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Grand Old Opry We're in the Opry House in Nashville, Tennesee, the home of the Grand
Ole Opry, the famous Saturday night country music radio show, founded
in 1925 by George D. Hay, a young man from Chicago who was brought down
here by the National Life and Accident Insurance Company to help run their
new radio station, WSM. (FN BANJO) TR: George D. Hay, the Solemn Old Judge, here with the WSM Barn
Dance, brought to you by National Life and Accident---- (FADING) GK: Back in 1925, life insurance was a new thing for rural people
and working people. Paying a small monthly sum so that in the event of
your death your family would receive a large sum. Some preachers were
against it and considered it a form of gambling. So George D. Hay, a northerner,
a showman, set out to sell insurance to those people, and show them they
could be the victim of an accident at any time. TR: And we're going to do it by making a hillbilly show. FN: A what? SS: A what? TR: A hillbilly show. You people are going to be rustic. FN: But we're from Nashville. TR: So? You can pretend to be ignorant. Put on these coveralls
and big boots and black out a few teeth and paint on some freckles and
pick up that banjo. FN: But I'm a cellist. TR: Get over it. FN: I play in the Nashville Augmented String Orchestra. TR: I'm gonna change the name to the Possum Hunters. FN: I never saw a possum in my life---- TR: I'll show you a picture of one. And I'm changing your name
to Little Cousin Elmo. FN: My name isn't Elmo, it's Edward. TR: Not no more, it ain't. And you---- SS: Me? TR: You're Cousin Libby. And you put on striped socks and walk
pigeon-toed and whoop and screech---- SS: But I went to Vanderbilt. TR: It's theater. I mean, Thee-ae-ter. I want you to be rough
and authentic and talk about moonshine. (CHICKENS) Put that chicken up
on your shoulder. FN: I don't want to ruin my suit. TR: Take off your suit and put on your coveralls. FN: Coveralls? I don't have any. GK: And that's where the Opry came from, from trying to sell life
insurance to rural people who would have been suspicious of salesmen in
suits but ones who wore coveralls and big boots (BANJO) and chuckled and
guffawed (TR HEE HEE HEE) and carried a chicken (ROOSTER) ---- and this
was upsetting to Nashville, in a way ---- it is, after all, the Athens
of the South. They have the Parthenon here, you know. Vanderbilt University
is here, a seat of learning that is second to none. These are not hicks
or hayseeds. But here in the South, it is a virtue to be a good deal smarter
than you appear to be. In the South, they love the stories where the redneck
outsmarts the slicker. Love it to pieces. And if having a chicken on your
shoulder helps you sell life insurance (CHICKEN), hey, gimme that chicken.
(MUSICAL PLAYOFF) © Garrison Keillor 2003 |
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Singer and songwriter Andra Suchy talks about singing duets with Garrison, and her latest album, Little Heart.
Old Sweet Songs: A Prairie Home Companion 1974-1976
Lovingly selected from the earliest archives of A Prairie Home Companion, this heirloom collection represents the music from earliest years of the now legendary show: 1974–1976. With songs and tunes from jazz pianist Butch Thompson, mandolin maestro Peter Ostroushko, Dakota Dave Hull and the first house band, The Powdermilk Biscuit Band (Adam Granger, Bob Douglas and Mary DuShane).
