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GLENN MILLER DAY

Air Date/Released Tuesday, June 5, 1945
Station/Studio WNEW-AM NY / NBC Blue / Mutual
Host/Star Martin Block
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)

Honoring Glenn Miller who died in December 1944 over the English Channel, GLEN MILLER DAY on June 5, 1945 was a Treasury Dept. bond drive benefit event. The war was over in Europe, and homefront support was building to help successfully conclude the Pacific campaign against Japan. As part of the day’s celebration, an all-star broadcast over WNEW-AM New York aired from 8:30PM to Midnight from the Paramount Theatre on Broadway. Segments of the program were picked up by the ABC / NBC Blue network, and the Mutual network.

During the 10:30 – 11PM half-hour, which was carried by NBC Blue, Joe Besser performed a comedy routine with Milton Berle. For his summer hiatus, Berle asks Benny Goodman for a job on Goodman's radio program. He's disappointed to learn that Benny has already hired a singing troubador... Joe Besser! Berle's shock leads to bickering banter with Joe.


One of the show's announcers was Joe Bolton, future 1960s WPIX-TV host of Three Stooges comedies as 'Officer Joe Bolton,' and costar of THE OUTLAWS IS COMING (1965) and STOP! LOOK! AND LAUGH! (1960).

Cast: Martin Block (Master of Ceremonies), William B. Williams, Joe Bolton (Announcers)
8:30 – 9:30PM - Mitchell Field Army Air Force Band, Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra, Tex Beneke, Tip, Tap & Toe, Jo Stafford, Shep Fields, Dean Murphy, Gene Krupa, Louis Prima and His Band
9:30 – 10:30PM - Paula Kelly and the Modernaires, Gil Lamb, Perry Como, The Harmonica Rascals, Count Basie and His Orchestra, Maxine Johnson, Sammy Kaye, Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey, Xavier Cugat
10:30 – 11:30PM - Milton Berle, Joe Besser, The Benny Goodman Orchestra, Marion Hutton, Johnny Johnston, Ed Sullivan, Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians, Allan Jones, Guy Lombardo, Lloyd Nolan
11:30 – Midnight - Eddie Cantor, Diana Lynn, Brian Aherne, Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson, Kate Smith, Four Chicks and Chuck
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