ROB GALBRAITH introduced Randy Roberts, Distinguished Professor of American History at Purdue University, who talked to us about "Superman, Joe Louis and John Wayne: Popular Culture Fights World War II". People had to imagine the war since it was taking place "over there". Boxer Joe Louis' fight with Max Schmeling was listened to by 70 million people; comic book heroes went to war; John Wayne became the symbol of the American fighting man; and Irving Berlin and others composed music to get the nation through the war. The Office of War Information oversaw popular culture during that time to make sure the war was a "people's war."
