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WSB Barn Dance
The WSB Barn Dance came into existence in 1940 during the peak of
hillbilly music's popularity and revenue draw on the radio. Author
Wayne Daniel points out in his book "Pickin' on Peachtree" that
radio grew exponentially during the 1940's decade. The number of
radio stations grew from 765 to 2,867.
By 1940, WSB was a powerhouse 50,000 watt clear channel radio station
owned by Cox Enterprises, who wanted to revamp their hillbilly
music programming. So, they brought in a consultant, a fellow
from Chicago and WLS National Barn Dance fame and later Renfro Valley
fame, John Lair. He put in place a revamped lineup of hillbilly
music shows and one of them was a Saturday night show called the WSB
Barn Dance. Mr. Daniel writes that WSB Barn Dance achieved such
popularity that in the 1941 Hooper ratings, the show was the highest
rated of any show on the air in the Atlanta area, network or otherwise.
The WSB Barn Dance made its on-air debut on Saturday night, November 16, 1940 at 10:30pm. The show
was broadcast from the main studios of WSB, "the Voice of the South." The days leading up to the new
show led to a sudden deluge of requests to see the show in person. The station accommodated some of those
requests for the opening program, but said that tickets would be given out in the future.
The show was led by some former Renfro Valley performers. Judy Dell, barely over four feet tall, was one. Dwight Butcher and the Pine Ridge
Boys, also from Renfro Valley along with Hank Penny, Harpo Kidwell, Lewis DuMont, Boudleux Bryant and Warren
Sykes. The emcee of that first show was probably Dwight Butcher, author Wayne W. Daniel surmises.
It seemed to be a proved formula. George Biggar wrote, per Mr. Daniel,
in a Billboard article that hillbilly music turned the early morning
hours of radio from non-revenue to revenue producing air time. Likewise,
on Saturday nights, another slow night on radio and known as 'bath night',
it became known as Barn Dance and Jamboree night - it changed Saturday
night habits.
WSB Barn Dance
December 20, 1941
Woman's Club Auditorium (20 week engagement start) — Atlanta, GA
Program Listing
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| Song Title |
Artist(s) |
| Old Joe Clark |
Cotton Carrier |
| Beneath That Lonely Mound Of Clay |
James and Martha Carson |
| Doubleneck Rag |
Boots Woodall |
| Way Out There |
Hoot Owl Hollow Girls |
| Sweethearts Or Strangers |
Pete Cassell |
| Wagoner |
Chick Stripling |
| Silent Night, Holy Night |
Swanee River Boys |
| Here, Rattler, Here |
Harpo Kidwell |
| I'll Keep On Loving You |
Hank Penny |
| Jingle Bells |
Jane Logan |
The year of 1941 began with a change in venue. On the first show of the new year, it moved to a larger
venue to accommodate the demand for seating. The show moved to the Woman's Club Auditorium at 1150 Peachtree
(Peachtree and Fourteenth Streets). A small admission fee was to be charged; 40 cents for adults; 20 cents for children.
Audience demand was such that they quickly out grew the studios and on
January 4, 1941, the show moved to the Atlanta Women's Club Auditorium at the corner
of Peachtree and 14th Avenue in Atlanta. Still, that wasn't big enough to
handle all the crowds that wanted to see the show. They went to doing two shows
a night on Saturday nights and would usually broadcast the 10:30pm show over WSB.
At 3am on March 29, 1941, WSB changed its frequency on the radio dial to 750kc. It was part of a series
of changes for stations across the country. Other stations in Atlanta with changes included
WGST to 920kc; WAGA to 1480kc; and, WATL to 1400kc. The change affected 795 of the then 883 broadcasting
stations in the country. It came about under terms of the Havana agreement which basically
would to a large extent, eliminate interference from stations in Mexico.
WSB Barn Dance
June 27, 1942
Erlanger Theater — Atlanta, GA
Program Listing
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| Song Title |
Artist(s) |
| When Pa Was Courtin' Ma |
Martha (Carson), Nell (Coleman), Jane (Logan) |
| Miss McCloud's Reel |
James Carson |
| Corine Corina |
Harpo Kidwell |
| Rock Of Ages |
Swanee River Boys |
| Farewell Blues |
Boots Woodall |
| TAke Up Thy Cross |
James and Martha Carson |
| Down Yonder |
Chick Stripling |
| St. Louis Blues |
Pete Cassell |
| Old Gray Bonnet |
WSB Barn Dance Cast |
The WSB Barn Dance members also contributed to the country's World War II efforts.
The WSB Artists Bureau subscribed to the "payroll deduction plan" to enable the
purchase of U. S. Defense Bonds. It was indeed a 100% all out, all hands in
for this campaign. The entire casts of popular WSB programs such as the WSB Barn Dance,
Barnyard Jamboree, Cracker Barrel Gang and the Little Country Church joined
the payroll deduction plan.
On May 23, 1942, the show moved to the Erlanger Theatre, located on Peachtree also.
You can read in author Wayne Daniel's chapter on the WSB Barn Dance that the
show would play at various other venues over the years throughout Georgia,
especially during the summer. We list some of the places that Mr. Daniel noted
at the end of this article.
In November 1942, Ernest Rogers reported that the 20 year old Erlanger Theater
had been taken over by WSB. The station signed a five-year lease with Samuel
Rothberg, representing the owners of the theater.
The theater would continue to book other show attractions as it had in the past
and Harrison (Chick) Kimball would take over the bookings of shows and mangement
of the theater. Once the lease was signed, WSB would renovate the interior
and exterior of the theater. The remodeling project would be done without
any interruption to the regular Barn Dance shows. The theater was located
at 533 Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta.
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Atlanta, GA, circa 1942—Left to right: Boots Woodall,
Unknown, Pete Cassell, James Carson (real name James Roberts), Hank Penny,
Mattie O'Neal (nee Opal Amburgey), Martha Carson (nee Irene Amburgey, Mrs. James Roberts),
Jane Logan (nee Lily Perry, Mrs. Cotton Carrier)
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Atlanta, GA, circa 1942— Left to right: Mattie O'Neal (nee Opal Amburgey),
Martha Carson (nee Irene Amburgey, Mrs. James Roberts), Jane Logan (nee Lily
Perry, Mrs. Cotton Carrier), Unknown Swanee River Boy, Billy Carrier (Swanee
River Boy), Chick Stripling, Harpo Kidwell.
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Left to right:
Harpo Kidwell, Oscar McGooney, Slim Idaho, Little NeHi (Willie Mae Thomas),
Louis Innis, Harold Dunn, Dottie Castleberry, Chick Stripling, James
Carson (real name James Roberts), Herman Horsehair Buggfuzz (Ivy Peterson),
Martha Carson (nee Irene Amburgey, Mrs. James Roberts), The Sunshine Boys (
Tennessee Smith, Pat Patterson, Smitty Smith, Ace Richman, Eddie Wallace),
George Hughes (emcee), Chick Kimball, manager.
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WSB Barn Dance
February 20, 1943
Erlanger Theater — Atlanta, GA
Program Listing
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| Song Title |
Artist(s) |
| Daddy and Home |
NeHi |
| Rolling Stone Blues |
James Carson |
| Mississippi Valley Blues |
Betty and Ann (The Heifner Sisters) |
| Catch That Coon |
Louis Innis |
| Did You ever Go Sailing |
Sunshine Boys |
| Run Away Train |
Chick Stripling |
| Roll On Buddy |
Girls |
| Fox Chase |
Harpo Kidwell |
| Great Speckled Bird |
James and Martha Carson |
In lieu of a sound bite, perhaps we can let you see a bit of the ambiance of the
show as it signed off one night, by Cotton Carrier, as quoted by author Daniel:
"Its about time for us to get off the wind now,
but we've had a fine time at your house tonight,
and we hope that you'll let us visit with
you next Saturday night at the same time, 9:30 P.M.,
when we'll be broadcasting from the High School Auditorium in
Covington, Georgia. The `WSB Barn Dance' is a
regular Saturday-night feature of WSB, the
Voice of The South, Atlanta, Georgia."
WSB Barn Dance
January 15, 1944
Erlanger Theater — Atlanta, GA
Program Listing
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| Song Title |
Artist(s) |
| Roll ALong, Silver Moon |
Prairie Songbirds (Mary and Marjorie) |
| The Gal I Left Behind Me |
Bobbie Atchison |
| Please Don't Leave Me Anymore |
Dottie Castleberry |
| Bully Of The Town |
Harpo Kidwell |
| I Want To Be A Cowboy's Dream |
NeHi |
| I'll Reap My Harvest In Heaven |
James and Martha Carson |
| College Hornpipe |
Blackie Hastings |
| Angel Of East Tennessee |
Jimmie Smith |
| I Found A Hiding Place |
Swanee River Boys |
| Foggy Mountain Top |
WSB Barn Dance Gang |
Research will sometimes pop up some surprises and an occasional chuckle. A letter to the editor
in the Atlanta Journal on February 20, 1944 was one such occasion. A reader from Kennesaw, GA
wrote a note:
"WSB is our favorite radio station, and one of our favorite programs is
the Barn Dance every Saturday night. In the commercial they sing, "Hi, Baldy." Imagine
our suprise when little two-year-old Patricia begann calling her baby sister, "Hi, Baldy,"
for the baby has plenty of hair. When we asked Pat how the name fitted, she said,
"Cause she bawls a lot. — Mrs. C. Booth; Kennesaw, GA"
The show's cast included some of familiar names in hillbilly music history. And
they included most of the different types of entertainment one might expect
to find on a show such as the WSB Barn Dance. There were fiddlers, steel
guitarists, harmonica players, accordionists, banjoists, male vocalists,
female vocalists, sister acts, brother duets and more.
But What Are Their Real Names?
Research of the decade this show was on WSB has uncovered the fact some names were actually stage names or chose to not user
their real names. First, Aunt Hattie - her real name was Ricca Hughes. James and Martha Carson might be the most
obvious example - he was James Roberts. She was Irene Amburgey. But they both ended up using Carson as their last name
for performing. And Martha Carson is actually the name on her tombstone. A small in stature female singer by the stage name
of Ne-Hi (or NeHi or Nehi) was really Willie Mae Thomas. The Logan Sisters were really Betty and Christine Buice; they
had their own radio program for a time over WSB as well. He was one of the show's emcees this Herman Horsehair Buggfuzz
but his parents named him Ivay Peterson. The Prairie Songbirds appeared on many other radio stations including
WSB. They were two sisters, Mary and Margie Humes. The Dixie Blue Bells were a female trio
created by WSB. The three members were: Martha Carson (Irene Amburgey), Dottie Castleberry and Violet (Koehler?).
WSB Barn Dance
August 25, 1945
Erlanger Theater — Atlanta, GA
Program Listing
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| Song Title |
Artist(s) |
| Careless Darlin' |
Dottie Castleberry |
| Leather Britches |
Harpo Kidwell |
| I Dreamed That My Daddy Came Home |
James and Martha Carson |
| Mississippi Sawyer |
Bobby Atcheson |
| Oklahoma Hills |
Nehi |
| Blues in "A" |
Jessie Carpenter |
| Just A Little Talk With Jesus |
Swanee River Boys |
| Each Minute Seems A Million Years |
Jimmy Smith |
| Mule Skinner Blues |
Mattie O'Neil |
Author Wayne Daniel chronicles in more detail the life of the various
cast members and the roles they played in his book, including some
of the other directions the careers took for some of these artists. You
can find more information about them and other WSB Barn Cast members throughout
this site.
One of the performers was a blind singer and guitar player by the name of Pete Cassell. He was also
on the WWVA Jamboree out of Wheeling, WV and was known to write a song.
In 1941, he wrote a theme song of sorts that was heard for a while on
the WSB Barn Dance.
"Howdy Friends and neighbors Both near and far away,
The WSB Barn Dance Will drive your cares away.
We always wear a great big smile And never shed a tear.
We try to spread some sunshine With songs you like to hear.
So, won't you come and join us And spend a little while;
We'll try to make you happy In good old country style.
So, come on to the Southland Way down here in Dixie
For you're always welcome To the WSB Barn Dance party."
WSB Barn Dance
January 12, 1946
Erlanger Theater — Atlanta, GA
Program Listing
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| Song Title |
Artist(s) |
| My Little Boy Blue |
Ruth and Ruby |
| Mississippi Sawyer |
Bobby Atcheson |
| Free Little Bird |
Cousin Emmy |
| Birgmingham Rose |
Nehi |
| Hilo March |
Boots Woodall |
| Dust On The Bible |
James and Martha Carson |
| Hang Your Head In Shame |
Jimmy Smith |
| Sweet Water Blues |
Mattie O'Neil |
WSB Barn Dance
December 20, 1947
College Park Auditorium — Atlanta, GA
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Change of Venues: Erlanger Theater to College Park Auditorium
Earlier in this saga, readers learned that WSB had signed a five year lease for the Erlanger Theater
in November 1942. When November 1947 rolled around, the lease was not renewed. The WSB Barn Dance
show moved to the College Park Auditorium.
The old Erlanger Theater had new owners, Francis White and Harvey Smith. Among the changes they
made were renaming the theater to The Tower Theater. The next change they made was the type of
entertainment the theater would offer. When the theater opened under its new name, the first
entertainment it brought was a movie run. Repairmen were remodeling the theater at the same time.
Once done, the theater would implement a new "variety" policy, "...offering the best in moving
pictures and stage shows." The first stage productions included "State Of The Union," "Joan of Lorraine,"
"Oklahoma!", "Harvey," and "Norway." These new stage productions would take place at the theater
after the Christmas holiday and into 1948.
All of the old Erlanger marquees were taken down, to be replaced by "one of the brightest in town."
By the end of the 1940's decade, the world was changing. Radio
station owners were finding it cheaper to have a disc jockey to play
records rather than have live shows. Television was creeping into the
world and eating into the ability of the artists to make money from
personal appearances as folks stayed home. The WSB Barn
Dance aired its last show on February 18, 1950.
WSB Barn Dance
January 24, 1948
College Park Auditorium — Atlanta, GA
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In January 1948, WSB's television permit was granted by the Federal Communications Commision (FCC).
The station was owned by the newspaper, The Atlanta Journal. In an article touting the approval,
then station manager John Outler Jr. stated that the station hoped to have a "...full schedule
of daily television broadcasts ihn operation by late summer." The station was allowed to operate
at a maximum power of 5,000 watts, the maximum for any television station back then.
The station had granted contracts for equipment such as the 600 foot tower and antenna, new
studios, mobile units in December 1947. The studios and the tower would be located on 20 acres
near the intersection of Peachtree and Beverly Roads. The expected radius of their signal was
to be 40 miles. It would broadcast on channel 8.
Oddly the station had first applied for a television permit in April 1931, but for whatever reason,
it was never granted. A new application was submitted in December 1947.
Television was not the only new technology being used by WSB. In November 1944, they started WSB-FM.
Change of Venues: College Park Auditorium to Hapeville City Auditorium
On October 29, 1949, the venue for the now "WSB Barn Dance Party" was moved to the Hapeville
City Auditorium. WSB ran ads in the Atlanta Journal for several days leading up to the new
venue's debut.
Promotional ads for the show were becoming increasingly scarce by this time. The show
was at late hour on Saturday night. Ads were only touting shows prior to 10:00 pm
on Saturday night. The usual listing of artists and tunes to be sung or played
were gone. Television and the priority WSB was giving it was perhaps making its mark.
WSB Barn Dance
October 29, 1949
Hapeville City Auditorium — Atlanta, GA
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Marriages
The Barn Dances also seemed to provide an opportunity for 'cupid' to play a role as well. The WLS National Barn
Dance had its share of activity. The WSB Barn Dance also had several cast members get married during its run.
- On October 29, 1939, author Wayne W. Daniel noted in his book that Chick Stripling married Cassie Nelle Coleman.
- In 1941, Lillie Mae Perry (her stage name was Jane Logan) married James A. (Cotton) Carrier. Cotton would become
one of the popular emcees of the show. The 1940 U. S. Census shows that Cotton was living in Hopkinsville, KY as
a 21-year old entertainer at the time.
- Another husband wife duo on the show was James and Martha Carson. However, their real names were
James Roberts and Irene Amburgey. They were married on June 8, 1939 in Indiana.
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Pine Ridge Boys
Lonnie Glosson
George Hughes (Swanee River Boys)
Harold Dunn
Margie and Mary Humes
Dink Embry
Fescue Boys
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