tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post4244749064706136400..comments2024-03-26T23:59:24.053-04:00Comments on Fayfare's Opry Blog: Grand Ole Opry House Added to National Register of Historic Placesfayfarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00173166778978335059noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-9580620553206092842015-03-04T13:28:38.718-05:002015-03-04T13:28:38.718-05:00The Opry House is indeed deserving of this honor b...The Opry House is indeed deserving of this honor but to me the Ryman will always be the magic place and I only attend the show during the winter months just for that reason. One thing that does bother me somewhat is the fact that they sell booze at the Ryman. While I enjoy a sip of burbon or a bottle of beer occasionally, I do not believe that Captain Tom Ryman would approve of drinking in his church. Nevertheless, I hope they continue to host shows at the Ryman for years to come.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-13919521357176294742015-03-02T09:16:37.141-05:002015-03-02T09:16:37.141-05:00Keith was on TNN, Katie was on CMT, and Nan Kelley...Keith was on TNN, Katie was on CMT, and Nan Kelley was on GAC.<br /><br />A.B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-55511773766471854172015-03-01T15:29:56.011-05:002015-03-01T15:29:56.011-05:00Keith Bilbrey was GREAT on Opry Live - never liked...Keith Bilbrey was GREAT on Opry Live - never liked it after they fired him; couldn't stand that Nan, I actually turned down the sound when she "read the cue cards"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-52588369044755993832015-03-01T14:27:18.582-05:002015-03-01T14:27:18.582-05:00Keith Bilbrey hosted the Opry on TNN, Katie Cook w...Keith Bilbrey hosted the Opry on TNN, Katie Cook was on the GAC version.<br />KyleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-8979550570786986432015-03-01T08:01:23.542-05:002015-03-01T08:01:23.542-05:00Fred, Bismarck:
Good point (and sad truth) by Byr...Fred, Bismarck:<br /><br />Good point (and sad truth) by Byron: that, if they had the Opry on TV again, we probably wouldn't want to watch. Or would watch with clenched teeth, as I did as early as its final days on TNN, the Katie Cook period. When they would cut away from the oldtimers most of us wanted to see -- when those oldtimers could even get scheduled on the TV portion --in favor of backstage palaver with one or another of the sex objects of the day.<br /><br />I can only imagine how bad it must have been on GAC, which coverage I don't think I ever saw. (Unless Katie was GAC; the old memory isn't what it used to be.) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-27542145713783562602015-02-28T20:41:05.075-05:002015-02-28T20:41:05.075-05:00As far as the studio section of the Opry House, th...As far as the studio section of the Opry House, the final years of Hee Haw were filmed there. Originally Hee Haw was filmed at a television studio in downtown Nashville. Most of the Hee Haw filming was done twice a year, usually for two weeks at at time. After Hee Haw went off the air, they used it for various televison shows that aired on TNN including The Statler Brothers show and the game show, "Top Card" which I was lucky to be a contestant on Later, Mike Snider had a summer show that took place there, which lasted for a year. Mike's show was not filmed or televised, as it was just a live show and a chance to offer live music during the week in the Opry area. I also know that a few of the Christmas specials that aired on TNN were also filmed there. The only purpose that the Opry uses it now for is that there are a couple of dressing rooms back there that are used by a few of the bigger name Opry artists that do not want to use the normal dressing rooms as that area of the Opry House is not opened up to those backstage and gives those artists a bit more privacy. They also use it when they host private receptions such as when Jim Ed Brown had his 50th anniversary. The last time I peaked in it was basically empty. <br /><br />Let's not forget that the Opry is a radio show and not a television show. When they left GAC it was basically a money issue as the Opry wanted a certain price for the show that GAC was not willing to pay. There is nothing going on at all on the television front and to be honest, as much as many of us would like to see the Opry on RFD, the type of artists that the Opry would want to have on a television segment are not those that would appeal to the normal RFD viewer. When the Opry was on GAC, GAC was telling the Opry what artists they wanted on and helped to pick up the costs of many of those artists. Byronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07610237116677181633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-50461882547176725232015-02-28T15:46:11.044-05:002015-02-28T15:46:11.044-05:00The majority of the Opry's members work on RFD...The majority of the Opry's members work on RFD TV already, and I think it's a tragedy that the Opry isn't airing on Television anywhere. <br /><br />RFD TV might not be huge in the eyes of Opry management, but they really should find a channel to air the show. By only having the Opry on radio really defeats the purpose of the show, which is why it has become a bit forgotten and not enough newer members choose to show up for it.<br />KyleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-66284953263671298002015-02-28T14:58:14.727-05:002015-02-28T14:58:14.727-05:00I wish RFD and the Opry could make a deal to air a...I wish RFD and the Opry could make a deal to air an hour of the Opry on Saturdays. It would be a start. I suppose they don't think the network is big enough or they want more money.<br /><br />A.B.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-79584773633744551882015-02-28T10:49:25.079-05:002015-02-28T10:49:25.079-05:00Steve,
If you've ever done the Opry backstage...Steve,<br /><br />If you've ever done the Opry backstage tour in recent years, they go to the TV studio section where shows like Hee Haw were filmed, and they say that these soundstages are now used for filming scenes for "Nashville," although they do admit that the studio audience portion hasn't been used in some time and is quite dusty. <br /><br />It would be really nice if Country's Family Reunion would use this soundstage at some point to film episodes. There are a lot of people who enjoy watching the show and would probably like to attend one of these tapings, so they could use the studio audience section for them to see this. <br />KyleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-40524784763563991622015-02-28T08:54:41.390-05:002015-02-28T08:54:41.390-05:00Glad to see this taking place. I grew up listening...Glad to see this taking place. I grew up listening to the Opry at the Ryman in the 60s, but my first trip to the Opry was the last Friday night of January, 1975 (anyone have the line-up for that night?) so to my mind, the Grand Ole Opry House IS the proper home of the Opry. While it's true that there is no place like the Ryman and it's great that the show is moved there for special occasions, I've never liked the fact that they leave the Opry House for 3 months in the winter.<br /><br />The revitalization of downtown Nashville is great, but it seems to have come at the expense of the Opryland/Briley Parkway area, even after you factor in the closing of Opryland Theme Park in 1997. Music Valley Drive was once a thriving tourist area, but it's a sad drive through there now. There was even an outlet store complex across the street from the Opryland Hotel, but now it's half-empty office space.<br /><br />Along with the general decline of the area, the Opry House itself is much under-utilized. It used to be home to the annual CMA awards, but that was moved (once again) downtown and has since become more of a rock concert than an industry event. The Opry House is also home to full television production facilities that are sitting largely idle since the demise of the Nashville Network and Opry Live (are you listening, RFD-TV?).<br /><br />I'll get off my soapbox now, as I have the feeling that on some of these points, I'm largely "preaching to the choir", but hopefully, this recognition will help bring back some much deserved attention to the Opry House and the surrounding area.<br /><br />~SteveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-33252125466879997062015-02-26T20:24:50.009-05:002015-02-26T20:24:50.009-05:00I'm shocked it hasn't been on the register...I'm shocked it hasn't been on the register of historical places earlier in the 41 years its been open. <br /><br />It's a much deserved honor, and this makes sure it continues on for many years to come (and, with much hope, forever). I'm surprised the Opry's facebook page didn't mention that (but it has already credited itself as a historical place & landmark).<br /><br />I assume you're going to be rescheduling your Nashville trip to the week of March 24 then. Maybe having to reschedule was a blessing in disguise.<br />I wonder if the Opry is going to re-announce plans for their new theme park with Dolly Parton on that night's show. <br />It's already been a year to remember for the Opry, and I'm glad to hear it will continue that way over the rest of the year. It's just a pity that Little Jimmy Dickens wasn't able to be a part of the 90th anniversary festivities. <br />KyleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com