The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
The Porter Wagoner Show #111 with special guests The Hardin Trio and Tex Williams.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Promo for Porter Wagoner Show #111 with special guests The Hardin Trio and Tex Williams. Spot opens with MS of Hardins singing "Tippy Toeing," then camera pulls out to reveal Tex and Porter, who introduces the guests and invites us to tune in to the program.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Introduction to Porter Wagoner show #111. Program opens with Wagoner and Wagonmasters Mack Magaha, Buck Trent, Speck Rhodes, Don Warden, and George McCormick as well as Norma Jean onscreen singing "Howdy Neighbor Howdy." Over brightly colored title card decorated with drawing of Wagoner, announcer Don Howser introduces Wagoner and The Wagonmasters, show regulars Speck Rhodes and Norma Jean, and "your favorite songs and stars of the Grand Ole Opry!" Howser enters and introduces "a man who's dressed up like a TV test pattern," Porter Wagoner. Wearing one of his trademark garish rhinestone-studded, western-themed Nudie suits, Porter welcomes audience, then plays guitar and sings "You Can't Make A Heel Toe The Mark," from his 1968 album "Green Green Grass Of Home," backed by The Wagonmasters (who wear equally flashy bright blue western outfits). As opposed to show # 107, this time Porter remembers all the lyrics. CU Buck's snazzy banjo playing and Mack's fiddle solo. Porter namechecks Tex Williams during the song.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Porter welcomes the audience, then introduces Tex Williams, who plays guitar and sings "Bottom Of A Mountain" backed by The Wagonmasters. After he finishes, Tex goes into a little rap about how modern recording studios "cheat" (i.e. overdub), which is great for him as it's easier for him to hit the low notes. To demonstrate, and apparently make up for feeling that he didn't quite get the performance right, he has the Wagonmasters play the last chorus again, but softer. Tex sings it again, this time even lower than the first.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Mack and Buck plays us out of a commercial with a hoppin' rendition of the standard "Goodbye Liza Jane," backed by The Wagonmasters. Nice shots of Mack's fiddling and Buck's banjo pickin'.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Porter introduces Pretty Miss Norma Jean, who wears a dress that's somewhat sparklier than usual. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Jean plays guitar and sings the Don Gibson song "Lonesome No. 1" from her 1964 LP "Let's Go All The Way." MS Buck Trent.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Porter returns and asks Norma Jean to help him introduce the next guests, "two really pretty girls and a ugly old boy," The Hardin Trio. Backed by The Wagonmasters, The Hardins harmonize on "Seven Days Of Crying." MS Buck Trent guitar solo.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Porter introduces gap-toothed comedian Rhodes. Wearing his trademark checkered suit with bow tie and white bowler hat, Speck places a call on an old-time wind-up telephone and speaks with his fictional girlfriend, Sadie the operator. Sadie connects Speck to Doc Pullem, and Speck tells a bunch of corny old fashioned jokes. Great shot of stony-faced woman in audience not laughing at 01:16:44. Another one at 01:17:22 of all but one person laughing. At end of bit, Speck clumsily plugs the show's fifth souvenir booklet, containing songs and stories and pictures. It can be yours for only fifty cents by mail. Colorful graphic of an envelope addressed to Porter.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Now it's time to get serious. Accompanied by The Wagonmasters, Porter recites "I Dreamed I Saw America On Her Knees." A somber song for a nation going though turbulent times. The number mentions people saying "God is dead," an apparent reference to the famous April 8, 1966 Time Magazine cover story that asked: "Is God Dead?"
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Tex returns and sings his trademark 1947 taking blues, "Smoke Smoke Smoke (That Cigarette)," backed by The Wagonmasters. Tex must have been absolutely sick of the song by now, 20 years later, but he gives it his all.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Arlene, Bob, and Robbie, The Hardin Trio play their 1966 hit single, "Tippy Toeing," backed by The Wagonmasters.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 111
Porter wraps up the show. As the Wagonmasters play instrumental show outro and Howser signs off, Wagoner waves goodbye as Magaha fiddles and Speck dances a little number around his stand-up bass. Porter puts Speck's hat on Mack while he fiddles, making him look like the leprechaun from the Lucky Charms commercials.