It's Time To Smile 1944 12 27 (173) New Year's Show (poor)

# The Eddie Cantor Show: It's Time To Smile (December 27, 1944)

As 1944 drew to a close, America gathered around their radios for Eddie Cantor's New Year's special, a broadcast that promised the usual whirlwind of comedy, music, and infectious energy that had made Cantor a household institution. Yet this particular "It's Time To Smile" episode captures something more poignant—a nation weary from four years of war, seeking solace and laughter as it looked toward an uncertain future. Cantor, with his trademark rapid-fire delivery and those famous wide eyes (invisible but somehow felt through the speakers), guides listeners through a program of comedy sketches, popular songs, and guest performances designed to lift spirits during the holiday season. The broadcast crackles with the urgency of live radio, where anything might happen, and the performers clearly understand their mission: to provide respite from rationing, worry, and loss that defined the home front.

By 1944, Eddie Cantor had already spent nearly two decades dominating American entertainment, transitioning from vaudeville through Broadway to become radio's most reliable purveyor of optimism. His "It's Time To Smile" program represented the best of network comedy variety—a format that would soon fade as television rose—where talented ensembles and guest stars created spontaneous entertainment in real-time. This New Year's broadcast especially reflects radio's crucial role during wartime, serving as America's emotional barometer and collective counselor.

Step back into December 1944 and experience how Americans of that era rang in the New Year. Whether you're a radio historian or simply curious about how our grandparents found joy during darker times, this episode remains a fascinating artifact of entertainment, hope, and the unique magic that only live radio could deliver.