As we get to the end of the Opry's birthday month, I wanted to leave everyone with 2 Grand Ole Opry line ups from many years ago. Back in those days, the Opry didn't always celebrate it's birthday/anniversary in a formal way, but what I found were 2 line ups that took place in October during the week's that for the most part, the majority of the Opry's birthday celebrations have taken place. Sorry, but for both of these shows, I do not have any song lists, just the line ups. I hope that will work for everyone. As a reminder, both of these shows took place at the Ryman Auditorium and this was during the period that the Opry had only 1 show on Saturday nights, starting at 7:30 and lasting until midnight. (not like now when there is 1 Saturday night show that goes from 7 until 9). During this period, each act, for the most part, would appear on the show twice, once before 10 and once after 10. There were a few acts that would appear only once, and once in a while you would have an act that would make 3 appearances on the show.
The first line up is from Saturday October 17, 1953:
7:30
Hank Snow (host)
Lew Childre
7:45
Johnnie & Jack (host)
Cowboy Copas
Kitty Wells
8:00
Ernest Tubb (host)
Bill Monroe
Marty Robbins
June Carter
Carter Family
8:30
Jimmy Dickens (host)
Carl Butler
Jordanaires
Stringbean
9:00
Webb Pierce (host)
George Morgan
Martha Carson
S. & Matty
9:30
Carl Smith (host)
Jimmy Dickens
Anita Carter
Grandpa Jones
Chet Atkins
10:00
George Morgan (host)
Bill Monroe
Johnnie & Jack
10:15
Hank Snow (host)
Kitty Wells
Bill Monroe
10:30
Ernest Tubb (host)
Jimmy Dickens
Marty Robbins
Duke of Paducah
June Carter
Chet Atkins
Carter Family
11:00
Web Pierce (host)
Martha Carson
Rod Brasfield
11:15
Carl Smith (host)
Johnnie & Jack
Stringbean
11:30
Hank Snow (host)
Lew Childre
11:45
Cowboy Copas (host)
Grandpa Jones
The 2nd line up is from Saturday October 22, 1955:
7:30
Carl Smith (host)
Justin Tubb
Eddie Hill
7:45
Jimmy Dickens (host)
Goldie Hill
Red Sovine
8:00
Ernest Tubb (host)
Hawkshaw Hawkins
Jim Reeves
Martha Carson
T Tommy Cutrer
Maybelle Carter
8:30
Ray Price (host)
Jordanaires
Del Wood
Rod Brasfield
Chet Atkins
9:00
Carl Smith (host)
Louvin Brothers
Bill Monroe
Bill Carlisle
Grandpa Jones
Jean Shepard
9:30
Ferlin Husky (host)
Anita Carter
Chet Atkins
Lew Childre
10:00
Hawkshaw Hawkins (host)
Bill Monroe
Martha Carson
10:15
Ray Price (host)
Bill Carlisle
Justin Tubb
10:30
Ernest Tubb (host)
Jimmy Dickens
Eddie Hill
10:45
Ferlin Husky (host)
Goldie Hill
11:00
Carl Smith (host)
Hawkshaw Hawkins
Jim Reeves
Martha Carson
Grandpa Jones
Jean Shepard
Maybelle Carter
11:30
Ray Price (host)
Louvin Brothers
Lew Childre
Red Sovine
Yes, there were squaredancers and the string bands on the show, I just didn't have them in my line up. But, overall, a nice look back and pretty good shows both nights
This will be the last of the Opry birthday line ups as October is about done. I hope you have enjoyed this look back at some of the Opry shows from years past. Look for this week's Opry schedule and comments tomorrow.
Man I would pay GOOD money for a ticket to those shows !!!!
ReplyDeleteNow a question; Was Salty and Matty Holmes members of the Opry? I had never heard of them until they were included in some of those "Grand Ole Opry Stars of the 50's" VHS tapes that came out in the late 1990's.
They were great. And it's funny: the cast lists on those two nights were, frankly, a little on the thin side, compared with other lineups from that era (in numbers, not in talent). Today, of course, they would be monsters.
ReplyDeleteFred in Bismarck here:
ReplyDeleteThese lineups have a lot of meaning for me, because I began tuning in the Opry as a 12-year-old in 1954. The shows were magical to me then, and their memory -- refreshed and reinforced by my music collection -- is undimmed today.
Having been around to enjoy the Opry of those days is one of the consolations of being a geezer today.
A much newer country fan to whom these lineups represent only historical names they might or might not recognize could easily say, "Big whoop." To appreciate the variety and extent of talent, showmanship and overall professionalism here -- such a contrast to today's barren country scene, at the Opry and elsewhere -- you truly had to be there.
Second best: Grabbing up those wonderful Gannaway shows from the mid-1950s.
Thanks, Byron!