GI Jive

GI Jive was a 15-minute music show distributed by the Armed Forces Radio Service to American Troops during World War II. It was originally recorded five days a week, but later increased to six.

Unlike shows like Mail Call and Command Performance, which were recorded performances by celebrities and stars, GI Jill featured a disk jockey spinning platters by popular performers, primarily jazz and swing artists such as Stan Kenton, Anita O'Day, and Tommy Dorsey. Occasionally, celebrities such as Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, would appear for brief interviews.

Initially, the shows featured guest DJs, often from the services, but eventually, acquired a steady DJ, a woman who used the radio name of "GI Jill" and who became a darling of the troops. GI Jill was Martha Wilkerson, but she never revealed her real name or facts about her personal life on the show. Two decades later, she was quoted as saying, "The men overseas created Jill. They made her what they wanted her to be, the girl back home."

For more information, see Wikipedia.

Series description provided by Frank Bell.