The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
The Porter Wagoner Show #107 with special guest Bobby Bare.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
Introduction to Porter Wagoner show #107. 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 impersonates Ed Sullivan in his introduction of Porter Wagoner, who wears one of his 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). CU Mack's fiddle solo and Buck's rock 'n roll banjo. Great blooper at the third verse when Porter can't remember whether to sing "spots" or "stripes," jokes about it, and recovers in time for the chorus.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
Porter introduces Bobby Bare, who plays guitar and sings "Streets of Baltimore" backed by The Wagonmasters. After the song Porter returns and mentions Bobby's city-themed songs, using the references to Detroit et al to segue into the first commercial break.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
The Wagonmasters play us out of the commercial break with a hot instrumental version of "Black Mountain Rag" featuring fast & nimble solos by Buck and Mack. At the end of the number Buck does a little impersonation of Porter's signature hand gesture of pointing/waving offstage.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
Porter brings Bobby Bare back and they talk about the big hit he had with Norma Jean and Liz Anderson, "The Game of Triangles." Porter asks Bare to introduce Norma Jean, which he does. Norma plays guitar and sings "Heartbreak USA," from her 1966 LP "Tribute To Kitty Wells," backed by The Wagonmasters. MS smiling Buck Trent picking away on them banjo strings.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
Porter returns and says he loves songs that tell a story, so accompanied by The Wagonmasters, he plays guitar and sings a story song, the chilling Bill Anderson composition "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life," from his LP of the same name.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
Porter brings us out of the commercial saying that laughter is the best tonic for everything, and that it exercises about every muscle in your body. And speaking of laughter, here's Speck Rhodes! Gap-toothed comedian Rhodes, wearing his trademark black & yellow checkered suit with bow tie and white bowler hat, places a call on an old-timey wind-up telephone and speaks with his fictional girlfriend, Sadie the operator. Sadie connects Speck to Harry Beard's barber shop. For a moment an unknown person can be heard off screen doing one of "Harry's" lines. A slew of corny old-fashioned jokes ensue. Reaction shots of audience cracking up at 01:18:10 and 01:18:40. Speck's timing is way off today.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
Announcer Don Howser steps in and plugs the show's fifth souvenir booklet, containing songs and stories and pictures. It can be yours for only fifty cents by mail. Nice colorful graphic of an envelope addressed to Porter Wagoner, Box 404, Nashville, Tenn 37202.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
Porter introduces "one of his favorite numbers," then plays guitar and sings "Suppertime," accompanied by The Wagonmasters. The song would later appear on Porter's second gospel LP with The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, 1968's "In Gospel Country." At the end of the number, Howser rather gracelessly introduces the commercial break.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
Porter returns and thanks everyone for patronizing the show's sponsors, then reintroduces Bobby Bare. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Bare plays guitar and sings "Charleston Railroad Tavern."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 107
At the end of the song Porter rushes in and asks Bare to sing a little bit of "Detroit City" before they run out of time. Bare obliges, getting as far as the first chorus before he's cut off. Porter comes back saying "Folks, if we didn't sing about your city this week, we'll try to get to it next week at this time." Porter wraps up the show. As the Wagonmasters play instrumental show outro and announcer signs off, Wagoner waves goodbye as Magaha fiddles and he and Howser dance us off the air. End title super reads: "Produced By Show Biz in cooperation with WSM-TV." (See "more info" for full credits.)