Old Time Radio Westerns — Grand Ole Opry (09-22-51): "Red Foley, Hank Williams"

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Date Released: October 23, 2025

Overview

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns transports listeners to a classic Grand Ole Opry broadcast from September 22, 1951, featuring musical legends Red Foley and Hank Williams. The show is a joyous celebration of country and gospel music, peppered with comedic sketches and slice-of-life storytelling from a bygone era. With digitally restored audio, listeners enjoy enhanced sound quality, allowing them to fully immerse in the rich performances and playful banter that defined the Opry’s golden days.

Key Segments & Highlights

Opening and Musical Kickoff (03:12–04:45)

• The episode opens immediately after advertisements with a lively musical number, “Crawdad Hole,” performed in spirited, foot-tapping style by Red Foley and the Opry band.
  • Quote: (Sung) “You get a line, and I’ll get a pole, honey; you get a line, and I’ll get a pole, babe…” (03:17)
• The crowd’s energy sets the tone for a night of fun and fine musical talent.

Comedy with Rod Brasfield (04:46–07:35)

• Rod Brasfield, “The Hot shot from Hohenwald,” delivers a series of comedic vignettes about small-town life, the county fair, and his quirky romantic misadventures.
  • Quote (Brasfield, 05:26): “One of them is eating watermelon and the other spitting out the seed.”
  • Brasfield riffs on his girlfriend Susie’s unique fashion sense:
    Quote (Brasfield, 06:03): “When she stood between me and that neon light on at that double Ferris wheel, she looked just like a thermometer.”
  • He humorously describes a game called Pony Express as “just like Post Office, only a little more horsing around.” (06:38)
  • Classic commentary on small cars and big crowds:
    Quote (Brasfield, 06:52): “It’s supposed to carry five, but it will hold eight if they’re well acquainted.”

Introduction of Hank Williams (07:45)

• Red Foley introduces Hank Williams, emphasizing his dual passions for fishing and singing, and his reputation as “the good old lovesick blues boy.”
  • Quote (Foley, 07:48): “He can’t make up his mind whether he’d rather fish or sing, but I can guarantee you he does both about as well as they can be done.”

Hank Williams Performs “Hey, Good Lookin’” (08:02–09:13)

• Hank Williams takes the spotlight with a lively rendition of “Hey, Good Lookin’,” showcasing his charismatic, signature style.
  • Quote (Williams, 08:14): “Hey, good lookin’, what you got cookin? How about cooking something up with me?”
• The performance is a standout moment, capturing the spirit of classic country.

Sacred Song: “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” (09:45–11:02)

• The mood softens for a “sacred song,” with the familiar hymn “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.”
  • Quote (Foley, 09:51): “Friends, your kind letters and cards tell us that one of your favorites is one that we like very much.”

The Jordanaires Quartet: “Working on a Building” (11:03–11:40)

• The Jordanaires lend their rich harmonies to the spiritual “Working on a Building,” bringing uplifting gospel to the center stage.

Cousin Minnie Pearl’s Comedy & Small-Town Stories (11:41–14:25)

• Minnie Pearl arrives with her trademark “I’m just proud to be here!” and spins tales of summer romance, beauty pageants, and small-town parties.
  • Quote (Minnie Pearl, 11:45): “He said, ‘Baby, I’d like to see more of you.’ That’s what a girl can expect when… she puts on one of them skimpy bathing suits…”
  • She shares a running gag about “kissing games” at local dances with her quick wit:
    Quote (Minnie Pearl, 13:00): “They say kissing spreads germs. I sure have spent some healthy evenings in my life.”
• Minnie’s banter with Rod Brasfield is a highlight, brimming with flirtation and homespun humor.

Foley Performs “Jealous Hearted Me” (14:28–15:02)

• Red Foley returns to sing “Jealous Hearted Me,” a plaintive country ballad.

Hank Williams – “Cold, Cold Heart” (15:04–17:18)

• Williams delivers an emotional performance of “Cold, Cold Heart,” one of his best-loved hits, with the audience hanging on every line.
  • Quote (Williams, 15:18): “Why can’t I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?”

Spring Bean’s Instrumental Interlude (17:20–18:02)

• A foot-tapping bluegrass instrumental led by the “tall thin lady’s hand, Spring Bean,” keeps the show’s momentum going.

The Old Ballad: “The Convict” (18:06–19:34)

• The show closes musically with “The Convict,” a mournful story song about heartbreak and redemption, delivered with deep pathos.

Outro and Sign-off (skip per instructions)

Memorable Quotes

• Rod Brasfield (05:26): “One of them is eating watermelon and the other spitting out the seed.”
• Red Foley (07:48): “He can’t make up his mind whether he’d rather fish or sing, but I can guarantee you he does both…”
• Hank Williams, “Hey, Good Lookin’” (08:14): “Hey, good lookin’, what you got cookin? How about cooking something up with me?”
• Minnie Pearl (11:45): “‘Baby, I’d like to see more of you.’ That’s what a girl can expect when… she puts on one of them skimpy bathing suits…”
• Minnie Pearl (13:00): “They say kissing spreads germs. I sure have spent some healthy evenings in my life.”
• Hank Williams, “Cold, Cold Heart” (15:18): “Why can’t I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?”

Useful Timestamps

• 03:12 — “Crawdad Hole” opener
• 04:46 — Rod Brasfield comedy
• 07:45 — Hank Williams introduction
• 08:02 — “Hey, Good Lookin’” performance
• 09:45 — “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”
• 11:03 — Jordanaires Quartet: “Working on a Building”
• 11:41 — Minnie Pearl’s comic storytelling
• 14:28 — Red Foley: “Jealous Hearted Me”
• 15:04 — Hank Williams: “Cold, Cold Heart”
• 17:20 — Spring Bean instrumental
• 18:06 — Finale with “The Convict”

Tone & Language

The episode oozes hearty Southern hospitality and old-time radio warmth, with performers speaking in plainspoken, folksy vernacular. Musical numbers are delivered with exuberance and emotion; comedy is broad, wholesome, and brimming with nostalgia for small-town America. Throughout, the camaraderie between hosts, guests, and live audience is palpable, creating an inviting and timeless listening experience.

In Summary

This Grand Ole Opry radio classic, newly restored for modern audiences, offers pure Americana: toe-tapping music, witty rural comedy, homey storytelling, and heartfelt gospel and ballads. Red Foley, Hank Williams, Minnie Pearl, and a cast of Opry regulars capture the magic of a Saturday night in midcentury Nashville—one that still resonates today.