After he is drafted into the armed forces, musical comedy producer Jim Lighter is sent to an induction center at Fort MacArthur, California. There he meets fellow rookies Bert and Pudge Pfeiffer, who announce to the camp that he is a famous Broadway producer. Despite the fact that Jim has become disillusioned with the theater, Bert and Pudge suggest that he produce a camp show. Noting that morale is low due to insufficient recreation for the men, Colonel Robbins embraces the idea and orders Jim to produce the show. Jim's visions for a lavish production are shattered when the colonel orders him to restrict his performers to army talent and limits his budget to $209. Jim has already written his former sweetheart, showgirl Winnie Clark, about his extravaganza, however, and when Winnie reads his letter, she embarks upon a tour of the army camps along the Pacific Coast. En route, she discovers that her mother had deliberately sabotaged her relationship with Jim and vows to reconcile with him. When Winnie arrives at the army camp, however, the colonel assigns her to assist with the show, thus earning Jim's enmity. Jim's ego is further bruised when Winnie's mother notifies the newspapers that Winnie has arrived to save the show. Despite the many interruptions dictated by army routine, Jim puts together the show, but just as he readies for the debut, the general arrives for an inspection and the performance is postponed for war games. After Jim's crew is beaten soundly by their enemy team, the colonel advances the date of the revue so that the general will be able to attend. Although unprepared, Jim and the other entertainers take to the stage. The performance is a hit, and when Winnie appears in the finale, dressed as a WAC, she and Jim sing a duet and reconcile. After the curtain falls, Winnie informs Jim that the uniform is not a costume and that she has joined the army and is now a rookie, too.