Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording Patty Thomas Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Location of Service: South Pacific; Europe; Alaska
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/8272
If you were going to entertain the troops, you could do a lot worse than being part of Bob Hope's company that toured the South Pacific from 1944 to 1945 for the USO. Patty Thomas, a young dancer, joined Bob's troupe-including singer Frances Langford and comedian Jerry Colonna-for an island-hopping tour that included over 150 shows, one forced landing on a sandbar, a couple cases of jungle rot, and the adoration of thousands of GIs starved for a look at a pretty girl showing off her dancer's legs.
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayHer first tour with the USO; meeting Bob Hope. 00:02:15.7 - 00:07:20.0
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PlayCrash landing on a sandbar. 00:10:02.7 - 00:17:18.0
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PlayHer first show in Hawaii with Hope. 00:18:57.7 - 00:21:12.0
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PlayPatty as new kid on the block. 00:25:12.7 - 00:27:02.0
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PlayTouring the hospitals. 00:29:46.7 - 00:31:05.0
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PlayPatty's sore tooth. 00:38:49.7 - 00:40:33.0
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PlayPostwar tours with Bob. 00:40:40.7 - 00:46:24.0
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PlayThe joy of entertaining the troops. 00:46:32.7 - 00:48:28.0
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Patty Thomas Collection
Names
- Gevinson, Alan
- Veterans History Project
- Library of Congress
- Thomas, Patty
Home State
- Florida
Headings
- - Thomas, Patty
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United Service Organizations (USO) -- Personal Narratives
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Status
- civilian
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Location of Service: South Pacific; Europe; Alaska
- Dates of Service: 1944-1945
- Military Status: civilian
- Service History Note: Thomas danced with Bob Hope.
Materials
- Video: Betacam SP [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-05-21)
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected 2003-05-21)
- Photograph: Digital print [19 items] -- Photograph (collected 1944-1945)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2003-05-21; 2012-08-20)
- Audio: DAT [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-05-21)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-05-21)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/8272
Cite as
- Patty Thomas Collection (AFC/2001/001/8272), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video