Red Foley Rod Brasfield | Grand Ole Opry (04-05-49)

Summary

Old Time Radio Westerns Podcast: Episode Summary

Title: Red Foley Rod Brasfield | Grand Ole Opry (04-05-49)
Host: Andrew Rhines
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Original Air Date: April 5, 1949

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Introduction

In this episode of the Old Time Radio Westerns Podcast, host Andrew Rhynes transports listeners back to April 5, 1949, with a captivating production of the Grand Ole Opry featuring the legendary Red Foley and Rod Brasfield. The episode showcases a blend of musical performances, humorous dialogues, and engaging interactions that epitomize the golden age of radio broadcasting.

Main Content

Opening Performances and Banter (02:43 - 05:19)

The episode kicks off with Rod Brasfield humorously introducing the Grand Ole Opry:

"It's Grand Ole Opry."
— Rod Brasfield [02:43]

Following the introduction, Red Foley performs the uplifting song "Take that Night Train to Memphis", inviting listeners to join in a musical journey:

"Take that night train to Memphis. When you arrive at the station, I'll be right there to meet you."
— Red Foley [03:19]

Post-performance, Rod engages in a light-hearted exchange with Red, sharing a comical anecdote about his Uncle Sipe and the challenges of playing baseball:

"I got me a Charlie horse playing baseball last week and I'm so mad I could eat an umpire burger."
— Rod Brasfield [05:02]

Red responds with playful curiosity:

"Tell me this. Why should that Charlie horse make you mad?"
— Red Foley [05:14]

Ernest Tubb's Musical Interlude (07:15 - 10:39)

Ernest Tubb, a prominent folk artist, joins the conversation, discussing his recent activities in California:

"I've been out in California, Red, for a few weeks on making some personal appearances and made a few new phonograph records while I was out there."
— Ernest Tubb [07:15]

Following this, Tubb captivates the audience with his rendition of "Biting My Fingernails", a heartfelt song reflecting on love and longing:

"I'm biting my fingernails and thinking of you don't love nobody else. It's funny but it's true."
— Ernest Tubb [08:09]

The performance is met with appreciative applause and further banter between Red and Rod:

"That there in this pump is the singingest feller I ever seen."
— Rod Brasfield [10:39]

Humorous Stories and Local Color (10:45 - 23:23)

Rod shares more humorous stories about Ernest's baseball prowess and antics:

"I could run the bases so fast that one day I hit a home run and I was around first base before the people heard the crack of the bat."
— Rod Brasfield [10:49]

As the segment progresses, Red and Rod introduce the Oak Ridge Quartet, who perform a soulful medley of spirituals, encouraging audience participation:

"Let's all go together. Don't you want to go to heaven when you die?"
— Rod Brasfield [14:27]

The atmosphere remains lively with Minnie Pearl joining the troupe, bringing her signature Southern charm and humor. She shares amusing tales about Claude Sharp and the challenges of keeping secrets during intimate moments:

"He says, 'minnie Pearl, how old are you?' And I said, 'Why, Hezzy, I'm looking forward to 30.'”
— Minnie Pearl [20:17]

Rod and Minnie engage in a playful exchange about photography mishaps, highlighting the camaraderie and comedic timing that define their interactions:

"He sure is the hardest man to stick a Cameron I ever seen."
— Rod Brasfield [22:37]

Emotional Musical Performances (23:33 - 27:20)

The mood shifts as Ernest Tubb returns to deliver a poignant performance of "Walking the Floor Over You," expressing heartache and longing:

"You left me and you went away? You said that you'd be back in just a day?"
— Ernest Tubb [23:53]

Rod humorously challenges Ernest's ability to convey sadness, leading to Red Foley stepping in to highlight the emotional depth of Miss Jenny Lou Carson's songwriting:

"Don't rob another man's castle no matter how lonesome you feel."
— Red Foley [25:03]

The quartet, along with Rod and Red, underscore the heartfelt messages of the songs, resonating with the audience's emotions and reinforcing the timeless appeal of these classic folk tunes.

Closing Remarks and Broadcast Information (27:20 - 29:01)

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts acknowledge the historical context of the broadcast, originally aired by NBC and rebroadcast for servicemen and women overseas:

"This was originally released by NBC, the National Broadcasting company, for listeners in the United States, and rebroadcast for our servicemen and women overseas."
— Rod Brasfield & Ernest Tubb [27:25]

Andrew Rhines then wraps up the episode, encouraging listeners to engage with the podcast through various platforms:

"Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook... Subscribe to our YouTube channel..."
— Andrew Rhines [29:01]

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Key Highlights and Notable Quotes

• Rod Brasfield on Baseball Woes:
  "I got me a Charlie horse playing baseball last week and I'm so mad I could eat an umpire burger."
  [05:02]

• Red Foley on Emotional Songs:
  "Don't rob another man's castle no matter how lonesome you feel."
  [25:03]

• Ernest Tubb's Heartfelt Performance:
  "I'm biting my fingernails and thinking of you don't love nobody else. It's funny but it's true."
  [08:09]

• Minnie Pearl's Humorous Storytelling:
  "He says, 'minnie Pearl, how old are you?' And I said, 'Why, Hezzy, I'm looking forward to 30.'"
  [20:17]

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Conclusion

This episode of the Old Time Radio Westerns Podcast masterfully blends humor, music, and storytelling, offering listeners a rich tapestry of the cultural and entertainment milieu of the late 1940s. Through the charismatic performances of Red Foley, Rod Brasfield, Ernest Tubb, and Minnie Pearl, the Grand Ole Opry comes alive with vibrant energy and timeless charm, making it a must-listen for enthusiasts of classic radio dramas and Western lore.

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For more episodes and classic Western radio dramas, visit otrwesterns.com or search for OTR Westerns on your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

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[Audience Member]

Foreign.

[Andrew Rines]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines and before we get into this episode, I wanted to do a little PSA and remind you that I put out multiple shows a week of Old Time Radio Westerns. You can check them out by going to otrwesterns.com or looking up OTR Westerns on your podcast application of choice. We are releasing over 10 episodes a week so far, about a hundred a month. So definitely want you to check that out again otrwesterns.com and check it out. I also wanted to invite you to check out my sister podcast site otnetcast and that's n e t c a s t so ot n e t c a s tnetcast otnetcast.com we're currently releasing mystery genre shows and this is shows like the Shadow S Escape, Suspense and the Whistler and we have plans on bringing other shows to the network for you guys to listen to. So it's my non western Old Time radio channel that I can kind of do other genres that not only I like, but hopefully you would like too. You can check us out by going to otnetcast.com or searching otnet C A S T on your podcast app of choice. Now let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be the Grand Ole Opry Original air date is April 5, 1949 we've got red Foley and Rod Brassfield in the lead roles. Let's get into it.

[Rod Brassfield]

It's Grand Ole Opry.

[Audience Member]

World. Everyone will have some fun at the Friend of Our Free Tonight.

[Red Foley]

Take that night train to Memphis. Take that night train to Memphis. When you arrive at the station, I'll be right there to meet you. I'll be right there to greet you. So don't turn down My invitation. Hallelujah, hallelujah. I'll be shouting hallelujah all the day. Oh, we'll have the jubilee down in Memphis, Tennessee. And I'll shout hallelujah all the day. Take that night train to Memphis. Take that night train to Memphis. You know how I'm longing to see you. Leave at 3:57 and I arrive at 11. Then I'll be shouting hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

[Audience Member]

Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

[Red Foley]

I'll be shouting hallelujah all day. Oh, we'll have a jubilee down in Memphis, Tennessee. And I'll shout hallelujah all the day. And I'll shout hallelujah all the day. And here he is, Rob Briel.

[Rod Brassfield]

You know, find that Mr. Foley. I'm a little puny tonight. I'm just a little puny. I got me a Charlie horse playing baseball last week and I'm so mad I could eat a umpire burger.

[Red Foley]

I'll tell you the truth, Rod, Tell me this. Why should that Charlie horse make you mad?

[Rod Brassfield]

Well, Red, my Uncle Sipe was a rubbing some liniment on my leg and I says to him, I says, uncle Sive, that there old strong liniment is making my legs smart. Uncle Sight says, yucks, if it makes your leg smart, let's rub a little of it on your head. Hi, dear friend. It's been a pretty day today, ain't it? You know Uncle Sight's our baseball manager this season down home, man, right off the bat he found fault with our uniforms. He said to me, he says, rodney, them britches of yours is skin tight. I says, uncle Cypher, tighter than that cause I can sit down in my skin, but the dog gonna fuckin sit down in these britches. He says to me, he says, rod, the least you could do is patch them with the same color patch as your uniform. I says, huh, that ain't no patch. That's me. Uncle Chop let me alone. Then started picking on my brother. Boo, he says, Boob? He said, Boobs pants was too, too big for him. And by Ned, he is right.

[Red Foley]

Boobs.

[Rod Brassfield]

Only baseball player I ever seen that could slide into first base with his britches still sitting on home plate. Well, sir, we got out to the baseball field there and I said, uncle Sipe, I says, what kind of a baseball diamond do you call this? The first base is a clump of cuckoo bird and the second base is a patch of poison ivy. Uncle Cyp says, well Rod, it'll save a lot of argument, mind that. Now when a feller Says he touched bass. He can prove it. Well, sir, we had us a practice game there with a very interesting team of opponents, the Tullahoma Bloomer Girls.

[Ernest Tubb]

They.

[Rod Brassfield]

Tullahoma Bloomer Girl. And you know what? I hit me a single, a double, a triple and a home run, but I still couldn't get the first base with their short stop.

[Red Foley]

Folks, here is one of the most popular folk artists in the country and one of the best. Ernest Laris. We've. We've had laid eyes on you for eight or ten weeks now. What all you been doing and where you been? Well, been out in California, Red, for a few weeks on making some personal appearances and made a few new phonograph.

[Ernest Tubb]

Records while I was out there.

[Red Foley]

Ed and Jude, didn't you make a record while you're out there with the Andrew Sisters?

[Rod Brassfield]

I sure did, Red.

[Red Foley]

And I'd like to sing this for the Andrew Sisters right now. How about. Let's do that.

[Ernest Tubb]

Biting my fingernails. You really got me worried now I must confess it's true. I sit around twiddling my thumb Breaking my heart in two. I'm wondering if you love me so the way you say you do. I'm biting my fingernails and taking care of you. Biting my fingernails, thinking of you don't love nobody else. It's funny but it's true. Just got a feeling maybe we're through. Biting my fingernails and thinking, dear of you all. Come in, Butterfly.

[Red Foley]

If you would think before you speak.

[Ernest Tubb]

How happy I would be you'd never heard me deep inside you'd think the world of me. Instead you say what dare you please? Whether or not it's true. I'm biting my fingernails and thinking, dear of you. Biting my fingernails. Thinking of you don't love nobody else. It's funny but it's true. Just got a feeling, maybe we do. Biting my fingernails and thinking, dear of you all. Butterfall again. Biting my fingernails, thinking of you don't love nobody else. It's funny but it's true. Just got a feeling, maybe we do. Biting my fingernails and sinking, dear of you.

[Rod Brassfield]

I tell you, that there, I'll buy them. That there in this pump is the singingest feller I ever seen.

[Red Foley]

Huh?

[Audience Member]

Yeah.

[Red Foley]

And besides singing, Rod, old Ernest mighty fast on his feet, too.

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah, that's what I hear. Ms. Foley and I asked Ernest if he'd ever played any baseball. You know, I thought maybe I might get him to play for us on our team. And he said, rod, I was the fastest man that ever played baseball for the All Star. Sequatchee skunks. I says, yeah. How fast was that? Ernie said, well, I could run the bases so fast that one day I hit a home run and I was around first base before the people heard the crack of the bat. Then as I rounded second base, the second baseman said something to me that made me mad. So I wound up and hit the third baseman right in the catcher's mouth.

[Red Foley]

Oh, my. Well, go over there and sit on a bench for a couple of minutes ride. While Fowler and the Oak Ridge Quartet sing us a medley of their fine old time spiritual. Boy.

[Audience Member]

I'm crying holy unto the Lord.

[Ernest Tubb]

I'm crying holy unto the Lord now.

[Rod Brassfield]

You sure.

[Red Foley]

I got you?

[Audience Member]

You got shoes?

[Red Foley]

Importance of this all the world is.

[Ernest Tubb]

Not too hard because Mary's arm got drowned.

[Audience Member]

Made us me Amazing Amazing grace Like me I was Lord was Lord was blind but now I see now do you want to be a servant for the Lord? Do you want to be a servant for the Lord?

[Red Foley]

Everybody.

[Audience Member]

Don't you want to go to heaven when you die? Now come on boys and let's go.

[Red Foley]

Down in a word of prayer.

[Audience Member]

Go down my lunar word of prayer. You too, my little tanner.

[Red Foley]

Word of prayer.

[Audience Member]

Go down my bedroom. Come on boys and let's go down in the word of prayer. Let go over together. Don't you want to go to heaven when you die? Now do you want to be a servant Father long Lord have mercy for the Lord long since you Father Lord forgive us. Do you want to be a servant for the lone? Don't you want to go to heaven when you die? Now come on boys and let's retire and go back home. Go back home, you timid little Santa. Go back home.

[Rod Brassfield]

Go home.

[Audience Member]

Come on, boys. Next retire and go back home. Let's all go together. Don't you want to go to heaven when you die?

[Rod Brassfield]

You know by Ned Red I have to laugh every time I take a clone. Sharp. You know Claude. Thanks.

[Audience Member]

With old Hickory Bob.

[Red Foley]

Very well, Rod. How come, though?

[Rod Brassfield]

Well, Claude plays on our ball team, you know. And the other night after the ball game, he went over to see his gal and they was sitting there in the parlor sparking. There in the parlor sitting there. Him and her was just sitting there in the parlor sparking. And every time Claude would start to puck her up to kiss her, well, her daddy would cough at the keyhole. Finally, Claude says to her, says, maribel, why don't he stop watching us so I can kiss you? Why don't your daddy go on after that big barn dance down the Road Marvel says, oh, no, Claude, no, no. Poppy's too old for that sort of thing. Claude says, well, if he keeps watching at that keyhole, I'm going to be too old for this sort of thing.

[Red Foley]

Well, before any of us get any older here, Claude Sharp and the Old Hickory Singers are going to sing a chorus of down by the Old Mill Stream. And we want everybody here to get ready to join in when we get to the second chord. All right, fellas, tune us up on it. Will.

[Audience Member]

Where I first met you with your eyes on you resting me. It was there I knew that you love me. You were 16. My village mighty, mighty holy.

[Red Foley]

Well, see, it's always mighty interesting to find out where a lot of you folks have come from to be with us here at the Opry tonight. We were talking to some folks that came all the way from way out in Oregon. Welcome, you folks to the Opry. My goodness. We talked to some more people from Colorado. Is there any more states represented here tonight? That's a lot of fun. Virginia. Hi, I heard Virginia. Oklahoma, Arkansas. Yeah, you hear them all. Mississippi, Georgia. As usual, we've got them here from all over this great United States of ours. So all you folks, let's. Let's join in here. What do you got here, Rod? Oh, somebody from Kentucky. Bless your hearts, the old home state. Well, let's all join in now, and in our best voices, sing as loud as as we can so the folks back home can hear us sing along with the Old Hickory Singers. Now, on the second course of down by the Old Mill screen.

[Audience Member]

Ram.

[Red Foley]

What's next?

[Audience Member]

What, you don't know?

[Red Foley]

Oh, sure, sure. Peasant. Mini Pearl.

[Audience Member]

How do.

[Minnie Pearl]

I proud to be here? Well, sir, I'll tell you right now, this year weather makes me feel so romantical tonight. Oh, heavy. So full of surprises. Do you know, the other night he give me a mink outfit, two traps and a rifle. But that feller, he can ask the most Miss Embarrassing question last night, oh, it's late. It must have been 7:30 or 8. We was a riding in his car and he looked over at me and he says to me, he says, minnie Pearl, that says my name.

[Rod Brassfield]

Minnie Pearl.

[Minnie Pearl]

He says, minnie Pearl, how old are you? And I said, why, Hezzy, I'm looking forward to 30. He says, you must be looking in.

[Rod Brassfield]

A rear view mirror.

[Minnie Pearl]

But I'll tell you now, with such pleasant weather and grinder switch, the camera club held its annual outing this week. And we all loaded our cameras and went out to shoot some. And Hezzy, he come along the course. Oh, Hezzy's a lover of the outdoors. He ain't so bad in the house neither. Where else do you have to hunt after I've took a bunch of pictures? It's much fun to work with Hezzy on the film. You never know what's gonna develop. Hey, Mandy. Yes, sir?

[Rod Brassfield]

Hey, you got any of my pictures with you that you took? And pictures you?

[Minnie Pearl]

Yes, sir, I have. Rodney. Look here. Here's a picture of Bedelia Broadblom.

[Rod Brassfield]

She's kinda musical, ain't she?

[Minnie Pearl]

Well, yeah, she is. But Rodney, how could you tell that?

[Rod Brassfield]

Well, she built you like a piano. Say, Minnie, what kind of picture is this?

[Minnie Pearl]

Well, that there's a picture Uncle Nabob leading the way through gloomy swamp down by Betty's Box.

[Rod Brassfield]

Oh, Minnie Flitter, all I see is a hat on top of a slew of mushy mud. Where's Uncle Nabob at?

[Minnie Pearl]

He's under the hat.

[Rod Brassfield]

Look here, old thing. He ought to get out from under there. Oh, shut up, Rodney. Now look here. That book. Here's a picture.

[Minnie Pearl]

Here's a picture of Lotta Smead in a bathing suit.

[Rod Brassfield]

Lotta sneed. Yeah, there sure is a lot of lotta, ain't it? This here picture, Minnie, is good proof why so many people enjoy southern exposure.

[Minnie Pearl]

Now just stop looking and have a peek at this picture. Uncle Nabob standing in front of the swinging doors down at Moos Mouth Mullingen's Bar and Grill.

[Rod Brassfield]

Yeah, I can see Minnie Pearl, I can see the swinging doors, but I don't see Uncle Nabob.

[Minnie Pearl]

Has he gone back inside again?

[Rod Brassfield]

I expect he wasn't. Well, I'll be quirky. I never have seen such dumb people. He sure is the hardest man to stick a Cameron I ever seen. Minnie. Here's one of your Uncle Nabob, Minnie, and he's looking right down into the barrel of a big cannon. A big cannon. That there's the most natural picture I ever seen.

[Minnie Pearl]

What makes you think it's the natural Rodney?

[Rod Brassfield]

Well, it looks just like he's getting ready to shoot off his face.

[Minnie Pearl]

Well, Rodney, the best picture of the day was this herring that we took of Hezy.

[Rod Brassfield]

Well, now that there is right. That there looks like just like Henny, don't he? Yes, it sure looks natural. Yeah, just right smart likeness of his face, Manny. But he sure do look funny standing there with his hands in his pocket.

[Minnie Pearl]

Well, brother said he'd look even funnier if he didn't have his hands in his pocket. How fun he forgot to put on his suspenders.

[Rod Brassfield]

Uh, O.

[Red Foley]

Ernest, we're not going to let you get away without hearing at least a verse and a chorus. Chorus of that all time best seller of yours. Walking the floor over you.

[Ernest Tubb]

You left me and you went away? You said that you'd be back in just a day? You broken your promise and you left me here alone? I don't know why you did, dear, but I do know that you're gone? I'm walking the floor over you I can't sleep awake that is true I'm hoping and I'm praying as my heart breaks Riding, walking the floor over you.

[Rod Brassfield]

You know that, Mr. P, that. That song I've got prayed for myself tonight is. It's a sad song. It's the saddest. And I don't think you'll be able to sing it. It's the sad.

[Red Foley]

Why, Rod, I can sing any kind of a sad song.

[Rod Brassfield]

Well, I don't know. Raptor. Sharon Reuters. Now it's real. Careful. It was wrote by me and boob.

[Red Foley]

Boo. Boo. Boo Boo.

[Rod Brassfield]

See there, it's got you crying already.

[Red Foley]

All right. All righty. You go over there and have a seat while we we pay tribute to America's number one girl writer of folk songs. Her name is Miss Jenny Lou Carson. She's written a lot of beautiful songs, but I believe she topped them all when she wrote this particular song. Don't rob another man's castle they say a man's home is his castle.

[Audience Member]

He'S.

[Red Foley]

Like a king on a throne.

[Audience Member]

It.

[Red Foley]

May be just a shack down alongside the track but everything in it's his.

[Audience Member]

Own.

[Red Foley]

So don't think of taking his loved ones. It's written thou shalt not steal. Don't rob another man's castle no matter how lonesome you feel. So don't rob a man of his sunshine, you break his heart. Don't you see I robbed another man's castle? Now someone just stole her from me.

[Ernest Tubb]

Randol Opry with Red Foley, Mini Pearl, Rod Brassfield, the Hickory Singers with Wally.

[Rod Brassfield]

Fowler and the O.C. ridge Quartet was originally released by NBC, the National Broadcasting company, for listeners in.

[Ernest Tubb]

The United States, and rebroadcast for our.

[Rod Brassfield]

Servicemen and women overseas. This is the United States Armed Forces.

[Ernest Tubb]

Radio Service, the voice of information and education.

[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 For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.