Series Description

The Ford show was a 30 minute musical variety series that aired on NBC from October 4, 1956 to June 29, 1961. Tennessee Ernie Ford was multi-talented as a singer and comedian but his main attraction at the time was he appeal as a star who was just like one of the common folk. Ford would often tell stories that the audience could identify with by referring to his meager upbringing in Bristol, Tennessee. His down home talk such as "Bless Your Pea-Pickin Hearts" also endeared him to his audiences. The Ford Show nearly always included a well-known guest star of the day who would do a comedy skit and/or sing with Ernie.

Ford Show Cast

Tennessee Ernie Ford (Host)
The Voices of Walter Schumann (First Season - Choral Group)
The Top Twenty (Last 4 Seasons - Singing Group)
The Harry Geller Orchestra

Trivia:

The Ford Show was not named after Ernie Ford. It referred to the sponsor, the Ford Motor Company.

Some of Tennessee Ernie Ford's greatest achievements include:

A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6311 Hollywood Boulevard.
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990.
Nominated for an Emmy in 1955 for "Most Outstanding New Personality".
Was a performer with the first Country & Western show to tour the Soviet Union in 1974.
The Ford Show was one of the first programs to bring musical acts containing large numbers of performers into people's homes. Previously, a trip to New York City or Nashville was necessary to see such acts.

Tennessee Ernie Ford's album titled "Hymns" went Gold and was on the Billboard Chart for 350 weeks in a row! His album "Sing A Hymn With Me" also went Gold.

The Ford Show gave many performers their first big break in show business. A couple of them were "The Everly Brothers" and "Jim Lange" who would become the original host of "The Dating Game".