Today in Wheeling History: May 10--The Wheeling Jamboree celebrated its 25th Anniversary at the Virginia Theatre, with Hardrock Gunter emceeing a capacity crowd event broadcast nationally on CBS, showcasing what Governor Cecil Underwood had praised as "an American institution and a listening habit" (1958).
May 10, 1958, marked a significant milestone in Wheeling's entertainment history as the Wheeling Jamboree celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special Saturday show at the Virginia Theatre. The event drew capacity crowds who paid 90 cents for adult tickets and 50 cents for children to witness this historic occasion. Sidney Louie "Hardrock" Gunter Jr., a pioneering musician whose early recordings helped shape rockabilly music, served as the Jamboree's emcee that night. The celebration garnered national attention with 30 minutes of the show broadcast across the country on the CBS network.
Established in 1933, the Wheeling Jamboree had grown to become the second oldest country music radio broadcast in the United States after the Grand Ole Opry. By its 25th anniversary, the show had already achieved impressive milestones, having presented 1,300 performances to over 2 million people. West Virginia Governor Cecil Underwood recognized the Jamboree's cultural significance, praising it as "the most imitated show of its kind in the country" and "an American institution and a listening habit."
The Jamboree originated in 1933 on WWVA, West Virginia's first radio station and a powerful 50,000-watt clear-channel AM broadcaster. The show was critical to launching the careers of numerous country music performers, including some who would later achieve mainstream commercial success. In 1946, the Virginia Theatre performances began being syndicated on the CBS radio network as "CBS Radio Saturday Night Country Style," making it the first national radio broadcast from West Virginia.
To learn more: Wheeling Jamboree (https://tinyurl.com/3jmtv6d9) (https://tinyurl.com/f3hcu36u), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/33zurn7a), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/2cz8p26z) (https://tinyurl.com/3ebztpps)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Wheeling Intelligencer
May 10, 1958, marked a significant milestone in Wheeling's entertainment history as the Wheeling Jamboree celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special Saturday show at the Virginia Theatre. The event drew capacity crowds who paid 90 cents for adult tickets and 50 cents for children to witness this historic occasion. Sidney Louie "Hardrock" Gunter Jr., a pioneering musician whose early recordings helped shape rockabilly music, served as the Jamboree's emcee that night. The celebration garnered national attention with 30 minutes of the show broadcast across the country on the CBS network.
Established in 1933, the Wheeling Jamboree had grown to become the second oldest country music radio broadcast in the United States after the Grand Ole Opry. By its 25th anniversary, the show had already achieved impressive milestones, having presented 1,300 performances to over 2 million people. West Virginia Governor Cecil Underwood recognized the Jamboree's cultural significance, praising it as "the most imitated show of its kind in the country" and "an American institution and a listening habit."
The Jamboree originated in 1933 on WWVA, West Virginia's first radio station and a powerful 50,000-watt clear-channel AM broadcaster. The show was critical to launching the careers of numerous country music performers, including some who would later achieve mainstream commercial success. In 1946, the Virginia Theatre performances began being syndicated on the CBS radio network as "CBS Radio Saturday Night Country Style," making it the first national radio broadcast from West Virginia.
To learn more: Wheeling Jamboree (https://tinyurl.com/3jmtv6d9) (https://tinyurl.com/f3hcu36u), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/33zurn7a), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/2cz8p26z) (https://tinyurl.com/3ebztpps)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Wheeling Intelligencer
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