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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

UA 53.01 John J. Cecchini Collection

John J. Cecchini Collection
Title: John J. Cecchini Collection
Caption: Collection photo # UA 53.01.01 - Cecchini and his musical revue troupe “Anchor Antics” performing on Bennett Island in the Marshalls, 1946
Description: Collection of approximately 50 photographs circa 1934-1946, including - USS California (BB-44) landing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 1934: images including the landing force as wells USS Tracy (DD 214) alongside California to refuel and provision the ship. Additional images of USS California include her in dry dock at Hunter’s Point, San Francisco, March 1934. Crew photos onboard USS California consists of boxers, ship’s racing crew, and a diver in full diving gear. A secondary group of images from 1946 consists of sailors performing in a musical revue troupe called “Anchor Antics” on the Marshall Islands (Truk, Bennett Island, & Roi-Namur). Photos include the troupe, theaters they performed in, villagers, captured Japanese sea planes, various buildings, & abandoned US Army tanks. Also found in the collection are a series of post cards depicting scenes from Carnival in Panama City, also from the mid-1940s, as well as a series of US Navy stock photos of the following ships: USS Omaha, USS Saratoga, USS Texas, USS New York, USS Arizona, USS Marblehead, USS Florida, USS Detroit, USS Memphis (at the Panama Canal), USS Wright, USS Colorado, USS Wyoming, USS Richmond, & USS Concord. ***Of note from the donor: the “Anchor Antics” was put together after WWII and was composed of enlisted personnel (including the donor), most of who entertained in civilian life. They toured and put on shows on small islands and bases that didn’t get the larger USO shows. The collection includes a full show script and promotional poster.
Accession #: UA 53
Catalog #: UA 53.01
Copyright Owner: Naval History & Heritage Command
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