Born Feb. 29: Dinah Shore

By Michael Baadke

American entertainer Dinah Shore was born 100 years ago today, on Feb. 29, 1916, in Winchester, Tenn. Her name at birth was Frances Rose Shore, and she took on the first name Dinah because she was closely associated with the popular song Dinah after she started out as a singer in the 1930s.

She performed extensively on radio in the 1940s and had a hit with her first recording, the Jack Lawrence song Yes, My Darling Daughter.

Shore had a successful recording career for many years, but her most familiar tune might be the advertising jingle See the USA in your Chevrolet, which she often sang on her own television talk and variety program, The Dinah Shore Show, beginning in 1951.

Connect with Linn's Stamp News:  

Like us on Facebook  
Follow us on Twitter 
Keep up with us on Instagram

With her effervescent personality and scores of show business friends, Shore continued in her television role into the 1990s with her regular series, specials, and guest appearances.

She was inducted into the television hall of fame in 1991, and died at age 77 in 1994.

Because of her pioneering television program, Dinah Shore is pictured on a 44¢ stamp in the 2009 Early TV Memories set (Scott 4414i).