The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
The Porter Wagoner Show #303 featuring special guests Carl and Pearl Butler.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
Promo for The Porter Wagoner Show #303 featuring special guests Carl and Pearl Butler. The entire cast (with the exception of poor drummer Jack Little, who is out of the frame) performs "Run That By Me One More Time" as Don Howser enters to introduce regulars and announce the week's guest. Don is cut off as we fade out over art card with colorful illustration of Porter.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
Opening of Porter Wagoner show #303. 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 black Nudie suit, plays guitar and sings "Sugarfoot Rag" accompanied by Wagonmasters Buck Trent, Don Warden, Mack Magaha, George McCormick, Jack Little and Speck Rhodes, all but Speck in matching lime green Nudie suits. MCU Mack's fiddling and Buck's banjo-fying.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
Porter welcomes audience and introduces Carl and Pearl Butler, who perform "Bottoms Up (And Troubles Down)" backed by The Wagonmasters. The Butlers are fabulously dressed as always in matching outfits.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
Leading The Wagonmasters, Buck Trent plunks and twangs the ol' five string on his own instrumental "With Banjo In Hand."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
Now it's time for the beautiful little lady Dolly Parton, who executes her hit ("'Executes' is right" --Dolly) "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" backed by The Wagonmasters. She's obviously been practicing her breath control since her last performance of the song, but Porter's still only miming cracking the whip. Dolly can't hit every single note without running out of breath but it's still danged impressive. Afterwards Porter says "I may not be able to yodel like that, but I sure ain't bothered with being that pretty."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
Accompanied by The Wagonmasters, Porter plays guitar and sings/recites "They're All Going Home But One" from his "Soul Of A Convict" LP.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
"Since we've been doing the television show I have introduced many, many famous, great nationally known stars. I wish this next fellow was one of 'em." So goes Porter's introduction of gap-toothed anachronism Speck Rhodes. In his usual checkered suit, bowler hat and bow tie, the cornpone comedian tells a corny joke about why hula girls would make good senators. Nice shot of woman in front row taking instamatic picture of ol' Speckle. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Speck sings "Sweet Fern." Semi-non-sequitur CUs of drummer Jack Little. Afterwards Porter says "I don't know where he comes up with all them stories, but he gets 'em somewhere."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
For the week's sacred song, Porter masterfully recites Hank Williams' tear-jerking "Luke The Drifter" narrative "Men With Broken Hearts." This one just gets more touching every time Porter does it; your humble writer defies you watch this with a dry eye.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 303
Porter reintroduces Carl and Pearl Butler, who perform "Goodbye Tennessee" backed by The Wagonmasters. Porter wraps up the show, waving goodbye as The Wagonmasters play the instrumental outro, Don Howser signs off, and the cast frolics as credits roll.