It was a Saturday night at the Barnett Crossroads. Supper was over, young'uns had their bath. At exactly 6:00 p.m., the Smiths' were somewhere near the old Philco. Daddy, by now was usually stretched out in the front porch swing enjoying a dip or a roll you own. Mama was at the ironing board to finish pressing the clothes for church the next day.
The radio dial was set on the station, volumn ramped up all the way. The squealing, squawking static would abate as WSM Clear Channel 650 with 50,000 watts of power brought to us, The Grand Old Opry from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. George D. Hay, The Solemn Old Judge, opening with, "Take it away boys". Music of the stars came into our home and hearts. Fiddle and guitar and banjo music turned the sound of clogging into emotional ecstasy for me. I could see it, I could feel it, I could taste it. I wanted so bad to dance. I did dance, I clogged, I buck danced, I slapped my feet against the planks. I was right there on that stage with The Barn Dancers.
Oh Lord! let me live long enough to see that magical place, the Ryman.
Minnie Pearl entertained us with her antics and told us often that her home was Hoenwald and "Brother" was not right or so it seemed. Minnie Pearl and Rod Brasfield played off each other to make us laugh. Stingbean played his banjo.
I danced.
Grandpa Jones frammed his banjo and sang. "Call that Rattler from the barn, here Rattler here".
I danced.
As the show continued , the littlest Smith's drifted off to bed or went to sleep on a pallet at Mama's feet. About 9:00 p.m. the show was really bringing it to us. Mother Mable Carter along with June, Helen and Anita sang, "Wildwood Flower". June was the clown of the group and made the audience laugh as she bantered back and forth with someone, then hit them with a funny.
Cowboy Copas sang, "Fipllino Baby".
Eddy Arnold sang, "Texarkana Baby".
I went behind the wall to dance that one. I didn't know what pole dancing was, but my moves may have been close to that. Wiggling, writhing, twisting , my head thrown back, I was getting it done. Daddy would have taken off my top layer of hide had he witnessed that display of "hoot-chee-coo".
Earnest Tubb would sing. "Walking The Floor Over You" as I slowed and reappeared.
Roy Acuff sang, "The Tennessee Waltz", I danced all over the house. Sometimes I waltzed with the broom, most times in the arms of Roy Rogers.
I danced.
Little Jimmy Dickens sang about the pain of having to, "Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait".
Lonzo and Oscar kept the Ryman filled with laughter.
Martha Carson sang, "Satisfied" with such force we felt it had a hidden meaning. Her divorce was frowned on back then. Martha sang her answer to her critics.
Uncle Dave Macon's banjo picking got our attention.
I stomped my foot.......hard.
The Duke of Paducah told us he had to go home because,
"These Shoes Are killing Me".
Kitty Wells sang about struggles in love gone wrong with,
" It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".
Red Foley got me jigging with, "Chattanoogia Shoe Shine Boy".
Roy Acuff made Mama cry with, "Great Speckled Bird".
John Daniel Quartet gave us eternal hope with, " City Built Foursquare".
Show sponsors and advertisers, Martha White Flour, ( Goodness gracious, good and light, Martha White) I thought about Mama's biscuits.
Prince Albert smoking tobacco. Daddy carried a can in his bib pocket.
Daddy's lifelong affair with Prince Albert caused his death from lung cancer at age 59.
National Life and Accident Insurance Company. Smith family had no insurance. Daddy sold a hog or cow if the need arose. We were warned off broken bones.
The night wore on, most of the Smith kids were finally in bed including me. I was still listening as sleep came for me. The music, the clacking/stomping of the dancing would bring me almost to the surface. I knew Mama and Daddy were still up and listening, waiting for sign off. I drifted between sleep and the need to hear the music. With, " Until next week, good night and good luck", The Solemn Old Judge would call time.
Screeching fiddles.............
Mama's cousin Mrs. Clara Grissett Dawson, her husband Charlie and their four boys lived across the woods from us and spent many saturday nights listening to the Grand Old Opry just like we did. The Dawson boys were staggered in age between my older brothers, my sister and myself. The Dawson family was cash strapped, transportation lacking for going into town on saturday nights just as we were. They too listened to the music when Country Music was pure and clear right out of the air waves from The Ryman in Nashville on saturday nights in the mid 1940's. One of those special nights O'Neil sat down on a car battery on the front porch to listen to the music and when he got up the seat of his britches was eaten away by the acid of that battery.
Y'all, believe me when I tell you the Grand Old Opry shows were just that wonderful.
O'Neil shared that tale with me in these last few years as we reminisced about those days of our youth.
RIP O'Neil.
*** June 1962. I made it to The grand Old Opry. Cars with tags from every state East of the Rockies were parked in every lot and alley in Nashville. We had made it to the promised land and so we waited. The Solemn Old Judge opened the show with, " Take It away Boy's". No air conditioning, full house, every window open and filled with sweating, sour smelling , travel weary bodies trying to get a breath of fresh air as they hung their heads out to smoke. I had no problem, I was there to enjoy the dream, The Grand Old Opry. I went back several more times but not since it moved.
I won't go again as it wouldn't hold the magic.
