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The Porter Wagoner Show No. 284
Doing a hilarious impression of Speck Rhodes' spastic little fingers-slapping-together gesture, Porter introduces gap-toothed hayseed comedian Speck Rhodes, who gleefully saunters in wearing his trademark checkered suit and bowler hat and indeed, doing the very same gesture Porter predicted. Porter makes a comment about Speck's tan, and Speck makes his corny old joke about bikinis: "Those two piece bikinis are terrible, they ought to be just one piece... but which piece, the top or the bottom?" Shot of man in audience laughing uproariously and applauding. Then backed by The Wagonmasters, Speck sings the novelty song "Don't Never Take No For An Answer."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 284
Porter thanks everyone for writing in, then introduces the week's sacred number. Accompanied by The Wagonmasters, Porter plays guitar and sings one of the most beautiful songs ever, "Rank Strangers."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 284
Porter reintroduces Webb Pierce, who plays guitar and sings "The Man You Want Me To Be," backed by The Wagonmasters. Shot of Speck in audience applauding between two very nonplussed-looking older women.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 284
Backed by The Wagonmasters, Porter and Dolly sing a duet on "Run That By Me One More Time." Their play feudin', fussin', and fightin' just gets to feeling more natural all the time. Hmmm...
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 284
Porter gets the "stretch it out" signal from the stage manager, which we know as Porter jokes about it on camera. Porter calls Speck in to help him say so long before he wraps up the show, waving goodbye as The Wagonmasters play the instrumental show outro, Don Howser signs off, and credits roll as Mack dances and fiddles us off the air.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 285
Promo for The Porter Wagoner Show #285 featuring special guest Bill Carlisle. Spot opens with Carlisle playing guitar and singing "Dirty Old Man," then camera pulls out to reveal black Nudie suit-wearing Porter, who names guests and regulars and invites us to tune in. Fade out over art card with colorful illustration of Porter.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 285
Opening of Porter Wagoner show #285. Standard pre-recorded opening begins with CU of Porter s shiny red boots walking down hallway, which cuts to rear view of Wagoner s garish green Nudie suit festooned with rhinestone wagon wheels and cacti. Montage of smiling Porter happily walking through WSM-TV studio as stage hands and technicians prep show. Don Howser s voice over reads: "Direct from Nashville Tennessee, here s The Porter Wagoner Show!" Quick shots of regulars as Howser announces them: "Starring Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Speck Rhodes, Don Howser, The Wagonmasters, and today s special guest star." Momentary pause in VO (presumably left for Howser to read the guest star s name on air), then prerecorded segment ends with Howser s "...and now, here s Porter." Cut to live portion as Porter, wearing dazzling, rhinestone-studded black Nudie suit, plays guitar and sings "Tennessee Saturday Night" accompanied by Wagonmasters Buck Trent, Don Warden, Mack Magaha, George McCormick, Jack Little and Speck Rhodes, all but Speck in matching red Nudie suits. Colorful shots of audience applauding. MS Buck's twangy guitar solo.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 296
Backed by The Wagonmasters, Porter recites Hank Williams' "Luke The Drifter" morality tale "Be Careful Of Stones That You Throw." Remarkably, Porter makes this piece sound fresh and heartfelt no matter how many times he performs it.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 296
Porter reintroduces Roy Drusky, who plays guitar and sings the mid-50s oldie but goodie "Alone With You" backed by The Wagonmasters. Porter says he may be a little old-fashioned, but he loves to hear them old songs.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 285
Porter welcomes audience and introduces Bill Carlisle in a very somber manner. Though Carlisle's typically somewhat of a nutball, the song he plays next, "A Man Named Jones," is a very serious affair indeed. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Carlisle recites the maudlin war number about an aging WWII vet who attempts to get the army to recruit him instead of his wet-behind-the-ears boy.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 285
Electric banjo twangin' Buck Trent leads The Wagonmasters in the instrumental "Louisiana Man."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 285
Porter introduces the pretty little lady Dolly Parton, who plays guitar and sings "Just The Way I Am" (from her "Fairest Of Them All" LP) backed by The Wagonmasters. Porter starts to fondle Dolly's hair, but Dolly stops him saying "It might fall off."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 285
Accompanied by The Wagonmasters, Porter plays guitar and sings a jaunty version of Bob Wills' "Faded Love."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 285
"You know, I guess every program has a highlight," Porter says in his introduction of gap-toothed cornpone comedian Speck Rhodes, and you just know where he's leading. As Porter introduces the "lowlight" of the program, Speck (wearing as always his checkered suit and bowler hat) makes a call on one of those old-fashioned wind-up crank telephones and calls Sadie, his fictional girlfriend and telephone operator. Speck tells a bunch of corny old-fashioned jokes about marriage and psychologists. Shots of audience yukking it up.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 285
Now it's time for the week's sacred number, one featured in all Porter's personal appearances, and which he calls "the most beautiful ever written." Backed by The Wagonmasters, Dolly sings "How Great Thou Art."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 285
Porter puts in a plug for the Country Music Hall of Fame, saying it's a "must-see" (along with the Opry) on your next trip to Nashville. Porter reintroduces "Jumpin" Bill Carlisle, taking a leap into the air in the process. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Bill lays guitar, jumps around, and sings his incredibly sexist novelty song "Dirty Old Man." Afterwards Porter wraps up the show, waving goodbye as The Wagonmasters play the instrumental show outro, Don Howser signs off, and credits roll as Mack dances and fiddles us off the air.
Children Liberate Hundreds Of Birds In Plea For Peace
Undulating, dull in contrast and imagery Children liberate hundreds of birds in a plea for peace. Little girl holding one of the doves getting ready to set it free.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
Promo for The Porter Wagoner Show #286 featuring special guest Dick Curless. Porter opens the spot with just him and his guitar, saying they're been through a lot together. Then Porter names guests and regulars and invites us to tune in. As we fade out over art card with colorful illustration of Porter we hear him say "I'll throw you away when we get done here."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
Opening of Porter Wagoner show #286. Standard pre-recorded opening begins with CU of Porter s shiny red boots walking down hallway, which cuts to rear view of Wagoner s garish green Nudie suit festooned with rhinestone wagon wheels and cacti. Montage of smiling Porter happily walking through WSM-TV studio as stage hands and technicians prep show. Don Howser s voice over reads: "Direct from Nashville Tennessee, here s The Porter Wagoner Show!" Quick shots of regulars as Howser announces them: "Starring Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Speck Rhodes, Don Howser, The Wagonmasters, and today s special guest star." Momentary pause in VO (presumably left for Howser to read the guest star s name on air), then prerecorded segment ends with Howser s "...and now, here s Porter." Cut to live portion as Porter, wearing dazzling, rhinestone-studded green Nudie suit, plays guitar and sings "Long Journey Home" accompanied by Wagonmasters Buck Trent, Don Warden, Mack Magaha, George McCormick, Jack Little and Speck Rhodes, all but Speck in matching red Nudie suits. Colorful shots of audience applauding. MS Mack's fiddle and Buck's twangy banjo solo.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
Porter welcomes audience and introduces Bangor, Maine's Dick Curless, who wears a fabulous purple velvet suit with gold trim that makes him look like a Crown Royal bag. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Curless sings the terrifically weepy "Bury the Bottle With Me."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
Wagonmasters Mack and Buck play us out of the commercial break with a snazzy duet on the instrumental "Fisher's Hornpipe."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
Porter introduces the beautiful little lady Dolly Parton, who plays guitar and sings "I'm In No Condition" backed by The Wagonmasters.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
Porter compares old songs with old friends, saying its good to revisit them from time to time. In a moody pool of light, Porter plays guitar and sings one of the first songs he ever learned, "An Old Log Cabin For Sale," backed by The Wagonmasters.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
Porter introduces the next gentleman, "who is, without a doubt... he is without a doubt." Who else could it be but Speck Rhodes? Good old gap-toothed cornpone comedian Speck Rhodes struts in and dances a little jig with Porter, and comments on his mother's concern, saying: "Every now and then it makes me look like I don't have any teeth, too." Speck tells a corny joke then sings a novelty song he introduces as "I Wish I Was In Arkansas A-Settin' On A Rail," aka "Stop That Ticklin' Me," backed by The Wagonmasters. Something about the crazy energy of this entire segment puts it above the curve of Speck's regular segments.