Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Robert Sidney Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/30174
During World War II, "This Is the Army" was the Army's light-hearted all-soldiers revue-style entertainment, written by Irving Berlin and put on by GIs and for GIs around the globe, from 1942 through 1945. Robert (Bob) Sidney's collection takes us behind the scenes of that unlikely yet memorable show, and reveal another side of wartime. Sidney, a dancer/choreographer, was transferred to the This Is the Army Detachment in the Army's Special Services Division, to become the principal choreographer for the show. The racially-integrated company of 150 men formed a special bond, sometimes performing under terrible conditions. The members of the road company remained on detachment under General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who felt the show reminded American soldiers of home.
Interview / Recording
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About this Item
Title
- Robert Sidney Collection
Names
- Denk, Clare
- Sidney, Robert
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Sidney, Robert
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1942-1945
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: MiniDV [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2005-05-18)
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2008-04-02)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2008-03-10)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 2006-03-07)
- Manuscript: Biography [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [6 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1944-1945)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 2003)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [5 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1943-1945)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1944-09-28)
- Photograph: Mixed (Multiple types of photographs) [126 items] -- Photograph (collected 1943-1945)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 2007-07-25)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/30174
Cite as
- Robert Sidney Collection (AFC/2001/001/30174), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video