MidWestern Hayride

The WLW-TV Midwestern Hayride was a descendant of earlier radio shows, but didn't need to look to its ancestors for a claim to fame. The program started on radio in 1945 and went on television in 1948. From 1957 until it was cancelled, the MidWestern Hayride aired in color.

The hour long mix of songs and conmedy grew and was the first beamed out of Cincinnati, Ohio (OH) to a national network on a regular basis. It was chosen to be a vacationing Sid Caesar-Imogene Coca show in June 1951.

It made its first appearance on WLW-TV in August 1948 after it had enjoyed many successful years of packed houses at the Crosley Square studios.

It reportedly did so well one summer season, that NBC returned it as a regular network feature in early 1952.

On June 3, 1955, the show debuted at Castle Farm, one of Cincinnati's largest dance pavilions back then. It's said that they had a capacity crowd of over 2,800 persons and they turned away nearly 500 more!

Pictured right Bobbi Staff

Two shows were presented that evening, with square dancing provided between sets. The show had been advertised and ten days before the date arrived, the show was sold out. Tickets were sold for the price of $1.00. Yes, one dollar.

Folks were driving from as far as 200 miles away to take in this show. The Midwestern Hayride's debut at Castle Farm was through the coordination and efforts of WLW Promotions, Inc., General Artists Corporation, exclusive booking agents of the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation Country and Western talent and Castle Farm management.

The Midwestern Hayride appeared each Friday night at Castle Farm, one hour after the NBC network portion of the show was aired from 7 to 7:30pm, EST. The show was a summer replacement for the Red Buttons and Jack Carson shows. The network portion of the show originated from the Crosley Square studios.

The arrangement allowed thousands to finally get to see the show. WLW-TV's Hugh Cherry was the emcee at the Castle Farm shows. On that evening, the special guest was Pee Wee King and Redd Steward along with their band, the Golden West Cowboys.

Midwestern Hayride stars appearing on that first show at Castle Farm were: Bonnie Lou, Rockin' Rudy Hansen, Mimi Roman, Skeeter Bonn, Buddy Ross, Clay Eager, Phyllis and Billy Holmes (Mr. and Mrs. Melody), the Geer Sisters, the Pine Mountain Boys, Winnie Mae and Betty, the Kentucky Boys, the seven Hayriders, the Willis Brothers and two teams of Crosley's fast-stepping square dancers, the Midwesterners.

Pictured left The Willis Brothers

Among the Hayride regulars was host Dean Richards, Kenny Price, Bobby Bobo, Colleen Sharp, Charlie Gore and Bonnie Lou.

The Midwestern Hayride had a reputation of being fast-paced. That got many people writing to emcee Bill Thall for a show twice as long.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MidWestern Hayride Artist Roster

• Bobby Bobo
• Bonnie Lou
• Buddy Ross
• Clay Eager
• Colleen Sharp
• Charlie Gore
• Dean Richards
• Kenny Price
• Mimi Roman
• Phyllis and Billy Holmes
• Rockin' Rudy Hansen
• Skeeter Bonn
• The Geer Sisters
• The Hometowners
• The Kentucky Boys
• The Luckie Pennies
• The Midwesterners
• The Pine Mountain Boys
• The Seven Hayriders
• The Willis Brothers
• Winnie Mae and Betty

MidWestern Hayride Guests Roster

• Archie campbell
• Billy Grammer
• Bobbi Staff
• Del Reeves
• Don Bowman
• George hamilton IV
• Jean Shepard
• Johnny Paycheck
• Marion Worth
• Mel Tillis
• Melba Montgomery
• Nat Stuckey
• Stoney Cooper & Wilma Lee
• The Homesteaders

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                Bonnie Lou                                                         Kenny Price

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, compiled and written by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, Jan. 5, 2009.