On the Road for Uncle Sam
New York: Bernard Geis Associates, 1963. First Printing. Hardcover. [8], 312 pages. Endpaper maps in color. Illustrations. Excerpt from the Congressional Record. Signed by the author. Joey Adams led a goodwill vaudeville tour through Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, and Vietnam, at the request of the State Department. Joey Adams (born Joseph Abramowitz; January 6, 1911 – December 2, 1999) was a comedian, vaudevillian, radio host, nightclub performer, and author. Adams' career spanned more than 70 years and included appearances in nightclubs and vaudeville shows. For a while he also hosted his own radio show and wrote 23 books. On September 7, 1952, The Joey Adams Show debuted on WAAM-TV in Baltimore. He made numerous other TV appearances, including on The Ed Sullivan Show, Howard Stern's 1990s TV shows, and What's My Line? He was in the films Singing in the Dark (1956), Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966), and Silent Prey (1997). A firsthand account of the author's travels and experiences entertaining American troops, particularly during a 1961-1962 tour. The book chronicles his journey, offering a comedic yet personal perspective on military life and international travel. "On the Road for Uncle Sam" (1963) by Joey Adams, often subtitled The Bittersweet Adventures of an American Vaudeville Troupe in Southeast Asia, is a non-fiction account of the comedian and author’s goodwill tour, sponsored by the U.S. State Department. The book chronicles Adams and his troupe touring through Southeast Asia to counter Soviet propaganda, acting as "goodwill ambassadors in greasepaint". It describes the adventures, comedic moments, and cultural exchanges experienced by the troupe while traveling to various countries. The narrative is described as a blend of humor and "bittersweet" observations. The tour was a Cold War-era effort to foster positive relationships with American allies and neutral nations in Asia. Extracts from a State Department memorandum: Washington, May 7, 1963. The Joey Adams tour resulted from a number of requests from field establishments for a variety show which could play hospitals, market squares, fairs, etc., as well as present some more formal performances. The idea originally arose because of the enormous success of the Soviet and Chinese variety shows in the Far East, South Asia and the Middle East. I understand that the proposal was taken up with Ed Sullivan who suggested Joey Adams as the person to put the show together. In many respects the tour was a success, We went to the professional group in that field: the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). President of AGVA was Joey Adams. The show toured 11 countries and gave almost 100 performances in 19 cities in the Near and Far East. It was seen by an estimated quarter of a million people, not counting the groups who saw individual performers who made over 40 visits to hospitals, orphanages and schools during the tour. ... our missions in these countries described the success of the show as “outstanding,” “smashing,” or “impressive.”. Condition: good / fair.
Keywords: Joey Adams, Vaudeville, Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, Entertainers, Performers, Military Bases, Military Morale
[Book #15001]
Price: $125.00