna Reed, Errol Flynn, Debbie Reynolds, and John Wayne.
To the Letter is a podcast brought to you in collaboration with University Libraries and the eLearning and Emerging Technologies Digital Studio. Florence was voiced by Cara Cadena, Ollie Olexa by Noah Campbell, and Joe Olexa by Kevin McCasland. The audio clip of “You’ll Never Know” performed by Vera Lynn, music by Harry Warren, and lyrics by Mack Gordon.
Letters featured in Episode 5 are available below:
Letter from Ollie Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, sent Oct. 10, 1944
Letter from Florence Fournier to Agnes Van Der Weide, sent Feb. 15, 1944
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, sent April 6, 1944
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, sent April 9, 1944
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, sent April 11, 1944
Questions about the USO? Have any favorite USO entertainers? Let us know! Send questions and comments to rupinskl@gvsu.edu. Happy listening!
GVSU Special Collections & University Archives 