''The Dinah Shore Show'' was a title applied—in some cases specifically and in other cases generically—to several

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...

musical programs in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, some of which had other distinct titles as indicated below. Singer

Dinah Shore Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore; February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994) was an American singer, actress, and television personality, and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during ...

starred (or in some cases co-starred) in the programs, some of which were broadcast on the

Blue Network The Blue Network (previously known as the NBC Blue Network) was the on-air name of a now defunct American Commercial broadcasting, radio network, which broadcast from 1927 through 1945. Beginning as one of the two radio networks owned by the N ...

, while others were on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

.Dunning, John. (1998). ''On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio''. Oxford University Press. . Pp. 200-202.

Format

All of the programs featured vocal music by Shore. Comedy and musical performances by other people were often included.

''The Dinah Shore Show'' (1939–1940)

Shore's first radio program began on August 6, 1939, on the Blue Network. The 15-minute program was broadcast on Sunday evenings, with

Paul Lavalle Paul Lavalle (born Joseph Usifer, September 6, 1908 - June 24, 1997) was an American conductor, composer, arranger and performer on clarinet and saxophone. Early years Lavalle was born in Beacon, New York, the son of Ralph and Jennie Usifer, both ...

leading the orchestra. That series ended on January 14, 1940. A similar Friday-night program began on the same network on June 14, 1940, with Irving Miller in charge of the music. It ended on September 27, 1940.

''Songs by Dinah Shore'' (1941–1942)

On November 2, 1941, Shore began a 15-minute program on NBC-Blue, sponsored by

Bristol Myers The Bristol Myers Squibb Company (BMS) is an American multinational pharmaceutical company. Headquartered in New York City, BMS is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and consistently ranks on the ''Fortune'' 500 list of the lar ...

. Shore continued to sing on Eddie Cantor's weekly program, which had the same sponsor. Gordon Jenkins was the program's music director.

Harry von Zell Harry Rudolph von Zell (July 11, 1906 – November 21, 1981) was an American announcer of radio programs, and an actor in films and television shows. He is best remembered for his work on ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show''. Life and ...

was the announcer and a foil for comedy segments. The program ended on April 26, 1942.

''In Person, Dinah Shore'' (1942–1943)

Originating in Hollywood, this 15-minute program ran from May 1, 1942, to April 23, 1943 on the Blue Network. Truman Bradley was the announcer, and

Gordon Jenkins Gordon Hill Jenkins (May 12, 1910 – May 1, 1984) was an American arranger, composer, and pianist who was influential in popular music in the 1940s and 1950s. Jenkins worked with The Andrews Sisters, Johnny Cash, The Weavers, Frank Sinatra, Loui ...

was in charge of the music. William L. Lawrence was the producer. The sponsor was Bristol-Myers.

''The Bird's Eye Open House'' (1943–1946)

Beginning September 30, 1943, Shore starred in ''The

Bird's Eye Birds Eye is an American international brand of frozen foods owned by Conagra Brands in the United States, by Nomad Foods in Europe, and Simplot in Australia. The former Birds Eye Company Ltd., originally named "Birdseye Seafood, Inc." had bee ...

Open House'' on CBS. Originating in Hollywood on station

KNX KNX is an open standard (see EN 50090, ISO/IEC 14543) for commercial and domestic building automation. KNX devices can manage lighting, blinds and shutters, HVAC, security systems, energy management, audio video, white goods, displays, remote ...

, the half-hour show was the first network radio program sponsored by that frozen food brand. Each weekly episode included comedy segments featuring

Cornelia Otis Skinner Cornelia Otis Skinner (May 30, 1899 – July 9, 1979) was an American writer and actress. Biography Skinner was the only child of actor Otis Skinner and actress Maud Durbin. After attending the all-girls' Baldwin School and Bryn Mawr College ( ...

and

Roland Young Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...

and performances from the Joseph Lilley Singers. The music director was

Robert Emmett Dolan Robert Emmett Dolan (August 3, 1908 - September 26, 1972) was a Broadway conductor, composer, and arranger beginning in the 1920s. He moved on to radio in the 1930s and then went to Hollywood in the early 1940s as a musical director for Paramoun ...

. Harry von Zell was the announcer. Ben Brady and Glenn Wheaton were the program's writers. Glenhall Taylor, Walter Bunker, and Arthur Moore were the producers. On October 5, 1944, the program shifted to NBC, where it continued until May 30, 1946.

''The Ford Show'' (1946–1947)

Beginning September 18, 1946,

Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobi ...

began sponsoring Shore's program. Shore moved back to CBS, with comedian

Peter Lind Hayes Peter Lind Hayes (born Joseph Conrad Lind Jr.; June 25, 1915 – April 21, 1998) was an American vaudeville entertainer, songwriter, and film and television actor. Early life Hayes was born in San Francisco, the son of Joseph Conrad Lind Sr., a ...

featured. Dolan handled the music once again.

Abe Burrows Abe Burrows (born Abram Solman Borowitz; December 18, 1910 – May 17, 1985) was an American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage. He won a Tony Award and was selected for two Pulitzer Prizes, only one of which was awarded. Ear ...

was a writer, and the producer was Billy Wilgus. The 30-minute show ended June 11, 1947.

''Call for Music'' (1948)

Sponsored by Philip Morris cigarettes, ''Call for Music'' replaced ''

It Pays to Be Ignorant ''It Pays to Be Ignorant'' was a 1942–1951 radio comedy show which maintained its popularity during a nine-year run on three networks for such sponsors as Philip Morris, Chrysler, and DeSoto. The series was a spoof on the academic discourse o ...

'' on CBS on February 13, 1948.

Johnny Mercer John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer, as well as a record label executive who co-founded Capitol Records with music industry businessmen Buddy DeSylva and Glenn E. Wallich ...

and

Harry James Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947 but shortly after he reorganized ...

co-starred with Shore. The program switched to NBC on April 20, 1948. A story in the trade publication ''

Broadcasting Broadcasting is the distribution (business), distribution of sound, audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio ...

'' noted, "The show's format was composed and designed to catch the audience of 18 to 25 years old." John Holbrook and Jack Rourke were the announcers.

''The Dinah Shore Show'' (1953–1955)

References

External links

Streaming

Episodes of ''The Birds Eye Open House'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library

Episodes of ''Call for Music'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library

Episodes of ''The Dinah Shore Show'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library

Episodes of ''The Ford Show'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library

Episodes of ''In Person, Dinah Shore'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library

Episodes of ''Songs by Dinah Shore'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dinah Shore Show 1939 radio programme debuts 1955 radio programme endings 1930s American radio programs 1940s American radio programs CBS Radio programs NBC radio programs Dinah Shore