It's Time To Smile 1944 05 31 (156) Guest Lawrence Tibbett

# The Eddie Cantor Show: It's Time To Smile

Picture yourself tuning the dial on a warm May evening in 1944, settling in for an evening of pure entertainment as Eddie Cantor's unmistakable voice crackles through the speaker. In "It's Time To Smile," the virtuoso comedian is in magnificent form, ready to deliver the rapid-fire jokes and infectious energy that America has come to crave during these uncertain times. But tonight's program carries an extra sparkle—the legendary baritone Lawrence Tibbett graces the microphone, his rich operatic voice a stunning contrast to Cantor's vaudeville zaniness. What unfolds is a masterclass in variety entertainment, where comedy sketches give way to soaring musical interludes, where laughter mingles with genuine artistry. The orchestra swells, the audience roars, and for thirty minutes, the outside world melts away.

By 1944, The Eddie Cantor Show had become an American institution, a beacon of morale and normalcy during wartime. Cantor himself—with his distinctive "Banjo Eyes" and relentless optimism—embodied the spirit of entertainment that kept audiences connected and hopeful. This particular season found the show in its remarkable thirteenth year on air, having survived the Depression and adapted brilliantly to the demands of wartime broadcasting. The combination of comedy, music, and star power made each episode an event, and Tibbett's appearance represents the caliber of talent Cantor could command at the height of his powers.

Here is vintage radio at its finest: the spontaneity, the artistry, the sheer joy of live performance captured forever on electrical transcription. Tune in and hear why Eddie Cantor's laughter still echoes across the decades, why America couldn't wait to smile along with him.