Hollywood Victory Caravan

The Hollywood Victory Caravan was a three-week railroad journey of 1942 that brought a number of famous performers across the United States to raise money for war bonds.

Along the way there were numerous stops, which coincided with parades, performances, and other events. Some performers were present for the entire journey, others joined or left as their schedules permitted. Members of the Caravan were received by Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House.

Performers included Laurel and Hardy, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Olga San Juan, Barbara Stanwyck, Bing Crosby, Bert Lahr, Pat OBrien, Groucho Marx, Claudette Colbert, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Merle Oberon and Desi Arnaz.

A comedic 19-minutes short, starring many of the above-names celebrities, was released in October 1945 by Paramount Pictures and the U.S. Department of the Treasury to celebrate the event.

A girl is desperate to get to Washington D.C. to be with her lonesome brother, a wounded G.I. She persuades Bing Crosby to let her join his caravan.