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John Wilson "Johnny" BUTTRAM Sr.
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JOHN "Johnny" filed applications for radio stations all o v e r Alabama and was part owner in Haleyville's WJBB; Anni st on s's WOOB (named for his wife Onzelle Octavia); Fort P ayn e' s WZOB (named for daughter Zella Octavia); Sylacauga 's W FEB ; and Roanoke's WELR (named for E.L.Robert, Gadsde n att orne y). It was said that WJBY stood for "Where John ny But tra m Yodels" or "We Jump When Buttram Yells". In 1 947 h e pu t WGAD on the air. He a member of the First Met hodis t Chur ch.
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ONZELLA went to Altoona High School and attended Jackso n S t ate Teachers College where she was "Calhoun Flower Gi rl " i n 1931. Her nick name was "Happy". She was an acco mpl ishe d musician, playing piano, organ and violin. She w as a t a p erformance at the radio station WJBT in Gadsde n whe n she me t Johnny. She was a member of the First Met hodist Church of Gadsde n , active in The Little Theater, P TA and was Director of t h e Girl Scouts.
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JAMES retired from the U.S. Army.
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MAXWELL "PAT" was born in a Northern Methodist Church wh i c h had been converted into a parsonage. He was a actor , e nt ertainer on stage, screen & TV. He was a side kic k to G en e Audrey for over 40 movies and spanned more tha n 12 yea r s during the 1930 and 1940's. He also played Mr . Hane y o f "Green Acres". When the "Melody Ranch" progra m started on the air for ea c h weekly broadcast, Gene Autr y's first and major concer n wa s to see that a tall, husky , awkward fellow, who cam e ambli ng out on the stage wit h a round-eyed stare and a b umpkin g rin didn't trip ove r the microphone and fall fla t on his fa ce. This characte r was Pat Buttram. Radio audi ences all ov er the countr y were aware that when he of th e cracked-cor n larynx plai ntively whined, "Mister Ar-tery" , the comedy w as about t o begin. Pat brought to Melody Ranch a fresh and new bran d of comed y . A Southern Gentlemen, for sure, Pat liked t o say tha t th e town he grew up in, in Alabama, was so sma ll that h e coul d only identify it my naming the county i n which i t was sit uated. There were plenty of country fo lk in th e part of Di xie which he called home, and long be fore he h ad grown up , he had become quite an ardent stude nt of rura l dialect, c haracteristics, and psychology . A natural mimic and comedian, Pat began, as an amateur , ta k ing off some of the rustic town characters. His mim icr y wa s kindly and considerate. He never made any hill- bill y a n object of ridicule; rather did he try to endea r his h omes pun personalities to an audience. For that re ason, Pa t But tram was always a welcome entertainer.
1 _UID 087C1569E410BC46A8F55D0B298864B9CB82
MAXWELL "PAT" was born in a Northern Methodist Church wh i c h had been converted into a parsonage. He was a actor , e nt ertainer on stage, screen & TV. He was a side kic k to G en e Audrey for over 40 movies and spanned more tha n 12 yea r s during the 1930 and 1940's. He also played Mr . Hane y o f "Green Acres". When the "Melody Ranch" progra m started on the air for ea c h weekly broadcast, Gene Autr y's first and major concer n wa s to see that a tall, husky , awkward fellow, who cam e ambli ng out on the stage wit h a round-eyed stare and a b umpkin g rin didn't trip ove r the microphone and fall fla t on his fa ce. This characte r was Pat Buttram. Radio audi ences all ov er the countr y were aware that when he of th e cracked-cor n larynx plai ntively whined, "Mister Ar-tery" , the comedy w as about t o begin. Pat brought to Melody Ranch a fresh and new bran d of comed y . A Southern Gentlemen, for sure, Pat liked t o say tha t th e town he grew up in, in Alabama, was so sma ll that h e coul d only identify it my naming the county i n which i t was sit uated. There were plenty of country fo lk in th e part of Di xie which he called home, and long be fore he h ad grown up , he had become quite an ardent stude nt of rura l dialect, c haracteristics, and psychology . A natural mimic and comedian, Pat began, as an amateur , ta k ing off some of the rustic town characters. His mim icr y wa s kindly and considerate. He never made any hill- bill y a n object of ridicule; rather did he try to endea r his h omes pun personalities to an audience. For that re ason, Pa t But tram was always a welcome entertainer.
1 _UID 087C1569E410BC46A8F55D0B298864B9CB82
MAXWELL "PAT" was born in a Northern Methodist Church wh i c h had been converted into a parsonage. He was a actor , e nt ertainer on stage, screen & TV. He was a side kic k to G en e Audrey for over 40 movies and spanned more tha n 12 yea r s during the 1930 and 1940's. He also played Mr . Hane y o f "Green Acres". When the "Melody Ranch" progra m started on the air for ea c h weekly broadcast, Gene Autr y's first and major concer n wa s to see that a tall, husky , awkward fellow, who cam e ambli ng out on the stage wit h a round-eyed stare and a b umpkin g rin didn't trip ove r the microphone and fall fla t on his fa ce. This characte r was Pat Buttram. Radio audi ences all ov er the countr y were aware that when he of th e cracked-cor n larynx plai ntively whined, "Mister Ar-tery" , the comedy w as about t o begin. Pat brought to Melody Ranch a fresh and new bran d of comed y . A Southern Gentlemen, for sure, Pat liked t o say tha t th e town he grew up in, in Alabama, was so sma ll that h e coul d only identify it my naming the county i n which i t was sit uated. There were plenty of country fo lk in th e part of Di xie which he called home, and long be fore he h ad grown up , he had become quite an ardent stude nt of rura l dialect, c haracteristics, and psychology . A natural mimic and comedian, Pat began, as an amateur , ta k ing off some of the rustic town characters. His mim icr y wa s kindly and considerate. He never made any hill- bill y a n object of ridicule; rather did he try to endea r his h omes pun personalities to an audience. For that re ason, Pa t But tram was always a welcome entertainer.