This was back in the early 30's and the Depression. No one had much money, but some could afford a radio. We weren't lucky enough to afford one, but a couple of our neigbors could so every Sat- urdy nite we walked about a half mile to listen to their battery powered radio and spent the evening with either the WLS or WSM. On WLS the announcer would be Joe Kelly then the entertainers would perform, Arkie the Arkansaw Woodchopper always had a song. Lulu Bell and Scotty with their duets. The Hoosier Hot Shots with a novelty or comedy number.Goergie Gobel with his comedy.The Masseys,Louise with her two brothers and husband Milt Maibe were a western group that did western music end Louise was the girl singer. The Praire Ramblers were a western group who did a variety of cowboy and western songs. Red Foley also performed there with his great variety of songs and music. Gene Autry came there early in his career with his western songs before moving on. Smiley Burnett and Pattram were also there with their comedy. Patsy Montana and the Girls of the Golden West were also regulars on the shows. Mixed in with the songs were the Square Dancers with the callers and their music. WLS also published a little magagine that came out regularly that contained pictures and stories of the entertainers and articles of the programs and other news. I subscribed to that and had them all up to the time they stopped printing it. I kept them for a long and finally discarded them. I really wish now that I had them. I wonder if anyone out in radioland listened to WLS when I did, would have them...??? Incidentally, in 1934, we were able to get our own radio so we could stay home and listen. I think this pretty well covers he main entertainers at WLS. How many people know what the call letters of WLS stand for...??? Now for a little early history of WSM. I listened to that too. I remember the Old Judge that opened the show....Little Jimmy Dickens when he first came on, The Carter Family with Mother Maybelle,Earnest Tubb and his band,Lonzo and Oscar The Duke of Paducah and his "I'm going back to the wagon, boys, These shoes are killin' me". The father and son team who sang beautiful gospel songs along with their country songs.and the Carlisles Bill and Cliff. Mini Pearl and Roy Acuff when they were young. Of course,the WSM show didn't end until one o' clock our Michigan time,so the rest fo the family would all be in bed on Satuday nite but me. I'd be by the old battery radio until the last song was sung.

Written By: Bertha Schmitt s16@webtv.net

P.S. I just noticed I omitted the names of the father and son team. That was Arthur and Jimmy Sizemore.