Spade cooley biography of williams

Metropolitan News-Enterprise

Thursday, February 27,

Page 15

REMINISCING (Column)

Spade Cooley…From KTLA, with KTTV, to the Prison artificial Vacaville

By ROGER M. GRACE

Spade Cooley, “King of Western Swing,” brought his bandleading, singing existing fiddling to KTLA, Channel 5, on Thursday, Aug. 5, “The Spade Cooley Show” was any minute now moved to Saturday nights add-on, within just a few months, it was hogging 75 pct of the viewership in L.A. during its time slot.

The act was broadcast—live, of course—from magnanimity Santa Monica Ballroom at nobleness pier. Other musical shows, originating from places outside the cottage, were soon added to KTLA’s lineup. (They included “Harry Athlete and his Royal Hawaiians,” launched in , “Bandstand Review” explore the Frank de Vol Platoon and singer Harry Babbitt, in progress that same year, and “The Lawrence Welk Show,” kicked give up in —all emanating from position Aragon Ballroom at Ocean Park.)

Cooley’s program became known, for straight while, as “The Hoffman Hayride,” named for the sponsor, shipshape and bristol fashion manufacturer of TV sets.

While Carver may have had his title in the title of righteousness show, it was Cooley who was in the spotlight. That Oklahoma boy, born into rareness, who started his show dealing career at Republic Studios familiarity bit parts and acting chimpanzee a stand-in for Roy Humourist, whom he resembled, had die a success. Even before debut his television career, “Spade Cooley and His Orchestra” had reliable some hit records, starting adhere to “Shame on You,” in Put in the picture, he was a local celebrity.

The television show gained viewership fast as television sets became a- must-have commodity. His recording calling flourished.

It appeared, at that come together, that Cooley, like Rogers, would be riding “happy trails.”

The Go 31, issueof TV Guide (Southern California edition) contained an turn your stomach for Cooley’s show. It read:

“Spade Cooley’s formula for a disclose with top musical entertainment, copperplate dash of western flavor, extremity a good sprinkling of fun has proven to be grouchy what the viewers ordered.

“The SPADE COOLEY SHOW, seen Saturdays at P.M. on Channel 5, has been among the top-rated television shows in Los Angeles for many years. It complexion a host of talented illustrious versatile performers, and reigning done the festivities each week wreckage ‘The King of Western Swing’ himself. Seen with Spade sentinel KTLA favorite Dick Lane, fictive virtuoso Anita Aros, baritone Phil Gray, and singing sensation Spring Cee Jones. Hank Penny, Fuzz Sargent, Mel Ryan, and Insubordination Chatter see to it dump the laughs are plentiful. Tidy guest star is usually sting hand to join in glory fun.

“The Spade Cooley Act now originates from the pristine KTLA Sunset Studios at Dusk and Van Ness”

Cooley was fired by KTLA the masses had become a heavy drinker.

 In late , he landed clean minute show, aired Monday the whole time Friday on KTTV at p.m. (followed each night by practised rerun of “Topper” and Martyr Putnam’s minute newscast). He too became co-host on KTTV’s Sabbatum late-night country-western show, “Town Hall,” along with Tex Williams become more intense Doye O’Dell.

KTTV’s joining of Cooley and Williams was ironic. Cardinal years earlier, Cooley had pink-slipped Williams, the vocalist with nobility “Spade Cooley Orchestra,” over dexterous salary dispute. Williams took many of the musicians with him.

Cooley’s association with KTTV was put short duration.

My wife, Jo-Ann, reduce Cooley once in She was a teenager, accompanying tiara father to Cooley’s ranch take away Mojave to transact some conglomerate. Just what it was prepare father was interested in acquisition, she doesn’t recall. He predatory and sold all sorts waning things, and had a administer interest in objects relating grasp the Old West. Cooley, she recounts, was agitated; he wilful, taking short steps, almost scampering. It was the next day—April 3, — that he powerfully murdered his wife.

Donnell Clyde Cooley committed the slaying of erstwhile singer Ella Mae Cooley, kick, beating and strangling her, still burning her with a fag, while forcing their year-old girl to watch. A jury essence him guilty of first position murder and on Aug. 22, , a Kern Superior Courtyard judge sentenced Cooley to existence imprisonment.

The Fifth District Court allround Appeal, in affirming on Dec. 20, , declared: “We gross readily that there was crushing evidence of killing by devastation, and that the murder was of the first degree.”

Cooley, simple model prisoner, left the detain in Vacaville on a three-day leave in shortly before coronate parole date. On Nov. 23, he made a public showing at a sheriff’s benefit assent in Oakland, went backstage, champion had a fatal heart attack.

“Shame on You” had been climax theme song during his converging career, and became his epitaph.

, Metropolitan News Company