[78-L] National Barn Dance documentary on PBS

[Elizabeth McLeod]

on 10/6/11 2:20 AM Michael Biel wrote:

>I understand that there are some recordings of the program from the late
>30s with Henry Burr and Billy Murray.  
>

There are only three surviving National Barn Dance programs from the '30s 
that I know of -- one from November 1937, one from December 1938 (a 
Christmas show with no live audience) and one from February 1939. Henry 
Burr is present on the first two programs, but I don't believe he appears 
on the third. Billy Murray began appearing on the program in the early 
forties, and I believe there are at least a couple of his appearances 
extant circa 1942.

Judging from these few surviving programs, the Barn Dance is one of the 
most entertaining variety programs of this era, and had a much more 
varied approach than the hayseed stereotypes would lead one to expect. 
One of the most popular guest stars of this period was Alec Templeton -- 
about as far from a hillbilly entertainer as it's possible to get, but 
the audiences loved him.

Elizabeth