The Steel Guitar Forum

Someone in the newsgroup heard the barn set on the opry stage is being changed. I just hope it still has somewhat of a rurel look.


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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

It's hard to tell what the current Opry management will do next. But Gaylord "Entertainment" has a history of shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to the Opry or anything to do with it.

I shouldn't get on my soap box but one of the reasons the Opry was successful for many years was that it was basically the same. They almost always had sold out crowds and people would reserve tickets a year in advance.

With the current management that is no longer the case. They keep screwing with it trying to make it "better" and get the full house audiences again but all they have to do is return it to what is was.

The true opry fan (and the ones that will come back again and again) want to see Little Jimmy Dickens, etc., not the current "hat acts".

Years ago, when Roy Acuff was alive, people would sort of complain that Roy was going to sing the Wabash Cannonball again. But if Roy didn't sing it they were Pi$$ed.

From MusicRow Magazine:

The Grand Ole Opry announced it will unveil a new set design during its 75th
Anniversary kickoff party June 10. The set change is the first in more than 25
years. Opry publicist Jessie Schmidt says the change is being made to give the
venue a more up-to-date and contemporary feel. “The Opry has changed over
the past 75 years and it’s time to evolve again,” she says. “We feel if we make it
a great place for more artists to want to play, it will make it even better for the
audience.” In addition to the new set features, new lighting will also be installed.
New sound equipment is expected to be installed in the near future. Schmidt
would not elaborate on the set’s appearance, but said fans shouldn’t expect any
shocking alterations. “We’re not doing anything that’s going to be appalling,” she
says. “There’s nothing dramatic. Nobody’s going to be alarmed.” After the
unveiling, the Opry’s cast will perform together before kicking off their weekly
show. Opry officials have not determined the future of the current set.

John,
That MusicRow Mag statement assures us that the set change will look like the set on the academy awards show. Probably with srolling banners for the Gap or American Express. Remember when the sponsers were Garrett Sweet Snuff?

If you look at the track record of that bunch of idiots we'll probably wind up with an Opry set where the band isn't behind the singers anymore. They'll be in a pit or off to the side of the stage where you can't notice them. I hate to watch a TV show where you just watch someone standing there singing without a band around them. Does this bother any of you? I wouldn't even be surprised if Pete Fisher had some of the artists bring their pre recorded tapes of their tracks to sing along with!

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Have a good one! JH U-12

I heard they are gonna use the old American Bandstand sign..

Whats wrong with Barns , fields and mabe mountains . Look at The country music award sets are atrocious with the contemporary sh#$$%% you see in malls . Why is this industry always rebelling against ruralness ,and a little down home ,Hell that would be innovative nowadays. But look at the music themes , Kill Earle and spacey meaningless lyrics with no reference to real emotions , or the human experience you see even in a typical bar at night.

I even worked at Opryland...boy that was the pits.

"If it ain't broke,........."

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Gaylord's big thing right now is Hotels. They are building scaled down versions of the Opryland Hotel in the DC area and Orlando area and look to build more. Looks like that will be their real focus. But then how many high priced (overpriced) hotels are needed???

I think the key word here is Gay-LORD. He probably thinks he is.

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Smiley why did you say "Gay" lord???

Back before the days of the "Barn", they had curtains that could be dropped or raised and signs/logs of sponsors painted on the drop to enhance to commercial value. I remember "Steven's Work Clothes, Prince Albet Somking Tobacco, Martha White Self Rising Flour" were some I remembered seeing in the early 50s. The scenes were done in good taste and to my knowledge the only reason the change would be to add or take away a sponsor. But....you can't stop progress, can you?

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kd...and the beat goes on...

I missed the opry Saturday night at 8:30pm,
they had some kind of Wresteling on. What
happened?

Jack,
I was,merely,emphasizing the SECOND half of his name,not the first half.

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OK, Smiley. I just couldn't resist or stop myself from commenting...

Smoke pots & a huge Disco Ball? Pyrotechnics? With that, they could get extra income by shooting Pepsi commercials there.
Nah, I don't think Michael Jackson would set his hair on fire for the Opry!