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Dorothy Shay in Old Time Radio

Billed as 'The Park Avenue Hilllbillie', Dorothy Shay had a fun, Country Girl Singer persona.

Dorothy Shay

33 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 14 hours, 3376 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
16 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from February 26, 1948:

"Spotlight Revue with Eddy Arnold"



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

Dorothy Shay
(1921 – 1978)

Many elements of the Pre-War and Wartime Big Band Sound carried over into the immediate Post-War boom. An important draw was the popularity of Girl Singers. Stars like Deanna Durbin, Dinah Shore, Connie Boswell, Ginny Simms, and others often gained more attraction than the Bands they were fronting.

Dorothy Shay

The Boom-times were also a period when the Advertising Agencies were recognizing that "Sex Sells", so a Girl Singer was able to further her appeal by being attractive and appearing available. The recent Wartime experience left a desire for sentimental tunes, and if they were delivered by someone who looked good in an evening dress, so much the better. The Florida-native who is the subject of this notice made Park Avenue evening wear a part of her persona, but she was not the Girl Singer people expected.

Dorothy Shay was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1921, she began taking singing lessons to help overcome her Southern accent. When America joined the War, she began touring with the USO to help boost troop morale. Dottie began singing with the Morton Gould Orchestra in 1945, and during an encore one night, dressed in a fine evening gown, the band convinced her to perform the country-novelty song, "Uncle Fud".

The irony of a sophisticated and attractively dressed urbanite singing and speaking like a hayseed was a hit with audiences, and set Ms. Shay's reputation as the "Park Avenue Hillbillie". Columbia Records signed her in 1947, and she cut her biggest hit, "Feudin' and Fightin'" for the label, who included it on the album "Dorothy Shay (The Park Avenue Hillbillie) Sings). The album made Dorothy the first female artist to top the album charts.

Coca-Cola hired Dorothy for the 1947/48 season to be a foil for the raucous Spike Jones who led his City Slicker Orchestra on CBS's Spotlight Revue. Hollywood called in the new decade when she starred in Comin' Round the Mountain (1951, Universal Pictures). Dorothy attracted fans from all over, including Dwight Eisenhower, who invited her to perform at his 1953 Inauguration.

TV Guest roles took up Dorothy's career in the Seventies, including character appearances on The Virginian, Adam-12, The Brady Bunch, Police Woman, and nine appearances on The Waltons as "Thelma", owner of the Dew Drop Inn (when Ms. Shay passed in 1978, The Waltons writers injected that Thelma had sold the Dew Drop and moved to California).

At the age of 57, Dorothy Shay suffered a fatal heart attack on October 22, 1978, in Santa Monica, California.

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



    33 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 14 hours, 3376 min
    33 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 14 hours, 3376 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 33 shows – total playtime 14 hours, 56 minutes
    2. Cresta Blanca Carnival 440412 April Showers.mp3
    3. Cresta Blanca Carnival 440523 Hallelujah.mp3
    4. Cresta Blanca Carnival 440530 Ive Got Rhythm.mp3
    5. Cresta Blanca Carnival440419 Singing In Rain.mp3
    6. Hedda Hopper Show 510225 X David Nevin.mp3
    7. Jack Benny 511104 781 George Jessel Tells Jacks Life Story.mp3
    8. Spotlight Revue 471017 03 Frankie Laine.mp3
    9. Spotlight Revue 471024 04 Tex Williams.mp3
    10. Spotlight Revue 471031 05 Jan August.mp3
    11. Spotlight Revue 471107 06 Jack Owens.mp3
    12. Spotlight Revue 471114 07 Frances Craig.mp3
    13. Spotlight Revue 471121 08 Dinning Sisters.mp3
    14. Spotlight Revue 471128 09 Jack Smith.mp3
    15. Spotlight Revue 471205 10 Three Suns.mp3
    16. Spotlight Revue 480102 14 Buddy Clark.mp3
    17. Spotlight Revue 480109 15 Nellie Lutcher.mp3
    18. Spotlight Revue 480220 21 Buddy Clark.mp3
    19. Spotlight Revue 480227 22 Eddy Arnold.mp3
    20. Spotlight Revue 480305 23 Francis Craig.mp3
    21. Spotlight Revue 480312 24 Jack Smith.mp3
    22. Spotlight Revue 480326 26 Jan August.mp3
    23. Spotlight Revue 480402 27 Harmonaires.mp3
    24. Spotlight Revue 480409 28 Mel Torme.mp3
    25. Spotlight Revue 480430 29 Page Cavanaugh Trio.mp3
    26. Spotlight Revue 480507 30 Burl Ives.mp3
    27. Spotlight Revue 480521 32 Ken Griffin.mp3
    28. Spotlight Revue 480528 33 Frankie Laine.mp3
    29. Spotlight Revue 480604 34 Buddy Clark.mp3
    30. Spotlight Revue 480611 35 Delta Rhythm Boys.mp3
    31. Spotlight Revue 480618 36 Buddy Clark.mp3
    32. Spotlight Revue 481001 51 Frank Sinatra .mp3
    33. Spotlight Revue 481001 51 Frank Sinatra.mp3
    34. Spotlight Revue 481203 60 Frank Sinatra.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    33 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 14 hours, 3376 min
    33 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    399 MB – total playtime 14 hours, 56 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 33 shows – 399 MB – total playtime 14 hours, 56 minutes
    2. Cresta Blanca Carnival 440412 April Showers.mp3
    3. Cresta Blanca Carnival 440523 Hallelujah.mp3
    4. Cresta Blanca Carnival 440530 Ive Got Rhythm.mp3
    5. Cresta Blanca Carnival440419 Singing In Rain.mp3
    6. Hedda Hopper Show 510225 X David Nevin.mp3
    7. Jack Benny 511104 781 George Jessel Tells Jacks Life Story.mp3
    8. Spotlight Revue 471017 03 Frankie Laine.mp3
    9. Spotlight Revue 471024 04 Tex Williams.mp3
    10. Spotlight Revue 471031 05 Jan August.mp3
    11. Spotlight Revue 471107 06 Jack Owens.mp3
    12. Spotlight Revue 471114 07 Frances Craig.mp3
    13. Spotlight Revue 471121 08 Dinning Sisters.mp3
    14. Spotlight Revue 471128 09 Jack Smith.mp3
    15. Spotlight Revue 471205 10 Three Suns.mp3
    16. Spotlight Revue 480102 14 Buddy Clark.mp3
    17. Spotlight Revue 480109 15 Nellie Lutcher.mp3
    18. Spotlight Revue 480220 21 Buddy Clark.mp3
    19. Spotlight Revue 480227 22 Eddy Arnold.mp3
    20. Spotlight Revue 480305 23 Francis Craig.mp3
    21. Spotlight Revue 480312 24 Jack Smith.mp3
    22. Spotlight Revue 480326 26 Jan August.mp3
    23. Spotlight Revue 480402 27 Harmonaires.mp3
    24. Spotlight Revue 480409 28 Mel Torme.mp3
    25. Spotlight Revue 480430 29 Page Cavanaugh Trio.mp3
    26. Spotlight Revue 480507 30 Burl Ives.mp3
    27. Spotlight Revue 480521 32 Ken Griffin.mp3
    28. Spotlight Revue 480528 33 Frankie Laine.mp3
    29. Spotlight Revue 480604 34 Buddy Clark.mp3
    30. Spotlight Revue 480611 35 Delta Rhythm Boys.mp3
    31. Spotlight Revue 480618 36 Buddy Clark.mp3
    32. Spotlight Revue 481001 51 Frank Sinatra .mp3
    33. Spotlight Revue 481001 51 Frank Sinatra.mp3
    34. Spotlight Revue 481203 60 Frank Sinatra.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



    33 recordings on 16 Audio CDs. Total playtime 14 hours, 56 min
    33 recordings on 16 Audio CDs
    total playtime 14 hours, 56 min

    Dorothy Shay Disc A001

    1. Cresta Blanca Carnival 440412 April Showers
    2. Cresta Blanca Carnival440419 Singing In Rain

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A002

    1. Cresta Blanca Carnival 440523 Hallelujah
    2. Cresta Blanca Carnival 440530 Ive Got Rhythm

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A003

    1. Spotlight Revue 471017 03 Frankie Laine
    2. Spotlight Revue 471024 04 Tex Williams

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A004

    1. Spotlight Revue 471031 05 Jan August
    2. Spotlight Revue 471107 06 Jack Owens

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A005

    1. Spotlight Revue 471114 07 Frances Craig
    2. Spotlight Revue 471121 08 Dinning Sisters

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A006

    1. Spotlight Revue 471128 09 Jack Smith
    2. Spotlight Revue 471205 10 Three Suns

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A007

    1. Spotlight Revue 480102 14 Buddy Clark
    2. Spotlight Revue 480109 15 Nellie Lutcher
    3. Spotlight Revue 480220 21 Buddy Clark

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A008

    1. Spotlight Revue 480227 22 Eddy Arnold
    2. Spotlight Revue 480305 23 Francis Craig

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A009

    1. Spotlight Revue 480312 24 Jack Smith
    2. Spotlight Revue 480326 26 Jan August

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A010

    1. Spotlight Revue 480402 27 Harmonaires
    2. Spotlight Revue 480409 28 Mel Torme

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A011

    1. Spotlight Revue 480430 29 Page Cavanaugh Trio
    2. Spotlight Revue 480507 30 Burl Ives
    3. Spotlight Revue 480521 32 Ken Griffin

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A012

    1. Spotlight Revue 480528 33 Frankie Laine
    2. Spotlight Revue 480604 34 Buddy Clark

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A013

    1. Spotlight Revue 480611 35 Delta Rhythm Boys
    2. Spotlight Revue 480618 36 Buddy Clark

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A014

    1. Spotlight Revue 481001 51 Frank Sinatra
    2. Spotlight Revue 481001 51 Frank Sinatra

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A015

    1. Spotlight Revue 481203 60 Frank Sinatra
    2. Hedda Hopper Show 510225 X David Nevin

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Dorothy Shay Disc A016

    1. Jack Benny 511104 781 George Jessel Tells Jacks Life Story

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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