Theater of the Mind
Mail Call
47 episodes · 1943–1948 · Armed Forces Radio Service · Variety & Music
Mail Call was the Armed Forces Radio Service's morale-building half hour, first heard August 11, 1942. Built around music, comedy, and banter between the stars, it gave troops stationed around the world a touch of home, with guests like Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, and Dinah Shore. The BBC carried AFRS programs to the European theater, and British civilians tuned in too.
Sources: Mail Call (radio program), Wikipedia
Episodes
Tap a title to play it on Radio Days.
1943
- Program 19: Groucho Marx, Betty Grable, Judy Garland
Groucho Marx hosts; Judy Garland sings and gives José Iturbi a lesson in swing, and Betty Grable plays Groucho's mother. - George Jessel, Paulette Goddard, Tommy Dorsey
George Jessel hosts, starting with one of his famous phone calls to his mother, with Paulette Goddard and Tommy Dorsey's band. - Edward G Robinson, Dick Powell, Ann Miller
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date. - Groucho Marx, Irene Manning, Paulette Goddard
Groucho Marx hosts, with Irene Manning and Paulette Goddard. - Program 66: Lucille Ball, Harry Richman, Kay Thompson, Laurel and Hardy
Lucille Ball hosts; Kay Thompson sings, and Laurel and Hardy perform a wedding-night sketch. - Program 68: Al Pearce, Eddie Anderson, Janet Blair
Al Pearce hosts a salute to the Army Ground Forces. Eddie Anderson sings, and Al does his Elmer Blurt routine.
1944
- Program 72: Jack Benny, Judy Garland, Johnny Mercer, Delta Rhythm Boys
Jack Benny hosts a salute to servicemen from Illinois; Johnny Mercer introduces "G.I. Jive," and Jack and Judy Garland rehearse a love scene. - Program 73: Bing Crosby, Skinnay Ennis, Dorothy Lamour
Bing Crosby hosts a salute to Iowa, with Dorothy Lamour and a sketch from Road to Utopia. - Program 78: Bing Crosby, Richard Crooks, Connee Boswell
Bing Crosby hosts a salute to servicemen from Washington State, with Connee Boswell, Richard Crooks and the Les Paul Trio. - Program 81: Lionel Barrymore, Connie Haines, Eddie Cantor
Lionel Barrymore hosts a salute to Pennsylvania. The Pied Pipers sing 'Besame Mucho,' with Eddie Cantor and Joan Davis. - Program 88: Ed Gardner, Ida Lupino, Irene Manning
Ed Gardner and the Duffy's Tavern gang put on an English drawing-room drama and salute Brooklyn. With Ida Lupino. - Program 91: Judy Garland, Jimmy Durante, Bing Crosby
Judy Garland hosts a salute to Minnesota and sings 'The Trolley Song.' Jimmy Durante tries to hire Arthur Treacher as his butler. - A Tribute to Hawaii
Bing Crosby hosts a salute to Hawaii, with Betty Grable, Hilo Hattie and the Les Paul Trio. - Program 103: Norma Shearer, Jack Carson, Mel Blanc, Nelson Eddy
Norma Shearer hosts a salute to Canadian soldiers. Jack Carson gives a radio tour of Canada, Mel Blanc is Bugs Bunny, and Nelson Eddy sings 'Rose Marie.' - Program 104: Rudy Vallee, Fred Allen, Frank Sinatra, Gloria DeHaven
Rudy Vallee hosts a salute to Maine and sings the 'Stein Song.' With Fred Allen, Frank Sinatra and Gloria DeHaven. - Nelson Eddy, Burns & Allen, Jeanette Mac Donald
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date. - Program 111: Ginny Simms, Jimmy Durante, Johnny Mercer
Ginny Simms hosts a salute to the American Forces Network in Britain, with Jimmy Durante, Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford. - Program 112: Kay Kyser, Jack Haley, King Sisters
Jack Haley hosts a salute to North Carolina, and Kay Kyser ends up a contestant on his own quiz. - Program 115: Tallulah Bankhead, Danny Kaye, Pied Pipers
Tallulah Bankhead hosts a salute to the British First Airborne. Danny Kaye spoofs soap operas and sings 'Minnie the Moocher.' - Program 120: Bing Crosby, Garry Moore, Andrews Sisters
Bing Crosby hosts a salute to the amphibious forces and sings 'Accentuate the Positive,' with the Andrews Sisters and Garry Moore. - Program 125: Dinah Shore, Jimmy Durante, Virginia O'Brien
Dinah Shore hosts, and Jimmy Durante hires Monty Woolley to coach him for Cyrano.
1945
- Program 126: Ann Rutherford, Johnny Mercer, Garry Moore
Ann Rutherford hosts a salute to the troops in Italy and on D-Day. Garry Moore spoofs Mr. District Attorney, with Lena Horne. - Program 127: Groucho Marx, Ida Lupino, Gloria DeHaven
Groucho Marx hosts, cracks up the cast in the first minute, and the gang does its own Double Indemnity. - Program 128: Bing Crosby, Cass Daley, Martha Mears
Bing Crosby hosts, and he and Lauritz Melchior sing an operatic 'One Meatball.' - Program 129: June Allyson, Ozzie Nelson, Danny Thomas
June Allyson hosts. Danny Thomas plays a football star, and Ozzie and Harriet plan to rent their spare room to a lady Marine. - Dinah Shore Nat King Cole Dorothy Lamour-Assembled Program
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists a broadcast on this date but gives no title. - Marion Hutton, Edgar Bergen, Ingrid Bergman
Marion Hutton hosts and sings "Let's Do It," with Edgar Bergen and Ingrid Bergman. - Program 133: Jack Carson, Frances Langford, Jerry Colonna
Jack Carson hosts, with Frances Langford, Jerry Colonna and Herbert Marshall. - Program 134: Dick Haymes, King Sisters, Jimmy Durante
Dick Haymes hosts a salute to the Seabees, with the King Sisters and Jimmy Durante. - Jack Benny, Paulette Goddard, Claudette Colbert
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists a broadcast on this date but gives no title. - Program 136: Nelson Eddy, Cass Daley, Andrews Sisters
Nelson Eddy hosts and plays a Mountie in a sketch, with Cass Daley and the Andrews Sisters. - Program 137: Frank Morgan, Harpo Marx, Burns and Allen, Rita Hayworth
Frank Morgan hosts. Harpo Marx plays the harp, Burns and Allen are on hand, and the cast spoofs Mr. Anthony. - Bette Davis, Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Jack Benny
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “Going My Way.” - Program 139: Jack Carson, Dick Powell, Smart Set
Jack Carson hosts. Claire Trevor and Dick Powell remember Murder, My Sweet, and the cast does 'Crime Does Not Pay.' - Program 140: Judy Garland, Merry Macs, Bob Hope
Judy Garland hosts and hopes Clark Gable will drop by, but Bob Hope shows up instead, and the two end up at a farm-town soda fountain. - Program 141: Ginny Simms, Robert Benchley, Harold Peary
Ginny Simms hosts. Robert Benchley lectures on the future, and Harold Peary and Walter Tetley do a Gildersleeve sketch. - Betty Hutton, Frank Sinatra, King Sisters
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date. - Bob Hope, Clark Gable, May Whitty, Margaret O'Brien
- Program 145: Betty Grable, George Jessel, Mills Brothers
Betty Grable hosts and sings 'Acapulco,' with George Jessel and the Mills Brothers.
1946
- Program 188: Groucho Marx, Kenny Baker, Kathryn Grayson
Groucho Marx hosts and sings 'Lydia, the Tattooed Lady,' with Kenny Baker and Kathryn Grayson. - Virginia O'Brien - 1st song is I Got the Blues - Skipper George Murphy
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date. - Yvonne De Carlo -1st song is It’s Just My Luck - Skipper Fred Mac Murray
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date. - George Murphy, Virginia O'Brien, Burns & Allen
- Yvonne De Carlo, Fred Mac Murray, David Street
1947
- Gloria De Haven, Groucho Marx, Bing Crosby (assembled program)
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists a broadcast on this date but gives no title. - Host - Cathy Downs
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
1948
- Program 320: Peggy Knutson, Orson Welles, Betty Grable
Peggy Knutson hosts, with Orson Welles, Betty Grable, Danny Kaye and the King Sisters.