The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
The Porter Wagoner Show #248 featuring special guest Ray Pillow.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Promo for The Porter Wagoner Show #248 featuring special guest Ray Pillow. Spot opens with Porter Wagoner standing at mic in the Wagon House set, wearing a rhinestone bejeweled orange Nudie suit and singing "John Henry," but substituting John's name with that of the announcer Don Howser. Pan over to Howser himself who announces guest ray Pillow, and says Dolly and Speck and all he Wagonmasters will be here so why don't you tune in? Fade out over art card with colorful illustration of Porter.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Opening of Porter Wagoner show #248. 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 orange Nudie suit, plays guitar and sings "Shady Grove" accompanied by Wagonmasters Buck Trent, Don Warden, Mack Magaha, George McCormick, Jack Little and Speck Rhodes, all but Speck in matching white Nudie suits. Shot of audience applause. Medium shots Buck's banjo solo and Mack's fiddling.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Porter welcomes the audience, then introduces a man from the great state of Virginny, Opry member Ray Pillow. Backed by The Wagonmasters and accompanied on harmonies by George McCormick, Pillow plays guitar and sings "Stop and Drink It Over." A few points during the song Ray is on the verge of cracking up, and as soon as he's finished we find out why: "Hey, it's supposed to be 'drink it over,' not 'think it over'," he says to George, laughing. Then Porter steps in and tells the audience about borrowing Ray's shirt, and they trade some funny self-deprecating comments about the audience's complete lack of interest in the subject.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Opening with Jack Little's tom-tom drumming, The Wagonmasters play us out of the commercial with the instrumental "Cheyenne," featuring Mack Magaha's fiddling. At one point Porter steps in and makes rabbit ears over Mack's head.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Porter introduces Dolly Parton, who plays guitar and sings the classic "Walk Through This World With Me," backed by The Wagonmasters.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Porter returns and The Wagonmasters accompany him on a nice version of his 1957 hit "I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name." Shot of kids in audience applauding at end of number.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Porter introduces gap-toothed rube comedian Speck Rhodes. Speck, wearing his trademark bowler hat and checkered suit (though for once it's more of a plaid), calls his fictional girlfriend Sadie on an old-fashioned wall-mounted crank style telephone and tells some painfully corny old-fashioned jokes. One punch line is so bad Speck pretty much has to explain it. Shots of late 1960's Nashville audience laughing.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Porter introduces the serious part of the program, explaining that they try to do the songs that people request the most. Porter then introduces what he believes is the most beautiful song ever written, "How Great Thou Art." Shot through a Vaseline-smeared lens, Dolly Parton really belts out the gospel song, with minimal backing by The Wagonmasters.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Porter reintroduces Ray Pillow, plays guitar and sings his recent single "Wonderful Day" backed by The Wagonmasters.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 248
Porter calls in seldom-seen drummer Little Jack Little for a rare moment in the spotlight. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Jack puffs away on a cigarette while doing a mighty respectable stanza of Tex Williams 1947 talking blues, "Smoke Smoke Smoke (That Cigarette)." Then Porter wraps up the show, waving goodbye as The Wagonmasters play the instrumental show outro, Don Howser signs off, and Mack fiddles and dances us off the air. Great candid shot under credits audience members sitting patiently and watching the outro.