The Johnny Cash Show was an American television music variety show hosted by Johnny Cash. The Screen Gems 58-episode series ran from June 7, 1969, to March 31, 1971, on ABC; it was taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The show reached No. 17 in the Nielsen ratings in 1970.[1]
The Johnny Cash Show
Cash in 1969
Genre
Music variety
Starring
Johnny Cash June Carter Cash The Carter Family Carl Perkins The Statler Brothers The Tennessee Three
June 7, 1969 (1969-06-07) – March 31, 1971 (1971-03-31)
Cash opened each show, invariably preceding the first number with his customary "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" greeting, and its regulars included members of his touring troupe, June Carter Cash (his wife) and the Carter Family, The Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins, and The Tennessee Three, with Australian-born musical director-arranger-conductor Bill Walker. The Statler Brothers performed brief comic interludes. An instrumental version of "Folsom Prison Blues" was used for the opening credits.
Cash had been approached by ABC to host a television show after the major success of his two live prison albums, At Folsom Prison and At San Quentin.[2] The show started with an hour-long tryout offered by ABC as "a summer replacement for its Saturday night variety extravaganza The Hollywood Palace."[1] While Cash had a large degree of freedom, he "had to accept some compromises by hosting showbiz royalty like Bob Hope, George Gobel, Kirk Douglas, Burl Ives, Peggy Lee and Lorne Greene. They gave the show gravitas that satisfied both advertisers and the network".[1]
FormatEdit
The show was recorded at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, then home of the Grand Ole Opry.[1] The show was conceived by Bill Carruthers, who also served as executive producer and director for the first season. Stan Jacobson was also a producer on the show. Myles Harmon was the program executive for ABC Television. The first show featured Joni Mitchell, Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw, Fannie Flagg as a comic, and Bob Dylan.
The show included a "Country Gold" segment which featured legends rarely or never seen on network TV such as Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. Author Rich Kienzle suggests that as well as providing entertainment, the show operated as a "Country Music 101".[1]
Cash persisted in the face of ABC "network anxieties" on several occasions. He refused to cut the word "stoned" from Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down", he stood by his Christian faith "despite network anxieties", and persisted in bringing on Pete Seeger whose anti-Vietnam War song on another network had "caused a firestorm".[1] He premiered his "Man in Black" song on an episode taped at Nashville's Vanderbilt University campus.
In 1970, Columbia Records released The Johnny Cash Show, a live album, as a tie-in with the TV series, though the record is not considered a soundtrack. The release is unusual as Columbia was affiliated with competing network CBS. Cash's version of Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down", included on the series, is included on the album and was released as a single, which was a major hit for Cash.
One unusual taping occurred in 1971. Cash began the program assuming it was a regular episode. Moments after Cash greeted the audience, June Carter Cash came on stage and said she had a special guest. Ralph Edwards then joined the two on stage; as the audience erupted in a standing ovation, Cash realized that it was actually a taping for an installment of This Is Your Life honoring him.
The show was canceled in 1971 in response to the Prime Time Access Rule, which eliminated a half-hour of network prime time programming from all of the major networks' nightly schedules. Cash's show was one of many that had strong rural followings that were canceled across the networks in what came to be known as the "rural purge."
RevivalEdit
In 1976, CBS ran a revival of the show, Johnny Cash and Friends, as a replacement series for four weeks from August 29 to September 20, 1976.[3] The new show was taped at the newly constructed Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.[4] Aside from musical performances, this series also featured a greater emphasis on comedy, with Steve Martin and Jim Varney appearing as regulars, and with June Carter Cash performing several comedy routines as "Aunt Polly" (reviving a character she had performed early in her career).
Following Johnny Cash and Friends, an annual Johnny Cash Christmas Special series was launched, starting in 1976, with specials airing almost every year until 1985.
The Best of The Johnny Cash TV ShowEdit
A DVD set featuring 66 live performances from the show, called The Best of The Johnny Cash TV Show, was released in Region 1 on September 18, 2007. The DVD set was hosted by Kris Kristofferson and directed by Michael B. Borofsky, and was produced by Reverse Angle Productions for Sony Pictures Entertainment and Legacy Recordings, Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division. An accompanying CD, featuring selected numbers from the show (some of them not on the DVD set), was also released.
DVD track listEdit
DVD 1
Johnny Cash – Ring Of Fire
Bob Dylan – I Threw It All Away
From Season 1, Episode 1, originally aired June 7, 1969.
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash – Girl From The North Country
From Season 1, Episode 1, originally aired June 7, 1969.
Kris Kristofferson – Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)
Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash – Blue Yodel No. 9
From Season 2, Episode 6, originally aired October 28, 1970.
^"Johnny Cash series ready". Ocala Star-Banner TV Week. August 27, 1976. p. 39.
October 15, 2023
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For the album of the same title see The Johnny Cash Show album The Johnny Cash Show was an American television music variety show hosted by Johnny Cash The Screen Gems 58 episode series ran from June 7 1969 to March 31 1971 on ABC it was taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville Tennessee The show reached No 17 in the Nielsen ratings in 1970 1 The Johnny Cash ShowCash in 1969GenreMusic varietyStarringJohnny CashJune Carter CashThe Carter FamilyCarl PerkinsThe Statler BrothersThe Tennessee ThreeNo of seasons2No of episodes58ProductionProduction companyScreen GemsReleaseOriginal networkABCOriginal releaseJune 7 1969 1969 06 07 March 31 1971 1971 03 31 Cash opened each show invariably preceding the first number with his customary Hello I m Johnny Cash greeting and its regulars included members of his touring troupe June Carter Cash his wife and the Carter Family The Statler Brothers Carl Perkins and The Tennessee Three with Australian born musical director arranger conductor Bill Walker The Statler Brothers performed brief comic interludes An instrumental version of Folsom Prison Blues was used for the opening credits It featured many folk singer songwriter and country musicians such as Joni Mitchell Bob Dylan Linda Ronstadt Kris Kristofferson Mickey Newbury Neil Young Gordon Lightfoot Merle Haggard James Taylor Tammy Wynette and Roy Orbison It also featured other musicians such as jazz great Louis Armstrong who died eight months after appearing on the show 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Format 3 Series overview 4 List of episodes 4 1 Season 1 1969 1970 4 2 Season 2 1970 1971 5 Cancellation 6 Revival 7 The Best of The Johnny Cash TV Show 7 1 DVD track list 7 2 CD track list 8 External links 9 NotesBackground EditCash had been approached by ABC to host a television show after the major success of his two live prison albums At Folsom Prison and At San Quentin 2 The show started with an hour long tryout offered by ABC as a summer replacement for its Saturday night variety extravaganza The Hollywood Palace 1 While Cash had a large degree of freedom he had to accept some compromises by hosting showbiz royalty like Bob Hope George Gobel Kirk Douglas Burl Ives Peggy Lee and Lorne Greene They gave the show gravitas that satisfied both advertisers and the network 1 Format EditThe show was recorded at Nashville s Ryman Auditorium then home of the Grand Ole Opry 1 The show was conceived by Bill Carruthers who also served as executive producer and director for the first season Stan Jacobson was also a producer on the show Myles Harmon was the program executive for ABC Television The first show featured Joni Mitchell Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw Fannie Flagg as a comic and Bob Dylan The show included a Country Gold segment which featured legends rarely or never seen on network TV such as Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys Author Rich Kienzle suggests that as well as providing entertainment the show operated as a Country Music 101 1 Cash persisted in the face of ABC network anxieties on several occasions He refused to cut the word stoned from Kris Kristofferson s Sunday Morning Coming Down he stood by his Christian faith despite network anxieties and persisted in bringing on Pete Seeger whose anti Vietnam War song on another network had caused a firestorm 1 He premiered his Man in Black song on an episode taped at Nashville s Vanderbilt University campus In 1970 Columbia Records released The Johnny Cash Show a live album as a tie in with the TV series though the record is not considered a soundtrack The release is unusual as Columbia was affiliated with competing network CBS Cash s version of Kris Kristofferson s Sunday Morning Coming Down included on the series is included on the album and was released as a single which was a major hit for Cash One unusual taping occurred in 1971 Cash began the program assuming it was a regular episode Moments after Cash greeted the audience June Carter Cash came on stage and said she had a special guest Ralph Edwards then joined the two on stage as the audience erupted in a standing ovation Cash realized that it was actually a taping for an installment of This Is Your Life honoring him Series overview EditSeasonEpisodesOriginally airedFirst airedLast airedNetwork132June 7 1969 1969 06 07 May 13 1970 1970 05 13 ABC226September 23 1970 1970 09 23 March 31 1971 1971 03 31 List of episodes EditSeason 1 1969 1970 Edit 32 episodes Airdate Guests1 1 June 7 1969 Bob Dylan Joni Mitchell Doug Kershaw1 2 June 14 1969 Gordon Lightfoot Dan Blocker Joey Scarbury Evie Sands The Carter Family The Statler Brothers1 3 June 21 1969 Eddie Albert Jerry Reed Linda Ronstadt1 4 July 5 1969 Buffy Sainte Marie Doug McClure The Cowsills1 5 July 12 1969 Jeannie C Riley Glen Campbell Joe Tex1 6 July 19 1969 Ed Ames Joni Mitchell The Monkees Roy Clark1 7 July 26 1969 Dale Robertson Marty Robbins Lynn Kellogg1 8 August 2 1969 O C Smith Merle Haggard Merrilee Rush Carl Perkins1 9 August 9 1969 Diana Trask Pat Boone Tom T Hall1 10 August 16 1969 O C Smith Kenny Rogers and The First Edition Melanie Grandpa Jones1 11 August 23 1969 Chet Atkins Lulu1 12 August 30 1969 Roger Miller Odetta Carl Perkins1 13 September 6 1969 Charley Pride Ian amp Sylvia1 14 September 20 1969 Cass Elliot Ramblin Jack Elliot The Staple Singers Tommy Cash1 15 September 27 1969 Roy Orbison Creedence Clearwater Revival Phil Harris Bobbi Martin1 16 January 21 1970 Arlo Guthrie Jose Feliciano Bobbie Gentry1 17 January 28 1970 Glen Campbell Marty Robbins Nancy Ames1 18 February 4 1970 Dusty Springfield Rod McKuen Kirk Douglas1 19 February 11 1970 Ray Charles Neil Diamond Tammy Wynette1 20 February 18 1970 Vikki Carr Pete Seeger1 21 February 25 1970 Cass Elliot Kenny Rogers and The First Edition1 22 March 4 1970 Brenda Lee Roger Miller Carl Perkins Pete Seeger1 23 March 11 1970 O C Smith Hank Williams Jr Linda Ronstadt1 24 March 18 1970 George Gobel Merle Haggard Jeannie C Riley1 25 March 25 1970 Waylon Jennings Jackie DeShannon Michael Parks Statler Brothers Carl Perkins1 26 April 1 1970 Kenny Rogers and The First Edition Roy Orbison1 27 April 8 1970 Patti Page Tony White1 28 April 15 1970 George Jones Bobby Goldsboro Judy Collins1 29 April 22 1970 Lynn Anderson Burl Ives1 30 April 29 1970 Chet Atkins Kris Kristofferson Ricky Nelson Loretta Lynn Doug Kershaw1 31 May 6 1970 Merle Haggard Brenda Lee Charley Pride1 32 May 13 1970 Tex Ritter Roy Acuff Marty Robbins Danny Davis amp the Nashville BrassSeason 2 1970 1971 Edit 26 episodes Airdate Guests2 1 September 30 1970 Ray Charles Liza Minnelli Arlo Guthrie2 2 September 23 1970 Jackie DeShannon Dennis Hopper Statler Brothers2 3 October 7 1970 Joni Mitchell Joe South George Lindsey2 4 October 14 1970 Jose Feliciano Bobby Bare Linda Ronstadt Mac Davis2 5 October 21 1970 Peggy Lee The Guess Who Marty Robbins Tommy Cash2 6 October 28 1970 Louis Armstrong Tennessee Ernie Ford Kenny Rogers and The First Edition2 7 November 4 1970 Burl Ives Statler Brothers2 8 November 11 1970 George Gobel Stevie Wonder Ian amp Sylvia Bill Monroe2 9 November 18 1970 Kris Kristofferson Cass Elliot Statler Brothers Lorne Greene2 10 November 25 1970 Glen Campbell Stoneman Family Tony Joe White2 11 December 2 1970 Homer amp Jethro Statler Brothers Merle Haggard Bonnie Owens Anne Murray2 12 December 16 1970 Jackie DeShannon Hank Snow Carl Perkins Al Hirt2 13 December 25 1970 The Johnny Cash Christmas Show Statler Brothers Everly Brothers Roy Orbison2 14 January 6 1971 Derek and the Dominos Eric Andersen2 15 January 13 1971 Gordon Lightfoot Bill Anderson Statler Brothers Homer amp Jethro2 16 January 21 1971 The History of Country Music Part 1 Roy Acuff Eddy Arnold Carl Perkins Marty Robbins Buck Owens Merle Haggard2 17 January 28 1971 The History of Country Music Part 2 Chet Atkins Merle Haggard Sonny James Gordon Lightfoot Webb Pierce Takahiro Saito B J Thomas Kitty Wells Tammy Wynette Minnie Pearl Faron Young Carl Perkins2 18 February 3 1971 Ballads Of The True West2 19 February 10 1971 Comedy Country Style2 20 February 17 1971 James Taylor Linda Ronstadt Neil Young The Dillards Tony Joe White2 21 February 24 1971 Make A Joyful Noise Mahalia Jackson Edwin Hawkins Staple Singers Blackwood Brothers The Oak Ridge Boys Stuart Hamblen Billy Graham2 22 March 3 1971 Circus for Children Of All Ages 2 23 March 10 1971 Statler Brothers2 24 March 17 1971 Statler Brothers2 25 March 24 1971 The Carpenters Red Lane Charley Pride Bob Luman Tommy Cash2 26 March 31 1971 Merle TravisCancellation EditThe show was canceled in 1971 in response to the Prime Time Access Rule which eliminated a half hour of network prime time programming from all of the major networks nightly schedules Cash s show was one of many that had strong rural followings that were canceled across the networks in what came to be known as the rural purge Revival EditIn 1976 CBS ran a revival of the show Johnny Cash and Friends as a replacement series for four weeks from August 29 to September 20 1976 3 The new show was taped at the newly constructed Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville 4 Aside from musical performances this series also featured a greater emphasis on comedy with Steve Martin and Jim Varney appearing as regulars and with June Carter Cash performing several comedy routines as Aunt Polly reviving a character she had performed early in her career Following Johnny Cash and Friends an annual Johnny Cash Christmas Special series was launched starting in 1976 with specials airing almost every year until 1985 The Best of The Johnny Cash TV Show EditA DVD set featuring 66 live performances from the show called The Best of The Johnny Cash TV Show was released in Region 1 on September 18 2007 The DVD set was hosted by Kris Kristofferson and directed by Michael B Borofsky and was produced by Reverse Angle Productions for Sony Pictures Entertainment and Legacy Recordings Sony Music Entertainment s catalog division An accompanying CD featuring selected numbers from the show some of them not on the DVD set was also released DVD track list Edit DVD 1 Johnny Cash Ring Of Fire Bob Dylan I Threw It All Away From Season 1 Episode 1 originally aired June 7 1969 Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash Girl From The North Country From Season 1 Episode 1 originally aired June 7 1969 Kris Kristofferson Loving Her Was Easier Than Anything I ll Ever Do Again Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash Blue Yodel No 9 From Season 2 Episode 6 originally aired October 28 1970 Stevie Wonder Heaven Help Us All From Season 2 Episode 8 originally aired November 11 1970 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bad Moon Rising From Season 1 Episode 15 originally aired September 27 1969 Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Cash I Never Will Marry George Jones Medley White Lightning with Johnny Cash She Thinks I Still Care Love Bug The Race Is On Johnny Cash Hey Porter Waylon Jennings Medley Only Daddy That ll Walk The Line The Singing Star s Queen Brown Eyed Handsome Man Tammy Wynette Stand By Your Man From Season 2 Episode 17 originally aired January 28 1971 Marty Robbins Medley Big Iron Running Gun El Paso From Season 1 Episode 17 originally aired January 28 1970 Johnny Cash Come Along And Ride This Train Johnny Cash As Long As The Grass Shall Grow Johnny Cash Man in Black James Taylor Sweet Baby James From Season 2 Episode 20 originally aired February 17 1971 Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash Cripple Creek Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash Worried Man Blues Johnny Cash Sunday Morning Coming Down Johnny Cash Old Time Religion Johnny Cash The Carter Family The Statler Brothers Carl Perkins and The Tennessee Three Daddy Sang Bass Mother Maybelle and The Carter Sisters Wildwood Flower Neil Young The Needle and the Damage Done From Season 2 Episode 20 originally aired February 17 1971 Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three Tennessee Flat Top Box Joni Mitchell and Johnny Cash The Long Black Veil From Season 1 Episode 6 originally aired July 19 1969 Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three with Carl Perkins Big RiverDVD 2 Johnny Cash I Walk The Line June Carter Cash A Good Man Derek and the Dominos It s Too Late From Season 2 Episode 14 originally aired January 6 1971 Derek and the Dominos with Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins Matchbox Charley Pride Able Bodied Man Chorus amp Johnny Cash Country Gold Intro Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys Blue Moon Of Kentucky From Season 2 Episode 8 originally aired November 11 1970 Loretta Lynn I Know How From Season 1 Episode 30 originally aired April 29 1970 Jerry Lee Lewis Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On Johnny Cash Ride This Train Johnny Cash America The Beautiful Johnny Cash This Land Is Your Land The Everly Brothers with Ike Everly and Johnny and Tommy Cash That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine Ray Charles Ring Of Fire Johnny Cash A Boy Named Sue Conway Twitty Hello Darlin Mother Maybelle Carter Black Mountain Rag Tony Joe White and Johnny Cash Polk Salad Annie Glen Campbell Wichita Lineman From Season 2 Episode 10 originally aired November 25 1970 Neil Diamond Cracklin Rosie Ray Price For The Good Times Roy Orbison Cryin From Season 1 Episode 15 originally aired September 27 1969 Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash Pretty Woman From Season 1 Episode 15 originally aired September 27 1969 Johnny Cash Wanted Man Chet Atkins and Johnny Cash Recuerdo De La Alhambra Chet Atkins Medley Back Home in Indiana Country Gentleman Mister Sandman Wildwood Flower Freight Train From Season 1 Episode 30 originally aired April 29 1970 June Carter Cash with Homer And Jethro Baby It s Cold Outside Merle Haggard No Hard Times Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash Sing Me Back Home Carl Perkins Blue Suede Shoes From Season 2 Episode 16 originally aired January 21 1971 Johnny Cash Carl Perkins The Carter Family and The Statler Brothers The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago Roy Clark Medley In The Summertime 12th Street Rag From Season 1 Episode 6 originally aired July 19 1969 The Statler Brothers Flowers on the Wall Johnny Cash Working Man Blues Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Jackson Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Turn Around Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash I Love You Because Hank Williams Jr Medley You Win Again Cold Cold Heart I Can t Help It If I m Still in Love With You Half As Much Johnny Cash A Wonderful Time Up ThereCD track list Edit Johnny Cash I Walk the Line Johnny Cash Flesh and Blood Tammy Wynette Stand by Your Man George Jones She Thinks I Still Care Love Bug The Race Is On Johnny Cash I ve Been Everywhere Bobby Bare Detroit City Ray Charles Ring of Fire Derek and the Dominoes It s Too Late Kris Kristofferson Loving Her Was Easier Than Anything I ll Ever Do Again Roy Orbison Only the Lonely Oh Pretty Woman Johnny Cash with The Carter Family and The Statler Brothers Belshazzar Waylon Jennings Brown Eyed Handsome Man Johnny Cash and Joni Mitchell Girl From the North Country James Taylor Fire and Rain Johnny Cash The Carter Family The Statler Brothers Carl Perkins and The Tennessee Three Daddy Sang Bass Johnny Cash Closing Monologue I Walk the Line reprise External links EditThe Johnny Cash Show at IMDb On TV comNotes Edit a b c d e f g Kienzle Rich 2007 Notes for The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show DVD Boxed Set Reverse Angle Productions Cash Johnny Carr Patrick 1997 Cash The Autobiography 1st ed New York NY Harper San Francisco p 58 ISBN 0 06 072753 5 The Johnny Cash Show TVGuide com Johnny Cash series ready Ocala Star Banner TV Week August 27 1976 p 39 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Johnny Cash Show amp oldid 1173959866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
