James Reese Europe was a jazz bandleader, lieutenant, and Harlem Hellfighter who served in The First World War. This episode of Showman's Land charts his involvement in the War as both a soldier and a bandleader for the U.S. war effort. While fighting abroad, he tailored his jazz music to comment on the soldier experience and the War.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Episode 2 | Elsie Janis

Welcome to Showman's Land: Entertainment for the U.S. War Effort in World War I. This project explores the work of three entertainers at the time and how they shaped perceptions of the War, their respective entertainment industries, and their identities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.