Poor Little Darlin’ (Little Jimmy Dickens)(Fortune Feeds)(Pt 1) | Grand Ole Opry (01-19-52)

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Poor Little Darlin’ (Little Jimmy Dickens)(Fortune Feeds)(Pt 1)"

Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Original Air Date: January 19, 1952 (Grand Ole Opry)
Podcast Release Date: November 13, 2025

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Overview

This episode takes listeners back to the golden age of radio, featuring a digitally restored broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry from 1952. The highlight is Little Jimmy Dickens performing the song "Poor Little Darlin’," alongside lively banter, music, and classic comedy. The episode serves as a tribute to vintage country music, the charming radio show format of the era, and the energetic personalities who defined it.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Introduction & Setup (01:13–02:01)

• Host Andrew Rhynes sets the stage, welcoming listeners to a special episode featuring Little Jimmy Dickens as the main star.
• The show preserves much of the historical context and communal feel of its original airing.

Opening Banter and Sponsor Shoutouts (02:09–02:52)

• The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming, as Little Jimmy Dickens and the announcer exchange lighthearted conversation about farm life and livestock.
• Frequent sponsor plugs ("Martha White Quick Fortune Feed") are woven into the dialogue, reflecting the era’s sponsor-driven format.
• Grant Turner energetically introduces the night’s festivities and guest musicians.

Feature Performance: "Poor Little Darlin’" (02:53–05:15)

• Little Jimmy Dickens introduces and performs the plaintive song "Poor Little Darlin’," a crowd favorite.

• The lyrics evoke classic country themes—wolves howling, snow falling, and pastoral romance.

  Quote:
  "In answer to a lot of requests, for the first time tonight, the boys and I are going to try to do a recording we've had out for quite some time called Poor Little Darling."
  — Little Jimmy Dickens (02:53)

• The extended musical set includes vibrant harmonies and catchy refrains, immersing the listener in a nostalgic, communal experience.

Performer Line-Up Announcement (05:15–06:05)

• Grant Turner runs down the evening’s impressive roster: Moon Mullikan, the Jordanaires, Duke of Paducah, the Possum Hunters, and Little Jimmy Dickens.
• Mention of missing regular Carl Smith, who is "way out in California entertaining the folks in the Los Angeles area," adds an air of authenticity and behind-the-scenes camaraderie.

Guest Performance: Johnny and Jack – "Crying Heart Blues" (06:05–08:42)

• Songwriters and performers Johnny and Jack are warmly welcomed and perform their hit "Crying Heart Blues."

• The heartfelt lyrics and harmony bring a different emotional register to the show.

  Quote:
  "We've got a little tune here that we recorded not so long ago... called Crying Heart Blues. Big hit. Yes, sir. Everybody like."
  — Grant Turner (06:07)

Sponsor Segment: Martha White Fortune Feed & Chick Starter (08:42–10:26)

• Grant Turner provides an enthusiastic sales pitch about the benefits of Martha White Quick Fortune Chick Starter, mixing agricultural advice with folksy humor.
• The segment serves as both a historical snapshot and a testament to the era’s close tie between programming and product placement.

Gospel Interlude: The Jordanaires – "I Want a Rest" (10:26–11:40)

• The celebrated Jordanaires Quartet (with Bill Matthews’ return) perform a moving gospel number, "I Want a Rest."

• The set is marked by strong four-part harmonies and clear devotional themes.

  Quote:
  "Real singing from the Jordannaires Quartet. And we'll hear from all of our stars a little bit later."
  — Grant Turner (11:40)

Comedy Set: The Duke of Paducah (12:25–16:00)

• The legendary Duke of Paducah delivers a monologue packed with witty one-liners about movie stars, the competition between movies and television, and tongue-in-cheek "astrology."

• His self-deprecating humor and gentle ribbing of Hollywood glamour provide a delightful shift of tone.

  Memorable Quotes:
  "I ain't no movie lover. I'm a lover of the movies."
  — Duke of Paducah (12:25)
  "When you got a parlay on a pair like that, who cares who comes in first?"
  — Duke of Paducah on Betty Grable vs. Lana Turner (13:15)

  "That cowhide was so genuine that every hour the usher had to come in and milk the first four rows."
  — Duke of Paducah (14:11)

• The segment is a prime example of how humor was used to engage and entertain live radio audiences.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Little Jimmy Dickens on musical camaraderie:
  "It's a real pleasure to have done our Poor Little Darling for all our good folks tonight." (05:18)

• Duke of Paducah’s riff on Hollywood:
  "They had Clark Gable and Bette Davis and Jane Russell and Van Johnson all in one picture. All them big stars, what do you think they advertised outside on the marquee? Fresh popcorn." (13:51)

• Host’s enthusiastic vibe:
  "Packed full of fun and music and brought to you by Martha White."
  — Grant Turner (02:22)

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Important Timestamps

• 01:13 — Andrew Rhynes’ introduction
• 02:09 — Show opens, sponsor banter, welcomes Little Jimmy Dickens
• 02:53 — "Poor Little Darlin’" performance
• 05:28 — Performer line-up and Carl Smith shoutout
• 06:08 — Johnny & Jack: "Crying Heart Blues"
• 08:42 — Martha White Quick Fortune Chick Starter promotional segment
• 10:26 — The Jordanaires: "I Want a Rest"
• 12:25 — The Duke of Paducah’s comedy routine
• 16:00 — Episode winds down

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Tone and Style

The episode exudes a cheerful, communal warmth, highlighting both the artistry and humor of its time. Folksy banter, sponsor-driven segments, and good-natured ribbing between friends create a feeling of stepping into a lively country gathering. The music selections—both heartache and gospel—exemplify the versatility and emotional resonance of classic Opry performances.

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Final Thoughts

For fans of vintage radio or anyone seeking a window into the grand traditions of country music and live variety shows, this restored episode of the Grand Ole Opry is a jubilant, soulful ride. The sharp digital enhancements breathe new life into these performances, allowing contemporary listeners to savor every note and laugh—just as audiences did more than 70 years ago.

Transcript

[Grant Turner]

What do you think makes the perfect snack?

[AM PM Advertiser]

Hmm, it's gotta be when I'm really craving it and it's convenient.

[Announcer/Host]

Could you be more specific when it's cravenient.

[AM PM Advertiser]

Okay, like a freshly baked cookie made with real butter, available right down the street at a.m. p.m. Or a savory breakfast sandwich I can grab in just.

[Announcer/Host]

A second at AM pm.

[Grant Turner]

I'm seeing a pattern here.

[AM PM Advertiser]

Well, yeah, we're talking about what I.

[Grant Turner]

Crave, which is anything from AM pm.

[AM PM Advertiser]

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[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Foreign.

[Andrew Rines]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines. And let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Grand Ole opry. Originally aired January 19, 1952. And we've got little Jimmy Dickens in the lead role called poor little darlin.

[AM PM Advertiser]

Do you know what happens when you replace your regular old electric water heater with a new electric heat pump water heater? You boost your savings a lot. In fact, Energy Star estimates that a family of four will save an average of $550 a year on their electric energy bills. And your new heat pump water heater can pay for itself in as little as three years. Level up with a heat pump water heater. Go to levelupmywaterheater.com to learn more.

[Grant Turner]

And now, folks, here's Martha White's second big Grand Ole Opry show.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Good evening, everybody. Mr. Farmer, hello.

[Announcer/Host]

How's your livestock coming?

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Every cheeks begun to grow.

[Announcer/Host]

If you cows don't get much milk.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Or something that they need, it surely makes a difference when you feed them.

[Announcer/Host]

Fortune feed.

[Grant Turner]

Well, greetings friends. Here's another big Grand Ole Opry show packed full of fun and music and brought to you by Martha White. Quick Fortune feed for livestock for poultry feed Martha White, Quick Fortune Feed. The only feed containing quick. And remember folks, it's the quick that does the trick. Right now let's get right on the feed wagon and get a big welcome for Our star of Martha White Quick Fortune Feeds. Grand Ole Opry. Little Jimmy Dickens star for tonight.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Thank you.

[Announcer/Host]

Thank you, Grant Turner. Thank you very much. And a great big special hello and howdy to all the good folks, friends and neighbors that might be listening to our Grand Ole Opry. Well, sir, in answer to a lot of requests, for the first time tonight, the boys and I are going to try to do a recording that we've had out for quite some time called Poor Little Darling Phillips. Don't you hear the wolves howling Howling around you Poor little darling don't you hear the wolves prowling Prowling around you oh little darling Better watch out or the wolves will get you but you know I'll never forget you don't you hear the wolves howling Howling around you Poor little darling Howling around you Poor.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Little darling Poor little darling Poor little darling Poor little darling let's go. Darling.

[Announcer/Host]

Don'T you see the snow falling Falling around you Pouring darling Hunting time and trappings Calling, calling to me My poor little darling Gonna set my traps and make some money Then I'll buy a hunting ring for you My honey Don't you see the snow falling Falling around you Poor little darling Falling around you Poor little darling Poor little darling.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Poor little darling Poor little darling.

[Announcer/Host]

Can'T you hear the square dance caller Fiddles a playing and the banjo strumming Hooping, dancing Shout and holler Winter is here and the good times are coming in the spring we'll build a little cabin Then a little family we'll be having can't you hear the square dance caller Fiddles a playing and the banjo's drumming Fiddles a playing and the banjo's drumming.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

My little darling Poor little darling Poor little darling Poor little darling those are.

[Grant Turner]

All the big bass notes for a fellow like you.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Oh, me?

[Announcer/Host]

Well, I tell you, Grant Turner, it's a real pleasure to have done our poor little darling for all our good folks tonight. And I guess as you know, our guests who are coming on next, it's a real pleasure to have them visit us.

[Grant Turner]

Sure is. Before we get them on here, I want to tell who all they're going to hear from besides them. I'll hold their name off for a second moon. Mullikan's here. And the Jordanaires, the Duke of Paducah and the Possum Hunters. And of course, little Jimmy Dickens. Of course, we're missing our good friend Carl Smith tonight, aren't we, Jim? We certainly are way out in California entertaining the folks in the Los Angeles area.

[Announcer/Host]

Well, sir, I was out there a short time ago, Grant and I know that Carl's having a wonderful time. Welcome to the microphone on our show here tonight. These two wonderful fellas that writes a lot of my most popular songs on Columbia Records, our good friends Johnny and Jack, everybody.

[Grant Turner]

Good to see you fellas. What are you going to sing tonight?

[Duke of Paducah]

We have a little tune here that.

[Grant Turner]

We recorded here not so long ago. A grant we'd like to do called Crying Heart Blues. Big hit. Yes, sir. Everybody like.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Crying hard lose I'm crying because I have lost you lose I can't lose. I guess it's too late now to cry I've tried to choose another to love but it's no use trying hard lose I guess it's is too late now to cry I always remember I left my teardrop won't make me forget these terrors mysterious they started today that we met that trail of tears will lead you to me if you want me and so my fears how hopeless my crime Crying hard blues I'm crying because I've lost you blues I can't lose I guess it's too late now to try I've tried to choose another to love but it's no use Crying hard blues I guess it's too late now to try I always remember I love my tear Love won't let me forget each tear is a wish to be near they start intergraded we met A trail of tears will eat you to me A few more fears answer my fears I hope it's my cry of heart sing.

[Grant Turner]

Thank you, Johnny and Jack. Neighbors, here's big news from a big state now down in the big state of Texas at the Texas Experiment Station, they've discovered a way to make baby chicks grow 10 to 15% faster. And that's not all. This new feeding method starts birds laying up to 15 days earlier. Yes, friends, they did it with the same things that are contained in Martha White Quick Fortune Chick Starter. And they used APF factors and oreomycin and things like that. Well, now the Martha White folks have taken those same things and put them in quick. You see, quick is the special ingredient that goes in Martha White Quick Fortune Chick Starter. And it's the quick that makes your baby chicks grow faster. It's the quick that makes your birds mature 10 to 15% quicker and start laying up to 15 days earlier. And this faster growth and these earlier eggs mean extra profits for you, friends. So make all your baby chicks profitable this year and buy Martha White Quick Fortune Chick Starter from your dealer. Monday without fail buy it in crumbles it's bite sized for your baby chicks, remember? And it's the quick that does the trick. Folks, we're mighty happy to have all the Jordanares with us tonight. And when we say all of them, we mean that brother Bill Matthews is back with the group after a long rest. So let's welcome them now as they sing. I want a rest I want to rest I want to rest I want to rest I want to rest I.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Want to rest Rest, rest, rest, rest.

[Grant Turner]

I want a rest Hallelujah.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

You know how y husband.

[Grant Turner]

Is done.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

And the crown victory won after hour.

[Grant Turner]

I want to rest oh Lord, I.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Want to rest I want to rest.

[Grant Turner]

When I have finished this walk of.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Life I want to rest on Jesus.

[Grant Turner]

Breath I want to rest Rest from.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

All toil I want to rest Rest.

[Grant Turner]

From all stride and we need to for my prince oh seems to worry all the rest well, well, well After.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

I have done my best I wanna.

[Grant Turner]

Rest oh Lord, I wanna rest I wanna rest thank you, boys. Real singing from the Jordannaires Quartet. And we'll hear from all of our stars a little bit later. But right now I've got to introduce some special people who are here, who are in the audience, and one or two who managed to get backstage some way, because I want to bring you now the Clark Gable of our Grand Ole Opry. And believe me, he's America's funniest and corniest movie lover, the Duke of Paducah.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Here he is, Grant.

[Duke of Paducah]

Get them introductions right. I ain't no movie lover. I'm a lover of the movies. No, no, you was all mixed up. I'm a lover of the movies. I went to the movies last night to see that Rita Hayworth. I just wanted to see if she's really got what they say I've been missing. Well, she has. It was a double feature. And Dorothy Lamour was in the other picture, you know. And, boy, was it quiet in that theater when Dorothy Lamour came on that screen just wearing one of them sarongs. All the men was just waiting to hear a pin drop. And that Jane Russell, I like her. Whoo, is she exciting. Oh, boy, that Jane Russell is really exciting. I can't say just how exciting she is. But I'll tell you this. Last Monday, my grandpa went down to see one of her pictures. He ain't come home yet. You know, just before the program, I was telling Grant that I was going to talk about movie stars. And he said, well, you're an admirer of all the female movie stars, which do you like best, Betty Gravel or Lana Turner? I said, look, Grant, when you got a parlay on a pair like that, who cares who comes in first? I'm telling you, you know, everybody thinks I'm a big movie star. Yet all them people was trying to get in out there tonight. And I went through that crowd. I somebody said, hey, there's Joseph Cotton. Somebody else said, no, that ain't Joseph Cotton. That's Marty Woolley. I'm a kind of combination of both of them. I'm about 20% cotton and 80% woolly. You know, the movies, though, they're really trying hard to get people to come back. The television is going so strong. Why, they even went so far as to put four big stars in a picture. They had Clark Gable and Bette Davis and Jane Russell and Van Johnson all in one picture. All them big stars, what do you think they advertised outside on the marquee? Fresh popcorn. That's what you get. You don't know what you know. It's awful. You don't know what they're going to do there. I made a movie out in Hollywood, a picture called Country Fair for Republic. And while I was out there, I met a guy and he's going around. I said, what do you do? He said, I'm an astrologer. I said, what's an astrologer do? He said, well, we study the stars. We find out what the stars are doing. I said, look, do me a favor, will you? Find out what Betty Grable's doing next Wednesday night. Oh, boy, I went to that movie last night. I cried all the way through. Cried all the way through. I had to. My big fat wife was sitting there eating the onion. Oh, that's the fattest woman. She'd make a big movie star. Boy, she'd be like the Rocket Gibraltar. No, wait a minute. She's too big for the Rocket Gibraltar. She done et so much, she sticks out a little bit too far in the Mediterranean. You know, the movie theaters are really trying hard to get the people to come back. I went in a movie theater the other day and it was the last word. Even the seats was made out of genuine cowhide. And I mean, that cowhide was so genuine that every hour the usher had to come in and milk the first four rows. You know, television is showing all them old time movies and I mean, it's shocking the way they put them on. You go home and you look at the television and you see a picture of Shirley Temple, little girl playing with a doll. The next day you read in the paper where she's the mother of a 10 months old baby. I'm telling you, it's shocking. You know.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Foreign.

[Andrew Rines]

This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube and send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com you can call and leave us a voicemail. 707-986-8739 this episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.

[Little Jimmy Dickens]

Sam.