The Prairie Prattler Vol. 1, No. 1, 1943
For your convenience, an attempt has been made to transcribe any pages which are almost illegible in places. Otherwise, notes have been made after each page to draw attention to notable statements or mention of fans who appear in different issues and photographs of the Martha Retsch collection or John Fullerton collection.
Cover
Page 1
Transcription page 1
Honory Members
Lloyd Perryman
Bob Nolan
Pat Brady
Sam H. Allen
Karl Farr
Tim Spencer
Hugh Farr
Mr. Charles Reed Jones
President & Editor Martha Retsch, 2942 Azul Street, Pittsburgh, PA.
Co-President & Co-Editor Virginia (Ginny) Gallick, 836 Delmont Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.
Howdy Friends:
This is the beginning of what we hope will be one of the best clubs and club paper ever put out. This is a big order, so what do you say that we all pitch in and help to make this club the best. Advice and suggestions will be more than welcome.
I'd like to thank all the members who have volunteered to help at any time. Also thanks to those who have columns for this issue.
Thanks to Sam H. Allen (the boss), Manager of the Sons of the Pioneers, for his column.
And a great big thank you to Mr. Charles Reed Jones of Republic Studios, for the cut for the cover and for the rest of the fine things he has done to help us out.
Until later,
Sons-cerely,
Virginia Gallick / Martha Retsch
Page 2
Transcription page 2 - column 1
Hollywood
The Pioneers finished a swing thru Texas where they did 132 military shows in 26 days. Upon their return to Hollywood, they went immediately to the swing shift at the Redfield Manufacturing Company, where, in addition to their motion picture and radio work, they average 48 hours per week on war materials—those of us who have seen Pat Brady slap a doghouse (bass fiddle in case some one wonders) can conjure up a pretty cute picture of what he looks like operating a drill press - and hours at Republic Studio are now so arranged so as not to interfere with the war plant.
Lloyd Q. (the Q is for Quirt) Perryman just told your columnists that in spite of the work at the war plant, radio pictures and the Dr. Pepper Show, he finds he has quite a bit of spare time between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning in which he gets an awful bang out of reading fan mail and looking at all the pretty pictures that the girls send him—speakin' of course, of pictures of the gals.
Bob Nolan has written a new song bubbling with all the poetry and sentiment that usually characterizes his compositions. It is entitled "Halfway 'Round the World."
Tim Spencer has two new books out—"Sagebrush Symphonies No. 1 and No. 2". Also watch for Tim's new song "Some Day Soon".
To all you fans who write wondering where in the heck you can buy phonograph recordings by the Sons of the Pioneers, we answer viz: If you can find out, please tell us. We made several records for Decca in the last couple of years, but they must be saving them for posterity, because your columnist has inquired from dealers and distributors all over the country. For some reason, it seems the only people who want these records are the public. On second thought, Decca probably wants them, too, because they seem to be keeping them - not selling them.
Until later,
Adios,
The Boss, Sam Houston Allen
Transcription page 2 - column 2
Presenting the Aristocrats of The Range - The Sons of the Pioneers
The majority of you friends and fans of the Pioneers just know them by name so will endeavor to introduce them to all of you. Here goes.
HUGH FARR - Hugh is one of the first and original Sons of the Pioneers. His real name is Thomas Hubert Farr—he was born Dec. 6 at Llano, Texas. Has brown hair and blue eyes. Is the fiddle player of the outfit and sings bass. Is about 6 ft. and weighs about 180 lbs.
KARL FARR - Hugh's brother - guitarist and can he play it, too. Uses right name, born April 25 in Rochelle, Texas. Is about 6 ft. and 175 lbs. Has black hair and hazel eyes.
TIM SPENCER - One of the originators of the Pioneers—first saw the light of day July 13 at Webb City, Missouri. Tim sings solos and with the trio. Has blond hair and blue eyes - is about 5 ft. 7 in. and weighs about 145 lbs. Plays the guitar.
BOB NOLAN - Bob, along with Tim and Roy (then known as Len Sly) helped to organize the Pioneers. He was born in New Brunswick Canada, on April 14. [Actually he was born on April 13 in Winnipeg, Canada]. He is 6 ft. tall and weighs about 185 lbs. Has brown hair and eyes. He sings baritone and plays the bass fiddle and guitar.
PAT BRADY - The clown of the outfit, and justly so. Born December 31 at Toledo, Ohio. His right name is Robert Ellsworth Brady. Pat is about 5 ft. 11 in. and about 165 lbs. Has blue eyes and red hair. Plays the bass fiddle and does the comedy numbers of the outfit.
LLOYD PERRYMAN - This happens to be his right name. He is the youngest of the group. Was born Jan. 29 in Wild Cherry, Arkansas. He used to be a baritone, but raised his voice to a tenor. Does quite a lot of solo singing. Very pleasing voice. Plays the guitar and accompanies Karl on his solos.
In future issues, I will try to give a little more information about the boys. If there are any questions anyone would like to ask, just let me know, and I shall try my best to answer them. This is all for now, so until later,
Sons-cerely,
Martha (your editor)
Page 3
Transcription page 3 - column 1
Newsy Notes
The first two paragraphs are an invitation to send in "any news about yourself, your pals, the Pioneers or any other movie or radio star, etc. This is one column that is yours and only you can write it. Come on now, let's see what can be done with it. What do you say?"
Dorothy Lee has been listening to the Pioneers and seeing their movies for about two years now - sure hopes to meet them some time soon. Ninfa Pelagatta has met the boys and thinks they're SWELL. (So do we, Ninfa.) Jeanne Harrity had the opportunity of meeting the boys and Roy Rogers in Boston. Jeanne is now Mrs. N. Wanson - congratulations, Jeanne. Ellen Helmbod has been a Pioneer fan for about four or five years. Hurray for her. Mildred Kelley has seen the boys twice and has also taken some nice snaps of them. She has also met Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. Mrs. Zula Caronell has been taking guitar lessons. How are they coming along? Derelys Walter was fortunate in seeing the Pioneers make one of their 10-2-4 Ranch programs for Dr. Pepper. More luck to you in seeing future ones. Edna Sarter collects view cards and souvenirs. Gertrude Knell traveled from Oxford, PA, to New York to see the rodeo. Spent the majority of her time talking to the Pioneers and Roy. Phyllis Laughlin sure has some nice snaps of the Sons. Maxine McRae expects to take a trip to Los Angeles very shortly. Hope you enjoy it, Maxine. Anna Mae Pfeifer has been ill for quite awhile. Come on, Anna Mae, how about getting out and around? Marie Spellman and Dolores Friedrich sure have had some good times meeting the Pioneers. Your editor has hopes of meeting them (meaning Marie and Dolores) sometime soon. How about it, gals? Helen Schmuck served the Sons with a nice lunch about two years ago. Bet they sure had a good time. I'm sure of it. Grace Smith and Ruth Trotter have done some traveling to meet the Pioneers and have never been disappointed. They sure have some swell snaps for sale, too.
Until later,
Martha
Transcription page 3 - column 2
Praise for Pioneer Pluggers
This column is to give praise and plugs to all the pluggers of my pals and friends - THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS.
There are so many of these pluggers that in each issue I'll name a few. First, I want to give the biggest plug to the station KQV right here in Pittsburgh for the playing of the transcriptions of the boys for the past eight years and I'm still hoping the day will come when they will play the new Symphonies of the Sage. Also thanks to Jimmy Thompson, Charlie Evans and Paul Byrnes for their interest in the boys.
If anyone can pick up station WKPA, New Kensington, every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:15pm, it sure will be worth while. Not only does Frisco Frankie use Bob's "RIDIN' HOME" for a theme song but he sings quite a lot of other songs of theirs. I have had the pleasure of meeting Frankie and, believe me, he sure is a nice fellow. One of the PIONEERS largest boosters and always glad to sing any of their songs. The PIONEERS are tops with Frankie, so Frankie is tops with me.
Of all the Pioneers Pluggers, I think little Nancy Lee Barker is the youngest one. Nancy Lee is quite a big girl for her four years and one of her most requested songs is Tim's THEY DREW MY NUMBER. Nancy Lee's mother and father - Joe and Shirley Barken teach her all her songs - and here's hoping they teach her more of the Pioneers songs. Nancy Lee sings over WWVA, Wheeling, West Virginia every day at 1:30 and again at 4:00 PM. Also on WWVA at 4:30 PM is Lew Childro who does a good job of singing Bob's "THIS OLD WHITE MULE OF MINE."
On station WWMN, Fairmont, W. Va, a fellow by the name of Lou Emerson, or known sometimes as Uncle Mose does a very, very good job of Bob's "RAINBOW'S END." Lou adds a very sentimental poem to this song and it sure is worth listening to.
Sonny Day on station W__R, Butler, PA, not only plays Bob's "ECHOES FROM THE HILLS" on his accordion but sings it too. Nice fellow, Sonny, and very nice to talk to.
How about all you members dropping me a line and telling me who sings what PIONEER songs on your favorite stations? I'll give all pluggers a plug in this column so come on and let me hear from you members...(continued after next image.)
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Transcription page 4 - column 1
Praise for Pioneer Pluggers (cont.)
...in the East, Mid-West, and way out on the West Coast. I'm sorry, but I can't pick up those stations, but would like to hear from anyone who sings the songs of the SONS OF THE PIONEERS. I'll be waitin' to hear from all of you.
Until later,
Adios,
Ginny
SOP --- SOP --- SOP --- SOP --- SOP FAN CLUB CORNER
Alice Margulics - 541 Avenue C - Bayonne, New Jersey, is President of that swell orchestra leader Vaughn Monroe. Dues are 50¢ per year - club card and paper.
Miss Gene Ernst is president of the Roy Rogers Fan Club. Dues are 50¢ per year, club paper and membership card. Address is - P. O. Box 205, Hammond, Ind.
Faye Flanagan - Route 1, Colorado City, Texas is the President of the Ernest Tubb Fan Club. Dues are 50¢ a year and includes a club paper and membership card.
Viola Myers - 7 West 114th Place, Chicago, Illinois is the President of the Shorty Carson Fan Club. Dues are 50¢ a year.
If any of your members are connected with any other clubs that you would like to see advertised, just let me know, and I'll get them in future issues.
V ... V ... V ... V ... V ... V ...
If any of you fans of the Pioneers can pick up any of the following stations, you'll be hearing a very good program - "THE 10-2-4 RANCH PROGRAM."
[the call numbers are illegible, unfortunately]
(continued on Page 6)
Transcription page 4 - column 1
APRIL [birthdays]
BOB NOLAN 1
KARL FARR 25
Dorothy Serpas 28
Mildred Kelley May 5
Anna Mae Pfeifer June 4
And a happy birthday within the next three months. If you would like your name in the column, just let us know when your birthday is. That's all there is to it.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
NEW PIONEERooters
Maxine McRae - Box 72, Thatcher, Ariz
Derelys Walter - Box 394 Rt._, Exeter, Calif.
Mrs. N. Wanson - 6020 Maywood Ave., Huntington Park, Calif.
Mrs. L. E. Wilson - Box 163, Long Beach, Calif.
Raymond Walker - 37 Center St., Middletown, Conn.
Virginia Bishop - Rt. 2, Box 43, Wauchula, Fla.
Viola Myers - 7 W 114th Place, Chicago, Ill.
Edna Sa_tor, P. O. Box 367, Aurura, Ill.
Mrs. Henry C. Caroneli, 956 Fort Wayne Ave, Indianapolis, Ind.
Grace Smith,9 Jackson St., E. Lynn, Mass.
Irene P____, 77 Dudley St., New Bedford, Mass.
Ninfa Pelagatti, 17 Estos St., Lynn, Mass.
Mildred Kelley, 456 Robinson Ave;, Attleboro, Mass.
Willie Mae Rumple, PO Box 774, Thomasville, NC.
Phyllis Laughlin, Box 467, Hillsboro, NH
Alice Margulics, 541 Ave C, Bayonne, NJ
Grace M. Eise, 735 McGillvray Pl, Lindon, NJ
Joyce Beck, 230 N. 7th St, Newark, NJ
Jean Snyder, RFD No. 2, Mt. Sterling, Ohio
Peggy Cosnor, 655 South Burgess Ave, Columbus, Ohio
Betty Branch, 1332 Franklin Ave, Columbus, Ohio
Dorothy Lee, McClellanville, _ _
Faye Flanaga, Route 3, colorado City, Texas
Florence Muntz, 1604 South L St., Tacoma, Washington
(Continued)
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Transcription page 5 - column 1
- PENNSYLVANIA -
Sonia Haverlak, ___________ [totally illegible]
Alline & Louise L_______________
Virginia Gallick, 836 Delmont Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.
Marilyn Gauding, 336 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh
Anna Mae Pfeifer, 75 Amanda Street, Pittsburgh
Anna Mae Sebak, 71 Alameda St. Pgh.
Edythe Rosengrant, 183 Courtright St., Plainsville, PA
Ellen Hembold, 726 Mine St., Pottsbille
Gertrude Knoll, 27 Myrtle St, Oxford
Marie Spellman, 1318 Bakerstown Rid, Tarentum
Helen Schmuck, 126 E. Newton Ave, York
Grace M. Laird, 100 W Spring St
- - - - - - - - -
Vanda Brooks, Box 109 Route 1, Lehi, Utah
Dorothy & Olivia Serpas, 413 Wagner St, New Orleans, LA
Mrs. John W. Serpas, 413 Wagner St., New Orleans, LA
Glory Ambrosini, 105 Alverson Ave, Providence, RI
Sis Dormann, Diamond D Rancho, Midlothian, Illinois
Dolores Friedrich, 314 W. Sixth Ave, Tarentum, Penn.
Martha Jane MConahy, RD #1, Edinburg, Penn.
Emma Hackett, 219 Grandview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA
Jean Fell, Glyndon, Maryland
Virginia Shaw, Route 2, Allentown, PA
Willa Mae Moran, 515 S. Keystone Ave, Stafford, Kansas
- - - - - - - - -
HOW ABOUT A MEMBERSHIP DRIVE?
Come on members, how about getting out and finding some new members for the club? Yes, there will be prizes.
1st. prize will be $1.00 in War Stamps
2nd. prize 50¢ in War Stamps
3rd. prize - 2 stills of the Pioneers
- - - - - - - - -
Any of you members that can pick up either of these two stations will be in for enjoyment.
WPIC - Sharon, PA. 790 on the dial has the Symphonies of the Sage on every day except Friday and Sunday from 10:05 until 10:30 AM.
WKPA - New Kensington, PA. 1150 on the dial broadcasts the Symphonies from 9:15 to 9:30AM on Thursdays.
Transcription page 5 - column 2
POETRY CORNER
Any of you that can write poetry, how about sending in some of your samples? Sure would like them. Here's a starter for the column.
"SONS OF THE PIONEERS"
Bob
He's a good guy in the public eye
This sons of the Lone Prairie-e-e
His songs are best in the wooly west
My gosh, he's "tops" with me.
Tim
Now there's a man and I'm his fan
This songster of the west.
His subject's clear and all sincere
That's why folks say he's best.
Hugh
From the Lone Star state came the voice that's great
And a talent for draggin' a bow.
His playin's sweet, knock's ya off your feet
That voice is all the go.
Karl
Oh, Mr. Farr, with yore gallopin' guitar
All the girls are crazy 'bout you
You're the musical hero, they'd like for a beau
So be careful, my buckaroo.
Lloyd
Now here's a nice guy and it ain't no lie
That he's from Arkansas.
He may be from the hills, but his playin' fulfills
All they require in the musical law.
Pat
He's the funniest man, in all of this land
He's a clown of the Cow Country e-e-e
As good a galoot, as there is in the chute
Pat, you're okeh with me.
Submitted by Faye Flanagan who said, "I'm right happy to have you print it for such a swell bunch of singers."
Now that you see what can be done, come on, all you would-be poets, how about getting to work?
- - - - - - - - - --
DON'T FORGET - Buy BONDS and STAMPS so you can help lick the Axis.
- - - - - - - - - --
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Transcription page 6 - column 1
AT THE CIRCLE S
The "Stetson Gals" sure gave my pardner and I a surprise when they offered us a chance to ________ our share to build this club paper. We are just delighted and grateful to the "Gals" to be able to help extol our stars of stars, the Sons of the Pioneers, boosting them to the top of the ladder of success and gaining new fans who would enjoy their fine songs, the best in western music, as we do. This is our one aim, another one being to provide us an opportunity of knowing one another better and keeping ourselves also entertained in our own way, plus who knows what else. We hope we can always have something which will interest our Pioneer fans and here ask that you send us a few of your suggestions on what you'd like to see in this column (other than that given in the other columns), so we can begin planning future write-ups. At a later time we may run a Hobby Column for awhile. (Dolores was lucky at one time to have hers which is on the Pioneers and Roy used in the hobby column of one ____ newspaper) but send in your new and other what have you's to Dolores and I and we'll do the rest. Get out for next month, for, if all goes well, space permits and the "Gals" are willing, our column will be a PIONEER CONTEST that everyone can take part in. But don't count too much on it because it may depend on how large a membership we have at the time. Better to wait for a bigger crowd before beginning the fireworks, what say? If not the contest, my pal will be in charge of next month's column and likely will have something to chat on or about. Until then, we'll just say, "We'll be seein' ya."
THE PENNSYLVANIA PIONEERS
Marie Spellman - 1318 Bakerstown Rd
Dolores Friedrich - 314 W. Sixth Ave
Tarentum, Pennsylvania
Transcription page 6 - column 2
Song Page
In the future this column will be conducted by Derelys Walter, Box 394, Route 1, Exeter, Calif. Derelys will handle all requests for the songs you wished printed. Also, if you wish, a number of songs at one time, Derelys will be glad to get them for you upon the receipt of postage.
For this issue, your editor has found a very interesting story behind one of the most western songs. The song "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" by Bob Nolan.
A few years back, a cowboy was riding along a winding trail in the foothills. When the setting was the West at its most picturesque in the autumn with a purple ____ ______ the distance and a wild wind picking up the leaves and grasses and sending them scudding around the _____________. Being of a musical mind, it was natural that the cowboy should see in the scenery around him an idea for a song. So he jotted down a "few verses" while humming a tune to match. He named it "Tumbling Leaves".
During the months that followed he would at times recall the song and sing it to himself, making a change here and there either in the words or music. But for some reason or other he couldn't explain, it didn't seem quite right. Something was needed to take it out of the "just another song" class and put it over as a favorite song.
Then one day, he and several other cowboy musicians were playing over a radio station in Hollywood. During the program they played "Tumbling Leaves".
Afterwards the announcer came up to them. "You know," he said, "that Tumbling Weeds or whatever you call it, has a pretty good tune. You ought to use it as a theme song."
The announcer's mistake gave the composer an idea. In place of the word "leaves" he put "tumbleweeds", then added half a bar of music to cover the extra syllables.
That cowboy was none other than Bob Nolan who is today one of America's best-known composers of western music and the cowboy musicians were the now famous SONS OF THE PIONEERS.
The song "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" is a topnotch favorite that will be remembered and sung for a long time to come.
(Cont'd next page)
[For Bob Nolan's version of how the song was created, see Tumbling Leaves.]
Page 7
Transcription page 7 - column 1
There was a time not so long back when cowboy music was pretty much restricted to only a part of the country, but in these last few years, through talking pictures and radio, they have spread everywhere. And that includes not only the United States but just about any place else you can name. In fact, it's said that cowboy songs are the only type of music popular all over the world. (This was taken from the April issue of Song Hits.)
"TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS"
I'm a roving cowboy, riding all day long
Tumbleweeds around me sing their lonely song
Nights underneath the prairie moon
I ride alone and sing a tune.
Cho.
See them tumbling down
Pledging their love to the ground
Lonely but free I'll be found
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.
Cares of the past are behind
Nowhere to go but I'll find
Just where the trail will wind
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.
I know when night has gone
That a new world's born at dawn
I'll keep rolling along
Deep in my heart is a song
Here on the range I belong
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.
- SOP- SOP - SOP - SOP - SOP
My heartfelt thanks to Slim Bryant and his Georgia Wildcats who at Pittsburgh's last Bond Rally, sang Tim Spencer's "THAT PIONEER MOTHER OF MINE". Need I say the response was great?
- Ginny -
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
If any of you club members have any ideas on columns that you'd like to see in this paper, just let me know. After all, we sure do want to know just what you'd like to read.
Later on, if you'd like, we'll have a Pen Pal Column in the issue. Any of you that would like pen pals, just write in and we'll print your name.
Transcription page 7 - column 2
SNAPS FOR SALE
Blanche Linton - 519 N. Howard Street, Allentown, PA has some snaps of the following for sale - price - 10¢ each or 6 for 50¢.
22 snaps of the Pioneers
26 of Roy Rogers
16 of Gene Autry
21 of the Melody Ranch group
Grace Smith and Ruth Trotter - 9 Jackson Street, East Lynn, Mass, have snaps for sale at the following prices:
Grace - 9 of the Pioneers
Ruth - 7 of the Pioneers
These sell for 10¢ each or 50¢ a set. Also, Ruth and Grace have a set of 10 snaps of Roy for $1.00 or 10¢ each.
Plus 7 snaps of the Sons
6 snaps of the Sons
Those sets are also 50¢ a set or 10¢ separate. All are good.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
(Cont'd from Page 3)
ARKANSAS - Station
Jonesboro KBTM
Pine Bluff KOTN
CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles KECA
San Diego KFMD
COLORADO
Denver KLZ
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington WOL
FLORIDA
Jacksonville WJHP
Miami WIOD
Pensacola WCOA
GEORGIA
Albany WGPC
Athens WGAU
Atlanta WRBL
Cordele WMJM
Gainesville WGGA
Griffin WKEU
LaGrange WLAG
Macon WMAZ
Moultrie WHGA
Savannah WTOC
Waycross WAYX
ILLINOIS
Aurora WMRO
Herrin WJPF
Rockford WROK
Quincy WTAD
More stations will follow in later issues.