Red River Dave’s Saturday Night Barn Dance!
November 21st, 2009 @ 01:53
Posted by: John Whipple Sr.
Along about 1951 Red River Dave had a popular show on WOAI TV. All our television was local and the test pattern was the best you could do most of the time. He wrote songs while you waited and claimed winning a contest of writing 100 songs in 24 hours.
“Red River Dave’s Saturday Night Barn Dance” Reminder!
Facts about Amelia Earhart
I was on his show “Red River Dave’s Saturday Night Barn Dance” after taking square dance lessons from Ricky Holden a very famous international caller. I picked this one because it was the same dance we learned. We did not look this good but we thought we did!
email2friend
how can you afford to do that without any ads?
Are you going to go?
November 24th, 2009 13:02
John, thanks for the footage of Red River Dave.
He had an excellent voice, was a good guitar player, and had the unusual ability to write songs on any subject at the drop of a hat. I think he was from Poteet. He was well known in San Antonio and really had the talent to be a star nationally. He went to Hollywood but somehow never made the grade. I think he got some national attention after 9/ll in that he wrote a song about it, but I can’t really remember. I got to meet him one time around 1948. We had a little western band while in high school called the “Melody Mustangs” (my sister called us the “note nags”). We played one evening at a house party and Red River Dave was the main act so to speak. Part of his performance included some rope tricks which he said, “They showed me how to do this out in Hollywood”. He was a nice talented guy. Somebody should write a biography about him.
November 25th, 2009 07:53
Charlie I appreciate your comment.
After thinking more about the date I was on the Barn Dance Show it could have been 1949 or 1950.
It was the year the new WOAI Studio was built across the street from downtown Sears and Roebuck and this particular Barn Dance show was a main attraction. We had been working hard learning to dance at the teen canteen at Woodlawn Lake next the old Woodlawn swimming pool. We practiced twice a week for 4 weeks and we were ready. Ricky Holden was an excellent teacher. My sister Jill and my best friend, Bobby Warfield, and my “want to be” girlfriend Betty Beneteau was in the mix and Betty was the only reason was I was doing this dance thing.
The eight dancers were selected and notice was given to be at WOAI at 7PM in costume. My mother took me in our 47 Kaiser and the parking lot was crowded and we were rushed into a room where I recognized some other dancers. Names were called and I was selected to dance with this tall 6ft. skinny girl that looked terrible and Bobby was selected to dance with Betty and I remember my walking out the back door and getting into the back seat of our car.
I did not know just what I was going to do, but, I did know I was not going to dance with the witch and give up my girl friend to my friend Bobby Warfield.
My mother found me first and the answer was “no” I not letting all my friends see me dance without Betty who was my reason to be here in the first place. I remember that my mother was a little bit on my side.
The next thing I realized Red River Dave came out in the parking lot and sat down beside me on the back seat and started explaining how I was the tallest boy and Betty was the shortest girl and he had to balance out the group to look the best it could. Please do me this one favor and patted me on the back.
What did I learned from this is “please can perform miracles” and things are never as bad as they seem.
January 15th, 2010 03:41
I am wondering if you have footage from the years 1952 to 1954 of Two brothers who where in a band together called The Jacoby Brothers? Before that they where known as Jacoby’s Mountain Rhythm Band( I think)… Or do you perhaps know where I can find the footage. I am willing to purchase said footage. Gene Jacoby is my father. I was born when he was 60 and he passed when he was 66. My mom doesn’t like to talk about him much. She gets way to sad. Everyone else that would know anything about him have either died or are out of reach. PLEASE!!! If you can help me I would appreciate it. cjsunkist_89@yahoo.com
January 15th, 2010 11:21
Don’t know of any footage but can keep our eyes out. I haven’t seen him lately but I’ve known Wade Jacoby for years. Is he a relative of yours?
I see your name in a comment on this CD Baby page so you know he made this Jacoby Brothers tribute CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/wadejacoby/from/payplay
“I Was Going Down The Hill Doing 90 Miles An Hour” was maybe more popular in San Antonio than most places because The Jacoby Brothers would sing it a lot as part of their local radio shows. Here’s their story for those who don’t them.
THE BICYCLE SONG
Uncle Andy
G C
I was goin’ down the hill doin’ ninety miles an hour
G D
When the chain on my bicycle broke.
G C
I was scratched all over by the rocks and the gravel.
G D D
I was punctured to death by the spokes.
G C
I ain’t kiddin’. I ain’t a-lyin’. I was layin’ there a-dyin’
G D
With the handlebars a-stickin’ down my throat!
G C
I had the front wheel for a necktie, the back wheel for a collar.
G D G
I was wearin’ the fender for a belt.
G C
You can talk about your accidents in your hot-rod Fords and airplanes,
G D
But the accident I had will take the cake.
G C
I was layin’ in the grass with the sprocket in my (pause) pocket.
I was never goin’ to ride that bike again.