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CKNX Barn Dance ...
If I may allowed a McLuhanism: the Barn Dance arrived with a message. The message was, "this community counts, and therefore you as part of this community are important. Sociologically the Barn Dance was much bigger than just the music it carried. - Jim Swan (BD-15, 2005) Since the CKNX programming was aimed at small town western Ontario, the natural next step was to give the people something to kick their heels about and that turned out to be The CKNX Saturday Night Barndance.

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Cover from the Barn Dance souvenir book sold at shows for 25 cents
1940s
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
Barn Dance Museum, Wingham, Ontario
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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In 1937 the first CKNX Barn Dance was held in the studio in Wingham. The announcer of the evening began to call his program of Old Tyme Music, the Barn Dance. Records featuring the old tyme songs began to air every Saturday night. Radio listeners let the station know they liked the program. Then arose the idea to replace the recorded music with local artists. The idea clicked and the show became the most listened to program on the station. (VS-1, 1976) Every Saturday night, people would gather outside the studio window, blocking the main street , trying to catch a glimpse of the artists performing. (100 Yrs, 68-69).

The program took off in popularity when it "went "on the road". Instead of playing in the studio, the program moved into community halls. The first Saturday Night Barn Dance was held in the Wingham Town Hall opera hall. This was an era of "Old Time Music" shows on radio. There were similar shows on WRVA Wheeling, West Virginia, WLS the Prairie Farmer Station in Chicago, and of course, Nashville, which has continued its tradition over the years and has now become one of the most lucrative entertainment businesses in the world. (Carbert essay, 1995)p.2.

From 1937 - 1963 the CKNX Barn Dance was the destination of many families on a Saturday night. It was a program broadcast from neighbouring community halls across southwestern Ontario. Those unable to attend a Barn Dance could listen to the program from their radio, tuned to AM 920. It happened every Saturday night for more than 25 years. It played in community halls from Tobermory to Port Dover, Sarnia to Toronto. It was emceed by Johnny Brent who began the evening by saying "From Coast to Coast, people like old time music most," followed by the theme of "Down Yonder" and thus would begin another broadcast of "Canada's Largest Travelling Barn Dance." (100 Yrs, 68-69)

"Every Saturday night from 8:00 to 9:30 the Barn Dance was on the air, using remote equipment built by Doc himself, and utilizing telephone lines to carry the program back to the transmitter in Wingham. In those early years, Doc was also the Master of Ceremonies and the programs featured many of those same people who had been regulars on those first broadcasts on the fledgling station. Before long, a more or less regular cast was established, supplemented by guests, mostly amateurs from the communities where the programs originated. The admissions for the show were always split with the local sponsoring organizations. (Carbert essay, 1995)p.2.

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Advertisement in the Barn Dance souvenir book
1940s
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
Barn Dance Museum, Wingham, Ontario
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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Local Musicians ...
Doc decided the show should go on the road with remote broadcasts from surroundings towns & cities. The entry fee was 25 cents for adults, children free. The shows featured groups like the Gully Jumpers, Corn Huskers, Melody Mixers, Bayfield Valley Five. Band performers like Wilf Arthur & Freddy Templeman kept the crowds and listeners moving to their band sounds of the era. The Early Birds featured Cec Merkley and his famous whistling, partner Bob Hall. Cactus Mac was one of the biggest stars of Barn Dance with his comic rendition of Squaws Along the Yukon. Other artists included - Sarah Cruickshank and her guitar, Lloyd Shoebottom, Gord Davidson, Borden Jenkins, Jack Thynne, Scotty Pawson, Little Iva Dell, Jean & Irene, the Sewers family, Tommy Parker, Clarence Adlam, Laura Hayden, Reg McMichael (the Hired Man) and more. (100 Yrs, 68-69)

By the late 1940s, it was a major country music attraction throughout the CKNX coverage area. Three of the most popular groups attached to the Barn Dance were the CKNX Ranch Boys, the Golden Prairie Cowboys and the CKNX Barn Dance Gang. Artists with these groups were Don and Cora Robertson, Reg Bitton(dead by 1979), George Jordan(dead by 1979), Ross Mann(dead by 1979), Ernie King, Hank Beddard, Bill Simms, Archie Mann, Bruce Robertson, Hughie Elder - all associated with CKNX Ranch Boys. The Golden Prairie Cowboys arrived in time for the International Plowing Match in 1948 at Port Albert. It included Red Burns, Maurice Bolyer, Lucky Ambeault and Slim Boucher. The CKNX Saturday Night Barn Dance played to a crowd of 40,000 people at the 1948 International Plowing Match. CKNX radio was prospering.

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At the 1946 Internation Plowing Match in Port Albert, the CKNX Barn Dance drew a crowd of 40,000.
1946
Internation Plowing Match, Port Albert, Ontario

Credits:
Wingham Library, Wingham, Ontario

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Popular Program ...
"In a letter to Rural Radio magazine in March of 1938, Hugh and Ann MacNabb of Rothsay, Ontario wrote: "We live on a ranch in the most remote part of Ontario, Canada. A beautiful part it is and we are surrounded by neighbours, both American and Canadian. Radios are not too plentiful here. I have seen as many as twenty or thirty gathered in our home on a Saturday night to enjoy the Saturday Night Barn Dance." (BD-27, 2007)

One time when the Barn Dance played in Kitchener, the show caused a traffic snarl. All the buses on the main street were going by their regular stops filled with people headed for the show. They had to pull the buses off the side streets to take care of the crowd. (100 Yrs, 70)

Barn Dance 1943 - Barn Dance was broadcast every Sat from 7:30 - 9:00pm - In 1943, IDA druggists sponsors of the second half of the Barn Dance broadcast, inaugurated a cash prize contest - $10 prize - "The first week of the contest the mail came in hatfuls and has been climbing like a Spitfire ever since." "Every Saturday nite a question is asked which the listeners must answer correctly and mail their answers to CKNX before Friday of the following week. On the night of the broadcast, all letters received are gathered together for the big draw. This is the exciting moment of the broadcast everybody has been waiting for! A letter is drawn and opened. If the answer is wrong, back it goes into the pile and another is drawn until a correct answer is found. The first letter drawn that has the correct answer wins $2.00. But it doesn't stop there. No sir. You see every time the IDA druggist sells an IDA product, he encloses a red, white and blue sticker that guarantees the quality of that product, and that little sticker is the key that opens the door to a bigger cash prize. For if the winning letter has an IDA guarantee sticker attached -PRESTOCHANGO - the prize is now $10. Of curse(sic), if the winning letter does not have that magic IDA sticker attached, the $8.00 not won is carried over to the following week's prize money making a total of $18. And that, my friend is when you're going to see a lot of fun on the CKNX BARN DANCE … because there's no limit to where that cash prize can grow if it so happens that the winning letters keep turning up without that IDA sticker. Naturally, we're all hoping a lot of listeners will cash in on the big cash, so keep tuned to the CKNX Barn Dance, write in every week and do not forget to attach the IDA sticker.
The Barn Dance has been a popular Saturday nite feature for years now and is currently sponsored by Pioneer Feeds and the Independent Druggists' Alliance, who are putting on the contest. (CKNX Almanac-10,1943) p. 5

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An advertisement for the Barn Dance show, circa 1940s
1940s
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
Barn Dance Museum, Wingham, Ontario
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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Barn Dance Experience ...
Jim Swan - "I remember when I was 9 or 10 visting my cousin one summer in Elora. Everyone in town seemed excited because the Barn Dance was coming to town. We were too young to go but we did listen to it on the radio that night and were fascinated by the fact it was happening right there in that very town. It was a 'big deal' having a story to tell about the 'radio' coming to town.

Grant Heywood's 1961 Barn Dance memory - in Formosa on October Hallowe'en Dance - Don Robertson was pulling his old stand up bass out of his 1950s Chev Panel truck, and I also recognized the woodgrain sided station wagon (often called Woodys) with CKNX Radio emblazoned on the doors. Elmer Purdon, (who was also a neighbour of ours) had his headset on and was tweaking the controls for the live radio broadcast that night. The community center was mainly of wood construction and had an ambience and smell about it, like the old wooden dance halls that were scattered along the shores of many Lake Huron locales the lights went up and like a barker from some sideshow circus, Johnny Brent briskly took the microphone and said "From coast to coast, people like old time music most. Broadcasting live from the Formosa Community Centre, it's the CKNX Saturday Night Barn Dance." The fiddles started playing, people started hollering and dancing. I can remember Johnny Brent getting everyone with a costume, to dance around the front of the stage in a circle, so they could judge them accordingly. Al Cherny stepped forward, turned around and grinned at the band and said, "Heel and Toe Polka, boys," and away they went. Then Johnny would grab the attention of the crowd and announce where the Barn Dance would be performing next, in the upcoming weeks. Johnny would always joke with the crowd a bit and move on to introduce members of the band and singer, as if they where just stepping onto the Grand Ole Opry stage. But like most kids my age (14), one of the most significant performances was when Clark Johnston (the Singin Irishman) took to the stage. He'd always kid around with Johnny and say, "You know, you can always tell an Irishman." Then he'd stare out at the audience with that twinkle in his eye and say, "but you can't tell him very much." With his tam kilt and shillelagh, he rolled right into, "Something's Always Sure To Tickle Me." I couldn't wait to hear him conjure up all those belly laughs! His face would contort and grimace with every whoop of laughter he could muster. Everyone was in stitches. He always brought the house down with that one song and had everyone laughing until it hurt. When intermission came, the band members would congregate downstairs for refreshments and discuss what songs to play for the next set, or sometimes get together to strum a guitar and work out a new arrangement. Once they were back on-stage they'd play jigs and reels and country standards, and always played many of the popular requests from the audience. I could tell they were having such a good time, they likely would have played until the sun came up. (BD-4,2003)

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"From Coast to Coast, people like old time music most," was the phrase that opened each Barn Dance.
1940s
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
Barn Dance Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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Voice of the Barn Dance ... Johnny Brent

Before much time had passed, it became evident to Doc that this show had grown beyond the scope of one man and it was then he turned to a young man from Kitchener, Johnny Brent. Johnny was an evervescent, untiring person with a great sense of humour and an uncanny way with musicians, became Doc's right hand man, and he soon became the regular on the show, staying on to MC part of the Doc remained a regular on the show, staying on to MC part of the "CKNX Barn Dance Party" a one hour special that followed the Barn Dance after an intermission to clear away the chairs etc. (Carbert essay, 1995)p.3.

Johnny Brent was first heard on the 920 dial spot in January 1942. Since then he has been tabbed "The Early Bird" for it is his voice that opens the broadcasting schedule at CKNX every weekday at 6:30 am on The Top of the Morning Show. He is also on other programs including - The Hayloft Hoedown, Wed 7:30 to 8:30 pm. Johnny's radio career started in 1940. He is manager of the CKNX Barn Dance and is in charge of live talent at the station. He was born in Waterloo, Ont on October 24, 1921 and attended St. Jerome's College and Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate. He is a sports enthusiast and has participated in almost every game there is. He has two sons. (25th Anniversary, 1951) Johnny is an ardent sports fan having participated in many sport including hockey, football, baseball, boxing, basketball, golf and others. His hobby is horse-back riding and looking after his horses. Johnny has been slated for television appearances on various shows and it looks like the name Brent will remain before the public for years to come as Johnny has two sons, Gregory and Terry who are following in his footsteps. (OST-2, 1955, p.19)

"Johnny Brent was the Barn Dance. It was no secret that Johnny produced and booked the shows and shaped what the Barn Dance was over a long period of time. Johnny was also the Sports Director at CKNX. But he was so immersed in the Barn Dance, that whenever there was a need to fill time on a show, he'd plug that week's upcoming Barn Dance. In fact he did it so consistently and was so known for it, that the TV directors would use the term "Plug the Barn Dance" to mean "stretch for time." (BD-15, 2005)

"Live talent is essential and must be carefully selected if a television station expects to build local programs to maintain a steady audience." These are the views taken by Johnny Brent, Talent Manager of CKNX-TV and his experience in this field should put CKNX-TV high on the list for good local live programs. Johnny is now in his 17th years in radio having spent 15 of them with CKNX in charge of talent. An example of his capability is the fact that he took over the reigns of the CKNX Barn Dance in 1942 when it was a local studio show and built it into an outstanding feature which is now Canada's Largest Traveling Barn Dance and boasts a cast of over twenty professional entertainers, who travel under the CKNX banner. (OST-2, 1955, p.19)

Johnny's roster of talent includes vocalists, instrumentalists, musical groups and novelty acts besides a listing of entertainers from neighbouring provinces and the United States who appear from time to time as special guests. Besides his thorough knowledge of country and western music, he also has experience in supplying, arranging and emceeing other types of shows. Through his years of this kind of work along with his daily appearances over CKNX Radio, Johnny Brent has become widely known in show business by old and young alike. He confirms our convictions by stating, "We have more than enough live talent to enable CKNX-TV to come up with exclusive, outstanding productions." (OST-2, 1955, p.19)

Since then, professional talent has been hired, the broadcast lengthened to three hours and the territory for traveling thrown wide open to enable the CKNX Barn Dance to visit many of the centers of the ten counties in its coverage. Each year, over forty thousand fans attend these remote broadcasts and it boasts one hundred and fifty thousand listeners every Saturday night.

Charitable organizations are given the opportunity to sponsor the shows. For their endorsement CKNX has made it possible for them to realize close to ten thousand dollars annually to further their work.

From Tobermory to Port Dover, From Sarnia to Toronto, in some city, town or village along the way to these points, every Saturday night at eight o'clock comes the invitation to join in the fun at another CKNX Saturday Night Barn Dance." (25th Anniversary, 1951)

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Johnny Brent, the popular Master of Ceremonies and manager for the Barn Dance show.
1940s
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
Barn Dance Museum, Wingham, Ontario
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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Clark's "Something's Always Sure To Tickle Me" always brought down the house in laughter.
1940s
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
Barn Dance Museum, Wingham, Ontario
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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Clark Johnston's Performance ...
But like most kids my age (14), one of the most significant performances was when Clark Johnston (the Singin Irishman) took to the stage. He'd always kid around with Johnny and say, "You know, you can always tell an Irishman." Then he'd stare out at the audience with that twinkle in his eye and say, "but you can't tell him very much." With his tam kilt and shillelagh, he rolled right into, "Something's Always Sure To Tickle Me." I couldn't wait to hear him conjure up all those belly laughs! His face would contort and grimace with every whoop of laughter he could muster. Everyone was in stitches. He always brought the house down with that one song and had everyone laughing until it hurt.