Bradley Beam

Glenn Miller Band Pleases Bradleyites In Show At Gym

Large Crowd Attends

America's finest music was brought to this Base, Thursday night, when Capt. Glenn Miller and his AAFTC Band entertained the Bradley Field personnel. This combine is composed of such men as Ray McKinley, world famous drummer, Mel Powell, former pianist with Benny Goodman, Johnnie Desmond, vocalist, and musicians who ran the gamut of symphony orchestra experience to Lower Basin Street rhythms.

Sgt. Broderick Crawford, stage and screen star, introduced Capt. Miller and the program was off to a flying start with the ever-popular "In the Mood." Every shoe in the GI-filled gymnasium tapped out the rhythm of this familiar tune and, although the various tempos changed during the evening, the danceable beats were echoed by the tapping of the listeners' feet.

One of the evening's highlights was the symphonic arrangement of "Holiday for Strings." The OD garbed music-makers went "all out" with this currently popular number. Sgt. McKinley brought down the gym with his version of the "G. I. Jive" assisted by the irrepressible Crew Chiefs.

To close the program, Capt. Miller led the Band in a specially arranged version of "The Anvil Chorus from Verdi's I Trovatore." Any resemblance to the original and Ray McKinley's "sock" chorus was purely coincidental.

At the conclusion of the program, Capt. Miller voiced the opinion that he would be happy to return to this Base for another concert. We, at Bradley Field, hope that it will be soon.