You Must Remember This 27: Star Wars Episode I: Bette Davis and the Hollywood Canteen
Jan 5, 2015
Explore the fascinating intersection of Hollywood and WWII. Discover how Bette Davis became the face of the Hollywood Canteen, which provided a refuge for troops. Learn about the canteen's role as both a charitable effort and a propaganda tool. Delve into Davis's struggles and triumphs in her career, personal life, and involvement in racial integration. Uncover the myths versus realities of life at the canteen, including its scandalous behind-the-scenes events and the FBI's watchful eye on the stars.
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Hollywood As Wartime Home Base
- Hollywood organized itself as a physical and symbolic center for soldiers leaving for the Pacific during WWII.
- The Hollywood Canteen used celebrity access to create patriotic propaganda and boost morale.
Bette Davis Became The Canteen's Face
- Bette Davis emerged as the public face and president of the Hollywood Canteen, working nearly every night.
- She mobilized unions, studio crews, and friends to renovate a rundown nightclub into the canteen.
Rebranding A Controversial Star
- Davis's complicated star persona made her an unlikely but powerful symbol of patriotic femininity.
- Her reputation for playing ruthless women was reshaped by canteen publicity into an image of civic generosity.
