Women in Entertainment
When the men left for overseas, many entertainment jobs were left behind. Women during WWII became journalists, broadcasters, photographers, singers, actors, and even baseball players.
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"Women were also extremely important in entertainment. The two most famous female
entertainers during the war were Vera Lynn (now Dame Vera Lynn) and Gracie Fields. Vera Lynn's singing ("There'll be blue birds over the White Cliffs of Dover" and "We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when") brought great happiness to many. She was known as the "Forces Sweetheart". Gracie Fields was another favourite with the forces."¹ |
One American woman known for her photographs was Toni Frisell (1907- 1988). "Remembered today principally for her high-fashion photography for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, Toni Frissell volunteered her photographic services to the American Red Cross, Women's Army Corps, and Eighth Army Air Force during WWII. On their behalf, she produced thousands of images of nurses, front-line soldiers, WACs, African-American airmen, and orphaned children."³
Clare Boothe Luce (1903-1987) was a woman that stepped up to fill many jobs men had left behind during. "Talented, wealthy, beautiful, and controversial, Clare Boothe Luce is best remembered as a congresswoman (1942-1946),
ambassador, and playwright. "She is also known for her "wartime journalism, which included a book, Europe in the Spring (1940) and many on-location articles for Life. She covered a wide range of World War II battlefronts. Luce endured the discomforts, frustrations, and dangers encountered by the most seasoned war correspondent."³
ambassador, and playwright. "She is also known for her "wartime journalism, which included a book, Europe in the Spring (1940) and many on-location articles for Life. She covered a wide range of World War II battlefronts. Luce endured the discomforts, frustrations, and dangers encountered by the most seasoned war correspondent."³
"America was in the middle of World War II. Baseball was at risk because, as citizens saw generously paid athletes swatting balls while their loved ones were dying on foreign shores, interest declined and criticism went up. Some believed that baseball's survival depended on women during the war."⁴ In 1943, the first American Women's Baseball team was started. Above is a clip from the movie A League of Their Own.
¹Excerpt from History Learning Site; ²Videos from youtube.com; ³Excerpt from Library of Congress; ⁴Excerpt from Illinois Periodicals online