The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
The Porter Wagoner Show #286 featuring special guest Dick Curless, The Baron Of Country Music.
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 dedicates the previous song to his mother, then launches into an anecdote about how she often writes him and recently she was concerned about a bump on his face. But Porter explains that it was only some moody lighting that cast a shadow, so not to worry, Mom. What a good boy.
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.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
It's time for the weekly serious song, and Porter announces it as an album track that was so popular it became a single. With minimal backing by The Wagonmasters, Porter recites "Little Boy's Prayer" as the lights dim dramatically to a single moody spot as the camera slowly creeps in from a long to medium shot. What a sad, sad three-hanky number about a little boy praying his grieving father doesn't kill himself. There couldn't have been a dry eye in the house, and even your humble researcher is touched.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
Porter reintroduces deep-throated baritone Dick Curless who plays guitar and sings his current hit "Big Wheel Cannonball" backed by The Wagonmasters. Nice Buck Trent guitar solo.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 286
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.