In this episode, Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore the rich history of wartime songs, focusing on the song 'The Deepest Shelter in Town.' They discuss the impact of music during World War II, the life of performer Florence Desmond and the role of entertainers in boosting morale. The conversation delves into personal anecdotes about their experiences on the London cabaret scene, the Blitz and it’s effect on Britain, ARP (air raid precautions) and even the sex workers of London during WW2.
To listen to all the songs mentioned in the episode please visit their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN
REFERENCES
Nellie Wallace “Under the Bed” (1929)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtWvFJWZAug
Sally in Our Alley (1931)
https://m.ok.ru/video/2989760187060
Florence Desmond’s Hollywood Party (1933)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p32znXVIqSI&t=8s
Holborn Empire
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/westons.htm
Vivienne Hole
https://www.cwgc.org/stories/stories/civilian-vivienne-hole-ensa-entertainment-s-national-service-association-every-night-something-awful/
Dunsborough House
https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/dunsborough-park-the-elegant-surrey-home-once-owned-by-a-daredevil-aviator-who-had-an-affair-with-shirley-bassey-153415
Anderson Shelters
https://andersonshelters.org.uk/
Morrison Shelters
https://andersonshelters.org.uk/other-shelters/morrison-shelters/
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:55 Opening Chat and Catch Up
03:30 Exploring Florence Desmond's Career
06:36 The Impact of World War I on Music Hall
07:30 The Influence of Noel Coward
08:30 Florence Desmond on Film
11:32 Impersonations and Their Popularity
12:12 The Dark Side of Fame: Lead Poisoning and Its Consequences
13:13 Café de Paris: A Legacy of Performance
14:48 The Impact of War on Theatre: The Story of Applesauce
15:52 The Tragic Fate of the Hoblorn Empire
16:43 Royal Appearances: Theatre and the Royals
17:13 The Role of Entertainment During War: ENSA and Its Performers
18:45 A Tragic Loss: The Story of Vivian Fair
19:53 Life After War: Florence's Continued Stardom
20:41 Love and Loss: Florence's Marriages
21:06 Dunsborough: A Home of Hospitality and Celebrities
22:25 The Life of Charles Hewesden: A Daring Aviator
22:40 The Song Behind the Story: Leslie Julian Jones
23:35 The Blitz: A Historical Context
26:45 Anderson Shelters: The Homefront's Response to Bombing
29:22 The British Spirit: Defiance in the Face of Adversity
29:39 The Morrison Shelter: A Grim Necessity
30:46 Public Shelters: A Social Experiment
32:10 Underground Shelters: A Unique Experience
33:28 Looking at the Song: “The Deepest Shelter in Town”
34:24 Sex Work in Wartime London
36:30 “Lost” Songs from the 1940s
38:10 Lyric Analysis
40:49 The Craft of Comedy in Wartime Songs
43:30 Other Listening Recommendations
47:52 “Mentioned in Dispatches”
49:54 Outro
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
You can follow the podcast on social media:
http://instagram.com/warsongspod
https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod
Find more information about Lili Redman here:
https://liliredman.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/
https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil
Or Tom Carradine here:
https://www.tomcarradine.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine
https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine
CONTACT THE PODCAST
If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at warsongspod@gmail.com to be "Mentioned in Dispatches".
LISTENING LINKS
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318
If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
