“The Sweetheart of the A.E.F.”
During World War I, vaudevillian and musical comedy star Elsie Janis (1889–1956) entertained American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F) soldiers, along with French, British, and Canadian troops throughout France in war zones and hospital wards, earning the nickname, “The Sweetheart of the A.E.F.” General Pershing (1860-1948) so valued her efforts that he assigned her an auto and chauffeur. In these letters from 1952, Janis volunteered to perform her most popular song among hospitalized soldiers on Bob Hope’s television show and later suggested that he instead feature some of the unknown talent who entertained the troops on the front lines.
During World War I, vaudevillian and musical comedy star Elsie Janis (1889–1956) entertained American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F) soldiers, along with French, British, and Canadian troops throughout France in war zones and hospital wards, earning the nickname, “The Sweetheart of the A.E.F.” General Pershing (1860-1948) so valued her efforts that he assigned her an auto and chauffeur. In these letters from 1952, Janis volunteered to perform her most popular song among hospitalized soldiers on Bob Hope’s television show and later suggested that he instead feature some of the unknown talent who entertained the troops on the front lines.