"We don't really expect to see any of the Iowa television stations bringing a camera to the Plymouth County Fairgrounds," says Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional Country Music Association, and Host-Producer of the successful national PBS television show "Old Time Country Music." "However if they do show up, they will find a standing room only crowd to see a tribute show to the most successful variety show in television broadcasting history."
The program Everhart is referring to is a "Tribute to Ted Mack and the Original Amateur Hour." Everhart adds, "The Original Amateur Hour was by far the most successful of any of the variety shows ever created. Even the combined numbers of today's imitations can not match the prototype. It ran for 26 years on all three major television networks (NBC, CBS, ABC) as well as the ill-fated Dumont Network. It auditioned over one million acts, ultimately consisting of three and a half million participants. It was the longest running radio/television/cable program....ever. It made the creator, Major Bowes, a million dollars just for the radio version....and this was during the depression. The imitatators are pale in comparison. American Idol, Star Search, America's Got Talent, even the Gong Show, can't come close to the numbers. The Amateur Hour was honest, sincere, and made a lot of money. When Major Bowes died, he left four and a half million dollars to charity. In today's versions, it's almost the opposite, with British 'judges' telling us what is and what isn't good 'American' talent. In the past when Ted Mack was hosting, if a contestant was having a hard time of it, he would go and put his arm around them and tell them to come back and try again another time. Today we have the likes of Simon Cowell.
According to one of the original producers of the Amateur Hour, Albert Fisher, "Fox TV's 'American Idol' is an onging and unwarranted program of insults and hurtful remarks levied against contestants. Look at what happened to that Scottish lady, Ms. Boyle. This has been going on for much too long and has gone much too far."
"It's a television revival of sorts, although it will probably not be on television," says Tom & Bernie Worrell, producers of the Miami Tribute which took place in Florida in February of this year. "We've gathered together some of the finest talent in America to do this tribute show in LeMars, Iowa, and we already know it's going to be standing room only. The Original Amateur Hour offered a shot at fame and fortune to hundreds and hundreds of thousands of hopeful would-be professional entertainers. Ted Mack was a professional musician himself, he played saxophone in the Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman orchestras, and unlike Simon Cowell of today, he was known as the 'nicest man in show business.' His program garnered rating sensations unmatched anywhere today."
Terry Smith, successful songwriter from Nashville, was quick to add to the Worrell's description of the Original Amateur Hour. "Literally 'amateurs' do things just for the love of doing them. Thats what the word means. It is not a term of derision, it's actually a compliment." Smith was also a school teacher as well as a songwriter. His biggest musical composition was "Far Side Banks of Jordan" for Johnny and June Carter Cash. Smith has composed well over 2,000 songs, many of them hits. "One of the reasons I agreed to be on this tribute show, is because I enjoy working with lesser known talent. They are always easier to work with, they try harder, and they don't have ego problems."
Also on the program is Jackie Shewey, known in Nebraska as the "Pride of the Prairie," who does a comedy skit on Patsy Cline. "I jumped at the chance to be on this tribute show. A lot of people do not realize how really successful the program was, or who was on it. When I saw the list of participants who went on to bigger and better things, it blew me away. Imagine...Frank Sinatra, Robert Blake, Joey Bishop, Jose Feliciano, Joey Dee & The Starlighters, Alan King, Bert Parks, Theresa Brewer, Jerry Vale, Ann Margaret, Penny Marshall, Gladys Knight, Raul Julia, Robert Merrill, Beverly Sills, Maria Callas, Louis Farrakham, Robert Kleim, Connie Francis, and an 18-year old Pat Boone. You bet, I'm looking forward to being on the Original Amateur Hour."
Another act appearing on the tribute show, actually appeared on the Original Amateur Hour in 1961. Twenty year old Jerry Mescher and his dad Albert, from Iowa, performed for Ted Mack. "There were 10,000 performers a week auditioning for the Amateur Hour," Jerry said, "but only 20 were chosen for a weeks program. We felt very fortunate to be on the show, talking with Mr. Mack between commericials about Geritol. We had a great time in New York City, and we're still around doing today what we did 50 years ago."
What the Meschers did on the show, was to play the bones. Known as the oldest musical instrument on planet earth, Jerry still plays today much like he did with his father. Only difference is he now plays them with his sister Bernie Worrell (one of the producers of the tribute show), and his wife Sharon.
According to Bob Everhart, "I read somewhere about the philosophy of the Original Amateur Hour, that all men at heart are critics, and since time immemorial they have always felt they can run the other fellows show better than he can. It gives them a feeling of satisfaction to believe that they may have started someone on the road to success. That may be true, but not in today's climate. Today we live in a world of bought and sold rehashed hype. The Original Amateur Hour, was and still is an American Institution. They had everything from an upside down tap dancer, to some of the best singers in the world on that show. We don't have the upside down tap dancer, but we surely have some of the best unknown talent to ever appear in the upper Midwest on this tribute show September 4th at our festival which runs Aug 30-Sept 5."
All country music artists have to start somewhere, and most often that's amongst family, friends or their local community. The best country music isn't necessarily found in the world of the existing popular or famous stars, but often in the small clubs, venues and organisations that provide country performers of any "level" the chance to share their music. That's the true nature of country music, it comes from the heart and real lives of real people.
