The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
The Porter Wagoner Show #77 with special guests Lonzo and Oscar.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Introduction to Porter Wagoner show #77. 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 dazzling, Nudie suit festooned with rhinestone wagon wheels, Wagoner welcomes audience, then plays guitar and sings "I'll Bet You My Heart I Love You." MS Don's steel guitar. During song Wagoner is cracked up by something off screen; afterwards makes crack about cameraman making signs at him.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Porter introduces country comedians Lonzo and Oscar, who have just returned from entertaining the troops overseas. The duo enters wearing their standard costumes of floppy hats, loud floral-patterned shirts, and ragged pants with suspenders.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Backed by The Wagonmasters, the two perform "(All My Thumbs Are Gonna Be) Fingers," a novelty version of "(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers." MS Buck Trent guitar. Oscar says "I know this is gonna be a hit; we recorded it in the basement, so it's bound to be a cellar." Get it? Cellar...? Seller...?
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Soloing on fiddle, Magaha tears it up on "Yakety Axe" (an instrumental version of Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax"), backed by The Wagonmasters. Halfway through, Mack hits the first sour note heard from him since he joined the show.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Wagoner introduces Pretty Miss Norma Jean, who plays guitar and sings her first RCA record, "Private Little World," backed by The Wagonmasters, who step on the last line of Porter's intro. MS Speck, Don, and George.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Accompanied by The Wagonmasters, Porter plays guitar and sings his 1955 hit "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (For Tomorrow You'll Cry)." MS Don Warden steel guitar.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Wagoner introduces gap-toothed comedian Speck Rhodes, who makes call on old-time crank telephone wearing his trademark checkered suit with bow tie and bowler hat. Talks with fictional girlfriend/operator Sadie, then asks for dentist Doc Pullem. Corny old fashioned jokes ensue. Speck must've had a long week because this is some of his weakest material ever. Porter returns and plugs the show's souvenir booklet, available by mail for only fifty cents mailed to Nashville in an "en-vellop."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Wagoner introduces the week's sacred song, "The Old Country Church," on which he sings and plays guitar, joined on harmony vocals by Wagonmasters. MS Buck Trent banjo.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Porter brings Lonzo, Oscar, and Speck together for a little "family portrait" of sorts, three guys in one shot who, in Lonzo's words, "ain't gonna be winning any beauty pageants." Porter gives the address of Lonzo & Oscar's own record company in case you want to purchase any of the songs you hear on the show today. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Lonzo and Oscar perform the b-side of the "Fingers" single, another novelty ditty called "Rip & Snort."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 77
Porter asks Oscar to pick the mandolin, so he plays a little bit of "Under The Double Eagle." Wagoner wraps up show as Wagonmasters play instrumental show outro and announcer signs off. Wagoner shakes hands with Norma Jean and his guests, waves goodbye as Magaha dances and fiddles us off the air. End title super reads: "A Show Biz Production."