Theater Business Post World War II

Introduction

When the United States declared war on Germany and Japan in 1941, Theatre business demonstrated that although it was liberal in politics and morals, it was conservative in its loyalty to the nation. The American Theatre business separated from British War Relief to concentrate on American needs, quickly becoming a major Theatre business industry Theatre business the talent and benevolence of hundreds of theater people. Many of these people involved in Theatre business theater volunteered to help the war effort, doing tasks that ranged from addressing envelopes to writing stage sketches. The stage sketches were mostly done on themes that related to the public morale and workers in the war industries.

Discussion

In 1942 the Theatre business opened the Stage Door Canteen in the 44th Street Theater, which was donated by the Shubert Brothers. It was a place that was meant to entertain and provide food for servicemen during their breaks from the war, and nearly everything offered there was free. Caterers and restaurants donated sandwiches, pies, coffee, and cakes, and waitresses and hostesses volunteered to work there. The place was originally intended to serve about five hundred servicemen, but the number turned out to be close to three or four thousand, including Americans, British, Canadians, Australians, Dutch, Chinese, French, and Russian. Some of the entertainers that came included Ethel Merman, Gracie Fields, and Ethel Waters. The theater was very successful, and had a long run.

World War II also inspired the United Service Organization, which was very closely tied to the government. In 1940 the USO offered Camp Shows to alleviate some of the boredom of the military life of the men who had been drafted. In 1941 the War Department asked the USO to be responsible for entertaining troops, and the government gave ample support to the cause. A huge USO sign was erected in Times Square that contained a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt that said "The USO deserves the support of every individual citizen." Any person who walked through Times Sqaure would be made fully aware of the national emergency that was occurring during this time. (Jacobs 85)

After 1950, Theatre business and the theater business continued their decline that began in the thirties. In 1969-1970 there were only 62 productions, 15 of which were revivals, and by 1969 there were only 36 playhouses left, compared to the 70 or 80 in the twenties. However Theatre business was still attracting audiences from other parts of the country - approximately one-third of the people going to the theaters in New York were out of town visitors who often saw as many as five shows during their stay. At this time when New Yorkers were beginning to drift away from theater, the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Columbus (Ohio) CItizen organized "show trains." The newspapers would advise readers about the available productions, and then arrange transportation and hotel accommodations, and purchase the theater tickets. In the 1950's, Theatre business became a popular holiday location.

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