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The Ford Show (Starring Dinah Shore)

Ford's were the All-American Automobile, so the Ford Dealers hired America’s Sweetheart, Dinah Shore, to pitch the cars on The Ford Show.

Ford Show

13 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 6 hours, 23 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
7 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from October 16, 1946:

"Gueststarring Lilly Pons"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

1946 - 1947

The Ford Dealers' Association turn to pretty Dinah Shore to help sell cars

Henry Ford will go down in history as the man who put America (perhaps the whole world) on four wheels. Ford's real gift to modern society was more than the cars or the assembly-line manufacturing process that helped to make the cars affordable. The cars, however, would have a lasting and indelible impact on American society.

Ford's climb to dominance in the automotive industry had a shaky beginning. Henry began as a backyard tinkerer with an affinity for mechanics and created some very interesting horseless carriages. Business sense took a while to arrive, his first company would go on after he left to become Cadillac, and the major investors in his second company, the Dodge brothers, would jump ship to form their own car company. 

Dinah Shore

The Ford Motor Company would produce several different models between 1903 and 1908 but struck gold with the 1908 Model T. Certainly nothing fancy, the Model T was a simple and robust design that allowed it to be sold for a relatively low price. More importantly, the design was suitable for the standardization needed for assembly line production, further reducing the price of the vehicle.

The Model T was such a success that Ford waited until 1927 to produce a new model. In 1932, they launched the first affordably priced car with a V-8 engine. The Great Depression forced the company to lay-off workers which would lead to violent protests at some of Ford's Detroit plants.

With the coming of the War, Ford would become part of the foundation of "the Arsenal of Democracy". The company would produce 270,000 Jeeps, 390,000 tanks, more than 8,000 B-24 Liberator bombers, and countless machine tools, parts, and gun mounts. Before the War was even over, the Ford Motor Company was making plans to retool and produce the cars that returning G.I.s were going to want to buy.

Of course, the other American automobile companies wanted a piece of that market, and the post-War Prosperity led to a Golden Age of American Automobiles. Ford turned to the Radio Waves to help keep their company name in the minds of car buyers, and in the fall of 1946, the Ford Dealers' Association hired Dinah Shore to host The Ford Show.

Born Fannye Rose Shore, she contracted polio as a small child. Mama Shore nursed the young girl through the frightening disease with bed rest, therapeutic massage, and a series of exercises. Having operatic aspirations of her own, she also sang with her daughter to help keep her spirits up. Fannye survived with a slight limp, and eventually entered Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She visited the Grand Ol' Opry and made her radio debut on WSM, adopting the professional name of Dinah.

Dinah moved to New York, was hired by WNEW (where she sang with Sinatra), and signed a recording contract with RCA Victor. She was featured on programs on NBC and CBS but really began to climb to fame on Time to Smile. Dinah was a popular addition to several AFRS programs and USO shows. She would host her own shows for Bristol-Myers  and Birdseye Frozen Foods before being hired by the Ford Dealers in the fall of 1946. 

The Ford Show was built around Dinah's sunny personality as much as her singing. Music was provided by the Ford Orchestra (a.k.a. The Robert Dolan Orchestra every other night of the week) and guests would include Lily Pons, William Bendix, Dennis Day, Gene Kelly, and others. Although Dinah got to demonstrate her comedic timing, most of the comedic duties were left to her "second banana", Peter Lind Hayes.

Dinah and The Ford Show parted ways after the 1947 season. The Automobile Company turned to Ford Theatre and Fred Allen to tout their radio presence. After taking some time to work in TV and movies, Dinah would return to NBC Radio in March 1953 to encourage buyers to "See the U.S.A. – In Your Chevrolet!"

Presented by the Ford Dealers of America and staring Dinah Shore, the sincere and loveable 'Ford Girl.' The show features singing sensations like Shore and guest stars Gene Kelly, Johnny Mercer, Dennis Day, the Brazilian Pepper, Carmen Miranda and many others.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the CDs I just received. I'm 82 years old and can remember listening to many of these as a kid. I especially enjoyed hearing the old time radio commercials, I remember them well too. Thanks for the memories.

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    13 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 6 hours, 23 min
    13 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 6 hours, 23 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 13 shows - total playtime 6 hours 23 minutes
    2. Ford Show 461016 Lilly Pons.mp3
    3. Ford Show 461106 William Bendix.mp3
    4. Ford Show 461127 Dennis Day.mp3
    5. Ford Show 461204 Gene Kelly.mp3
    6. Ford Show 461211 EC.mp3
    7. Ford Show 461218 Phil Harris.mp3
    8. Ford Show 470101 Garry Moore.mp3
    9. Ford Show 470212 Johnny Mercer.mp3
    10. Ford Show 470319 Ralph Edwards.mp3
    11. Ford Show 470326 Norris Goff and Chet Lauck.mp3
    12. Ford Show 470402 Carmen Miranda.mp3
    13. Ford Show 470611 Delta Rhythm Boys.mp3
    14. Ford Show 470618 Meredith Willson.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    13 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 6 hours, 23 min
    13 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 6 hours, 23 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 13 shows - total playtime 6 hours 23 minutes
    2. Ford Show 461016 Lilly Pons.mp3
    3. Ford Show 461106 William Bendix.mp3
    4. Ford Show 461127 Dennis Day.mp3
    5. Ford Show 461204 Gene Kelly.mp3
    6. Ford Show 461211 EC.mp3
    7. Ford Show 461218 Phil Harris.mp3
    8. Ford Show 470101 Garry Moore.mp3
    9. Ford Show 470212 Johnny Mercer.mp3
    10. Ford Show 470319 Ralph Edwards.mp3
    11. Ford Show 470326 Norris Goff and Chet Lauck.mp3
    12. Ford Show 470402 Carmen Miranda.mp3
    13. Ford Show 470611 Delta Rhythm Boys.mp3
    14. Ford Show 470618 Meredith Willson.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    13 recordings on 7 Audio CDs. Total playtime 6 hours, 23 min
    13 recordings on 7 Audio CDs
    total playtime 6 hours, 23 min

    Ford Show Disc A001

    1. Ford Show 461016 Lilly Pons
    2. Ford Show 461106 William Bendix

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ford Show Disc A002

    1. Ford Show 461127 Dennis Day
    2. Ford Show 461204 Gene Kelly

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ford Show Disc A003

    1. Ford Show 461211 EC
    2. Ford Show 461218 Phil Harris

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ford Show Disc A004

    1. Ford Show 470101 Garry Moore
    2. Ford Show 470212 Johnny Mercer

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ford Show Disc A005

    1. Ford Show 470319 Ralph Edwards
    2. Ford Show 470326 Norris Goff and Chet Lauck

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ford Show Disc A006

    1. Ford Show 470402 Carmen Miranda
    2. Ford Show 470611 Delta Rhythm Boys

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ford Show Disc A007

    1. Ford Show 470618 Meredith Willson

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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