Benny broadcast from the US Navy aircraft carrier Saratoga?

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Benny broadcast from the US Navy aircraft carrier Saratoga?

Postby CBSTelevisionCity » Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:47 am

My father, William L. Carroll Jr., was a teenage enlisted US Navy bomber pilot during WWII. He flew TBF and TBM Avenger planes from the deck of the USS Saratoga, in several important battles in the South Pacific.

When I was growing up, my dad would occasionally show me pages of a script he said was given to him by Jack Benny, following a broadcast aboard the Saratoga. I don't recall exactly, but I believe he told me the broadcast took place while the "Sara" was docked near San Diego. I remember there were direct references to the ship, sailors and officers throughout the very patriotic script. I also remember seeing the names of several of the regular cast members along the left margin of each page. These script pages were typed or mimeographed, and looked authentic. To my knowledge, the pages are still around somewhere in our family, but I haven't seen them in over 10 years. My father died in May, 1997.

I guess the reason I'm posting is: does anyone have any information regarding Jack Benny performing / broadcasting from the USS Saratoga during WWII? I know lots of radio performers did shows from military camps, training facilities, etc. during that time ( of course Bob Hope, also bandleaders like Kay Kyser ). Thank you!

Sincerely, William Carroll, Denham Springs, Louisiana
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Postby shimp scrampi » Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:53 am

Sure, that's the April 21, 1946 radio show. It's here in the audio library and probably elsewhere as well.
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Postby CBSTelevisionCity » Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:27 pm

WOW!!!
Thank you SO much!
Perhaps I can get a copy of that show
on a CD-R through the IJBFC.
Now if I can just locate those script pages!
Sincerely, William
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