tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post2991419814651691794..comments2024-03-28T21:22:49.157-04:00Comments on Fayfare's Opry Blog: Grand Ole Opry 3/24 & 3/25fayfarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00173166778978335059noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-53693205429493290352017-03-28T22:07:33.524-04:002017-03-28T22:07:33.524-04:00Rich,
Thanks for sharing your experience with us....Rich,<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your experience with us.<br /><br />Glad you were there a few years ahead of us and had a chance to see and meet some of the folks I mentioned that were gone by the time we were there. Hank Snow is one I regret not having the chance to meet. We did get to meet Mr. Acuff backstage in 1989. He was at the top of our list.<br /><br />When we were there, you had a feeling of who was not too approachable but even those folks were courteous and signed autographs. Otherwise, you just felt like you were among friends and could participate in most of what was going on if you were polite. I'm sure it just wouldn't be the same these days but it would still be fun!<br /><br />Jim<br />Knightsville, IN Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-70422984854836599772017-03-28T21:14:25.701-04:002017-03-28T21:14:25.701-04:00Between 1989 and 1991, I was blessed to be allowed...Between 1989 and 1991, I was blessed to be allowed backstage several times, courtesy of the late Otto Kitsinger. He was a writer/researcher for TNN, including the Opry Backstage show. As Jim says, it was very much a family atmosphere, and I was able to meet and get autographs from virtually everyone on the show (including the elusive Hank Snow). There were also many celebrity visitors who were not on the show, including Ferlin Husky (although Jean Shepard did bring him onstage as a surprise guest), Gordie Tapp, Dick Curless, and even Tammy Faye Bakker. I was free to talk to anyone I saw, and if their dressing room door was open, many of them invited me in. True, some didn't hang around to socialize, but not one refused to give me an autograph. The Staff Band and other sidemen were also very friendly. It was truly one of the highlights of my life that I will never forget! Almost all of them are gone now, and I imagine that open atmosphere no longer exists, but I will be forever thankful that I got to experience a little taste of it, before it was too late.<br /><br />Rich Leonard<br />Seattle, WAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-29739912555410545052017-03-28T18:35:34.239-04:002017-03-28T18:35:34.239-04:00Barry, what you said is what I'd always heard ...Barry, what you said is what I'd always heard about. And to confess, I've never been to the Opry. And now I think of my mother. I asked her in the 1980s whether she would want to go and she said that she didn't because it wouldn't be like what she'd heard about and listened to 30 years before. I'm now that way. I'd want to get backstage (I was acquainted enough with two of the members to be able to do it, I think), and now that's lost its glow.<br /><br />At the same time, I'm not entirely sad about it, except for the nostalgia, because the world does change. If the Opry had stayed as it was in 1926, it wouldn't be here now. It has to keep its links to the past, but it can't be a prisoner of it. Which, as a history professor, I hate to say!Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-50144605056928309952017-03-28T13:42:32.557-04:002017-03-28T13:42:32.557-04:00Having spent a lot of time there in the early 80&#...Having spent a lot of time there in the early 80's (thanks to Mr. Bell) I can tell you that the atmosphere was very much like a family reunion on a Saturday night. It would start out kind of quietly early in the evening, pick up steam around 7:00 or so, be at full steam around 8:30 and then start to quiet down again around 11. There was always a lot of music coming from dressing rooms 2 (Bill Monroe and the bluegrass acts) and 3 (The Crook Brothers, Kirk McGee and the other "old timers"), lots of coming and going and the Bill Carlisle-Marshall Barnes vaudeville show going on in the back hallway for most of the evening. A few dressing room doors would remain closed but for the most part everyone was in and out and you would usually find several artists that weren't even on the show sitting around. I passed by Roy Acuff's dressing room one night and saw Carl Smith, Carl Butler, John Hartford and Johnny Russell all sitting there having a big old time and none of them appeared on the stage that night. I just can't imagine that without the old characters to keep things stirred up and the show being practically over before it begins and the majority of performers not being long-time Opry stars that the backstage atmosphere is quite as warm, loose and informal these days. Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04287831362702766918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-30685857629383210882017-03-26T21:16:30.872-04:002017-03-26T21:16:30.872-04:00If you think about the Ryman days, how often have ...If you think about the Ryman days, how often have you heard the stories of the artist making the walk across the alley to Tootsie's between shows or segments they appeared on? Or they lingered in the alley. Of course, there was limited space backstage at the Ryman.<br /><br />When we spent the night backstage in April 1999, it was kind of like David B was mentioning. Although some artist did leave for a while between shows they did not rush out or turn anyone away that wanted to talk to them. I always figured they were going to grab a bite to eat. There was a lot of visiting going on. I was talking with Jim Ed Brown when the great bass man Bob Moore came up and started talking to Jim Ed. Billy and Bettie Walker visited with Jimmy C and Miss Mae about jackets for the first Golden Voice show. Johnny Russell and George IV visited in the dressing room while Johnny ate a hot dog. At that time, it really was what we all like to think it was.<br /><br />Alas, Roy, Minnie, Hank, Monroe, and Grandpa were gone but it still had the feeling. Porter was one that was nice but wasn't out of his dressing room too much. We were oh so lucky to have experienced this thanks to Jean Shepard and Benny Birchfield.<br /><br />As with a lot of our history and culture, we are all lucky to have lived when we did even though we sometimes think we were born too late.<br /><br />Jim<br />Knightsville, INAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-20830738684769257832017-03-26T15:18:27.081-04:002017-03-26T15:18:27.081-04:00With only 6 or 8 members appearing per show now th...With only 6 or 8 members appearing per show now the "family reunion" backstage atmosphere is gone. I've seen photos and videos of backstage of the Opry in the 50-80s and I long to be there. Imagine 25 or 30 artists per week just walking around. Picking sessions; Acuff's dressing room; it truly was a family. There were exceptions- Marty Robbins only coming in for the last segment; Snow didn't socialize much at all, as said, going home between shows and refusing to participate in any televised Opry shows until TNN came around. But I think for the most part everyone did get a long and truly were close friends. <br />It's just changing times. With that older generation is gone, the newer ones don't hold to those things for the most part. <br />I remember family reunions as a child with over 100 people. Once the older generation passed away, the reunions died along with them. We now have Facebook and texting to keep up with each other. <br />The Opry building is still there but we must realize it's a new group of people. David Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236512891823165117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-44447540727114599672017-03-26T14:22:18.098-04:002017-03-26T14:22:18.098-04:00Joe, I will tell you that artists coming and going...Joe, I will tell you that artists coming and going based on their spots has been going on for decades. Many of the older artists used to ask to be on the earlier slots on the 2nd show so that they could leave and be home early. Other artists would leave the Opry between their spots on the 1st and 2nd shows and go get something to eat, or in the case of Hank Snow, he went back home and came back right before he was due to go on. <br /><br />Other artists don't even go into the Opry House until it is their time. Alan Jackson, when he appears, will generally wait in his tour bus. Travis Tritt used to stay in the TNN studios in the back of the Opry House. Others used to wait in Pete Fisher's office until it was time to go on. <br /><br />I know the Opry has always been made out to be one big happy family, where the artists come before the first show, stay all through the second show, visit and have fun. Sadly, those days have passed. Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-68249579179216132742017-03-26T13:59:41.598-04:002017-03-26T13:59:41.598-04:00If I remember correctly, Carrie always use to perf...If I remember correctly, Carrie always use to perform the last half of hour of each show, but has stopped since she became a mom. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-40442805587809864102017-03-26T13:18:20.292-04:002017-03-26T13:18:20.292-04:00Not to take too much away from Carrie and the posi...Not to take too much away from Carrie and the positive comments here, if you really had as much respect for the Opry as the artists talk about, is it too much to ask that they stay for the whole show? It's not like they are rushing to play another gig that night and I'm sure they can find friends, coworkers, etc. to chat with. Again, I don't want to take too much away from Carrie as I do appreciate her getting her 10 performances in per year.Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-77099351181149477182017-03-26T03:02:59.282-04:002017-03-26T03:02:59.282-04:00I was so very happy that Eddie Stubbs announced bo...I was so very happy that Eddie Stubbs announced both shows tonight!!!! <br />I realize the man needs a night off, but he is the Grant Turner of our lifetime. WSM is by far and away my favorite radio station, and he is far and away the greatest dj there! His ability to capture people is just amazing!!!! Plus he knows more history than anyone living today with the exception possibly of Mr. Fay!!!! <br />I don't ever want his week night show to change, but I wish he did the actual Saturday night Opry rather than Friday. E. Z. Cleghornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239319776394568841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-39516261565961639132017-03-25T15:09:24.002-04:002017-03-25T15:09:24.002-04:00Lets not forget that in the days of TNN and the te...Lets not forget that in the days of TNN and the televised portion, many of the big name chart toppers wouldn't even stay for the second show, only showing up for the TV exposure and the publicity. At least that is the way I saw it. Sometimes, that was just fine with me!<br /><br />Jim<br />Knightsville, IN Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-55017519137859389572017-03-25T08:35:02.339-04:002017-03-25T08:35:02.339-04:00A lot has to do with the artist themselves. Many o...A lot has to do with the artist themselves. Many of them don't want to hang around all night: get in, do their songs and go. If you look at even the shows from decades ago, some of the bigger names would do either the televised segment, or the last segment on the first show, then the first segment on the second show and be gone. <br /><br />Looking at past Carrie appearances, when there have been two shows, how she appeared on Friday, and will on Saturday, is pretty standard for her. Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-77530249508544733682017-03-24T23:48:05.467-04:002017-03-24T23:48:05.467-04:00I don't understand why always, on the second s...I don't understand why always, on the second show, the headlining artist is always in the second segment and done within 30 minutes to an hour of the show starting? If that was the only show I'd bought tickets for, I'd then watch the rest, but without the excitement of the big name at the end. E. Z. Cleghornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239319776394568841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-19552494077727203902017-03-24T21:23:24.363-04:002017-03-24T21:23:24.363-04:00I saw that the Opry is advertising that this will ...I saw that the Opry is advertising that this will be Carrie's 100th appearance on the Opry. Not too bad considering how busy she is with her career and touring right now. Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-9721509004003520622017-03-24T21:05:54.766-04:002017-03-24T21:05:54.766-04:00I attended Little Jim's funeral, and the exact...I attended Little Jim's funeral, and the exact same thought has entered my mind.<br />Carrie doesn't talk the walk, she just walks!Nat Hill IVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-69785553616127191222017-03-24T20:15:27.779-04:002017-03-24T20:15:27.779-04:00I will third or fourth that and add something: sin...I will third or fourth that and add something: since she co-hosts the CMA's with Brad Paisley, maybe she could say something to him about how he talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk, and when he said in a eulogy for Jimmy Dickens that "we'll take it from here," that meant he was making a promise he hasn't kept?Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-83954524826448561742017-03-24T18:37:21.092-04:002017-03-24T18:37:21.092-04:00From Anonymous in Kingman: God Bless Carrie Underw...From Anonymous in Kingman: God Bless Carrie Underwood!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-41621370043354590212017-03-24T15:19:37.060-04:002017-03-24T15:19:37.060-04:00Ditto that David BDitto that David BNat Hill IVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-9126741450745020402017-03-24T15:13:05.385-04:002017-03-24T15:13:05.385-04:00I know we all brag on Carrie Underwood a lot, but ...I know we all brag on Carrie Underwood a lot, but she truly is the greatest among her generation to understand the importance of Opry membership. David Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236512891823165117noreply@blogger.com