Apparently, the 1950s were a time when advertising on television was very new. In fact, recording at the time was still in its infancy, so many of the celebrities who had variety or talk shows had to do some of their own advertising. In fact, some of the jingles they sang became very famous. For example, in 1951, Dinah Shore signed a contract to be sponsored by Chevrolet. She sang this song "See the USA in your Chevrolet" at the end of her program for a decade and always ended with her signature sign-off, throwing a kiss to the audience.
Some of these advertising songs were so catchy that nearly everybody went around singing them.
My Aunt Janie Thompson did some jingle writing herself for an advertising company in New York. I don't know if any of her jingles were nationally known. But, because she rewrote the lyrics to so many different songs, I thought she had originally written the music and lyrics to some of the more famous jingles herself.
When I was very young, I was starstruck by Janie when she'd perform on shows. She'd wear sequined evening gowns and sparkly jewelry. She looked and sang like a movie star, so my 5-year-old self thought she was a movie star.
When I was very young, I was starstruck by Janie when she'd perform on shows. She'd wear sequined evening gowns and sparkly jewelry. She looked and sang like a movie star, so my 5-year-old self thought she was a movie star.
Then she started performing a number that became her signature song for many years, "The Psychology of Genealogy." That was a time when Janie did a lot of shows for LDS audiences. Encouraging people to do genalogical research and fill out their four generation family group sheets was a big deal through the 1950s and 1960s. Since I knew she rewrote lyrics to songs to fit the event she was entertaining for, I just assumed she had written the music, as well.
Years later I became aware of, in this case, the jingles and commercials she used to put this act together. I think that part of the impact of the new words to the very famous jingles was part of the entertainment fun. Here she took the Dinah Shore jingle "See the USA in your Chevrolet" and changed it to "The Psychology of Genealogy is when you trace your family line..." Janie modeled her delivery after Dinah Shore. She even used, quite out of character for her, two famous jingles for vices -- one a cigarette commercial and one for coffee. ("Winston tastes good like a 'knock knock' cigarette should" and "Chock full of nuts is that heavenly coffee...")
When I learned about the real words to the real commercials and the real products they were advertising, I couldn't believe that my Aunt Janie would even think about using those little songs in her big number!
I have to admit, though, that the lyrics about genealogy are much funnier if you know the lines from the commercials.
Enjoy this gem of Janie singing "The Psychology of Genealogy" from a home recording on a little reel to reel done in the early 1960s.
Years later I became aware of, in this case, the jingles and commercials she used to put this act together. I think that part of the impact of the new words to the very famous jingles was part of the entertainment fun. Here she took the Dinah Shore jingle "See the USA in your Chevrolet" and changed it to "The Psychology of Genealogy is when you trace your family line..." Janie modeled her delivery after Dinah Shore. She even used, quite out of character for her, two famous jingles for vices -- one a cigarette commercial and one for coffee. ("Winston tastes good like a 'knock knock' cigarette should" and "Chock full of nuts is that heavenly coffee...")
When I learned about the real words to the real commercials and the real products they were advertising, I couldn't believe that my Aunt Janie would even think about using those little songs in her big number!
I have to admit, though, that the lyrics about genealogy are much funnier if you know the lines from the commercials.
Enjoy this gem of Janie singing "The Psychology of Genealogy" from a home recording on a little reel to reel done in the early 1960s.
The Psychology of Genealogy
The Psychology of Genealogy
Is when you trace your family line.
You are bound to see that your pedigree
To you will be a document divine.
When you finally find first one name then another,
You keep on writing, and it gets exciting
When one turns out to be your great grandmother.
So come along with me, do genealogy.
Get busy on your family line.
And fill your family group sheets, do a little everyday,
And get it done (What a feeling!)
You'll shout and say:
My line looks good like a (knock knock) pedigree should.
You'll soon be way back to (knock knock) Adam who'll say:
"The secret ingredient in Genealogy is ------------ people.
Chock full of folks is your heavenly family,
Heavenly family, heavenly family.
Chock full of folks is your heavenly family,
With an eternity of happiness money can't buy.
So, come along with me do genealogy.
Get busy on your family line ---- "smack" (blows kiss to audience)
The Psychology of Genealogy
Is when you trace your family line.
You are bound to see that your pedigree
To you will be a document divine.
When you finally find first one name then another,
You keep on writing, and it gets exciting
When one turns out to be your great grandmother.
So come along with me, do genealogy.
Get busy on your family line.
And fill your family group sheets, do a little everyday,
And get it done (What a feeling!)
You'll shout and say:
My line looks good like a (knock knock) pedigree should.
You'll soon be way back to (knock knock) Adam who'll say:
"The secret ingredient in Genealogy is ------------ people.
Chock full of folks is your heavenly family,
Heavenly family, heavenly family.
Chock full of folks is your heavenly family,
With an eternity of happiness money can't buy.
So, come along with me do genealogy.
Get busy on your family line ---- "smack" (blows kiss to audience)
RSS Feed