Entertaining the Troops March 2, 2010

To support the birth of the Solomon Victory Theater, the American Sector restaurant and the Museum's Stage Door Canteen, 'Entertaining the Troops' will showcase The National World War II Museum's entertainment-related collection. The exhibit will examine and highlight efforts to sustain the troops before and during their darkest hours. Highlights include five costumes worn by a young dancer, Betty Jacobs Schwartzberg from New Orleans, who performed for servicemen at Camp Plauche and at local military hospitals. 'Entertaining the Troops: On the Road' showcases a piano from a USO railroad canteen, signed by over 2,500 servicemen as they passed through on troop trains, on loan from the Harvey County Historical Museum in Newton, Kansas. 'Entertaining the Troops: In the Field' features the uniforms of two Red Cross "donut girls," uniforms of USO Camp Show performers, baseball bats and gloves used by servicemen, and "trench art" - items handcrafted by servicemen in the field.