''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 communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connec ...

musical programs in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, 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, television personality, and the chart-topping female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during the ...

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 ...

, while others were on

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

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

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 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, doing business as Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), is an American multinational pharmaceutical company. Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, BMS is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and consiste ...

. 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, Lo ...

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 international brand of frozen foods founded in the United States and now 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 "Bi ...

Open House'' on CBS. Originating in Hollywood on station KNX, 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 born on 30 May 1899 in Chicago, Illinois as the only child of actor Otis Skinner and actress Maud Durbin. After attending the all-gi ...

and

Roland Young Roland Young (11 November 1887 – 5 June 1953) was an English-born actor. He began his acting career on the London stage, but later found success in America and received an Academy Award nomination for his role in the film '' Topper'' (19 ...

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 Paramo ...

. 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 corporation, multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. T ...

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 and film and television actor. Early life Hayes was born in San Francisco, the son of Joseph Conrad Lind Sr., a railroad man ...

featured. Dolan handled the music once again.

Abe Burrows Abe Burrows (born Abram Solman Borowitz; December 18, 1910 – May 17, 1985) was an American writer, composer, humorist, director for radio and the stage, and librettist for Broadway musicals. His versatile career in radio, Broadway, and televis ...

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'' is a 1942–51 radio comedy show which maintained its popularity during a nine-year run on three networks for such sponsors as Altria Group, Philip Morris, Chrysler, and DeSoto (automobile), DeSoto. The series was a sp ...

'' 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 Wallichs Music Cit ...

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 to great commercial success from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947, but ...

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

Broadcasting Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

'' 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