WJW Barndance Jamboree
Pappy Howard and his Connecticut Kernels hosted a show that began around 1945 in the
Cleveland, Ohio area. It was the WJW Barndance Jamboree. The show originated from the Masonic Auditorium
in downtown Cleveland.
Cowboy Music World noted that the show's opening night was March 31, 1945 with Patsy Montana
as the first guest star. The following week, Bonnie and Connie also from WLS were the guests.
Tennessee Slim
wrote a letter to Mountain Broadcast and Prairie Recorder in 1946 that indicated that his group had
been on the show for a year, which would seem to indicate that would be about 1945. Slim's letter
indicated he appeared on the Barndance Preview show from 2:00 to 2:30pm each Saturday. He indicated
the show was broadcast over WJW from 9:30pm to 10:30pm each Saturday.
Pappy Howard's show included other artists such as Pappy's Connecticut Kernels, Ernie Benedict and the WGAR Range Riders, Pie Plant Pete
and Bashful Harmonica Joe, Smiley and Sue, Cowboy Joe Dent, Fiddlin' Jay and his Saddle Busters,
Sam Rich and his harmonica, and, the Wyoming Cowboys. A 1945 article indicated the
show was performing five days a week. On Wednesday and Sunday, the show was staged at the Chippewa
Lake ballrom. On Thursday, it aired from the Akron Armory. On alternate Thursdays, it would be at the Goodyear
Auditorium. On Fridays, it was staged at the Odd Fellows Temple in Canton, Ohio.
The Saturday
shows at the Masonic Auditorium in Cleveland drew capacity crowds of around 2,500 people. The show
would also feature stars making appearances locally. In 1945, folks such as Patsy Montana,
Lulu Belle and Scotty, Elton Britt, and the Arkansas Woodchopper were scheduled to appear.
A 1946 Billboard article tells us that the show was the top rated "Night Program - Week-End" in
Cleveland. The WGAR Range Riders were ranked number 5 in the "Daytime Programs, Weekday" category.
The Barn Dance Preview show was ranked the number 3 show in "Daytime Programs - Week-End". In fact,
WJW had three of the top five in the "Individual Performers" category with Pappy Howard being number four. Howie Lund and
Don Bell were ranked numbers two and three.
Pappy Howard was named the number three "Male Vocalist" and Pie Plant Pete was number five. Tex Anne
was the number two female vocalist; number one was Judy Dell, then appearing on WGAR.
Credits & Sources
- Cowboy Music World; Vol. 1 No. 6; March/April 1945; Frank Karpinski; Beechurst, Long Island, NY
- The Billboard; April 14, 1945; Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
- The Billboard; June 2, 1945; Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
- The Billboard; May 18, 1946; Billboard; Cincinnati, OH
- National Hillbilly News; Vol. 2 No. 5; October 1946; Poster Show Print Co.; Huntington, WV
- National Hillbilly News; Vol. 2 No. 3; December 1946; Poster Show Print Co.; Huntington, WV
