Oral History Interview with Randy Atcher and Betty Atcher

[The last interview on June 5, 2000.] Did we talk about the forming of the trio–High, Wide and Handsome? OK. My illness: Well, in early October, 2001, I started having trouble breathing–you know I read at the Printing House for the Blind everyday–and I couldn’t get my breath completely and I thought, Well, [blip] and it went on about 10 days and I thought I’d better go see the doctor, so I went over [blip] and he looked me over and he said, We’d better do an X-ray [blip] this medicine for 10 days and come back and see me. It was an antibiotic. Well, the walking pneumonia comes later–that’s what I’s getting [ready to say]. So I went back in the 10 days and he checked me and nothin’ had changed. So he said, I’d better do an X- [blip] almost immediately he said [blip] [blip] [blip]. [Wife Betty Atcher says she jotted all this down because you had been asked about it so many times. We went to the pulmonary guy–that was Dr. Reynolds Moody–name??–yes, I’ve got it written down. I’ve got it sort of in order here.] [blip] they did a biopsy and went in through my back–did a biopsy–[he mentioned something about finding cancer in two places: up near his windpipe and on the lower part of the lung–check??]--[blip]–and found oat cell carcinoma–they call it–it’s supposed to be–well, the first thing he said, Well, that’s treatable–that’s treatable. And it’s supposed to be [blip, blip, blip]. [Wade Hall says, Oh, can you print this out for me? Betty Atcher says, I can. Hall says, That would be good.] [blips] [She talks about the schedule of treatments.]

[Wade Hall says, It takes your energy away, doesn’t it.] Yeah, it does. But the first time–they tell me that they judge by your weight and size and so on, how tough to make the first treatment. So [blip] five days my white count was down to 600 and it should be [blip], and they had me in a room where ever’body had to wear a mask when they came in–when you’ve got a [white] count that low, you could get anything, you know. [blip] Anyway, I was there for about five days but then I came out of there and [blip] all right, you know, and the next session I had of chemo they made it about 70 percent of the first one [blip]. I was fine for–I guess four of the chemo treatments [blip], and all of a sudden, around the first of January, it hit.And [blip] [laughs] [Wade Hall says, Well, you’re lookin’ good today.] Well, I’m feelin’ OK but fortunately, they’ve changed the medicine. They found out when I stood up my pulse just practically went to the ground, and [blip] all that heart medicine as well as the other. And they finally discovered that I had two heart medicines that were [can’t understand and then blip]–blood pressure–[he takes a lot of stuff that controls his blood pressure, Betty says]–so they [blip] decided to leave off one of those. And since then, I have felt better. They [the medicines] were to lower the blood pressure and in doing that, that lowered the pulse rate too. [And it exacerbated everything.] [blip] but [can’t understand] I fell, and fortunately, just hit the carpet and kind of scraped my face a little. But a [blip]. [Wade Hall says, Well, he is, and Hall and Betty laugh.]

I’ve lost about 15 pounds. [It’s been real gradual, Betty says. And they warned us in the beginning–they wanted him to eat–eat anything–eat fat--stuff that he hasn’t been able to.] Well, I can eat but I don’t crave food at ‘tall. At least it’s getting a little better now but [blip]–I am doing better now. [Betty says, It’s characteristic of chemo because it numbs your taste buds and you have–blip] [Wade Hall says, blip--I don’t have a problem with food–I can eat just about anything.] [Randy Atcher laughs].

I recorded with my brother Bob a number of songs.[Wade Hall says, I have some of them in my collection at the University of Alabama but I don’t know if they have cataloged them yet.] No, I don’t have a discography–I never have had that. “Cool Water” and “You Are My Sunshine.” [Betty Atcher mentions “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain”]. There were several–I’ve got–in a book of word–would probably make it so I can find ‘em–I wrote several “On Account of You”–my brother did [blip, blip]–several that we did–Bob and I did together–and then of course the reverse side of “Cool Water” was a song called “Pennsylvania Pal.” [blip] “Papa’s Goin’ Crazy, Mama’s Goin’ Mad” [blip]. I’ll tell you what, Wade, I’ll see if I can go through this. “Cool Water”–it’s on the Internet. [blip, blip]

Bob and I appeared on the Grand Ole Opry–it was late– 1:00–late in my career. It was a Saturday night. And we did a couple of songs and then we were on the Ernest Tubb Record Shop [blip]–same time. On the Opry, we performed “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” and uh, let me seee [blip]–we may have done “Cool Water” ‘cause we did that a lot. Yeah, we would have done probably more than one song. Ernest Tubb was responsible for our being on the Opry–he got us invited. I had met Ernest Tubb during the time when I was at WHAS [blip]–and at two or three different places where he played, I’d talked to him. And [blip} I always kind of liked him as a person but wasn’t too crazy about his singin’ [laughs]–but as a person. “I’m Walkin’ the Floor Over You” was his BIG hit.

Yes, I know that Pee Wee King helped Ernest Tubb get to Nashville. I had just read it or heard it or something. Well, Pee Wee and I were what I’d call good friends from 1934 when he came to Louisville, uh [blip]. We did perform together some; we’d do a show and my group would be on and Pee Wee’s would be on. And then we’d often do a closing thing together, you know. But, uh, yeah, Pee Wee and I got along fine. I liked Pee Wee–he was a nice guy–nice guy.

It was exciting to be on the Grand Ole Opry but it was just such a short time–you just couldn’t tell a whole lot about it but it IS an exciting [thing]. [Wade Hall talks about how exciting the Opry was to him as a boy, listening to it, never realizing that he’d actually get to know somebody on the Opry someday, and Randy Atcher laughs knowingly.] Yeah, it seems like it’s goin’ to hell now, you know. [blip] [Wade Hall says it’s going in so many directions–there’s no core there anymore–and Randy Atcher agrees. I don’t know–maybe that’s the way society is going–and Randy Atcher agrees.] I think it is–[laughs]–what they call country music today [doesn’t agree with him] [laughs].

I had a three-month “Hayloft Hoedown” on Channel 32 after I left WHAS. After we’d left WHAS, they called me and wanted me to come over there and do a 13-week program–they had a sponsor for it–I’ve forgotten who it was now-- [blip] it was fine except I couldn’t have Cactus–he was under some kind of agreement with WHAS that he wouldn’t [blip] appear for two years, I think it was after the show had [blip--stopped running on WHAS.]. ...the rest of ‘em but Tiny Thomale [blip] and anything else. And I had to [blip]. And that was what the contract was for, and I decided not to go on with it. I’m sure that not having Cactus made a difference because he was such a part of our shows all the way through and uh, [blip].

My first wife Daphne. I had wanted her to become a U.S. citizen and she wouldn’t. The other thing I had wanted her to do was not to become a Catholic because she was totally against it. Her father was Catholic before. And had some problems–he was at some [place where there were brothers, and didn’t like it]–and got away from it completely, so his family [didn’t have any religion, to speak of blip, blip, blip,] Well, she was raised in the Anglican Church but apparently didn’t go much–she didn’t after we got married–[blip]–but, uh [blip]. That was true–she didn’t care for Catholics–[blip] and she didn’t like my family–well, openly with regard to seeing the family. She didn’t like my parents, didn’t like my brothers and sisters, or anybody–so, you know, [she] just stayed away.

No, I never considered divorce. I was raised one of these Catholics that says, you know, it’s permanent. [blip] There were occasions when I should have though of it ‘cause one time she hit me in the head with [a skillet]. [Wade Hall asks, Well, why did she stay with you then because she could have left?] Oh, I remember now what it was [that second thing I wanted her to do]–go back to Australia for a visit. And she would not do it [blip]. She said everything back there’s changed and [I’m not going back.] Yes, she was kind of a woman without a country. Overall, she didn’t like the United States. But I don’t know whether I mentioned it or not but her family was raised to hate country music [blip--and birthdays]. And when I came back here after the war, she was wantin’ me to go in [blip–another profession].

[Wade Hall says, But you’d be an early success so this was kind of natural to get back into country and Western music. And it was a good time for musicians.] Yeah, and of course, my brother and I had been in Chicago, and I went there first [after the war] ‘cause you know, they’re supposed to give you back your job. [blip] Bob had come back about a year and a half before I did. [blip–he had been performing] by himself and so on, so there wasn’t anyplace for me to get in. [blip] who was a friend of his and I’ve forgotten his name, but anyway, he was gonna open a small radio station in Savannah, Georgia, so he asked me if I would go down there as his musical director and so I [blip–did]–on Tybee Island [blip]–so we played pop music [laughs] shows and a country show [laughs] and so on [laughs]. Yell, we kind of had to do that–we were the only live entertainment they had of any kind, and this was before there were a lot of networks things [blip].

[Wade Hall says, Pee Wee had to play pops too. A lot of people complain that country music has sold its soul. Well, it’s not the core it used to be but it’s been evolving from the very beginning, hasn’t it?] Well, it really has although some parts of it hadn’t[??] [can’t understand his word] and that’s why I always liked the Western music better than anything else.

I always wore a Western costume. [blip] I’ve got some pictures I can give you, that I’ll get to you, that have pictures of me [blip–in costume]. [Wade Hall says, Where do you think that comes from because the roots of country music really aren’t Western–they’re Southern and mountain and country.] Right, and that’s what we did at first. When I first went into it, I wore overalls and blue shirts [blip]. I’m sure that Gene Autry influenced that [the Western style of clothes that caught on in the country-Western music business] to an extent. I don’t think I got into the Western [blip] where I did –I was doin’ the country music thing and when I got back from [blip, blip, blip]–that’s when I started wearing Western. That’s when I felt like I had discovered that people want to see you in costume–not just like they do now–wear a T-shirt and pants [with a hole in the knee] and all that stuff. Anyway, from then on [blip–I wore a Western outfit].

Yes, I was assuming a role. I was an actor as well as a musician. And of course, that’s where I developed my love for country music. And that’s where I learned “Cool Water:[blip]–that to them and then decided to move to [blip]. [He had talked about loving Western music when he performed with the group in Iowa].

The most popular song that I have written other than the T-Bar-V music is “Soft Shoulders and Dangerous Curves”–[blip]–“Swing High” and “Soft Shoulders and Dangerous Curves.”

Yes, my sons were raised as Catholics. Well, they don’t practice it. My youngest went through Catholic [blip–schools–I think he mentioned Trinity High School] [Mark, the older, went to] Catholic Country Day–Aquinas–he graduated from there–Aquinas. And [blip] into languages–-he had, oh gosh, [blip] because he was so much [he had wanted him to consider going to Georgetown University because of the diplomatic corps??]–[blip, blip, blip]-got his Master’s and was going to get his Doctorate and found out Doctorates were goin’ beggin’ [blip], you know. He majored in languages. And he taught Spanish for one year [in Oldham County schools and didn’t like teaching, I believe].

Mark works for the government–has now for–golly, he’ll be retiring [before] long–[blip] in a reserve center–he was in a reserve center here as a civilian and also a reservist. He’s already had to retire [blip] and uh, [blip] I can figure out [blip]. Getting them into training when they need to be there and prepared and ready [blip–what he does with the reserves].

He does work in community theaters, and he found out that ever’body who plays music did it for nothin’, you know, so it was a while before he got into it but they’re community theaters–apparently quite a few–different [blip] is one of ‘em and he [blip].

I have one grandchild and one great-grandchild. Now Betty has two or three grandchildren [blip].

Daphne did not smoke. But I did, yes. I started in–during the war–and that reminds me, she smoked then but quit right after she got back here [blip]–yeah, I [started] when I was about 23 or 24. Yeah, I was a later beginner. Sixty years, I guess, I smoked. I started in the Army because everybody was smoking–pretty much that. [blip] Well, I wish had [not smoked for very long–like Wade Hall] [laughs].

My son Mark’s wife’s name is Cathy.

I wrote all of the songs on the “T-Bar-V and More” cassette. All of those are my songs.

I appeared on the Renfro Valley show–just that one time I was down there–and John Lair was still there [blip]. I don’t really remember what I performed there that one time. It was a very popular show nationally at that time–it would have been in the 1950s.[blip] Yes, John Lair was kind of an institution; see, he was in Chicago at the old WLS Barn Dance [blip]. Red Foley was part of the band. And John played the jug. He was a jug. And Slim Miller [blip–I think he mentioned another band member by name]. He was the MC up there for quite a while and when he came back to Kentucky, he did this and–[blip]--hired ever’body and did ever’thing. They have a museum down there now. I haven’t seen it. Fellow named Old Joe Clark–I think he recently died–anyway, he had called me several times to come down and see all this but I never got around to it. [Wade Hall says, When you get well, we’ll take you down ‘cause I want to see it too.] OK, OK.

My father traded a one-room log cabin and two acres of ground for a fiddle–it wasn’t his first fiddle–it was just for a fiddle. I now have–I think my oldest sister and brother [blip]–five or six ‘cause the two oldest were [blip]. This log cabin was located down in Hardin County–he was from–actually lived in [blip]-- at that time Rodgersville but now it’s part of Radcliff. Of course, you know, my father was from Rodgersville, or Radcliff now, and my mother [blip–was from] Stithon, right nearby. I expect those two acres are worth quite a bit more than he [gave for them] but I have no idea where they are [laughs]. I’ve got the fiddle in my possession. [Wade Hall says, we’ll have to take a picture of that sometime.] [Randy Atcher also said there’s an Atcher family cemetery on the Fort Knox reservation.]

My father played the fiddle very well. He won the contest a few times but he was a working man and thought of music as recreation more than work, you know. So we did–I think I mentioned about that two-week [blip–tour] he came after takin’ off work and so on [laughs]–got back and he was–he’d had all that he wanted [laughs]. Well, my father was not so much an inspiration or a role model to me; my brother Bob who started doing the radio thing–that’s where it came from. My father played at home–people who come visit and so on–but he didn’t push us to play or anything like that. I was fairly close to my father. He was of that period when you didn’t get too close, you know. Fathers and sons, especially, shook hands instead of you know–they didn’t hug–right. I was closer to my mother–we all were. She, uh--of course, Dad was workin’ so much he would work all day at Kosmosdale [Cement Co. and come home and work in the fields ] turn around and work the rest of the day till dark–we didn’t see him as much. They used to say he did three people’s work at the cement factory he worked so hard.

I performed with Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers when they came through Louisville. That was in 1958, I think it was when it was. And they had come here for some [blip]

and one I think was gonna be a paid [blip]–to go to places like Kosair and places like that to visit. blip] And the fella named Perryman was not feelin’ well and they asked me if I would go with them during this [blip]–was OK by the time they did the pay show, you know. But Roy was real nice to me [blip] and got some of those together for us.

I guess you could say I was tempted to go to Hollywood to make a Western movie with others as Pee Wee did. But did I tell you about the Herman Bernie–the agency ready to promote me–that was before the war? After I got back from the war, there wasn’t much of an opportunity because--I don’t know–Louisville was kind of off the beaten path. However, Bob and his wife did do a movie with Charles Sterritt [check spelling??]. No, I don’t remember the name of it. Somewhere I’ve probably got it. Bob’s wife was Bonnie Blue Eyes–they called her. Her real name was Loeta Applegate–was what her name was. And then the [blip–current] wife–[blip]–is out of the picture completely–she just never HEARD of her [laughs]. So I’m always careful not to spring the name [laughs] on her. His present wife lives in Hunting Creek.

I don’t know or remember all the “Hayloft Hoedown” guests–I said I thought I could get a list of who appeared on that show from the Crusade roster. But I called WHAS and they said, Oh, yeah, we’ve got all those–we’ll give you. They gave it to me and it’s just nothin’. Not even [blip]. What they did was they’d take 1960 and show that somebody was on five times, you know, and somebody else was on, so I’ll just have to go through and....Some of the ones I remember off the top of my head–of course, Homer and Jethro, and Frankie Carle, Earl Wrightson who was a stage person–he was out at the Iroquois Amphitheatre. Pat uh [blip]. Ray Price. Marty Robbins. [blip, blip] I’m trying to think now of some of the actors on–Ishkabibble [sp??]–you remember him? Pat Butram. Then there was also a fella–he was a Catholic–what was his name–he dropped ashes in the microphone as he was being interviewed--I’ll never forget the interview [laughs]–what the devil was his name?–he was an actor–Pat O’Brien, yeah. And let’s see–oh, Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme. Of course, I think before it became the Crusade–Garry Moore–was on the show–the old show–except for the one who’s still on [TV]–Carol Burnett–she didn’t come [blip]. And Durwood Kirby and so on.

Other television markets had birthday shows in the ‘50s and ‘60s but “T-Bar-V” was unique because–it wasn’t because of having the children come to the studio–they all had that happen but I think the unique thing was that we talked to each child. Most of them would have bleachers and you know [blip], talk to some of ‘em. And then ever’body would sing “Happy [blip--Birthday”]. But I’m sure there were some probably in the country that were kind of like “T-Bar-V” but I [blip]. But none of the children left disappointed because they were all on television–except the ones who couldn’t be away from Mom. Some of them had to leave before the show started–they got taken by their parents–because they’d either cry or just, I’m not gonna do this–that attitude, you know.

When we first started, we had no idea about age. ‘T-Bar-V” was on from 5 to 6:15 p.m. [blip]. And we did–we talked to the kids about their birthdays–so some of them were as old as 12, 13, 14 years old of age and the youngest we tried was 3, and at 3 it just wouldn’t work. So we finally settled on 4 for the lower age; the upper age didn’t really matter but it came down to the fact that [blip–8 was a good upper limit]–I can’t help but think about 1950–[blip–a 14 year-old]–how old would they be [laughs]?

The book signing at Hawley-Cooke in December last year–it was really nice. [Wade Hall says, There was a warmth there for you–you were part of their lives.] Yes, it was satisfying to me.

Which reminds me–Betty will–I’ll have her get some–after I told people about my cancer at WHAS [blip]–if they wanted to send any cards, send them [blip, blip–to the station and the could deliver them to us]. I guess we must have gotten 500 or something like that–[blip]–even from men talkin’ about what “T-Bar-V” meant to them.

There were square dancers on “Hayloft Hoedown.” They performed each week–the Hayloft Hoedowners we called ‘em. And they square danced each week. [blip] for a long period of time–just toward the end, it got to the point where the [blip, blip]. Oh, let’s see, there were the Inscos and the [blip–name]–couple–they were married couples. They were amateurs–they were not professionals. You know I don’t know whether they were paid to be on the show–I never asked–I know they wanted to be on every week. And Ray Bond was the most popular caller for them–and I think he’s still around. I think they probably did it gratis because they really enjoyed it. And of course, they would have these square dance convention things, you know, and because of having been on, it sort of made them a little more popular than some of the others.

Honey Evans was Dale Evans. When Bob and I were on WHAS [blip, blip] with us–from 7 uh, [blip]. She wasn’t Louisville–I think she was from Texas. She came here [blip] to come, [blip] you know–she was here. In those days, WHAS was one of the big stations in the country–you could hear it all over. I would say she was at WHAS not long but at least six months to a year.

The mob scene I described in an earlier interview happened at 22nd and Garland. This was during the Depression. Bob and I–we were sponsored by the IGA–Independent Grocers Association. And once a month, we would appear at some grocery and we had a fella who was on with us called Salesman Sam, and he’d auction off groceries, you now, by the baskets of groceries. And we [blip] got on the street–as far as you could see, there were people, you know. And at that time, I was dressed sort of fancy–I had a necktie on, coat or jacket of some kind on. Well, they got loose some way or other and they started pullin’ off my clothes and one of ‘em got my necktie–almost choked me but I was able to get it off. [blip] I was 14 or 15. I think they already had the groceries so they were after me [laughs]. It is–it is scary–because they’re all around you. It’s like being under something and you can’t see your way out, really, but fortunately, there was a real good friend [blip–a policeman] and he just stepped in and took me out of there, I don’t think it did me too much damage [laughs.] Yes, I can understand why Elvis had to leave the building while the audience was still there. This was 1934. And Bob was with me at that event. It was sponsored by IGA and we’d go to different stores.

Betty and I have taken some trips abroad in recent years. Well, the first time we went, we went to Europe–to see “Omeramagau” in 1990–the Passion Play in Germany–which is an amazing thing. And in ‘92 we went to Alaska and in ‘98 we went to the British Isles. Yeah, I enjoy traveling. [Used to, Betty Atcher says, but we’re a little scared about it now after Sept. 11th. We’ve done a lot of trips in the United States by car–and fly too.] One year we found out you could buy an airplane ticket for–it seemed to me it was like $999 and could go anywhere all year–TWA had that–so we got them–you could anywhere but you only go to the same [blip–city three times maximum, I think they said]. So we traveled all over–I have a sister in Massachusetts–we went up there–we went to Denver–went to Hawaii. [We did a lot of that stuff, Betty says]. I do–I like to travel. [My children live all over–[blip]–we’d go see them and we’d get a map and go all over the area and have fun sightseeing all over while they were at work, Betty says.] [Wade Hall says, After the trip to Renfro Valley, you’re going to do all that again. And Randy and Betty say, I hope so. We still have a couple of tickets left over from October when we THOUGHT we were goin’ to Florida, so we’re hopin’ that maybe we’ll still get to do that when he gets to feelin’ better, Betty says.]

From the very beginning of the “T-Bar-V Ranch,” black children were allowed to appear on the show. They did not hold anybody back. All you had to do was write in and find when you would be on. The show’s audience was always integrated. [Betty Atcher says, And one of your favorite people that you had on was the librarian–the black lady who worked at the public library–the storytelling lady–Barbara something–yell, she was well known and she was always on.] Yeah, it was integrated–it was always integrated–and some of those little black kids came in there with a Hopalong Cassidy outfit–the cutest thing to me, I’ll tell yah [laughs]. [And oh, they greet him–you now, young people in this age group–today–black and white, Betty says.] No, there was no problem with the parents or white children that I knew of. That was kind of unusual for that time–I hadn’t thought about it but that was prior to–wadn’t it ‘54–‘56 was when they integrated public schools–but the Supreme Court decision was ‘54.

Awards and recognitions I have received–[Betty jokingly says they’re about 2,000 of them.] I tell you they’re so many of them Betty only has about a third of them. [Betty Atcher says, I went to print stuff out from the computer, and he’s been getting requests for this stuff lately and I figured I’ve got to have this stuff in hand–I’m tired of this trying to put it together, you know. So I’ve got several things. Stuff I’ll give to Gregg. There’s the history on his cancer.]

The full name of the show was “T-Bar-V Ranch”–no The in there. And “Hayloft Hoedown” was the same–no The in the name.

When you listen to that tape, there might be something that we missed. Just call me anytime and I’ll be glad to talk about it.

[Betty says, When WHAS began to celebrate its 50th anniversary, from that day on, which would have been two years ago--2000–February, March [blip]–it’s like there was this great uprising and people began to remember about Randy. So really, since that time, he’s been called upon–people have made contact with him really much more diligently than they had in the past–although he’s always been active and been called upon for different things.] [Wade Hall says, Well, Randy is a respected member of this community. And also, he got to these people when they were young and impressionable. Randy Atcher says, Yeah, right.] [Rachel Platt with WHAS came out here about the same time you–Wade--were coming–that winter–that was two years ago–and talking with Randy. Rachel decided that WHAS would do a special on him, so she came out here and talked, talked, talked forever–and we were here for quite a while [blip]–and even to the Printing House–and they did a nice series and we’ve got that somewhere where they did a couple of days of interviews that they showed. Anyway, when we decided we were gettin’ so many calls about his health and everything and that he needed probably to go public with it–let it be known what the situation was–and that’s when Rachel came again and kind of based on her past knowledge of him, she came out here–they did trips to the doctor’s office–and we’ve got the tapes of that too. As a result of that most recent thing which would have been in October–October or early November of ‘01, she said if anybody wanted to write cards, she said to us, Do you mind if we just go ahead and put a P.O. Box number down and let people [blip-- send them all to the station. Betty said that sounded good to them because with the anthrax scare, no telling what we might get with the volume of mail coming in. Apparently, at the station, they have some sort of a system whereby everything’s automatically checked out. Well, at least three times Rachel has called and said, I’m sending a packet or somebody will be out delivering it. And we must have 300 to 400 cards that have come from people through that period of time, and they’re just so touching. People are just pouring out their hearts–and these are total strangers–but they care, you know.] [Wade Hall says, Yeah, they’re strangers to him but HE’S not to them, and Betty agrees.]

[Betty Atcher continues: So I keep pulling out every now and then–and I’m kind of saving some of the sentiments because they’re just so really, really sweet and nice. And I thought you might want to look at just a FEW of them.]

[Wade Hall says, Well, you know, Randy was more intimate with his audiences than most performers are–and Randy agrees–it was the nature of the programs–especially “T-Bar-V”–and of course, television was in its infancy. It was exciting just to see it but to be on it YOURSELF–and Randy laughs at this.]

[Betty says, Well, people will write and they’ll say–the opening line is--You are so [blip–special to me]–My goodness!! And they say, God would not let bad things happen to you. You’re going to be all right. And you know, we’re praying for you and every church and every denomination–it’s just amazing stuff!!]

[Wade Hall says, Well, it is gratifying–I know–for you–and Randy Atcher agrees.] It sure is. [Betty says, And I tell him when he gets down, Just go look at that–I’ve got two big bulletin boards where I’ve just stuck these cards and they’ve got those elastic bands and I just keep stickin’ more and more and more cards in ‘em. And every time they come, they’re just really–really they continue to [blip]–[when] he gets back to normal, then he probably will–maybe that’ll be–they’ve already called him about the Crusade–want him to do that monologue

SIDE B

1,200 copies of the David Inman book had been printed initially. There was a big waiting list because not everybody there that night at the first signing could get copies. And I went back and signed again for an hour and a half. They tell me it had been through its third printing–I don’t know how many [copies] had been printed. [Are any more being printed?] [Betty says, And David carted box of them out here. And he said, I’m not gonna ask Randy to come back to Hawley-Cooke. I’ll tell you how many people–neighbors, and you know, people who said, I want to buy one and get you to sign this–I didn’t get to be there that day, you know. And so it was an ongoing thing.] Indeed it is. [Betty says, David, I know, is thrilled to pieces but he had no idea that it was gonna go that way.] [Wade Hall says, Well, we know why it went–that was obvious.] [Betty says laughing, And all Randy ever got out of it was a few free copies. But that’s all right.]

Well, as far as royalties or anything like that is concerned, it dudn’t [doesn’t] bother me any. I’m just pleased that somethin’ will be out, that years down people will read it and either remember or say my dad talked about that–my mother–or somethin’, you know.

[Betty says, showing Wade something, People just say such thoughtful, kind things.] [Wade Hall says, This is incredible. You can see sincerity written on...] [Betty says, And you know, so many men write these. And you don’t think of men–men aren’t supposed to be touchy-feely–they’re not supposed to express their feelings. No, he doesn’t know this person but we wrote him a note. Right, he FEELS that he knows Randy] The cards have been nice. People have sent them to California, to Texas, New York–people who were on ‘T-Bar-V” who were here for it [the book signings] and then have me sign it to somebody, you know...

[Betty says, When that fella got that reunion up–that was last year–in May, I think–and we had very mixed feelings about that because we weren’t quite sure how that [blip]. It did produce this huge number of people–it produced $2,000 profit to go to the Crusade for Children, which we kind of secretly thought the guy who was puttin’ it up was thinkin’ he was gonna take [blip]. I mean the thing snowballed to where Randy felt it was totally out of his hands and he was feeling real uneasy about it. And he finally told the guy, I’m not gonna do this–we just have to sit down and talk about it–I don’t want like the way I’m [blip]–all this kind of stuff and you haven’t even talked to me about it–I don’t know what’s goin’ on–and in fact, said to him, I would like to pull out of this–I don’t want to be a part of it. And so the guy then changed his tune and said, Well, the profit–everything over and above our expenses will go to [blip–the Crusade for Children]. [blip] because, you know, the idea of charging to come in to see him–he didn’t like that idea unless at least it could go to a good cause. His name was Micheal [blip–Swayze–sp??].] He came here from Indianapolis. [Betty says, We just felt real uneasy with him. He ended up putting on a very good show [blip]. And really, we thought what he wanted to do-actually those guys were [blip] from being too restless ]blip] See, Randy–they had paid $8 to $10 to get in there–They STOOD in line and they [blip] were lined up because of this area where they could pose for pictures with him. [blip] to get up there and see him and they everyone had a story they wanted to tell ‘im of somethin’ what happened when they were there. And [blip, blip, blip, blip] he’d hired out–that kind of thing [blip, blip, blip, blip] and then you paid flat rates. [blip] talked the guy into giving a portion of HIS proceeds because I think he just came in [blip]–an operator–he’s gonna make big bucks on this, you know. But anyway, all told, it did end up making $2,000 [blip].

[Wade Hall says, You’re right to be skeptical because there are always people out there who will try to capitalize on misfortune and disaster. Look at the fraudulent schemes that have been since the Twin Tower.] [Betty says, But this young man turned out to be OK. His music was fine. He didn’t demand any particular attention; he simply got up and played and it was somethin’ to do in between [blip] waiting to talk to Randy. So it sort of passed the time. And then once or twice they got Randy up to do somethin’ but people want to TALK to him [blip]. They didn’t really much care whether [he played]–he did a little somethin’ but you know. It was back in May of last year–yes, it was right before the Crusade. And it’s just as if everything snowballed.] I think we were right about this Swayze [sp??] guy because he appeared on the Crusade to give them the money [blip, blip, blip] and toward me since.

[Betty says, He’s back in Indianapolis somebody told us. He left town and [blip–we don’t know] what the deal is.] I think his idea was to promote this country band and once that was done, it was over. [Betty says, But I think he realized–actually, he said [blip]–if it had been out in Cherokee Park or something where Randy was going over here one afternoon and everybody who wanted to could come–something like that would have been OK. This thing of charging for it and you know, all this publicity and everything-and all of a sudden it just snowballed so beyond [blip].] [Wade Hall says, It could have been an embarrassment to Randy and you don’t want that.] [Betty says, Well, he was afraid nobody would show up. Well, that wasn’t a problem [blip–a big crowd, says laughing].] Well, the thing that bothered me the most was Jim Porter’s–it should have been in a–well, originally, he was gonna have it in the old Kentucky Theater [blip] which would have been good, you know.

About the end of December [Betty says, about the first of the year] when [blip]–I don’t know whether it was the chemo or what, but I just got weaker. And so I haven’t been able to go back since to the printing house. The last book I was reading–I’ve got it in there–right in there under my glasses and...

Don’t worry about returning the book [Who’s Who in Entertainment] ‘cause I’ve got Who’s Who in the World, I’ve got Who’s Who in Entertainment for other years.

I was reading Confederate Admiral: The Life and Wars of Franklin Buchanan by Craig Simmons. I’ve read a lot of things that have to do with Civil War and World War II–LOT of things. I like to read non-fiction, you know. And I’ve enjoyed the books but the monitor gets tired of the war [laughs]. But some of them have been about people I’ve never heard of, you know–one of them is a fella named Forrest who was a general in Civil War–I never heard of him. Nathan Bedford Forrest–yeah, he was a fascinating person but I’d never heard of him before.

I don’t read the books over first. I have gotten to the point where I just scan, looking for words I don’t know. Oh yeah, I do check the words before recording–as a matter of fact, keep a list of words I’m not sure about the pronunciation. And they’ve got a good reference library there–biographies and geog–[blip] and biographical dictionaries–and geographical–and all kinds of things. And they also have the Internet where you can check on some things.

[Betty is showing memorabilia from WHAS-TV’s 50th anniversary celebration. Betty says, the audience was made up of people who had been on ‘T-Bar-V”...the bleachers–it didn’t hold a 100 people I don’t think–it was stacked and people standing around–and they drew a lottery so that...yeah, the whole place was just covered with these pictures of the activities [blip]. But they did have him to do a little bit–yeah, they sat and discussed this and they had him to play from time to time different...and basically it was a history of the world in those 50 years-and this was Phyllis and Sam Gifford and Milton Metz and Bud [Harbsmeier]–and of course, he’s been with Crusade for all those years. I did know all those people and of course, Randy and I have known each other forever because of this [WHAS association]. My husband designed this [the Channel 11 logo with the number 11 being the eyes of the man]–he had the best time doin’ that...But this kind of thing–the people who came to this–honestly [blip,blip, blip]–and he stayed forever after it was over and talked to ‘em before it started, you know. Anyway, it’s just been very gratifying. The last two years it’s been this way all along [blip]. We never go to a movie or a trip to the zoo-it dudn’t matter where you go, people [come up to you].

People who get these tapes know who’s reading the books–definitely. Yes, I receive letters–even had one a few years ago and I didn’t keep it and I wish I did–came from China. I think it was an American living in China. [blip] Ever’ once in a while I’ll hear from somebody who, you know, When is the next one comin’ out? or I read this, and are you doing this? You know, and so on.

Of course, I told you earlier they go to the Library of Congress–they send us things–and then they’re sent up there after they’re proofed here–sent up there and they’re proofed there. And they decide whether they’re OK–want to know bad pronunciation and everything like that. And then they’re published through that. So they’re kept in the library for a certain amount of time. I’ve got a list in here of things I’ve read over the years. I believe it said and this was my niece had this done. Oh, gosh, I’d read 428 books at that time. [blip] I’ve been telling Betty lately I read a book by I.B. Kasimov [sp??] about the Bible in which he describes Armageddon and the Middle East–and it’s just like this thing was headin’ for it right now.

The proudest thing I’ve ever done–the thing I most pleased with having done–OK, to answer that question I’ll have to do quite a bit of thinkin’. Let’s see. [he thinks long and hard] Something that never occurs to you. My marriage? Oh, man, I never thought of that as proud [so much] as being lucky. [Betty says, It was fate. Yeah, that’s the best thing that ever happened to either one of us. Of course, I think the fact that he reads at the printing house is where he makes an example of [blip]–you know, listen to–but I don’t know if he’s told you this before but he has a sister–and by the way, she’s in the hospital–we just got a call about that–she’s in the hospital–she lives in Middleton, Mass.–Boston area–and whose name of course is different from Atcher. And there would never have been any reason for years and years and years of these books of Randy’s to connect [blip–the two]. When we went up there the first time after we were married, Josephine planned a big party for us and had all of her friends to come in. And when one friend found out, she absolutely–she was just in seventh heaven and has never forgotten it and talks about it–and she’s highly intelligent–she’s taught [blip]–it was wonderful for me to able to watch it because she said, He’s just like I thought he was. Oh, he sounds just like–and they always say he looks like–you know, in their minds they’ve conjured this vision. And I know when she shook his hand and she could gauge his height and whatever you know–listen to him talk and ever’thing. And she was just–Isabelle has just never, ever gotten over the fact. And she said to Randy–oh, just talkin’ to ‘im [blip].]

Yes, it’s been very satisfying to have reached people from very young to very old and to have a continuing influence on them. I guess I’ve had a good influence on them–as this man–Joe Wheeler–who wrote the letter we were showing you–said–a role model. No, I didn’t plan to be a role model for these people. [Betty says, And he’s almost naive about this. See, when we walk down the street, he doesn’t pay any attention to those people. But I see it and they’re going, That’s Randy Atcher. It doesn’t matter where we are–at a restaurant, at the fair, we’re at the zoo, like I say the orchestra–it dudn’t matter–wherever we go, there are people who [blip–recognize him].

No, there’s really nothing I would choose to do differently if I had a chance to–the major parts of my life–my career. I guess the only thing would be my first marriage wasn’t worth a darn. I guess you learn something from everything in life [including a bad marriage]. Of course, my oldest son was born in Australia so I wouldn’t have had him without it. [Betty says, And that’s one of the beautiful parts about our marriage–we’ve been married for 23 years–and we each had been previously married–not perfect marriages–nobody ever has a perfect marriage. But you appreciate... ] [ At Wade Hall’s remark that they must have pretty close to a perfect marriage now; Betty and Randy both laugh. You’ve learned, haven’t you?] It is true–it is really true [what I said earlier in the interviews about what a good marriage we have]. [Betty says, Well, you learn what--what’s worth gettin’ upset about. I mean he was a different person when he was young–he was striving to get ahead–just as my husband was. You have other things than just pleasure in your mind. And a peace–you don’t always have a peace in your mind because you’re seeking something.]

[Randy and Betty both laugh at Wade Hall saying he recently heard about “starter” marriages–like “starter” houses–it’s as if you need to have a trial house, a trial marriage–and then you learn what you really want.] Yeah, uh-huh. [Betty says, so you do learn from those relationships–if you don’t, you’re not very smart–you’d better learn from ‘em.] Yes, I was lucky that I had a second chance–yes, absolutely–and a LUCKY second chance.

Yes, WHAS was like a family in those early days and it wasn’t so competitive then–you didn’t feel like you had to be looking over your shoulder to make sure somebody wasn’t after you job. Vic Sholis was general manager. He was one of those people who you always knew where you stood but he wouldn’t hesitate stoppin’ you in the hall and givin’ you hell for doin’ somethin’. I liked him because you always knew just how you were with him. There was no, uh [blip–this way today] and tomorrow it’s not, and so on. And I never felt threatened by him. And of course, I think had good reason because when we left WHAS [blip, blip, blip, blip] and the “Hoedown–[blip,blip, blip, blip]– the Binghams were concerned–[blip] as a family–but then when Barry Jr.[blip]. [Betty says, The [blip] started with Barry Jr.–his was one of [blip]–he’d just say, you’d [blip]–such a wonderful example to us [blip]. I think Barry Jr. is enjoying his life. He’s serving on boards. He’s into the arts, you know, and that’s about all. I knew the family was having trouble but I didn’t know that Barry Jr. was bitter over his father selling the newspaper, WHAS-TV and Radio and Standard Gravure. [Betty says, Almost like the royal family and laughs. Very much. They have to learn how to relate to people and they don’t let up. And Barry Jr. says on his card, Dear Randy, You’re an inspiration to thousands of us. I hope this finds you recovering. Best wishes, your [blip–friend], Barry Bingham. You know, it was very, very nice.]

Well, for many years, I didn’t like him because he came in and [blip] took off–and wouldn’t–nothing I’ve told yah [blip] told me earning $300,000 a week [blip, blip]. Anyway...

Yes, Louisville could have become a Nashville, but the Binghams weren’t interested in country music–that’s true, that’s true. [Wade Hall says, And if they had been, they were in a position to have promoted it. They had country music shows on WHAS-TV and Radio but they didn’t push it the way it was done in Nashville by the insurance company and WSM. But Louisville was in many ways better situated than Nashville to become Music City U.S.A.] I remember at one time we talked about the old Strand Theater and havin’ the Saturday night programs there but the station didn’t want to go along with it.

Well, I’m doin’ fine [this interview hasn’t tired me out, as the interviewers get up to go].

[Betty shows a card and picture sent by a fan. Betty says, Here’s a picture of him as a youngster posing with Randy–he just sent it along with the card. As I said, I can’t tell you how many letters he’s gotten from men. It seems that men really do...he gets wonderful letters from women but...]

TELEPHONE CALL from Betty Atcher on February 16, 2002 after a wrap-up interview visit with her husband Randy Atcher at their home the same day:

You asked him about being recognized–what was he proud of. Randy said that as far as recognition for something that meant a lot to him it would be the Alexander Scourby Award he got in 1994. It was something special to him. But this award isn’t so much the influence he’s had on other people as I guess the recognition for it, and he was really proud of that.

You also asked him about having any regrets. He just lives his life in such a way he just always tries to do the best he can and isn’t a person who lives with regrets–so that’s not a problem. He’s so naive about all this he doesn’t really think anything about that [regrets].