I’ve watched the first two 2 hour segments on PBS and will declare them to be the most riveting, informative, and enjoyable documentaries I’ve ever seen on that channel.
And without any pleas for pledges.
The first 2 episodes are available online and I’m sure the others will follow.
I’ve got to make some comments on what I’ve seen so far.
Those people in the late 20s and 30s in rural America were tough. You see how and where they lived and I know, without a doubt, I could not have survived it. And the women were heroically amazing.
One tends to hear the music and not really pay attention to the words.
The hills were alive with wildflowers
And I was as wild, even wilder than they
For at least I could run, they just died in the sun
And I refused to just wither in place
The artsy types can carry on all they want about classic poets but one has but to listen to some of the lyrics created by those so-called uneducated peasants to find true beauty.
The towns and cities were segregated. But rural Americans, whites and the descendants of slaves, lived side-by-side and their children played and worked together. They shared their customs and blacks had a big impact on country music – just as had all the other immigrant groups who came to that land.
Although I was born in 1929 and my father was deeply into jazz, big band, swing, and classical, I got my taste of country listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio. I also worked my butt off on my paper route so I could make it to the big movie theater on Saturday mornings to watch the guys in white hats go after the evil doers in black ones. Orvon Grover Autry, Leonard Slye, And, of course, Flash Gordon fighting to save earth from Ming the Merciless.
Oh yeah, we had ads.
Buster Brown with his good dog Tyge.
Maybe Thom Mcan shoes.
The local malt shop.
I’ve got the 3rd on DVR and will get the remaining as they show.
I highly recommend them to you. It makes no difference whether or not you like the music, the story is riveting. An America every young person needs to see.