First Song - The Gal I Left Behind Me

10-2-4 Ranch

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First Song - The Gal I Left Behind Me

10-2-4 Ranch • Episode 494

15 minutes

Part of a 85-episode series

Episode Description

The program features musical highlights, primarily aimed at boosting morale among American soldiers. It opens with a rhythmic call to action centered around the times 10, 2, and 4, encouraging listeners to enjoy a refreshing Dr. Pepper during those hours. Various musical acts, including Martha Mears, Bob Nolan, and the Sons of the Pioneers, perform sentimental songs about love and nostalgia, such as "The Gal I Left Behind Me" and a tune themed around St. Patrick's Day. The hosts emphasize the importance of Dr. Pepper as a quick energy boost and promote it as a favorite drink during the specified times. The show ends with a lighthearted song and a reminder to tune in regularly while also encouraging listeners to support the war effort by buying war bonds.

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10-2-4 Ranch

10-2-4 Ranch is a classic 1940s Old Time Radio western-themed musical variety program, created as part of a nationwide advertising campaign for Dr Pepper. Rather than telling ongoing cowboy stories, the show used a friendly “ranch” setting as a backdrop for music, light banter, and sponsor messaging built around Dr Pepper’s famous slogan: “Drink a bite to eat at 10, 2, and 4.” Airing in short, approximately 15-minute episodes, 10-2-4 Ranch featured popular western and contemporary music performances, often by well-known acts of the era such as Sons of the Pioneers, alongside announcer segments that seamlessly folded advertising into the entertainment. The tone was upbeat, informal, and family-friendly—designed to be easy listening during daytime hours while reinforcing the idea of Dr Pepper as a mid-day energy pick-me-up. The program was sometimes billed under related titles such as 10-2-4 Time, reflecting slight format shifts, and is occasionally confused with other Dr Pepper–sponsored radio shows from the same era. Today, 10-2-4 Ranch stands as a clear example of mid-century branded radio at its best—where western music, variety entertainment, and advertising blended together into a uniquely nostalgic listening experience.

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