The Land's Best Bands

For the U.S. Navy, 1950 was a time of transition. The notion of going to sea to find adventure had attracted young men for hundreds of years, and after the great technological built up during the War, the Navy was in a position to continue that tradition. However, there were forces afoot which were determined to steal some of the thunder from "the canoe club". Although the entire nation seemed ready to step up and defend freedom in the days immediately after Pearl Harbor, nearly a decade later, after all, the sacrifices of War, serving in the military had begun to lose its appeal. Besides, the Navy was seen as "old fashioned", the real innovations were happening in the Air Force, weren't they?

In fact, the Navy was in the process of putting nuclear reactors on submarines and learning how to fly jets off of aircraft carriers (which were still conventionally steam powered at the time but would become atomically powered as well). The traditional surface force was in for some radical changes as well. Guided missiles, communications, and RADAR meant that a modern sailor could expect an intensive level of training in modern electronics.

With the Cold War a growing threat, the Navy needed MEN! Dedicated, intelligent, and patriotic men! The Navy needed them to swab decks, paint bulkheads, carry supplies, and peel potatoes, things that junior sailors had been doing for years, but Navy Recruiters were smart enough not to mention that. The youngsters would discover that once they got to the fleet! (To be fair, the technical training was there, but junior sailors still had to learn to be sailors first!)

Naval Recruiting sold the romance and adventure of going to sea. Whether you were in the radar shack with your eyes glued to a 'scope or you were stuck in the galley peeling spuds for the entire cruise, there were more than enough romance and adventure to go around, the Recruiter just had to get the young men through the door. More than the other services, Navy Recruiting became expert at using popular music to get their message out with shows like The Land's Best Bands. It is easy to imagine a group of youngsters getting ready to graduate from high school, hanging out at the local drugstore, dancing to the hot tunes coming from the radio, and between numbers actually considering the future that the Navy had to offer.

The Land's Best Bands was a transcribed production, likely pasted together from pre-recorded material. Host Don Wilson, well known for his work on The Jack Benny Program and other shows, introduced the bands. Acts included the Harry James Orchestra, Spike Jones and his City Slickers, and Elliot Morris and his piano. Don also has plenty of information about Navy life to share, so before you head down to the recruiting office, enjoy a number of two.