World War II Honoree

Lionel Barrymore

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

BORN LIONEL HERBERT BLYTH IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, HE WAS A FAMOUS ACTOR OF THE STAGE, MOVIE SCREEN AND RADIO. HE CHANGED HIS LAST NAME TO A STAGE NAME OF BARRYMORE. DURING WWII, HE TOOK PART IN A HISTORIC RADIO BROADCAST TO REUNITE AMERICANS WITH THEIR LOVED ONES SERVING OVERSEAS. THE BROADCAST ENTITLED 'CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE FRONT' WAS HELD ON CHRISTMAS EVE (DECEMBER 24), 1943. AT THE TIME OF THE BROADCAST, SOME 3.5 MILLION AMERICANS WERE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS. HIS WAS THE FIRST VOICE TO BE HEARD AND HE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO TAKE LISTENERS 'BY THE HAND TO THE SIDE OF YOUR LOVED ONES FIGHTING AT EVERY QUARTER OF THE GLOBE' ...WHICH INCLUDED PANAMA, NORTH AFRICA, EGYPT, ITALY, NEW GUINEA, GUADALCANAL, NEW CALEDONIA, CHINA, INDIA, HAWAII, ALASKA, AND TO... 'SOME OF THE SHIPS OF OUR NAVY.' THE BROADCAST GAVE AMERICANS ON THE HOME FRONT A 'REAL-TIME' GLIMPSE AT THE LIFE OF SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OVERSEAS AND A CHANCE FOR SOME SERVICE MEMBERS TO SEND VOICE MESSAGES BACK HOME. THE EVENT WAS A TECHNOLOGICAL SUCCESS AND A BIG MORALE BOOST FOR BOTH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN LISTENERS. OTHER FAMOUS PERSONALITIES SUCH AS BOB HOPE, AND BING CROSBY PERFORMED WITH JOKES AND SONGS AND THE ARMY AIR FORCES ORCHESTRA PLAYED MUSIC.