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= Tumbleweed Theater John Hartford.png
|imagecaption= A photo from an episode with John Hartford.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
 
 
'''Tumbleweed Theater''' (1983-1986) was a television anthology 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.




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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.
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.
[[File:Tumbleweed Theater.png|thumb|300px|Another photo from a Hawaiian themed sketch.]]


== Home Media Releases ==
== Home Media Releases ==
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.
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.


== Surviving clips and images ==
 
== Surviving footage ==


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<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>





Revision as of 20:10, 25 July 2016

Tumbleweed Theater John Hartford.png

A photo from an episode with John Hartford.

Status: Lost


Tumbleweed Theater (1983-1986) was a television anthology 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.


Series Overview

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.

Another photo from a Hawaiian themed sketch.


Home Media Releases

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.


Surviving footage

The Riders In The Sky Video Biography features clips from Tumbleweed Theater (3:12)

A TNN Promotional Video containing a 10 second clip (1:06)


Links

Tumbleweed Theater IMDb page