Jeep Show in the Media
Media Materials
What’s The Scuttlebutt Podcast: “A Masterclass On How To Take Historical Content And Make It Such A Good Read”
Hosts Don Abernathy and Dennis Blocker talk “M1 Thumb” and other easter eggs
“There were three pieces of equipment that I just became obsessed about … One of the things they tell would-be novelists is don’t do too much research before you write your first draft because a lot of what you learn will end up being edited out. I did not follow that advice because it’s just so fascinating … So I probably added an extra two years onto the writing process.”
Talking Jeep Show & Jeep shows on the Jeep Talk Show
Bob talk all things Jeep with host, founder & off-road enthusiast Tony
The Jeep Talk Show is a passionate community hub for Jeep enthusiasts with a focus on off-road culture. They are now celebrating 15 years of connecting Jeep lovers through podcasts and videos.
The Stories Behind Jeep Show On Stories By Joe
“What really drew me to your book was the idea of finding joy in possibly the darkest of moments or in the on the front lines in in a place that other people wouldn’t go”
Joe Geidel is a storyteller and filmmaker who is dedicated to the idea of a living history. He and Bob discuss how joy survives adversity, why excellence matters, and the enduring power of stories to connect and transform.
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Bob O’Connor Joins Tracer Rounds on Military Broadcast Radio
Bob spoke with host Terri Lynch on family service, morale, and the origins of Jeep Show
The Tracer Rounds Podcast on Military Broadcast Radio dives deep into military life, veterans’ issues, and current events. Much like the tracer rounds used in combat to illuminate the path forward, the podcast aims to shed light on critical topics that matter to service members, veterans, and their families.
Jeep Show Excerpt as Performed By HWMS Audio Theatre
How We Manage Stuff: An international theatre company that produces stories about life, friendship & the world
Small shows. A single vehicle and a couple of entertainers. But they were the ones who engaged the front line troops. They went to the battle, to the, places where the USO didn’t go. They saw the war as it was and helped the soldiers to their do their job. They also found themselves in adventures of their own.
Cast: Narrated by Ron Bianchi with voice by Michelle Thomas-Hanson.
Jeep Show On Tactical Treasures With Host Tracy Flanagan
Bob discusses writing: “It’s not what I was getting paid to do — it is just what I needed to do to feel satisfied with my life”
“Tactical Treasures” shares the stories of Veterans, Military spouses, Military family members, and patriotic Military supporters that have been impacted by a specific item, lesson, or recommendation in their life.
Another Day Above Ground: The Podcast For Baby Boomers
Bob joined hosts Dale Irvin, Carolyn Strauss & Tim Slagle for a look back at WWII
Baby Boomers weren’t in World War Two but probably had a father, uncle or neighbour who was. Bob discussed his father and uncle’s service overseas, the origins of Jeep Show and more — with some added hilarity.
“The Extraordinary Comes Out Of Ordinary People.”
Host Mark Turnbull of Aging Today dives into aging, WWII and the power of storytelling
“The Army drafted, you know, wealthy people from New York. It was a cross section of America, and I think that was that was one of its great strengths …Those young men were also coming out of the Depression and that was very hard times for most people. So they were probably a little tougher and used to privation more than we you know, we would be today. But I think — to me — the most striking thing is the Army represented America as a whole.”
Mickey Rooney, the G.I. Bill and Patriotism on The Advocate Brigade
Bob joined TK of The Advocate Brigade, a group musicans and artists that write, play, and perform different in styles. “The realism of being in battle one day and then — the next day — you’re in the chow hall and you’ve got this famous movie star and you’re like … Is this even real life or am I in a movie myself?“
Talk With History Talks Morale: How To Build It, How To Keep It
From hosts Scott & Jennifer: “Think of the likes of Mickey Rooney entertaining troops instead of just making movies. It’s a wild twist on history that not many folks know about!”
Shoutout LA: Meet Bob O’Connor
Bob discusses favourite quotes, inspiration and the art of story telling with Shoutout LA, an online magazine devoted to mom-and-pops, small businesses, independent artists and creatives.
A Few Minutes Of History On The Shows Behind Jeep Show
Host Jake Corfield and Bob O’Connor discuss soldier shows and an Army version of Hamlet
Bob: “You had a varied group in the Morale Corps. You had playwrights, you had musicians, you had comedians, you had dancers. You had Mickey Rooney – the most famous actor in the world in 1939. So it was an assortment of men suited for dreaming up and executing entertainment.”
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Conversations In Time Podcast On Characters Fictional and Real
Exploring the potential what ifs and whatever happened in history, technology and the human experience
Bob: “The American Army was much larger than the American Navy, the Marines or the Army Air Force. Much larger than those services combined so the Army had to rely on the draft … So The Army was the only institution in the war that represented the American people as a whole. They drafted immigrants who could not speak English – they had to teach them English to understand their orders. They drafted PhDs. They drafted young men from poor areas like Appalachia. My father told me there was a young man in his barracks who said his army boots were the first pair of shoes he’d ever owned all by himself.”
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A Simple Conversation on Morale and More
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American Warrior Radio Does Its Homework
Host Ben Buehler-Garcia discusses Mickey Rooney’s motivations and accolades, including a Bronze Star
American Warrior Radio tells the stories of our men & women in the military, those who support them and sharing issues of importance to veterans and their families.
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Let’s Get To The Bottom Of That: WWII Morale Edition
The podcast dedicated to getting past the official story gets the lowdown on Jeep Show and Jeep shows
Let’s Get To The Bottom Of That, a self-described “bunch of wierdos on a mic,” had this to say about Jeep Show: “I really like it, by the way. I’m almost done with it. I’m about like 50 to 75 pages from being done. I got it last week and I’ve just been gobbling it down. It kind of reads like a tour of the Battle of the Bulge.”
History in Motion Dives Deep Into Hitler’s Desperate Gamble
Bob joins hosts Paul and Ritchie to delve into one of World War II’s most dramatic moments: the Battle of the Bulge. Amid the frozen Ardennes, a surprise German offensive tested the Allies at a pivotal point in the war. At the heart of this saga is Brigadier General Anthony “Tony” McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne Division, whose legendary “Nuts!” became a timeless symbol of defiance under siege in Bastogne.
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Rave Review From Leading WWII Site D-Day, Normandy & Beyond
“An unexpectedly delightful World War II novel that expertly blends history with fiction”
“O’Connor provides a rich depiction of wartime life, from dramatic moments aboard ships and coping with harsh weather to the emotional toll of injuries and loss … The characters, both historical and fictional, are fully realized, and O’Connor’s sharp dialogue feels authentic. Humor, particularly stemming from Rooney’s involvement, adds a lightness that contrasts with the otherwise somber setting. The inclusion of real-life figures like Rooney is seamless and serves as a poignant reminder of Jim Hetzer’s real-life experiences.”
“It was brilliant. And it was entertaining.”
Jake Corfield speaks with Bob O’Connor on the UK Perspective On WWII
Bob O’Connor: “The book has been well received by by literary critics but also, and more importantly, these men and women that just can’t get enough about World War II have told me it checks out as historically accurate. Interestingly, many of these people that have spoken to me said they do not read fiction and did not think they would enjoy this book because it is fiction. But in fact because it is a gripping story but it is also extremely accurate to historical fact, they they read it and and liked it so I’m very pleased with the reception so far.”
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Everything Is A Primary Source with Eric Salmonsen
Bob O’Connor discusses the little-known true history that lies behind Jeep Show
“One of the things I like best is I have given this book to historians and World War II buffs – or World War II nerds – and no one that I have talked to yet is aware that there were enlisted men providing entertainment at the front lines so there’s always that surprise among these experts.”
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Jeep Show on Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino
Bob O’Connor discusses his first childhood story on a New York hot dog cart, risks and his path to becoming a writer
“Any time you make a creative project, you are taking a risk.”
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US History Repeated on the Evolution of Troop Entertainment
Bob O’Connor goes into the details of maintaining morale beyond the USO and mail from home with hosts Jeananne Xenakis and Jimmy LaSalle
Bob O’Connor: “If you’re going to do the hard things in life – and nothing great comes easy – you’ve got to have morale. Enthusiasm and willpower are great to start with but they tend to fade.”
“This Was Too Good To Leave Alone:” Two Motrin and Water
Hosts and veterans Jorge Loza and Wesley Reynolds discuss morale, entertainment and how we persevere through hard things
From the Episode Description: “From heartfelt anecdotes to behind-the-scenes glimpses of his research, this episode is a must-listen for history buffs, book lovers, and anyone inspired by the resilience of the human spirit.”
History Unpacked Unpacks Fiction From Real Life
Host Eric Flynn on Jeep Show‘s historical Easter eggs: “There’s a lot of cool touches to the book”
Bob O’Connor: “I did so much research that I just had to get some of it down on paper.”
Jeep Show On History From The Homestead
Bob O’Connor and Host Thomas Carroll on the unique role of Jeep shows to WWII frontline combat troops
“I was studying Mickey Rooney’s squad – he would hang around and talk to the GIs and sign autographs. They had yo-yos or baseballs they’d take along and give them out. What I found was, the show was appreciated and if it was Mickey Rooney, it was pretty funny. But it wasn’t really the show. It was the fact that these guys had come all that way to be physically present with these combat soldiers. Just to sit down and shoot the breeze with them after the show and give them something to write home about … It was the being present as much as doing the show that helped with morale. Frontline troops were isolated, they slept outside. It was very uncomfortable, this was the coldest winter in Europe in 80 years and of course they were constantly under threat.”
Into the Weeds’ Amber Deitz Asks: “What Is The Battle of the Bulge?”
Author Bob O’Connor explains the backstory on one of the pivotal battles of World War 2
“This was December, 1944. The Allied army, mostly American but also some British and some free French, had advanced by September to the German border. They got stuck there because they had outrun their supply lines. The Germans had brilliantly wrecked every port as they surrendered territories … The Allied armies were stuck in eastern Belgium and Luxembourg.
Outrageous History Podcast On the History That Inspired Jeep Show
Host Ernest Granson and Bob O’Connor discuss the real-life outrageous history of Mickey Rooney volunteering for the draft in WWII: “Mickey Rooney certainly did his service.”
“He’s a fascinating character. He was the leading box office star in America in 1939 – can you imagine the leading box office star now joining the army and doing simple entertainment for frontline soliders? I’d like to think it would happen. Rooney was considered an absolute genius by directors he worked with and other actors. In his personal life, he was absolutely off the rails …
“To his credit, he could have served in Hollywood … Rooney chose to be in the European theatre of operations. He did many things but the thing that interested me the most was he was the leader of a Jeep show squad. They and one other enlisted performer would drive to just behind the front lines and do these – in the book, Mickey calls them the ‘K-Ration’ version of a variety show.”
Jeep Show On 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories and Mysteries
Host Jon Hagadorn and Bob O’Connor discuss classic Hollywood stories behind the book
Jon: “Even current-day shows like SNL could really benefit by going back to some of the great acts that came out of vaudeville, like the great acts that were used in the Jeep shows. They could really spice up that show just using acts that are 80 years old but still make you hold your sides.”
Bob: “The basics never changes. Details change but the basics of what is funny never changes.”
Read Beat … and Repeat On Hitler’s “Reckless Gamble”
Host Steve Tartar and Bob O’Connor also delve into how WWII’s Ardennes Offensive became known as the Battle of the Bulge
“After the initial surprise, many American troops stopped and fought brilliantly and stubbornly. Even though many of them were eventually overrun, they threw the Germans off their timetable by several days … And, you know, it probably shortened the war by six or seven months … It is the largest battle ever fought by the U.S. Army. The defence of Bastogne was an immediate legend.”
Jeep Show Meets The Veterans Breakfast Club Greatest Generation Roundtable on the Battle of the Bulge
Host Glenn Flickinger and a panel including Bob O’Connor commemorate the 80th anniversary of the decisive battle
Bob was honoured to join Veterans Breakfast Club for the Greatest Generation Roundtable on the Battle of the Bulge. The panel and guests including veterans of the conflict offered a wealth of little-known details and insight about the last major German offensive on the Western Front of WWII.
Sacred Gyre Podcast Features A Wide-Ranging Discussion on History, Morale and the Work Behind the Book
Host Emily Newberry goes in-depth into the research and history behind Jeep Show
Emily: “After I read your book and then went on to your website, I think I counted about 30 books, articles and videos that you used as research and I’m just wondering, what does that say about you as a person and a writer?”
Bob: “One thing it says about me as a writer is doing too much research is a great way to procrastinate, if you’re curious – and I am curious – because research is fun and writing is hard.”
Veterans Radio Podcast: “I Couldn’t Put It Down”
Robert O’Connor explains what a Jeep show is to host Dale Throneberry
“The Army in World War II went to great lengths to try to make sure that the troops did not get bored and perhaps do things that the Army wouldn’t approve of … The soldiers on the front lines, though, never saw the big USO shows and never got many of the things that were easier to do in the rear echelon. Jeep shows were organized in late 1943, early 1944, to get entertainment to these frontline combat infantrymen.
“The way it worked is three of these enlisted entertainers would get in a Jeep with a driver and they would drive just behind the front lines where the front line combat troops may have been brought back for a hot meal, maybe a shower.
“Unlike pilots who might do a certain number of combat missions and then be rotated back to the States, when you were in an infantry division the only way out was to be badly wounded or captured or killed … Nothing beats mail from home, but the next best thing is to get some entertainers to physically be present up at the front. And so that is how Jeep shows came about.”
Uh-TEN-SHUN!