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Topic: Happy New Year with Hee Haw |
John Cisco
From:
Alexandria Virginia, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2006 3:48 pm |
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CMT is playing back to back Hee Haws again......at least in my area. Have a happy and safe one!  |
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Jimmy Campbell
From:
Fayette, Alabama.
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Posted 31 Dec 2006 5:33 pm
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John.
I was surfing and ran across Hee Haw, I would like to have the box set of all those shows.
The first time I saw Hee Haw was on Armed Forces networl TV in 1968 when I was stationed at Korat Thailand in the Air Force.
The TV hootch would be packed when it was on. |
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John Cisco
From:
Alexandria Virginia, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2006 5:58 pm Hee Haw
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It was pretty much the only country music we could get in Boston where I grew up. It was on reruns forever. Conway and Loretta are on now. Wow!
I looked at your profile and I now work for HA/TMA. |
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 31 Dec 2006 6:02 pm
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I've got it on!!!! Just saw Lulu sing a song, and I don't think I ever remember hearing her sing. Beauuuuuutiful voice.
Al |
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W. J. Copeland
From:
Palestine, Texas, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2006 8:21 pm
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| I just saw Ray Charles on HeeHaw, and it looked like Curly Chalker on steel. Was I seeing things? |
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John Cisco
From:
Alexandria Virginia, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2006 8:49 pm Steel with Holly Dunn
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Who was that playing steel with Holly Dunn? Wow!  |
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Jimmie Martin
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2007 2:01 am
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Man it was great seeing those Hee Haw reruns. I allways loved that show. It sure beats anything that they show on tv today. and you can actually understand the show even. Love it.  |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 1 Jan 2007 3:45 am
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got a link to these ?
Thanx |
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Bill Duve
From:
Limestone .New York, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2007 5:04 pm
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| for all practical purposes it was all there was on TV, Everyone I talked to was watching the same thing, How many of those steelers do you recognize ? |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2007 9:28 pm
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| Was nice to see some REAL country music for a change,ALSO the CLEAN silly humor. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 2 Jan 2007 3:28 am
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I watched a couple of these. It was the first time I had seen the show, as we didn't get them in Britain.
My wife grew up in PA and, until she and I met in '99, she had an in-built prejudice against country music in general. As we watched these re-runs, she came to the conclusion that 'Hee Haw' was largely responsible for her dislike of 'country & western' music. I can see what she means!
What a contradiction the show is! Great musicianship is juxtaposed with drearily predictable 'hayseed' humour and forced gaiety, and I sat there watching in disbelief at the inanity of it all.
Susie was quick to acknowledge that my influence (and some of my struggles in the music room!) has given her an appreciation of the depth of quality of studio-musicianship in country music, so there were some high points here and there - but only from the band!!! (Oh - and from Ray Charles, of course.)
I think this point came up on an earlier Forum thread, but it's my opinion that this insultingly stupid format did a big disservice to country music, and only served to reinforce many people's negative view of the genre.
RR
PS: I've always loved Curley's C6th playing, but I had no idea he was such an inspired E9 exponent! |
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 2 Jan 2007 6:04 pm
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Interesting comment, Roger. I thought Hee Haw did a great job at poking fun at itself. If the intellectuals were going to make fun of country music, might as well beat them to the punch -- and laugh all the way to the bank. Hee Haw was one of America's longest running regular shows, which means: America loved it. Not only that, during the time Hee Haw ran, country music always had songs in the top twenty every year. About the time Hee Haw faded away from t.v., so did country music on top twenty radio. I think Hee Haw did much to keep America's interest in country music alive.
Al |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 2 Jan 2007 7:54 pm
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Al,
Maybe you have something there.
It's difficult for me to have any real perspective on this as I didn't live here until the late 1990s. Remember that this was my first impression of 'Hee Haw'. It's a cultural thing, too; the powers-that-be in British TV would never have even thought of importing such a show, as its appeal would have been minimal at best.
It's also true that the people involved - writers, TV executives, artistes and musicians - were probably doing very well out of it, so they could continue with their tongues very much in their respective cheeks. I will say that there used to be the odd country record in the British charts at around the same time - country's never been really big there, but 'Rose Garden', 'Stand By Your Man', as well as a clutch of Dolly/Kenny discs did well. So, in the USA, was it the show feeding record sales, or record sales pushing the show?
I felt much the same way when I saw those Buck Owens Ranch Shows - Buck, Don and the guys sounded terrific, but the almost semi-professional level of presentation was embarrassing. The shows were truly dire after Don had passed away and there wasn't a steel player in the band!
RR |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2007 8:38 pm
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| Roger,Maybe your right,guess that's the reason the show was one of the biggest flops in TV history. |
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 2 Jan 2007 10:07 pm
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Roger,
To watch Hee Haw now is pretty painful -- it's sooo dated. Such is American t.v., though, from (primarily) the 70's. If you were to see any of those shows with "comedy routines," such as Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher, etc., etc., the sketches are so corny, like they all came from the same cookie cutter.
I find the performances on Hee Haw interesting, in that the musicians stand around like scarecrows, for two reasons, I imagine. (1) Especially back then, there is no upstaging of the main performer; (2) They're pickers! Pickers stand and pick. I saw one episode last night where they tried to break from that mold once, and it was hilarious and (I hate to used the word stupid). Buck was singing a song, and his Buckeroos were lined up in back of him, and during a certain part of the song, the guys would bend their legs, then stand up, supposedly every other one going at the same time. Fortunately, they were all about ready to bust a gut, so it added to the comic sense.
Did the charting-music fan the show or vice versa? That's a good question. You know, when I was watching Hee Haw (I was born in 1960), I was into the Beatles, the Monkees, and top twenty music (don't think I ever bought any country 45's, though), so I didn't really pay that much attention to the performances. I liked the girls with the short skirts, and I was SO IN LOVE with that cute, short-haired blonde girl. She was the ultimate farmer's daughter that I fantasized about as a youth--and I grew up in the middle of farmer's daughter country in Indiana! You know, it was simple, American humor that was on at a time when we wanted to laugh, because we had pictures of the war every night on the television. And after the war, Hee Haw had become a part of the family that saw us through a number of political events -- and they didn't mention politics at all (I don't think).
What a topic! I've turned it into Hee-Haw 101.
Al |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2007 10:52 pm
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| Some of you guys can bash Hee-Haw [and that's your right to do so]IMO and noone can change my mind,that show and the EARLY Nashville Now shows where light years ahead of the [except for a FEW rare exceptions]absolute absurd s^%$ thats around today.If you don't thing so just look at what the NOT SO GRAND OLE OPRY is turning into. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 3 Jan 2007 3:13 am
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OK, Charles - if you think it's funny and entertaining, then there's not much more to be said; but, if 'Hee Haw' is somehow representative of the 'Golden Age of Country Music' that I've heard about. then I'm a bit disappointed.
Al...
Yes, I can see a parity with other TV from the same period, but I do share that cynical view of TV companies' motives in using the medium as an opiate of sorts. I can see how almost anything brought some relief from the ugliness of the news headlines back then. Not much has changed, apparently, but no-one ever lost money by underestimating the public.
Was the object of your affections Misty Rowe, by any chance? Back in 1999, I played a four-week production of 'Always, Patsy Cline' at La Mirada, south of LA. Misty was our 'Louise' (the show's comedic 'lead'), and was a lot of fun. At the end of the run she presented all of the company with glossy 10X8s that were clearly from her days on 'Hee Haw'. Some recipients were vaguely puzzled, and wondered who it was in the picture - she has on cut-off jeans and a gingham blouse tied under the bust. I bet I still have it somewhere...
Recalling that photo, I can readily understand why you used to tune in every week - I'd have done the same!
Happy New Year!
RR |
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Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Posted 3 Jan 2007 8:07 am
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I would say that in many ways Hee Haw did represent the Classic Era of Country.
Many of the musicians, singers, comedians, songs, jokes, AND costumes were exactly what you would have seen on the Grand Ole Opry back in the '50s and '60s.
The backwoods big overalls, floppy hat, gingham shirt wearin' hillbilly thing wasn't invented by "Hee Haw". It's been a part of Country/hillbilly music since the days of medicine shows at the turn of the century.
Many times the characters wearing the big overalls, floppy hat and tellin' the corny old jokes were the steel players. Guys like "Cousin Jody", "Uncle Josh", and "Brother Oswald".
Then there were also groups that pretty much made their whole careers off of exploiting that rural backwoods image. Guys like the "Skillet Lickers", "Fruit Jar Drinkers" (Both back in the '20s + '30s), "Lonzo and Oscar", "Homer and Jethro". Then comedians from "Minnie Pearl" to "Larry the Cable Guy".
In fact this past December when they had the WNFR (biggest rodeo in the world) in Las Vegas. Then town is full of country folks, they come to town to go to the rodeo and to all the shows the casinos have. The Hotels bring in all kind of stars like Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Brad Paisley and about a 15 or 20 other big name acts. This past year this fastest selling show during NFR was "Larry the Cable Guy".
So that same image and those same jokes still draw in the "Country Folks" today!
BTW -
Right this minute I'm sittin here in a double wide trailer that's on a piece of property with three non running vehicles in the front yard, four dogs and a goat on the porch, I'm wearin' overalls and there is a jug of moonshine sittin' on the counter just inches away from me.
Now I don't know if this was just my destiny to live this way or if somehow "subconciously" I was influence from listening to hillbilly music and watching Hee Haw my whole life! |
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John Cisco
From:
Alexandria Virginia, USA
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Posted 3 Jan 2007 5:46 pm Hee Haw agin
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It's back on agin! I'm just sayin..................  |
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Kenny Foy
From:
Lynnville, KY, USA
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Posted 3 Jan 2007 6:35 pm
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| Well, If they didn't have Hee Haw BACK THEN, we wouldn't have anything to talk about RIGHT NOW. Really enjoy seeing Curly, Russ and John Hughey doing the shows back then. Just my 2%. |
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 3 Jan 2007 8:03 pm
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Roger -- Ah, I don't think it was Misty Rowe, but how lucky you were!!!! (In my opinion.) I went to Hee-Haw's website, and although they list their cast, they don't show their pictures. The girl I fell in love with (and am still in love with) was the cute little blonde who said "That's all!" at the end of the show. She wasn't one of the sex bombs, she had that farmer's daughter look, like she was gettin' ready to milk the cows. Now I'm really curious about who she is...
Al |
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Jim Hartley
From:
SC/TN
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Posted 4 Jan 2007 5:36 am
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| I have really enjoyed the old reruns, mainly for the music, but how can you not enjoy seeing Grandpa Jones and some of the others. By the way, Kathy Baker was the girl in question. I have no idea what ever became of her, but I always thought she was kinda cute. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 4 Jan 2007 9:21 am
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In my case, Jim, I'd never heard of Grandpa Jones before the late-1990s, so I can only take him at face value. I guess that's the cultural-divide at work.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and I bet there are a few British artistes that I still see through rose-coloured glasses!
RR |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 4 Jan 2007 4:04 pm
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| I guess I'm in the minority that thinks that Hee Haw was an importent ground breaking show that show cased such legends as Granpa Jones,String bean,Lonzo and Oscar,Homer and Jethro,[which were two of the most talented musicians that ever set foot in Nashville],Contrary to what a lot of you seem to think,the above were NOT illiterate country bumpkins,but were astute business men that worked on their craft for decades,they entertained millions for decades without getting in the gutter like the comedians of today,also a feature on Hee Haw was the million dollar band,with Chet Atkins,Floyd Cramer,Boots ,Curley,Charlie McCoy,Jethro,Johnnie Gimble,etc,What more could you ask for?Also the dozens of REAL country artists that were featured over the years.Why has this show survived over thirty years still selling millions of dollars in DVD's,I really doubt if any of the so-called contemporary country artists such as Kenny,Mont.Gentry,Cowboy Troy,etc,will be doing this thirty years from now. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 4 Jan 2007 6:00 pm
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Sorry, Charles - for what it may be worth I think that Grandpa Jones and Kenny Chesney are indifferent singers. I know you'll think it sacrilege to mention them in the same breath, but they're really in the same game, you know.
I'm in agreement about Homer & Jethro, but those other 'legends' (!!!) were simply in the right place at the right time.
Now - all those terrific sidemen you mention, they're a different matter, and they're the reason I listen to any country music.
There are all sorts of varying 'gutters', you know.
RR |
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