From CBI Roundup, 28 Dec 1944;
Lily Pons, the petite diva, and her husband, Andre Kostalanetz, brilliant conductor and a gentleman with more than ordinary skill at getting the mostest and bestest out of a piano, have arrived in the India-Burma Theater, through the courtesy of USO Shows. They'll be with us for 60 days in the I-B Theater. For the record, and lest there be disappointments, it is not at the moment practicable for the Pons-Kostalanetz troupe to be booked into the China Theater.
It is, of course, redundant to record the fact that Mrs. Kostalanetz has been an outstanding ornament of the Metropolitan Opera Company since 1931, a matter which is easy to understand when one regards the combination of voice and person embodied in the charming lady.
Nor can one in fairness gloss over the fact that after completing a 15-week tour of North Africa, the Middle East, the Persian Gulf Command and the Italian Theater, that Miss Pons has cancelled her usual winter season at the "Met" to come to the Far East.
Kostalanetz has been playing the piano with consummate finesse since the tender age of five and at the hoary age of eight made his professional debut. Plans call for him to conduct an all-G.I. band, members of which are being recruited from various bases in the Theater, and Special Service announces that it isn't having to twist anyone's arm.
La Pons and Kostalanetz will appear at as many stations as they can reach in 60 days. They won't be able to get everywhere, but they'll make the try.
Frank Versacci, flutist, and Theodore Paxton, music composer and arranger.From here, they will proceed to ETO.
Miss Pons is assisted from the C-47 "Skytrain" transport aircraft which brought her to Yang Chiseh Airfield at Yangkai, China. We have no specific identification of the men visible in the photo.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Lily Pons poses with unidentified Maj./Lt. Col. (possibly base commander?).
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Before departing the aircraft parking ramp, Miss Pons poses with unidentified officer.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Andre Kastelanetz stands on the far left while ARC ladies Phyliss Doloff and Barbara Vatter bracket Lily Pons. We have no identification for the other three men.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Lily Pons & Andre Kostelanetz crowd into the front of a covered jeep driven by the unidentified Maj./Lt. Col. Phylliss Doloff and Barbara Vatter sit in the back
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
After arriving at The LAST RESORT, atop 'Red Dust Hill' at Yang Chiseh field, Lily Pons and Andre Kostalanetz posed for more photos.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Still near the compound atop the hill, Lily again poses, bracketed by Phylliss and Barbara.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Smiles on the faces of audience members suggest they were greatly enjoying the rope-twirling talents of Jack Cavanaugh.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Lily Pons, Andre Kastelanetz, Frank Versacci and Theodore Paxtion offered a photo op inside The LAST RESORT. None of the men behind and beside them are identified.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
After settling in a little and awaiting the start of her show, Lily Pons sat and along with members of her entourage chatted with the "welcoming committee" of men assigned at Yangkai.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Andre Kastelanetz led the orchestra in a couple of songs.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
After which he stepped to the front of the stage to introduce Miss Pons.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Whereupon, Lily Pons gave her first performance, singing a few songs to a very rapt audience.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
MSgt. Theodore Paxton, emcee, introduced Frank Versacci's first performance, then sat at the piano for accompaniment.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
However, he had to share his chair with Frank Versacci's feet. The diminutive Versacci needed to stand on the edge so everyone in the audience might see him.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Finally, Andre again took over the piano as he again introduced Lily Pons.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)
Again, the thundering audience quieted to hear Lily's voice and Frank's flute.
(courtesy of Eugene Wozniak collection.)