It's Time To Smile 1941 02 12 (20) Guest Joe Dimaggio

# It's Time To Smile - February 12, 1941

Picture yourself huddled around the radio on a cold winter evening in 1941, the warm glow of the dial illuminating eager faces in living rooms across America. Eddie Cantor's signature rolling laugh crackles through the speaker as he welcomes a special guest who's got the nation talking: Joe DiMaggio, the Yankee Clipper himself, fresh off an incredible season and riding high on his fame. You can almost feel the electricity in the studio—Cantor's rapid-fire jokes and infectious energy playing off DiMaggio's bashful charm, the orchestra punctuating every punchline with bright, swinging music. What unfolds is pure radio magic: comedy sketches, musical numbers, and the irresistible appeal of seeing a sports legend attempt to match wits with one of vaudeville's sharpest comedians.

This episode captures a golden moment in American entertainment history, when radio was the undisputed king of mass media and a guest appearance on The Eddie Cantor Show was a mark of genuine cultural significance. Cantor himself was a titan of the medium—a pioneer who'd successfully transitioned from silent film and stage to become one of broadcasting's most beloved personalities. His variety format, blending comedy, music, and celebrity guests, became the template for countless shows to follow. In early 1942, with war looming, these broadcasts served as vital morale boosters, offering Americans precious hours of laughter and escapism.

Join Eddie Cantor and the incomparable Joe DiMaggio for an evening of timeless entertainment that captures the spirit of American radio at its finest. You'll hear why millions of listeners made this show an unmissable weekly appointment, and why seventy years later, the joy and vitality still shine through.