The World War II Photo of the Week
for 27 December 2004
Midnight Merry-Go-Round ...
1940s radio emcee Tom Hanlon and the cast of his KNX "Midnight Merry-Go-Round" are shown at work all night long trying to get out hundreds of Christmas packages to send to wounded soldiers in time for Christmas. Hanlon (hands on hips in background) had broadcast a plea, by request of a captain at Birmingham General Hospital in Van Nuys, California, for Christmas presents for the 850 newly-arrived wounded veterens from the Battle of Leyte. The result? He received 5,000 gifts and $500.00 in cash! Members of the CBS staff worked through the night on December 23, 1944 to wrap the parcels. At eight o'clock the following morning, Sunday the 24th, four 2-1/2 ton Army trucks arrived to take the presents to the boys.
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