Mother's Victory Pin
Victory Caravan Scrapbook
Gift of Alma Carroll, 2016.745
Young starlet Alma Carroll traveled the nation with the Hollywood Victory Caravan, a three-week cross-country rail journey in April and May 1942. In her teens, Alma modeled and won "Miss America of National Defense" at age seventeen. She toured the country's military bases in the fall of 1941.She signed on to Columbia Studios on January 11, 1942, her eighteenth birthday, while continuing her studies at University High School in Los Angeles. In March 1942, she was asked to take part in the Hollywood Victory Caravan. Stars participating in the tour included Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Laurel and Hardy, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck, and Bing Crosby. The trip consisted of stops in fourteen cities, including a visit at the White House, with performances lasting three hours. The variety-style show raised $800,000 for Army and Navy relief funds. Alma was one of eight starlets who acted as background dancers and performers for the major stars on the revue. Upon completion of the Victory Caravan each performer was presented with a commemorative photo album and engraved press book of the performances.
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