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| Slim Mims and the Dream Ranch Boys on WBTW, ca. 1950s. Patty Faye Mims seated and Slim Mims as "Uncle Ugly" behind the camera. |
Mims hosted a stable of local shows during the 1950s. He entertained the audiences over WJMX with his "Dream Ranch Jamboree" in Florence, South Carolina, but also hosted a show on WBTW-TV and the "Silent Flame Jamboree" on WNCT-TV in Greenville, South Carolina.
The "Pee Dee Opry" was a later show of Mims', as we first found mention of this show in 1961 in a Billboard issue. The name of the show came from the name of northeastern region of South Carolina, which is called "Pee Dee." Mims was booking the ccts of the Opry and also produced it, while he and the Dream Ranch Boys led through the show. Mims also appeared as the comedy act of the Pee Dee Opry, known as "Uncle Ugly" (a character he already had developed much earlier).
Contrary to his other shows before, which were mainly TV or studio shows, the Pee Dee Opry was a live stage show held every Saturday night at the Ole Opry House in Darlington, South Carolina. The show in total lasted three hours with one of them airing on WJMC (Florence) and WBSC (Bennettsville, SC). It was also taped in order to broadcast it on other stations in the state. The stable of artists that appeared on the Opry is not known but it included up to 30 different acts.
While the Pee Dee Opry ended its run at some point, Slim Mims continued to entertain people personally and on TV. In the 1970s, he hosted the Slim Mims Show, of which you can see an excerpt below. Mims died in 1994. More on the Dream Ranch Jamboree and Slim Mims can be found at hillbilly-music.com.
5 comments:
This was a complete surprise. Quite an array of talent here. I never heard of them and that's probably hard for you to believe, knowing me. Danke Schoen! Bob
My Dad bought our first TV in about 1955 or 1956 not sure what year, I must have been about 5 or 6 years old,for years our family would watch Slim Mims show matter of fact we watch it so much that I grew up thinking I really knew them and I did every time the show would come on WBTW the family would gather around the TV and watch it, I would love to be able to buy the tapes video's of those days and their music, I would love for my kids and grand-kids to see what great people they were. Great People !!!!
My dad, Leon h mims was I believe a 1st cousin to slim mims. My dad was born in. Columbia in 1913 to ashby and Eloise mims. I remember dad once taking us to hear slim mims who was act for the opening of a new shopping mall. Leon as a young boy was sent to Philadelphia pa to live with a brother as his father had died and his mother couldn't afford to raise him.
My dad, Leon h mims was I believe a 1st cousin to slim mims. My dad was born in. Columbia in 1913 to ashby and Eloise mims. I remember dad once taking us to hear slim mims who was act for the opening of a new shopping mall. Leon as a young boy was sent to Philadelphia pa to live with a brother as his father had died and his mother couldn't afford to raise him.
I remember as a young boy watching this program on TV, while getting ready for school. Also, my dad sang with a group known as “Jim & Jimmy” on live performances with the Pee Dee Opry, which was performed in auditoriums in the Pee Dee area. Enjoyed attending these and listening to the performances.
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