World War Wednesdays: Going to the Movies During WWII

Japanese farm labourers in front of the Fox Theater, Glencoe, ca. 1942
Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive

     All the talk last week about seeing My Friend Flicka at the Fox in Glencoe inspired me to look into what things were like in the movie theatres during the Second World War. With some more help from Maridon Duncanson's Heaps of Love, Mum: Stories of the Second World War Years in Dutton, Ontario From the Letters of Elona Bambridge, I was able to find some fascinating information on what it would have been like to go and see a movie during the war, especially around this area.

Dutton Advance, July 4, 1940:
Special Announcement
     On Monday, July 15, the Fox Theatre, Glencoe, like all other theatres in Canada, is turning over all proceeds to the Dominion Government.
     The price of admission is fifty cents- the patrons in return receiving two war savings stamps. When four dollars worth of these are collected they can be turned in to the Government and the sender will receive a five dollar war bond which is redeemable in 7 1/2 years. 
     If you have not yet obtained any war savings stamps to help our country, come to the Fox Theatre on July 15 and let us give you a start- if you are already saving these come and increase your collection.

    The National Film Board began to produce war-related films in 1940. Its series called "Canada Carries On" was made for the education of the public and was distributed to movie theatres across Canada to be shown as "Shorts." Another series it produced had a wider scope. The "World in Action" short films were shown in United States theatres as well.

The National Film Board may have produced some of the other films shown in theatres in Summerside, PEI during the war. Two films presented during Reconsecration Week in September 1941 were titled "The Fight for Victory" and "Over All The World." "Britain on Guard" was shown at the High School in November 1941. In February 1942 three films were shown at the School - "Wings of Youth," Churchill Island" and "Blue Horizons." "Women are Warriors" and "Make It Over" were offered to all interested women in October 1943.

Capitol Theatre, St. Thomas, ca. 1931 courtesy of Elgin County Archives

Wartime Blockbusters

     Featuring popular stars Ingrid Bergman and Fay Wray, the film had mixed reviews but included a hearty dose of wartime drama and romance to help take viewers' minds off their own struggles.

     The well-received drama starring the lovely Maureen O'Hara was eventually nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five, including Best Picture for 1941. 

     An instant commercial success, the First World War drama was nominated for seven Academy Awards and was held over in London movie theatres for a week. 

     Another drama, which dealt with themes of Nazism and underground German resistance, the film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and included popular star Bette Davis in a secondary role because she felt the story was so important.

     Hopefully I've added to your classic movie watch list, and that you have a new appreciation for what it was like to see a movie during the war. Good or bad, all of these films were a major source of both entertainment and conversation during those years. I'm curious to hear what movies readers remember seeing at the Fox and Capitol Theatres themselves!

     Information courtesy of Maridon Duncanson and IMDB, and wyattheritage.com.

Thanks for reading,

Delany (@DLeitchHistory on Twitter)

World War Wednesdays: The Dutton Advance During WWII, Part Two

Main Street of Dutton ca. 1930

     We're back in action with some featured articles from the dearly loved and lost Dutton Advance during the Second World War. As I mentioned last week, it is always of great interest to me to see how the war was brought into the homes and everyday lives of the people of Dutton through their newspaper. It is also interesting to see the advertisements from local businesses who adapted their public messages to serve a wartime purpose. This week's post is especially fascinating for me because it includes an article about the films that were playing in local theaters at the time-- besides all the war-related material, the Advance was also trying to help take people's minds off of their struggles. As mentioned previously, all material in this series comes from Maridon Duncanson's wonderful book, Heaps of Love, Mum: Stories of the Second World War Years in Dutton, Ontario From the Letters of Elona Bambridge, which is available for purchase at Backus-Page House Museum.

January 16, 1941
First Elgins Parade
     The First Battalion Elgin Regiment, C.A.S.F. went to St. Thomas on Sunday when the regimental colors were deposited in the sanctuary of the Memorial Chapel, Trinity Church. The farewell service following the depositing of colors was brief but impressive. The Elgins moved from London to Toronto on Monday and large crowds were on hand to witness the parade in St. Thomas on Sunday.
     Capt. the Rev. K. R. Taylor, padre of the regiment, recited the prayers for King and all in authority, for the Empire, for the sailors, soldiers and airmen, for the regiment.
     Our prayers go with you, our real selves go with you. We not only pray for your safety, but also that you will be true to the cause and the purpose for which you have enlisted. May God's blessing go with you and keep you loyal to Your King and country, to the cause of freedom, justice, and to God.

January 30, 1941
Given Send-Off
     A very pleasant evening was spent at the home of Elder and Mrs. Ruston last Thursday when between thirty and thirty-five of his friends in Dutton met to say good-bye to Sergeant J. B. Ruston, who was home on leave for ten days before leaving for overseas. Dr. Arthur Graham made a capable chairman. During the evening, Miss Margaret Leitch read an appropriate address and Mrs. G. E. Ross presented John with a signet ring attached to a miniature airplane suspended from a staff wrapped in the national colors. In a few well-chosen words Sergeant John fittingly replied.
     A dainty lunch was served by the ladies, after which the gathering closed with a prayer by Elder Ruston. 

May 1, 1941
Evacuating Dutton
     Although we are many miles from the scenes of conflict and the possibilities of local air raids are quite remote, there has been an evacuation in progress here since hostilities overseas began that is proving rather depressing to those left behind. In this case it isn't the women and children or older people who are leaving; it's the young men. Many have joined the armed forces, a large number of high school lads have volunteered to work on farms, while several other young male citizens have left to enter industrial plants turning out war material.
     The most disturbing aspect of this evacuation is the last-mentioned... The possibilities of the return of the young men who have entered industries are not very great. True, they will not always be required to turn out war supplies, but they will likely be needed for the part industry will play in the re-adjustment program which inevitably follows war. 
     No company will settle in a town unless encouraged to do so by the citizens. Dutton is ideally situated for an industrial establishment, being close to two main highways, on two principal railroads, yet in recent years we can't remember any real effort being made to have industries locate here and thus provide some mean of keeping the best of our young people with us.

July 10, 1940
Local Young Men Head Western Class
     Placing first and second, respectively, in the graduating class at No. 4 Service Flying School at Saskatoon, Sask., Donald Graham and Walter W. Nichol have brought honor to themselves, their families, and this community.

November 11, 1943
"My Friend Flicka" At Glencoe
     "My Friend Flicka" is a heartwarming story out of the heart of America itself. Young Ken McLaughlin, a high-strung, sensitive youngster, is not completely understood by his rancher-father, Rob. Rob offers the boy his choice of any horse on the ranch. "Flicka" almost kills herself trying to vault a barbed-wire fence. Ken almost loses his own health in caring for Flicka. At last, tearfully, Ken consents to Rob putting the animal out of its misery. That night Ken finds Flicka seemingly on the verge of death, her body immersed in a cold mountain stream. Overcome, the boy stays with the filly throughout the night. 
     Several weeks later Ken is carried by Rob to the pasture- where hsi unbelieving eyes behold Flicka, completely well.
     Playing at the Fox, Glencoe, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 18th, 19th and 20th.

     Hopefully you've seen My Friend Flicka at some point and that last article wasn't a major spoiler alert! It seems as though the write-up was meant to intrigue people into heading to Glencoe to see it for themselves, rather than completely ruin the plot (or at least I hope so). Films were such a major part of wartime life that even the people in our small towns would wait for each new release, but we'll be discussing that topic in a future post! 
     Thanks for reading,
Delany (@DLeitchHistory on Twitter)

World War Wednesdays: Famous Faces of the Second World War

     So many of us have a relative or someone we know of who served in the Second World War. To us, they are our heroes, and we are proud of their contributions in one of the greatest conflicts in human history. However, during the Second World War, a number of faces recognizable to almost all of us also added their name to the Honour Roll. The war was indifferent to social standing and occupation, and required effort from every person. This week's post explores some of the most famous members of the "greatest generation" who gave their all in WWII with the best of them.

1. Clark Gable

     Of course, we all know him as Rhett Butler, but during the war he was known to many as major Clark Gable. After enlisting in 1942, he served as an aerial gunner on a bomber and flew in five combat missions, for which he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. He was discharged in 1944 at his own request after he became over the age for active service. During his time in the Air Force, he also completed a film called Combat America. Interestingly, Adolf Hitler favored Gable above all other actors. During the war, Hitler offered a sizable reward to anyone who could capture and bring Gable to him unscathed.

2. Carole Lombard

    
  The beautiful blond actress famous for her comedies was also known for being married to actor Clark Gable. During the war, the couple became known for their support of the war effort, with Carole making a particular name for herself advertising the sale of bonds. When the U.S. entered World War II at the end of 1941, Lombard traveled to her home state of Indiana for a war bond rally with her mother, and Clark Gable's press agent. Lombard was able to raise over $2 million in defense bonds in a single evening. Her party had initially been scheduled to return to Los Angeles by train, but Lombard was anxious to reach home more quickly and wanted to fly by a scheduled airline. Her mother and the agent were both afraid of flying and insisted they follow their original travel plans. Lombard suggested they flip a coin; they agreed and Lombard won the toss.
     In the early morning hours of January 16, 1942, Lombard, her mother, and the agent  boarded an aircraft to return to California.After refueling in Las Vegas, the flight took off at 7:07 p.m. and approximately 13 minutes later, crashed into "Double Up Peak" near the level of Potosi Mountain, 51 km southwest of Las Vegas. All 22 aboard, Lombard and her mother included, plus 15 army servicemen, were killed instantly.

3. James Stewart

    
  We all know him as the charming lead of the classic It's a Wonderful Life, but Jimmy Stewart also served his country during the Second World War. A pilot before the war, Stewart was drafted into the army in 1940  but repeatedly denied because he was just shy of the minimum weight requirement. Eventually, he became the first major American movie star to wear a military uniform in World War II when he enlisted in 1941. His celebrity status led to his role as a flight instructor in the U.S, but eventually led squadrons in attacks over Germany, for which he received numerous prestigious awards. Eventually, he became one of the few Americans to rise from private to colonel in four years.
     At the beginning of June 1945, Stewart was the presiding officer of the court-martial of a pilot and navigator who were charged with dereliction of duty for having accidentally bombed the Swiss city of Zurich the previous March—the first instance of U.S. personnel being tried for an attack on a neutral country. The Court acquitted the defendants.
     Stewart is known for being one of the most active celebrities in the Second World War, and never let his status influence his duty.

4. Glenn Miller

    
     The wildly popular big band leader will always be remembered for such songs as "American Patrol", "In the Mood", and "Chattanooga Choo Choo". However, Glenn Miller also contributed to the war effort in a tragic and sinister way. In 1942, at the peak of his civilian career, Miller decided to join the war effort, forsaking an income of $15,000 to $20,000 per week in civilian life. At 38, Miller was too old to be drafted and first volunteered for the Navy but was told that they did not need his services. Miller then wrote to Army Brigadier General Charles Young. He persuaded the United States Army to accept him so he could, in his own words, "be placed in charge of a modernized Army band". At first placed in the United States Army, Miller was transferred to the Army Air Forces. Captain Glenn Miller served initially as assistant special services officer for the Army Air Forces Southeast Training Center in Alabama in December 1942. He played trombone with the Rhythmaires, a 15-piece dance band, in both Montgomery and in service clubs and recreation halls on Maxwell. Miller also appeared on the radio, promoting the activities of civil service women aircraft mechanics.
     On December 15, 1944, Miller was to fly from the United Kingdom to Paris, France, to play for the soldiers there. His plane departed from the outskirts of Bedford and disappeared while flying over the English Channel. There were two others on board the plane. No remains were ever found.


     I hope that a newfound appreciation can be gained for these famous faces of the war, just some of many. While all experienced the hardship that so many others had to endure, some ended up paying the ultimate sacrifice. These heartbreaking stories are a reminder that the horrors of the Second World War were not particular about who they affected, and that not even the icons people looked up to were spared the experience.

Thanks for reading,

Delany







 

 



World War Wednesdays: The Wars on Film

World War Wednesdays: The Wars on Film

     Perhaps it is just my experience of being a history student who is also in German cinema, but there seems to be a strong connection between those who love history and those who love film. So often when a professor or fellow student is explaining a historical concept, they mention a scene in a film which covers that topic. Perhaps this aspect plays into the historian's constant quest to relive and re-enact the past. It can also be a highly useful and fascinating method to bring to life the events which we read about but have difficulty imagining in real life.

    These ideas are what caused me to want to write about this topic, and it is something that plays a major role in my day to day life. I suppose I am a bit predisposed to talk about it after just having finished watching Ken Burns' seven-part documentary The War. Each part is roughly two hours and length, tracing the WWII experiences of four U.S. towns and the people who lived in them. I will be honest, many a tear was shed over the course of the story, and I highly recommend watching it (on Netflix).

    

     What makes a good war film is the ability to make us feel such a depth of emotion. The wars themselves were such a complexity of hardship, togetherness, love and fear. For a film to have the capacity to give its audience a similar emotional experience is something that everyone, not just historians, can appreciate.

     Of course, this tradition of impactful war films began during the wars themselves. (Due to technology advancements of the times and my personal preference I will be focusing on some of my favorites of the Second World War). I'm sure (I hope) we've all had the chance to see Casablanca, a true classic, whose infamous lines have become a part of common phrases to this day ("Here's looking at you, kid", "Play it again, Sam", "We'll always have Paris"). This film captures the experience of displacement due to the war, with lost love, and with the threat of world conflict on peoples' personal lives.

The United States entered the war in December 1941, after Britain had been fighting for almost three years. It was rare for an enemy to be explicitly stated in Hollywood films much before then, since America provided a great deal of funding and supplies to all sides. The first film to clearly depict the enemy as being Germany was Charlie Chaplin's 1940 satire The Great Dictator (Chaplin was a Socialist himself). After becoming part of the conflict, however, there was no secret as to America's stance. This can be seen in wartime films such as Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, 49th Parallel, and Mrs. Miniver. There was also the concept of the propaganda war, with Hollywood competing against Dr. Goebbels' team in Germany. Some of the most fascinating works of propaganda come from this time, when companies like Walt Disney and Warner Brothers teamed up with groups such as the U.S. Air Force to create animated cartoons depicting well-loved characters being involved in the war. Disney's "Der Fuhrer's Face", which features Donald Duck sticking it to a group of overweight, dopey Nazis, won the Oscar in 1943 for Best Animated Short. Jack Warner and the Warner Brothers' collaboration with the air force produced such cartoons as "Herr Meets Hare" and "Draftee Daffy" featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. These films spoke not only to children but to a full spectrum of audiences, using characters who held a great deal of emotional and ideological sway among fans young and old.

Donald Duck reads Hitler's infamous book, a far cry from the Donald we know today

     Of course, not all films during the war were designed to reinforce ideological beliefs or depict the glory and struggle of real events. Both America and Germany recognized the importance of lighthearted films during times of stress and hardship, and especially in America, the escapist style of film was perfected. This trend was carried on from the films of the Great Depression, which sought to provide an alternate place for audiences to imagine themselves as a way to distract from rough times. In Germany, even these films were covertly filled with propagandistic themes. America's escapist films depicted idealistic, joyful people and situations which gave people not only something else to think about but something to hope for. My favorite example of this is 1940's We Who Are Young featuring Lana Turner, which is the ultimate cheesy and overdramatic film but so incredibly touching. This period perfected the iconic Hollywood love story, featuring the famous pairings of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Baccall, and actors such as Cary Grant, Barbara Stanwyck, Ingrid Bergmann and Judy Garland.

Lana Turner and John Shelton in We Who Are Young

 

     Even to this day, filmmakers continue to create new depictions of wartime stories. This year saw the release of box office hits Monuments Men and Fury. Recent times have provided just as many classics as those actually from the war, such as Saving Private Ryan, Valkyrie, Inglorious Basterds, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Defiance, and Nuremberg. All of these are so well loved by both lovers of history and film fans. They give us the gift of seeing our past as close as possible to the way it really was, which is such an amazing experience. It is so fascinating to know that the ability to see a depiction of the way things really happened is just a click away.

     Have you seen any of the films I discussed? Do you have any favorite war films that you didn't see mentioned? I'd love to hear from you!

                  Thanks for reading,

            Delany