The Roots of the Grand Ole Opry…

On July 20, 2012 - TV History

The Roots of the Grand Ole Opry…

This photo from early 1949 shows WBAP in Fort Worth’s ‘Saturday Night Barn Dance’ show on the air with an RCA TK10 working to capture it…horses and all. The television version of ‘Barn Dance’ is actually a spin off of the WBAP radio show at started in 1923.

The radio show was such a hit that others quickly copied the format. Radio station WLS in Chicago (the initials stood for “World’s Largest Store” since it was owned by Sears, Roebuck, & Co.) premiered one of the first copies called ‘National Barn Dance’, in 1924. Other stations followed suit – KWKH of Shreveport, Louisiana, with the ‘Louisiana Hayride’, WWVA of Wheeling, West Virginia, with the ‘Wheeling Jamboree’ and, of course, WSM of Nashville, Tennessee, with the ‘Grand Ole Opry’ which debuted in 1925. WSM TV began broadcasting in 1950 and soon after, The Opry went on the air.

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6 Comments

  1. Libby Altwegg July 22, 2012

    I can’t be sure. So many were still employed in 1979 when I started at 5, but this photo was surely taken when those guys were in their 20’s.

  2. Shirley Orr July 22, 2012

    Hey, Lib, do you know any of these folks???

  3. David Crosthwait July 20, 2012

    Been in that studio many times up on Broadcast Hill. The building plans were based on a school layout. Amon Carter knew how to do it right back in 1948. Pat Boone did a show there while attending NTSU.

  4. Bob-Mary Delaforce July 20, 2012

    Cables coming out of mid-studio trench? Somebody was on the ball in design.

  5. Libby Altwegg July 20, 2012

    LOVE IT!!!!!

  6. Libby Altwegg July 20, 2012

    I am working in this VERY studio RIGHT NOW!