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St. Paul, Minn.

Local theater enlivens history of the Hormel Girls

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Caravan
From 1947-1953, the Hormel Girls criss-crossed the country in a fleet of all-white Chevrolets, hitting towns big and small, singing, and selling Hormel products everywhere they went.
Photo courtesy of Hormel Foods

A new musical opens at the History Theatre this weekend, called "Hormel Girls." The show is about how Jay C. Hormel formed an all-girl swing band for G.I. Janes home from World War II.

At their peak, the Hormel Girls had a top-rated radio show, but they were also a prime marketing tool for the maker of Spam. Starting in the late 1940s, the performing saleswomen would caravan into towns across the country. There were always at least 60 of them riding in a fleet of spotless white Chevrolets.

Laurie Flanigan wrote the script for the new show at the History Theatre, and Sari Ketter directs it. MPR's Cathy Wurzer talked with them about the show, and Flanigan explained how the Hormel Girls got their start.

Gallery
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Hormel girls doing the can-can
Can-can girls, stage show. Costumes are real gold lame. Left to right: Jacki Altier Roth, Louise (Faville) Austin, Jamie Mockel, Nola (Widen) Black, Doni (Hurd) Stewart, Shirley Wilson, Grace Shipley.
Photo courtesy of Hormel Foods Corp.
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Making music to sell Spam
"Hormel Girls" at the History Theatre recreates the story of the Hormel Girls Caravan from its beginnings as a drum and bugle corps to its metamorphosis into a glamorous Hollywood radio program.
Photo courtesy of Scott Pakudaitis
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'Hormel Girls' cast
The cast of 'Hormel Girls,' produced by the Minnesota History Theatre. Left to right: Angela Timberman, Mark Rosenwinkel, Jen Burleigh-Bentz (with trumpet), Tracie Hodgdon, Tinia Moulder, Stacey Lindell (with saxophone), Sondra Norland (with mandolin).
Photo courtesy Scott Pakudaitis