The original Army Navy "screen magazine" was a news and information film that was shown before the main feature in military movie theaters during World War II. These presentations consisted of human-interest stories from the home front, news about combat events, updates on defense-related industry, and rallies or programs that starred celebrities of the time - including
Bob Hope,
Harpo Marx, & Joe E. Brown. The films were devised to boost the troops' morale, and some contain derogatory racial stereotypes. Among the most popular segments in these "magazines" were cartoons about Private Snafu - a lazy, stubborn soldier who did everything wrong and ended up "learning his lesson" in ways that amused the audience. (The Snafu cartoons were created by Theodore Geisel, more widely known as Dr. Seuss.)
~ Alice Duncan, All Movie Guide