Log Cabin Stories: Old Floridy Barn Dance

The Old Floridy Barn Dance of Uncle Harve's Ragtime Wranglers

The "Old Floridy Barn Dance", also called "Old Florida Barn Dance" at times, was a live stage show centered around and promoted by Miami western swing band leader "Uncle" Harve Spivey. His band, the Ragtime Wranglers, were the main act of the show and provided musical and comedy entertainment for the audiences.

Spivey came to Miami in the early 1940s and by the end of World War II, he had found entrance into the city's country music scene. By early 1948, he had assembled the Ragtime Wranglers. Although it was big band and popular dance music that was much more popular in Miami, there was an appetite for rural music as well. Spivey and the band quickly became a popular act in this field and started appearing at different venues in the area.

Soon, Spivey developed his own stage show, the Old Floridy Barn Dance. This show took place on friday nights at the Dade County Armory in Miami. Portions of the show aired over WWPB. The Ragtime Wranglers played a mixture of straight country music and hot western swing to the audiences. Bass player "Happy" Harold Thaxton also entertained folks with a comedy routine "Happy and Slappy", which he performed with other members of the group. Following the stage show, a barn dance took place that was called by Spivey, who was also a "champion square dance caller".

In 1950, Spivey added the singing Webb Sisters to his act (one of them, June Webb, would find moderate success in Nashville). Sometimes, the show also featured other local singers such as Rusty Pennynail and even popular music bands like Chet Springer's Popular Dance Orchestra. At times, the Old Floridy Barn Dance set out to appear at other venues such as the Biscayne Palace.

It is hard to determine how long the Old Floridy Barn Dance lasted. It began likely in around May 1948 but by July 1949, Spivey had signed a contract with the local Wometco Theater chain, which presented him and the Ragtime Wranglers five nights a week at its different theaters of the area. In addition, they had switched to WGBS in May that year. In 1954, the Ragtime Wranglers disbanded and their busy performance schedule came to an end.

If anyone has memories of attending Old Floridy Barn Dance shows, of Uncle Harve and the Ragtime Wranglers or of Miami country music in general, please feel free to leave a comment or send an email.