ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAMEŽ MERCHANDISE & SERVICES
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HOWARD PETERSON
You have enjoyed his organ melodies since Ralph Emerson went to Phoenix, Arizona, to play the KOY organ. Howard is a smiling, genial fellow, composer of many musical compositions. Spent his boyhood in LaPorte and Michigan City, Indiana. A veteran of many years, well liked in both radio and theater.
RALPH and ELSIE MAE
Here's a glimpse of the happy family circle of the Emersons, including the little cocker spaniel Tempo, selected and named by listeners. The two boys are Ralph Jr. (Skippy) and John Skinner. You will remember that Ralph and Elsie Mae were married in the WLS studio, where they were both organists. During this winter season they are at KOY.
THE BENTLEYS
Often you have seen pictures of Julian Bentley, favorite news reporter of the Middle West, but we are now privileged to bring you a picture of Mrs. Bentley. Julian grew up on a farm in northern Illinois, Mrs. Bentley in a rural section of east central Illinois. Now he brings news from all over the world, and she is an art director. Julian has rare ability to interpret the news.
WLS: THE VOICE OF THE PRAIRIE ALSO ON THE RADIO
Date Started: April 19, 1924
Date Ended: April 30, 1960
Even before "hillbilly" music hit its prime, radio was becoming a new form of advertising. After the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, most people could not afford to buy luxuries like records; consequently, they listened to "free music" on the radio. In 1932-1933, record sales hit bottom while radio grew. 83% of U. S. households had a radio by 1938. Radio had become a popular avenue for music.
Station City Name of Broadcast Year First Broadcast WBT Charlotte Crazy Barn Dance 1934 WLW Cincinnati Boone County Jamboree/Midwestern Hayride 1936 WHO Des Moines Iowa Barn Dance Frolic 1932 WOWO Fort Wayne Hoosier Hop 1932 KMBC Kansas City Brush Creek Follies 1935 KSTP Minneapolis, St. Paul Sunset Valley Barn Dance - KMOX St. Louis - 1930 WWVA Wheeling, West Virginia Wheeling Jamboree 1/7/33 WHAS Renfro Valley John Lair's Renfro Valley Barn Dance 1937 WMCA New York Barn Dance 1935 KVOO Tulsa, Oklahoma Saddle Mountain Roundup 1938 KWKH Shreveport, Louisiana Louisiana Hayride 1936
There were many others:
The Old Dominion Barn Dance on WRVA in Richmond, the Village Barn Dance in Greenwich Village in New York, the Tennessee Barn Dance on KNOX in Knoxville, the Bluff Creek Roundup on KOMA in Oklahoma City, the Ozark Jubilee on KWTO in Springfield, the Dinner Bell Roundup on KXLA in Pasadena, the WHN Barn Dance in New York City, the WSB Barn Dance in Atlanta, the Big D Jamboree in Dallas, the Hayloft Jamboree in Boston, the Sleepy Hollow Ranch in Philadelphia, and the Hollywood Barn Dance in southern California. Again, these barn dances were immensely popular, so much so that some were nationally broadcast starting with the National Barn Dance, which was broadcast on NBC radio network on Saturday nights; WSM began broadcasting with 50,000 watts in 1932 and was broadcast nationwide on NBC beginning in 1943. In addition, the barn dances were made into movies; in 1940, Republic produced the movie Grand Ole Opry. In 1944, Paramount followed suit with National Barn Dance, which was not as successful as the former. Consequently, cast members were radio idols; sponsors who promoted barn dances were "made."
