Alan Anderson discusses his book, “The Songwriter Goes to War.” He begins by explaining that after he was inducted into the army he was assigned the duties of a production stage manager and first sergeant of the detachment “This is the Army.” Anderson explain the origins of “This is the Amy,” which was a show that Irving Berlin opened on Broadway just before Armistice Day of World War I in 1918. The show ran for thirty-two performances and was notable for its company, which was composed entirely of servicemen. Anderson goes on to explain that the concept of an all-service show gained even more popularity when the United States entered World War II. In this interview Anderson details how his book recalls the story of Irving Berlin’s show, of which Anderson was able to observe from the vantage point of production stage manager. Also, in this interview Anderson briefly discusses his father, American writer Maxwell Anderson.
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