Historical Context: September, 1942

The Maltese Falcon was released in cinemas across the U.S. in September of 1942. Another film — this one based on a radio program — opened at the Orland Theatre in Orland Park, Illinois: Here We Go Again with Edgar Bergen and his wise-cracking dummy Charlie McCarthy, teamed with the radio couple Fibber McGee and Molly.

World War II was raging. The USS Wasp, a Navy aircraft carrier, was torpedoed and sunk  by a Japanese submarine on Sept. 15 of 1942. The Wasp was engaged in covering the movement of supplies and reinforcements into Guadalcanal Island.

On Sept. 19, 1942, the British government expanded its Compulsory Fire Watch duty to women ages 20-45 with exemptions for pregnant women and mothers of children under 14.