Childhood and rise to success
Born to Solomon and Anna Stein Shore, Jewish immigrants from Russia, she lived in Winchester, Tennessee. When she was two years old, she was stricken with polio (infantile paralysis), a disease that was not handled well at the time. Thankfully, her parents cared enough to provide intensive care for her, and she recovered and overcame the disease. However, she suffered from having a slightly deformed foot and limp, which did not physically impede her. She performed at a night club when she was only 14 years old.
When her mother died unexpectedly of a heart attack, Dinah went to Vanderbilt University, where she participated in many events and activities. She graduated from the university in 1938. She decided to get back into pursuing her career in singing, so she went to New York to audition for orchestras and radio stations. In many of her auditions, she sang the popular song "Dinah." When disc jockey Martin Block could not remember her name, he called her the "Dinah girl," and soon after the name stuck, becoming her stage name. She eventually was hired as a vocalist at radio station WNEW, where she sang with Frank Sinatra. She also recorded and performed with the Xavier Cugat orchestra. Eventually, she got her recording contract with RCA Victor records in 1940.
Career in the 1940s and 1950s
While recording on RCA Victor's Bluebird label, she released her first recording, "Yes, My Darling Daughter" and it became a major hit for her. Dinah's singing came to the attention of Eddie Cantor, and he signed her as a regular on his popular radio show, "Time to Smile", in 1940. Dinah credits him for teaching her self-confidence, comedic timing and the ways of connecting with an audience.
She was a featured vocalist on The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street and soon became a successful radio and music star with her own radio show in 1943, "Call to Music". Also in 1943, she appeared in her first movie, "Thank Your Lucky Stars". The movie starred Eddie Cantor, and she soon went to another radio show, "Paul Whiteman Presents". During this time, America had been actively involved in World War 2 and Dinah became a popular favorite with the troops, similar to the popularity of Bing Crosby. She was having major record hits, like "I will Walk Alone" and "Blues In the Night", one of her first of many number-one hits to come. To support the troops overseas, who adored her singing, she participated in USO tours to Europe. She met a young actor ready to go into military service named George Montgomery. They married on December 3, 1943. Despite their marriage, Montgomery soon went into service. When he returned from the service, they settled in San Fernando, California. In 1948, their first child was born, a daughter named Messina, and they also adopted a son in 1954 named John David and then moved to Beverly Hills.
Dinah continued appearing in radio shows throughout the 1940s. She performed in radio shows like "Birds Eye-Open House" and "Ford Radio Show". One of her most popular recordings was "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Buddy Clark. The song was covered by many other artists, Ella Fitzgerald for example. Other hits followed this success like "Buttons and Bows" and "The Gypsy". She was a regular with Jack Smith on his radio show on CBS, which ran for 15 minutes. She went into many more movies. As an actress, Shore appeared in many musical films, such as "Belle of the Yukon" and "Up in Arms" (both in 1944), and "Till the Clouds Roll By" (1946). She was also featured in numerous TV movies and series. She lent her musical voice to two Disney films: "Make Mine Music" (1946) and "Fun and Fancy Free" (1947). In early 1946, she moved to another label, Columbia Records. In 1950 she made her television show debut on "The Ed Wynn Show" and also made a guest appearance on Bob Hope's first television show. After being on many other people's television shows, she got her own, "The Dinah Shore Show" in 1951. She did two fifteen minute shows a week for NBC. She won her first Emmy for the show in 1955. The show was sponsored by Chevrolet automobiles. The sponsor's theme song ("See the USA in your Chevrolet") became the singer's signature piece. She continued to appear in Chevrolet advertising through the 1950s.
Later career
From 1970 through 1980, Shore hosted two daytime programs, "Dinah's Place" (1970-1974) on NBC and "Dinah!" (later "Dinah and Friends") in syndication from 1974 through 1980. On her show "Dinah!", she once had the misfortune of interviewing the comedian Andy Kaufman in his Tony Clifton guise. He took deliberate offense at her questions and eventually tipped a pan of eggs over her head. This happened live on the air in front of a huge TV audience and Shore's producers cut to an impromptu commercial as Kaufman was escorted out of the studio.
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Shore, with her Dixie drawl and demure manner, was always identified with the South, and guests on her shows often commented on it.
Shore won nine Emmys, a Peabody Award and a Golden Globe.
Shore guest starred on "Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special", calling Pee-wee on his picturephone and singing "The 12 Days of Christmas". Throughout the special, Pee-wee walks past the picture phone, only to hear her going past the original 12 days ("...on the 500th day of Christmas...")
Personal life
Shore was married to actor George Montgomery from 1943 to 1962 and had a daughter, Melissa Ann (known today as Melissa Montgomery-Hime, executor of the Dinah Shore Trust and the owner of the rights to most of Shore's television series). Shore later adopted a son, John David 'Jody' Montgomery. After her divorce from Montgomery, she briefly married Maurice Smith. In the early 1970s, Shore had a long and happy public romance with actor Burt Reynolds, who was 20 years her junior. The relationship gave Shore an updated, sexy image, and took some of the pressure off Reynolds in maintaining his image as a ladies' man.
Death and legacy
Dinah Shore died in Beverly Hills, California of ovarian cancer at age 77 (5 days before her 78th birthday). Her ashes were divided and she has two burial sites. Half were interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California and the other half interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City) near her beloved second home in Palm Springs, California.
Shore's legacy resonates posthumously, with a 1998 album featuring the arrangement skills of Andre Previn combined with the re-releasing of some of her classic recordings like 'April in Paris', and 'My Funny Valentine', garnering moderate success.
Tea for Two
Dinah Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She: Darling this place is a lover's oasis where lights where we chase is unknown,
He: Far from the cry of the city where flowers pretty caress the stream,
Both: Cozy to hide in, to live side by side in, don't let it abide in my dream.
He: Picture you upon my knee, just tea for two, and two for tea.
Just me for you, and you for me alone.
She: Nobody near us, to see and to hear us, no friends or relations
He: They will brake (?) and you'll awake, and start to bake a sugar cake
For me to take for all the boys to see.
Both: We will raise a family, a boy for you and a girl for me,
Can't you see how happy we will be.
The lyrics of "Tea For Two" sung by Dinah Shore describe a beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city to a place where the couple can be together, free from prying eyes and the distractions that usually surround them. The lyrics tell the story of a man who feels discontented with rented homes and longs for a place of their own. He dreams of being in a cozy space where flowers caress the stream and where they can live side by side, rather than just dreaming about it. The woman agrees and suggests that this place is unknown, away from the cry of the city.
They both imagine themselves sitting together, having tea for two, with no one else around. They paint a picture of themselves free from friends or relations, on weekend vacations where they can't be seen or heard. They want to own a telephone but don't want anyone to know. They both want to break away from their mundane lives and start a family where they can raise a boy and a girl together. They both envision a happy life together where no one can disrupt their happiness.
In summary, the song portrays the desire of two lovers to escape from the mundane realities of their lives and live in a beautiful and peaceful world where they can be alone and start a family.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm discontented with homes that are rented so I have invented my own,
I am not satisfied with properties on rent; hence I created my own.
Darling this place is a lover's oasis where lights where we chase is unknown,
This place is a romantic refuge where we can take pleasure in dim lights and intimately explore each other.
Far from the cry of the city where flowers pretty caress the stream,
Away from the noise of the urban area, where nature and its beauty just touches the waterway.
Cozy to hide in, to live side by side in, don't let it abide in my dream.
Sweet and comfy to hide in, to exist together, don't let my fantasy just stay dreamy.
Picture you upon my knee, just tea for two, and two for tea.
Visualize you sitting on my lap, sharing tea for two, and two for tea.
Just me for you, and you for me alone.
Only I am for you, and you are for me alone.
Nobody near us, to see and to hear us, no friends or relations
Nobody is close to us who might notice or overhear us, no companions or kin
On weekend vacations, we won't have it known, dear, that we own a telephone, dear.
On weekend escapades, we won't declare that we have a telephone.
They will brake (?) and you'll awake, and start to bake a sugar cake
The brakes will creak, and you will wake, and then start baking a cake with sugar.
For me to take for all the boys to see.
You will make it for me to take, and we show it to all the lads.
We will raise a family, a boy for you and a girl for me,
We will have a family with a son for you and a daughter for me.
Can't you see how happy we will be.
Don't you see how delighted we shall be
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Adamplafiqz
Picture me upon your knee
Tea for tea and two for tea
Me for you
And you for me alone
Nobody near us
To see us or hear us
No friends or relations
On weekend vacations
We won't have it known, dear
That we own a telephone, dear
Day will break and I'll awake
And start to bake a little sugar cake
For you to take
For all the boys to see
We will raise a family
A boy for you, a little girl for me
Can't you see
How happy we would be?
We will raise a family
A boy for you, a little girl for me
Can't you see
How happy we would be?
@nickpollockpiano
Songs in the medley:
You make me feel so young
Them their eyes
A foggy day
I've got you under my skin
Taking a chance on love
They can't take that away from me
All of me
Daddy
I can't give you anything but love
Side by side
@kerensabirch5214
That was pure joy to watch. They were having so much fun together. Frankie looked so relaxed and Dinah was quite charming. I've always thought her voice was like warm honey.
@JLLLEL
No flashy graphics. No pre-recorded, lip-synched, auto-tuned vocals. No frantic camera work with one-second edits. No million-dollar sets, no green-screen effects, no explosions, no blip-blip-flash noise.
Just two great talents sitting on two stools. That’s the stuff that wows me.
@sabri31
I would favour bringing variety shows and getting rid of some of those awful reality shows...
@luislaplume8261
@Melting Pot And also mostly fake and for show and drama. I don't even watch the late night TV talk show hosts of the 3 monopolies CBS, NBC, and ABC.
@JoannaRRios1
AMEN!! And Amen Again!! :)
@ciroadolfo01
CADA vez que los veo y escucho a estos inolvidables genios del buen cantar, me quedo más impresionado.
@lizaelliott6862
This is television at its most wonderful. I could watch Dinah forever. That smile of hers...❤️
@ericdreizen1463
Dinah was the greatest singer ever. We'll never see her like again.
@jacquelinegershon2775
6
@jacquelinegershon2775
@Eric Dreizen y