The Case:
A WWII veteran from Chico, California owns a unique souvenir from his time as a young GI. While stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, he picked up a 16-inch acetate recording of a promo for a soldier musical called “Hi Yank.”
The recording starts with a director's introduction explaining the musical is a “blueprint special” created by GIs for GIs to be performed anywhere in the world. Our contributor has heard of United Service Organization shows to support troops by boosting morale, but never a “blueprint special” musical.
Could this recording be a piece of forgotten history?
History Detectives meets with U.S. Army archivists and historians to find out if this disk was connected to the American war effort.
Related Content
Technique:
Technique:
Related Links
Explore
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Ernie Pyle's Typewriter
Did America’s most beloved battlefront correspondent bang out his dispatches on this Corona 3?
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Scottsboro Boys Stamp
Did a penny stamp help save the Scottsboro Boys from the electric chair?
-
Also with Elyse Luray
Boarding House Flag
Did this flag once save a boarding house from being burned down at the height of the Civil War?
-
Also with Elyse Luray
Bootlegger's Notebook
Does this book belong to a Prohibition era bootlegger?
-
Related Investigation
Mark Twain's Watch
Was this watch a gift from noted author American author Mark Twain?
-
Related Investigation
Tokyo Rose
Did this 1940s recording help convict the woman alleged to be "Tokyo Rose"?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.