After the struggling through the Depression the previous decade, Americans braced for the long haul of World War Two. They had become used to coping with rough times. The radio was an aid to this, and so was Hollywood, with its stars on the airwaves to hearten the population.

MAIL CALL, with Judy Garland, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante, and Frank Sinatra, gives us a warm look at the radio programs featuring Hollywood luminaries during the war years. The amicable young Garland grabs one by the heart with her sincere laughter, to say nothing of her strong voice singing favorites like "The Trolley Song," and obscure gems like "Can Do, Will Do." The banter still raises a smile even today.