"Marines In Review" - Radio Show 1940-'50s....
by Dick Gaines
I have written before on my websites referring to the old radio show called "Marines In Review!"
Back in the late '40s and early '50s, it came over the radio on Sunday afternoons, broadcast from Camp Joseph H. Pendleton, Oceanside, California. I remember making it a point, as a young man at that time, to listen to that show each Sunday afternoon whenever I could.
It was a 1/2 hour show, as I recall, and it had news and articles regarding the Marine Corps--there was one regular feature of the show called, "The Old Gunny Sez!" where the old gunny was always consulted as the resident expert on some topic or other of various Marine Corps subjects that always came up.
In 1952, as soon as I turned 17 years old, I joined the Marine Corps. After boot camp at Parris Island, I received orders reading "Report to: Marine Barracks, Camp Joseph H. Pendleton, Oceanside, California."
I reported in August of that year. I was surprised to find, when I went to the #12 area theatre one night (each area at Pendleton then had its own area PX, theatre, etc., in those days) that the 'Marines In Review' radio show was being broadcast/recorded from that theatre's stage prior to the movie that nite, as was done each week.
I watched there such as movie actor John Hodiak, and his wife, Anne Baxter, who had just finished filming the movie, Battle Zone, there at Camp Pendleton, sat in the audience next to me. I also saw Chesty Puller on the same show on another occasion.
I was also surprised to see that "the old gunny" turned out to be a young Pfc or Corporal reading the lines from a script.
I have never seen anything on the Internet, or in books for that matter,regarding that old Marines radio show in all these years.
But just lately, I found some mention of it on the China Marines Band webite, which contains some information, photos, etc. regarding that show.
GySgt USMC (Ret.)
This message has been edited by Dick Gaines from IP address 220.127.116.11 on Jun 11, 2002 2:39 PM
Posted on Jun 11, 2002, 2:29 PM
from IP address 18.104.22.168
Posted on Dec 9, 2002, 9:12 PM
from IP address 22.214.171.124
And, today, long after I wrote the above piece on Marines In Review, I received an e-mail from another Marine who not only remembers that old radio show, but was actually a part of it for a time. My thanx, Dennis, for your e-mail to me on this--much appreciated!
From: "The Zartmans"
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 16:40:12 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Marines in Review
Enjoyed your piece on the radio show "Marines in
Review". In late 1955
I appeared in several of the broadcasts, most
notably the USMC birthday
show where I played two parts in the dramatic
portion of the program. I
was both the young Marine who was shown around
heaven and the gnarled
old salt who was the tour guide. As you know,
the show was broadcast on
sundays but taped before then prior to the
showing of the movie. ABC
sent a director from Los Angeles along with the
recording engineer. The rest of those on the
program were all Marines.
At the time I was stationed just down the road at
MP battalion and the
work on "Marines in Review" was just a fun
part-time thing I did. I did
maybe three or four shows and then gave it up for
it was time to get
ready for discharge.
I enjoyed your memories of watching the
performance of "Marines in
Posted on Mar 31, 2004, 5:12 PM
from IP address 126.96.36.199
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Marines Sites & Forums
By R.W. "Dick" Gaines
GySgt USMC (Ret.)
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