I grew up in Newport, Kentucky, during World War II (1941-1945). While what I will be writing about is what I experienced in Northern Kentucky, I cannot believe that which I am going to relate differs much from what was happening in Frankfort at the same time.
We had no air conditioning in our home nor did we have a television. Television only arrived in Newport in 1947. During the summer, we went to the air conditioned movie theater once a week on Sunday afternoon. My father, due to his civilian occupation, was exempt from military service. He was drafted in early 1944, but the War Production Board told the Draft Board, “You can put him in uniform, but he is staying at his job.”
In Newport, we had three air conditioned theaters to choose from, the Hipp, State and Strand. But no matter which theater you went to, the menu was the same, two movies each that ran from 60 to 90 minutes. The showing started with a preview of the next week’s showing, followed by a movie. This movie was followed by a cartoon. Then came the featured film. At the end of the featured film, a “Movietone News” film was shown of 5 to 7 minutes length. The “Movietone News” film focused on war news from around the world. This was then followed by a two minute “Bugs Bunny” film. Within this short film, Bugs sang a song written by Irving Berlin promoting the purchasing of War Bonds. The lyrics were as follows:
The tall man with a high hat and whiskers on his chin
Will soon be knocking at your door and you ought to be in
The tall man with the high hat will be coming down your way
Get your savings out when you hear him shout, “Any bonds today?”
Any bonds today?
Bonds of freedom
That’s what I’m selling.
Any bonds today?
Scrape up the most you can.
Here comes the freedom man
Asking you to buy a share of freedom today.
The “Bugs Bunny” short “Any Bonds Today” is viewable on YouTube. Part of it is blackface but it is a reflection of the United States during World War II. What I still remember is going to the movies with mom and dad circa 1946, and I could not understand why Bugs was no longer singing “Any Bonds Today” after the “Movietone News.” When Bugs sang “Any Bonds Today,” it meant it was time to go home. I think it was Christmas 1944 when I did not get a present under the tree but instead was given a $25 War Bond. There were few toys to be purchased in 1944. I cashed this War Bond when I went to college. “Any Bonds Today”
If you have any materials regarding War Bond drives in Frankfort, contact the Capital City Museum.
