The Jimmy Joy band was a pretty good swing organization based in Texas. They toured mostly in the mid-west and were what used to be known as a "territory band". Joy was a sax player, but as his shows built to a dancing frenzy, he'd switch instruments and wow the crowd with his ability to play two clarinets at the same time.
The news that Christmas and New Year had been stressful. The Allied Nations had fought their way across France , Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, and Italy and had formed a line of troops bearing down on Germany. In mid December 1944, the Germans pushed back hard - it was a last ditch attempt, and they knew it. The Germans called their offensive 'Operation Watch on the Rhine'; the French called it the 'Battle of the Ardennes'; the press called it the "Battle of the Bulge". The Americans took the brunt of what would become the bloodiest battle of the war.
Here at home, most New Year's celebrations were cancelled. Two of our three movie theatres in Brattleboro held 'midnight' New Year's Eve shows, but due to an ice storm folks didn't go out and it was a quiet holiday.
On the evening of Saturday January the 6th (1945), just before President Roosevelt's 'Fireside Chat', the Coca-Cola company presented their 'Spotlight Bands' show, which became known as the Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands during the war. That broadcast is at the end of this week's show, which also features excerpts from two Eddie Condon Jazz Concerts (broadcast on Saturday afternoons), as well as a couple of for-the-soldiers programs, Command Performance, and Jubilee (which was geared to African Americans in the service).
The newspaper clippings above are the kinds of things I post on the radio show's Facebook page. To be able to see them without having a Facebook account, click on this link (you won't be able to comment, though): Recycled Radio's Facebook Page
I hope anyone kind enough to listen enjoys the show!
