Sagebrush Roundup
Sagebrush Roundup | |
---|---|
Fairmont, West Virginia radio show | |
publication | 1938–1948 (on the air again today) |
production | WMMN |
Contributors | |
Moderation | Howard Hopkins Wolfe |
The Sagebrush Roundup is an American country program broadcast by WMMN of Fairmont , West Virginia .
history
1938 to 1948
The first broadcast of the Sagebrush Roundup took place on December 27, 1938. Since there were already many well-known barn dance shows in Virginia such as the WWVA Jamboree , the Old Dominion Barn Dance or the WCHS Old Farm Hour in Virginia, the management of the WMMN station also organized a weekly radio show. Musician "Uncle" Nat Royster suggested this format to the station's manager and called it "Sagebrush Roundup". The first show was held under the direction of Royster and Murrell Poor in a studio of the station. Early members of the show included Curley Mitchell and his Plowboys, the Buskirk Family, Tex Mitchell, the Trading Post Gang, Cowboy Loye and his Blue Bonnet Group, and the Rhythm Rangers. Buddy Starcher, who initiated the Old Farm Hour in 1934, was also a member of the ensemble at times. The show soon moved to the larger Fairmont Armory and by 1941 over 300,000 viewers had attended the show.
The show was produced by Howard Hopkins Wolfe, who also moderated. In the early 1940s, the Sagebrush Roundup was broadcast nationwide despite the small radio station on the CBS system. The star of the show was Grandpa Jones , who was with WMMN for a long time. However, the show was suspended for some time in 1948.
present
Today the Sagebrush Roundup is being held again, although its popularity has waned. The show airs every Saturday from the Country Music Hall in Fairmont.
Guests and members
|
|