MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The United Service Organization's show troupe, the Liberty Belles, along with the Parris Island Jazz Band, preformed a USO-style show straight from the 1940s at the Depot Lyceum Saturday.
The 2003 Christmas Concert, hosted by Brig. Gen. Joseph J. McMenamin, commanding general MCRD/ERR, entertained members of the Tri-Command with performances reminiscent of the World War II era.
The Christmas concert poster read, "Take a trip back in time to the 1940's." That is what the performers tried to do for their audience. The Lyceum was filled with historical items, the band was performing in World War II era utilities and the Liberty Belles belted out songs reminiscent of the time.
The show started with the band playing Christmas music and a Bob Hope style comic monologue, preformed by Master Sgt. Ronald R. Hackler, staff NCOIC for the band.
"It was set up like an old USO-style show," said Hackler. "Bob Hope was a big part of those World War II shows and we set out to mimic that performance."
After the introduction, the Liberty Belles took the stage.
"Hopefully we will bring back fond memories to our GI's," said Victoria Reed, soprano and producer for the Liberty Belles. "We are taking it back to the 40s. We do patriotic style shows with a little from the 50s, and Saturday we did a Christmas section."
In between each section of the show, Hackler's Bob Hope-styled performances put the audience at ease while the troupe prepared for the next piece.
"Our pieces range from patriotic to nostalgic and the USO has been bringing this kind of entertainment and services to troops since 1941," said Linda Sue Moshier, alto for the Belles.
"It is nice to let some of the younger generations see some of the history of music," said Belles' soprano Jennifer Johns.
The group hopes that performances like these will bring new awareness to their performance style.