Lanza, Mario

Following his stage debut in August 1942, Lanza was awarded a contract with Columbia Concerts. But, just as his performing career was about to begin, World War II intervened. He was drafted in 1943, and it was soon decided that he would be more useful entertaining the troops than firing a gun. He joined a 50-soldier choral group, the Chorus of Winged Victory , which toured in a review called On the Beam. The review's conductor had Hollywood connections and secured...