World War II Teenager

The above photo was taken during the filming of Bowery to Broadway (1944), Ann Blyth's fourth film.  Here fifteen-year-old Ann signs autographs for servicemen.

From Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. --
Ann played a patriotic teen in Chip off the Old Block who wants to throw away a show biz career in order to devote herself to war work.  In real life under the auspices of the studio, Ann was able to do both, volunteering at the famed Hollywood Canteen, and performing in shows for servicemen at Camp Pendleton, California.  She received award certificates for her volunteer activities from the Hollywood Canteen, the War Activities Committee, and the U.S. Army.

The Hollywood Canteen, postcard.

Today we remember the catastrophe that brought us into World War II on December 7, 1941 but also the generation of kids who grew up in the nightmare years that followed.  Many, in their own way, tried to help.  Some of those kids, barely on the threshold of adulthood, paid with their lives.  Patriotism comes in so many forms, but the most precious is sacrifice.

Summer Theatre Souvenirs

This being the height of summer (here in the northern hemisphere, anyway), here's a token reminder that Ann Blyth had a several-decades long career in summer theatre. The above program is for Showboat, in which she starred opposite Terence Monk, and Andy Devine played her father, Cap'n Andy.

You may recall that she and Mr. Devine went way back -- to her third film, Babes on Swing Street and also her next movie, Bowery to Broadway, both released in 1944.  She played Ohio in Showboat for the Kenley Players Productions in 1970.

Those of you who follow the Facebook page for this blog, ANN BLYTH: ACTRESS. SINGER. STAR. will note that recently the son of actor Pernell Roberts contacted me to direct me to his Facebook page honoring his father's career and the several photos he posted of Ann Blyth and Pernell Roberts when they performed together in a summer theatre production of The King and I, which took place at the MUNY in St. Louis in 1967.  See this link for those photos.  My sincere thanks to Mr. Roberts, Jr., for sharing those terrific pictures.

For more on Ann's summer theatre shows, have a look at this previous post at my Another Old Movie Blog, as well as my book, Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star., which has further info.

Did you ever see Ann Blyth on stage?  Let us know.

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The audio book for Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is now for sale on Audible.com, and on Amazon and iTunes.