You know you’re a historian when an online resource you used has vanished! Advanced TV Herstory is my a commitment to chasing down and researching stories of TV women. and their place in feminism and American culture. As an independent podcast, my work will last on the internet, accessible to all, for as long as my heirs pay the monthly hosting charge.

Recently, I needed to revisit my research from a 2017 episode TV’s Smiling Feminist: Dinah Shore for the book. The only two light biographies written about Shore didn’t cite the point that seals her place in TV Herstory. I recalled learning that she had a stare-down with NBC. Shore was upset at how her guest performers of color were treated. My notes revealed I had pulled series of audio clips from an A & E Biography episode on Shore.

Well of course! I’ll track down that episode.

Gone!

Curiously enough, at A & E Biography, the Dinah Shore episode is gone. No way, I didn’t just make this up! My podcast episode features clips from Shore’s daughter Melissa Montgomery and TV critic Leonard Maltin that are no longer available. In removing the video from its site, A & E Biography  silenced original sources of Hollywood history. Further, A & E never need to give a reason for its removal.

Did you know there’s a 2019 study made headlines that Wikipedia often flagged biographical profiles of women scientists to be pulled down? Volunteer editors at Wikipedia claimed women’s bios didn’t contain enough resource material to ensure credibility. Accordingly, every link removed leads to another, and another.

Quite simply, Dinah Shore was a force in radio, TV and women’s athletics. Conversely, we celebrate and write about men of similar stature. Dinah’s story is getting lost. Dinah’s story is inspirational, though it’s getting lost due to lack of documentation. As I have noted at the end of each episode, this is why I podcast.