Wartime Entertainment in Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa
The 1940s Cedar Rapids era kept theater and music alive as war news and bonds drives ran alongside popular dances at venues like Danceland and Kingston Ballroom. Stars such as Lawrence Welk and Louis Armstrong drew crowds while USO spaces and radio shows offered solace to families across Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vadette
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
Englert
Varsity
Strand
Pastime
Iowa City
Paramount
State
Palace
Rialto
Times
Gary Cooper
Bud Louis
Andrews Sisters
Frank Sinatra
Third St
Mark Hunter
Lawrence Welk
Count Basie
Glenn Miller
Louis Armstrong
Red Crown
Temple
USO Girls Dress Code and a Lifelong Marion Marriage
Joyce Abodeely, 76, a longtime Marion resident, was a USO girl stationed at five bases in Colorado Springs and Denver. There she met her husband Ken Abodeely, a Cedar Rapids native, who worked at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver. He and friends missed a bus, Ken chose Joyce, and they married 57 years ago. The USO girls followed a strict dress code with no full skirts or knee skirts and were checked on and off buses, able to share phone numbers but not go home with soldiers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joyce Abodeely
Marion
USO
Colorado Springs
Denver
Ken Abodeely
Cedar Rapids
Fitzsimmons General Hospital
Ken
Joyce
War years game day: Eastern Iowa high school sports
During World War II high school sports in Eastern Iowa served as a vital diversion. Veterans and alumni recall gas rationing, community crowds of 2,000 at local fields, and teams like the Iowa Seahawks filling the void left by pro and minor league play.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J.R. Ogden Gazette
Bob Jennings
Immaculate Conception
Regis High School
Iowa
Jennings
S.C
Bob Russell
Russell
Iwo Jima
Cedar Rapids
Bill Quinby
Hill Park
Roosevelt Middle School
M&j League
Manufacturers and Jobbers
Daniels Park
Iowa Seahawks
University of Iowa
Also Mentioned on This Page
Diana Nollen
National Guard
Collins Radio War Production
Scottish Rite Temple
A Avenue
Kingston
Ellis Park
Roosevelt
Hurdle and
Halter
Montrose
D&l Grill
Mairzy Coats
Chickery Chick
Charlotte Edelbrock
North Liberty
Arlington
Bud Abbott
Lou Costello
First Avenue
Second Street
New York
Third Ave
Bud
Louisiana City
Bob Gender
Marr
Hunter
Iown
Quinby
NFL
Legion
Cedar River
Hawkeye Downs
Iowa State
Eddie Anderson
Mike Michalske
Camp Grant
ISU
Ottumwa
Coe
Cornell
Franklin High School
Waverly
U.S
Manac Dacray
Ulouvy
Rabaul
Gual
Mariana Islands
Frank Merrill
Ned
Burma
The
Allies
Orde Wingate
Beban
Gustav
Rome
Adolf Hitler
Anzio
Vane
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!