National Barn Dance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Barn Dance was a country music radio program first heard on WLS (AM) in Chicago, Illinois and later on NBC.
It was a precursor to many similar programs, in part because the clear channel signal of WLS was audible throughout most of the Midwest and even beyond in the late evening and nighttime hours, making much of the United States (and Canada) a potential audience and the program was well-received; thus it was very widely imitated. The show was founded by broadcaster George D. Hay, aired from 1924 to 1968 and was once sponsored by Alka-Seltzer.
Regularly featured were Gene Autry, Lulu Belle and Scotty, Pat Buttram, George Gobel, Andy Williams (in a quartet with his three brothers), The DeZurik Sisters and the Hoosier Hot Shots. Other guests included Eddie Peabody and Joe Kelly, best remembered today as the host and moderator of NBC's Quiz Kids. The announcer was Jack Holden.
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[edit] History
The National Barn Dance went on the air on WLS on April 19, 1924 and was picked up by the NBC network in 1933. In 1946, the show switched to the ABC network, and aired until 1952. The radio program aired on Saturday nights from 6:30pm until midnight.
[edit] Related programs
In 1925, prior to the advent of network radio or syndication, Hay brought his Barn Dance idea to Nashville, Tennessee. The result was a show called the WSM Barn Dance. The WSM version of the show became so popular in its own right that on December 10, 1927, Hay renamed it the Grand Ole Opry; WSM was named one of the first NBC affiliates in 1927, and the Opry is still on the air today.
A second program was launched in the 1930s by National Barn Dance associate John Lair in Renfro Valley, Kentucky; the Renfro Valley Barn Dance still takes place weekly but is no longer aired on the radio (although a sister program, the Renfro Valley Gatherin', does).
[edit] Demise
ABC made two moves that ultimately led to the National Barn Dance's slow demise. The first was the cancellation of the network broadcast in 1952. After a few years, audiences finally began to wane, and the National Barn Dance ceased its live performances after 1957. The show continued to air on WLS until 1959 when ABC then bought WLS and changed the format of the station to Top 40 Rock and Roll music, cancelling National Barn Dance outright in the process. The show moved to station WGN where the show, now a shadow of its former self, continued until finally leaving the air permanently in 1968.
[edit] Chronology
- 1924-33: WLS Radio
- 1925-28: Two separate versions, WLS version (National Barn Dance) and WSM version (WSM Barn Dance), the latter became Grand Ole Opry in 1928
- 1933-46: WLS radio, syndicated by NBC
- 1946-52: WLS radio, syndicated by ABC
- 1952-60: WLS radio
- 1960-68: WGN radio
[edit] Film and TV
A fictionalized account of the show's origins, The National Barn Dance (1944), was filmed by director Hugh Bennett from a screenplay by Hal Fimberg and Lee Loeb. The film starred Jean Heather, Charles Quigley, Robert Benchley, Mabel Paige and Charles Dingle. Pat Buttram and Joe Kelly appeared as themselves.
Jack Stillwell and Hal O'Halloran were the hosts of the short-lived television series, ABC Barn Dance, which began February 21, 1949. The 30-minute musical variety format presented a mix of folk music with country and Western tunes. This series was telecast on ABC for ten months until November 14.
