Tumbleweed Theater (partially found TV anthology series; 1983-1988): Difference between revisions

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'''Tumbleweed Theater''' (1983-1986) was a television show which aired on The Nashville Network (TNN) that showed old western movies from the 1930's and 40's, mainly films which had fallen into the public domain, and was hosted by the county/western band Riders In The Sky. The show premiered on March 7th, 1983, the same day TNN began broadcasting. It ran for three seasons, but segments were repackaged in 1987 and 1988 to form a fourth and fifth season.
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Tumbleweed Theater</center>
|image=TumbleweedTheaterIntoStill.JPG
|imagecaption= Still from the intro.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
'''Tumbleweed Theater''' was an anthology television series which aired on The Nashville Network (TNN) from March, 1983 to April, 1987.<ref>The "prelude" text of the official ''Best of Tumbleweed Theater'' video states the series aired from March of 1983 to April of 1987.</ref> The series, hosted by singing cowboy trio Riders In The Sky ("Ranger Doug" Green, Fred "Too Slim" LaBour, and "Woody Paul" Chrisman), was a showcase of Western B-movies from the 1930s and 40s which had fallen into the public domain, and featured sketches and songs performed by the group throughout. From 1983 to 1985, a total of 78 episodes (26 shows per-season) were produced.<ref>[https://digi.countrymusichalloffame.org/digital/collection/musicaudio/id/8403/rec/22 Biff Collie's ''AudioBiography'': Riders In The Sky Interview] (March 1, 1990)</ref> From 1986 to 1987, two seasons worth of shows were created using new Western films and recycled segments featuring the Riders. It is currently unknown how many "recycled" episodes were created during that time-frame.


==Series Overview==
[[File:Tumbleweed Theater John Hartford.png|thumb|300px|A photo from an episode with John Hartford.]]
Most episodes of ''Tumbleweed Theater'' followed the same basic structure: the show would open with a greeting from the Riders (typically from the band's guitarist Ranger Doug, though the other members would get to do an introduction on rare occasions) and tell the viewers about the Western film they were going to feature in that episode. Generic introductions that did not mention specific movies were also used. After this intro, a song or sketch would be performed by the band, and after returning from a commercial break, the movie itself would start. Throughout the 90 minute program, the Riders would return with more sketches or song performances, occasionally appearing with special guest or one of the Riders' own cast of characters (including the likes of Drywall Paul, L. Philo "Larry" Mammoth, Sergent Dudley, Alfalfa, Too Jaws, and more). After the film concluded, the Riders appeared to bid farewell to the viewers and thank them for watching.


== Series Overview ==
[[File:Tumbleweed Theater.png|thumb|300px|Another photo from a Hawaiian themed sketch.]]
Each episode begins on the exterior of a bunkhouse, and the Riders preforming a song on the porch. After the song, the inside of the bunkhouse is shown and Ranger Doug, the lead singer and guitarist of the trio, would welcome the viewers and begin the movie. In-between the movie, the Riders would preform songs or sketches, sometimes about the movie on that episode. Occasionally, guest stars would come on the show during the sketches. After the film ends, the Riders appear once more to say goodbye to the viewers and the episode itself ends. Every episode was roughly 90 minuets in length.


The show is notable for Riders In The Sky fans as being the birthplace of characters that the Riders would later use in albums, their radio series, and live performances. Some of these characters included Sergeant Dudley-(played by Ranger Doug) A live action version of the cartoon character Dudley Do-Right, the Canadian Mountie of ''Rocky and Bullwinkle'' fame, Two Jaws-(Too Slim)(Voice Only) The talking skull of the former "fourth or fifth smartest horse in motion pictures", held together by a coat hanger (and the clearly visible hands operating him), and Alfalfa-(Woody Paul) A parody of Eddie Murphy's Buckwheat impression on ''Saturday Night Live'', Alfalfa gives lessons on various topics, often singing (badly) about them.
== Home Media Releases==
Though complete episodes of the series never had a home media release, a VHS compilation entitled ''The Best of Tumbleweed Theater'' was released in the early 1990s, which featured songs and sketches (primarily from seasons two and three, and only a very small handful coming from season one). The tape was initially only sold at the Riders' concert events, but later became available for purchase through the official Riders In The Sky website (where a DVD version was also sold until the mid-2000s).


== Home Media Releases ==
== Found Episodes==
The complete series was never released, leaving all of the episodes missing. Although, a VHS tape called ''The Best of Tumbleweed Theater'' was the only home video release of any Tumbleweed Theater clips, which was only songs and sketches the Riders preformed, and was only released and sold through the Riders official website and at concert events. The tape was re-released in the late 90's and later sold as an official DVD in the mid 2000's. It has now been long out of print.
{{Video|perrow  =1
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =https://youtu.be/3ugwtirZUo4
  |description1 =A Season One episode of ''Tumbleweed Theater'': ''Sky Bandits''
}}
==Other Footage==
{{Video|perrow  =3
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =https://youtu.be/2vxyraNtyuA
  |description1 =''The Best of Tumbleweed Theater'' VHS
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =https://youtu.be/8ju3hsSB5Fw
  |description2 =Riders In The Sky appear on the TNN Launch Night Special and present a clip of ''Tumbleweed Theater'' (March 8th, 1983)
  |service3    =youtube
  |id3          =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqIlSrZsiwQ
  |description3 =Early TNN Promo featuring a clip of ''Tumbleweed Theater'' (1:06)
}}
==External Links==
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5100206/ Tumbleweed Theater IMDb page] Retrieved 15 Jun '16
*[https://riders-in-the-sky.fandom.com/wiki/Tumbleweed_Theater Tumbleweed Theater] on the [https://riders-in-the-sky.fandom.com/wiki/Riders_in_the_Sky_Wiki Riders In The Sky Wiki]


== Surviving clips and images ==
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]


{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;"
<references />
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| {{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPHBtVl5-w8|320x240|center|The Riders In The Sky Video Biography features clips from Tumbleweed Theater (3:12)}}
| {{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqIlSrZsiwQ|320x240|center|A TNN Promotional Video containing a 10 second clip (1:06)}}
 
|}
 
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
File:Tumbleweed_Theater_John_Hartford.png|Promotional image from an episode with John Hartford.
File:Tumbleweed_Theater.png|Another promotional image from a Hawaiian themed sketch.
</gallery>
 
[[Category:Lost TV]]

Latest revision as of 23:25, 20 March 2022

TumbleweedTheaterIntoStill.JPG

Still from the intro.

Status: Partially Found

Tumbleweed Theater was an anthology television series which aired on The Nashville Network (TNN) from March, 1983 to April, 1987.[1] The series, hosted by singing cowboy trio Riders In The Sky ("Ranger Doug" Green, Fred "Too Slim" LaBour, and "Woody Paul" Chrisman), was a showcase of Western B-movies from the 1930s and 40s which had fallen into the public domain, and featured sketches and songs performed by the group throughout. From 1983 to 1985, a total of 78 episodes (26 shows per-season) were produced.[2] From 1986 to 1987, two seasons worth of shows were created using new Western films and recycled segments featuring the Riders. It is currently unknown how many "recycled" episodes were created during that time-frame.

Series Overview

A photo from an episode with John Hartford.

Most episodes of Tumbleweed Theater followed the same basic structure: the show would open with a greeting from the Riders (typically from the band's guitarist Ranger Doug, though the other members would get to do an introduction on rare occasions) and tell the viewers about the Western film they were going to feature in that episode. Generic introductions that did not mention specific movies were also used. After this intro, a song or sketch would be performed by the band, and after returning from a commercial break, the movie itself would start. Throughout the 90 minute program, the Riders would return with more sketches or song performances, occasionally appearing with special guest or one of the Riders' own cast of characters (including the likes of Drywall Paul, L. Philo "Larry" Mammoth, Sergent Dudley, Alfalfa, Too Jaws, and more). After the film concluded, the Riders appeared to bid farewell to the viewers and thank them for watching.

Another photo from a Hawaiian themed sketch.

Home Media Releases

Though complete episodes of the series never had a home media release, a VHS compilation entitled The Best of Tumbleweed Theater was released in the early 1990s, which featured songs and sketches (primarily from seasons two and three, and only a very small handful coming from season one). The tape was initially only sold at the Riders' concert events, but later became available for purchase through the official Riders In The Sky website (where a DVD version was also sold until the mid-2000s).

Found Episodes

A Season One episode of Tumbleweed Theater: Sky Bandits

Other Footage

The Best of Tumbleweed Theater VHS

Riders In The Sky appear on the TNN Launch Night Special and present a clip of Tumbleweed Theater (March 8th, 1983)

Early TNN Promo featuring a clip of Tumbleweed Theater (1:06)

External Links

  1. The "prelude" text of the official Best of Tumbleweed Theater video states the series aired from March of 1983 to April of 1987.
  2. Biff Collie's AudioBiography: Riders In The Sky Interview (March 1, 1990)