Hollywood Canteen

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The Hollywood Canteen operated at 1451 Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, California between October 3, 1942 and the end of World War II as a club offering food and entertainment for American servicemen, usually on their way overseas.

The driving force behind its creation were Bette Davis and John Garfield along with composer Jule Styne, President of Music Corporation of America, who headed up the finance committee. Davis devoted an enormous amount of time and energy to the project and served as its president. The cost of materials for the renovations and the labor was all donated by members of the various guilds and unions of the entertainment industry.

Glamorous stars volunteered to wait on tables, cook in the kitchen and clean up. On September 15, 1943, the one millionth guest walked through the door of the Hollywood Canteen. The lucky soldier, Sgt. Carl Bell, received a kiss from Betty Grable.

A Hall of Honor at the Hollywood Canteen had a wall of photos which honored the film actors who served in the military. Most of those actors, while on shore leave, came out to help the Canteen.

In 1944, Warner Bros. made a star-studded film about the Hollywood Canteen.

[edit] Canteen Volunteers:

Some of the celebrities who donated their services at the Hollywood Canteen were:

[edit] External link

• Hollywood Canteen photograph collection
• Hollywood Canteen at the Internet Movie Database