NBC Memories 1942 - 1964
by Bill Roddy

Chapter Seven of Twelve

The Big Bands, 1946 

1946 was a wonderful year in San Francisco.

The war was over and thousands of servicemen were coming home on big gray transports through the Golden Gate. All ships large or small were met by the Welcome Home yacht, Cavanaugh, once owned by Edsel Ford. A Women's Army Corp band played on the afterdeck. Along the rail girls waved at the men aboard the transport. The men yelling, "How about a date?"

Photo from Gateway to Victory published by Stanford University Press, 1946

By night fall the servicemen would have dates, and they would head for one of the many San Francisco hotels and night clubs for an evening of dancing to a big band. Announcing these bands was one of my favorite assignments and these pages will recall them.

Chapter Eight: Party Time