The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
The Porter Wagoner Show #88 with special guests the Osborne Brothers.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
Promo for Porter Wagoner Show #88 with special guests the Osborne Brothers. Opens with MSU of the brothers singing "Up This Hill And Down," pulling out to reveal Porter who introduces them saying "You and the family join us, won't you? Right on this channel."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
Introduction to Porter Wagoner show #88. Program opens with Wagoner and Wagonmasters Speck Rhodes, Don Warden, and George McCormick plus Norma Jean onscreen singing "Howdy Neighbor Howdy." Over title card decorated with drawing of Wagoner, announcer Hairl Hensley introduces Wagoner and The Wagonmasters, show regulars Speck Rhodes and Norma Jean, and "your favorite songs and stars of the Grand Ole Opry!" Wearing eyeball-searing, rhinestone-studded lame' Nudie suit, Wagoner welcomes audience, then plays guitar and sings "I'll Be There If You Ever Want Me" accompanied by The Wagonmasters. MCU Magaha happily fiddlin' away.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
Porter introduces "The greatest trio in the music business, Bob and Sonny, the Osborne Brothers" (the third man is Dale Sledd). Porter pokes fun at the piece of string Bob Osborne is using as a mandolin strap. Backed by The Wagonmasters, the trio performs "Fair And Tender Ladies."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
As commercial break ends, Buck and Mack trade licks on an instrumental rendition of "Battle Of New Orleans."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
Wagoner introduces Norma Jean, who plays guitar and sings Harlan Howard's "He's Gone Gone Gone" from her 1965 LP "Pretty Miss Norma Jean," backed by The Wagonmasters. MS Buck, Mack solos. Norma gets distracted a few times during the song and seems to forget to keep playing her guitar.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
The Wagonmasters join Porter as he plays guitar and sings the old chestnut "Cotton Fields."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
Porter introduces gap-toothed comedian Speck Rhodes who makes call on old-time crank style telephone wearing his trademark checkered suit with bow tie and bowler hat. Porter says he doesn't know if Speck is gonna talk with Doc Pullem or Greasy Miles or what. Speck calls fictional girlfriend/ operator Sadie and asks for Harry Beard at the barber shop, inciting applause from audience. Corny old-fashioned jokes ensue. Makes joke about the new dentist Phil Cavity. At end of bit Don Warden plugs the show's souvenir booklet #4, "The Porter Wagoner Show Hits The Road!", containing songs and stories and pictures. It can be yours for only fifty cents by mail. Nice graphic of an envelope addressed to Wagoner.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
Don continues, awkwardly introducing this week's sacred song. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Porter recites "Trouble In The Amen Corner" as the show reaches new heights of stagecraft. The number opens with a ray of light piercing the darkness; a moment later the camera tilts down to reveal Wagoner before backdrop of heavenly clouds. At the end, the camera tilts back up into the angelic light as it fades to black.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
Porter reintroduces the Osborn Brothers, who finally introduce bandmate Dale Sledd by name. Backed by The Wagonmasters, the Osbornes play their hit "Up This Hill And Down."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 88
Sonny takes a banjo lead on "Cumberland Gap" to fill out the program until Porter has to wrap it up. Great stuff. As the Wagonmasters play instrumental show outro and announcer signs off, Wagoner shakes hands with Norma Jean and guests, then waves goodbye as Magaha fiddles and dances us off the air. End title super reads: "Produced by Show Biz in cooperation with WSM-TV."