There weren't many TV's around until the mid 1950's in southern West Virginia. We had the radio! I listened to music, comedy, drama, all from the little box radio.

My very favorite show was 'The Green Hornet,' maybe the first 'action figure' show I ever heard. :) The 'Green Hornet' played on radio from 1936 to 1952. I loved the episodes although they frightened me badly. When I was alone in the house, often enough, I would push a chair against the wall so nothing could get to my 'back' and turn on the radio and listen to the show. If I got too frightened, I turned to 'Sgt. Preston of the Yukon,' but he was really kind of a wimp.

The premise of the Green Hornet was that of a modern day Lone Ranger. The main character was Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher of the Daily Sentinel by day and the Green Hornet by night. Britt Reid was supposed to be the great-nephew of the Lone Ranger. Britt Reid's war against crime was an extension of his family history. The Green Hornet fought crime with his high-powered car, the Black Beauty. He also utilized a gun that fired knockout gas instead of bullets. His fists also came in handy on a regular basis. He was assisted by his Filipino valet, Kato. Kato would drive the Black Beauty, keep watch out for the police or the bad guys and sometimes lend a helping fist to the fighting.

At night, I enjoyed 'The Lux Theatre' or 'The Camay Theatre.'

"Lux Radio Theater" began in 1934 on the NBC Blue Network. Incidentally NBC had a red and blue network; the latter became ABC. Film legend Cecil B. DeMille was one of the hosts for the series. Virtually every headliner in Hollywood such as Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracey, Bette Davis and Clark Gable starred in an episode of "Lux Radio Theater." The show had an estimated radio audience of 40-million...in 1936! The series began 2 years earlier but didn't get major attention until it moved to Hollywood.

Almost all the music I heard came from the radio until the 'American Bandstand' came to Television. Mostly, we listened to country music, becoming very popular in the early 50's, and gospel with a lot of 'local' or 'regional' gospel groups. Of course, sometimes 'Flat and Scruggs' came to town, selling their Martha White flour and country tunes. There might be a 'stage show' at the local school's theatre, but usually I caught them on radio. The radio and a few locals taught me all about 'love gone wrong' but that's for another page. The first loves of my life were Roy Rogers and Hank Williams. :) I outgrew Roy but I've loved Hank all my life. Did you know he died on NY's Eve in West Virginia in 1953? I grieved for months.

People are still writing about him.. after all these years. There's something about country people.. loyal.. don't forget.

Driving the Pain Away

From somewhere in Knoxville and on up to Oak Hill (WV)
Cruising through the night and some other day,
With Hank in the back and their eyes towards the light,
Just rolling down the Last Highway.

There's been a lot of stories told and there's been a lot of tears and lies
About that haunted winter day,
When Charles took the Cadillac
And drove the pain away.

Wise beyond the years he lived,
But barely old enough to drive,
His tear stained eyes-his tortured past
To last see Hank alive.

He walked in the past and he stands here today,
And none of your questions
And none of his answers
Will help drive the pain away.

And we've all listened to the stories,
And too many times have heard the lies,
But the day that Charles drove the pain away,
Is the day the music really died.

From somewhere in Knoxville and on up to nowhere,
Just cruising through time and some other space,
With Hank in the back and their eyes toward the light,
Just rolling down the Last Highway.
~~Johnny Noska 1999

Official Hank Willaims site
Unofficial Hank Williams site
Hank Willaims Museum site