Well , last week started off with Monday in the 60’s . What could go wrong , Right ? So being optimistic , on Tues the entertainment looked hopeful and plentiful . By Wed , 60 was just a memory and Snow or ice in the forecast, Thursday – dances were canceled , Friday looked doubtful , Sat. was anybody’s guess ! Got several calls bout cancellations and thanks to fb I had the answer . In the other room I heard Mom doing the same . She is part of a network of dancers , updated by cellphones and she helped me stay in the loop ! All in all , everybody stayed safe and a few brave souls made the trip to I-40 Music Hall and got to the Sat. Nite Dance !
A couple of short Winter dance stories from my Glory Days . I played several different stretches as “House Band” for Lou’s Triangle Club – 3 miles past Skyline Drive on the Talihina end . If it snowed down here in the River Valley, it was for shore blizzard conditions up there ! Pickups & pulpwood one-tons were the norm so the dancin’ crowd always filled the place . The band HAD to show up or risk a thumpin’ when next they did ! Weather was not a valid excuse . I can’t remember a snow so deep that I didn’t play – the show must go on ! But every truck had provisions , a blanket or two , at least one 30 ft. log chain or winch and a portion of liquid courage . Rules of the road – never pass a vehicle in trouble . Those were different times . We didn’t break as easy and healed a lot faster . Kinda the same reason that ya don’t hear of any 70 yr. Old bullriders !
‘Nother snow story – I built motels just down the road from a ski resort in W. Va. , Pa, and central N.Y. state ! Sometimes conditions might shut the job down BUT the Ski Resorts/bars were open for business . The tourists were plentiful and locals would snow ski or snowmobile over for a drink or two . They said the only hazard was falling off the snowmobile or worse , forgetting where the barbwire fences were on the way home ! I had bought the band a couple of rounds of Rumplemintz and beer , got up and sang a couple of country songs . Maybe after a couple more rounds and with a tip of my Stetson , I bid farewell and pointed the “Ram” in the direction of home . Thirty miles without even a slip on the road , I guess , I let my guard down on the last turn to the place I rented . I skidded on the last turn and buried hood-deep in a big pile of fresh plowed snow . I didn’t even have time to shut the engine off before I was hooked up by a good samaritan and pulled out before the song changed on the Willie cassette tape that was playing . No Problem !
I parked the truck , went in for a couple of hours of sleep before work that morning . Gittin’ in the truck was a problem as usual cause it had snowed a couple of more inches . Even tho I didn’t smoke , I carried a lighter and used it to heat the door key that would thaw the ice in the lock . Learned that from the locals . When I turned the ignition to start all I got was a “ummmmph” sound . Not what I was expecting from the Dodge . Figuring the battery was dead , I got a surprise when I raised the hood . Hitting the snowbank at 20 mph jammed the whole engine compartment with snow . After I’d parked it , the snow had frozen and the motor was a block of ice ! Note to self – next time take a broom and scraper to knock the snow away from the fan , starter , belt , and all necessary moving parts like steering ! It took two kerosene work heaters and ten gal of kerosene with tarps over 4 hours to thaw it out !
It was Pee Wee’s Big Adventure in the frozen North . Over 12 ft of snow that year , the first was Sept 18th and the last was May 8th ! I knew I was in trouble when one of my plumbers came to work on cross-country skis ! Send me back South of I-40 , nothing I need up in that direction !
So I’m glad folks used their heads & stayed safe but got out if they deemed the roads dry enuf for travel ! A couple of bands with canceled gigs were fortunate enough to pick up work in Ft. Smith . So let’s try again this week . Warmer weather is predicted !
Live Music – Ft Smith Senior Activity Center on Cavanaugh Rd. will have a “Valentine’s Dance” , this Friday , the 11th . Libby Starkes and the Stray Dawgs will play the dance music for you and your sweetheart . Music always starts at 7 pm .
Rock and Roll Valentines Bash by Grannie’s Nightmare this Friday the 11th in Howe at Doug’s Redneck Heaven Bar . Music from 9-1 !
Spiro Eagles will have a Valentine’s Dance and Dinner , Sat, the 12th . Country Music by BridgeWater Band and it starts at 7 pm !
I-40 Music and Dance Hall will have their Valentine’s Dance on Sat , the 12th , with “Gopher Run” playing the Country Dance Music for all the Sweethearts ! Music starts at 7 pm !
Just a note ! The Showtime Jamboree/Pocola has the Grand Opening on Feb. 26th . Special guest this time will be Roy Rodgers and guest Master of Ceremony , Jim “Big Bear” Huff ! Make plans on being there . More info coming !
Questions or info – contact 918-649-5736 or tj.wiles61@outlook.com
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