[FilioScotia]

OK, we seem to be in 50s TV memory lane mode, with a flood tide of memories about Kitirik, Don Mahoney and Jeanna Clare and others. I had my own local favorite, but it wasn't a kid show. It was a weekly show on channel 11 featuring country singer Utah Carl and his group. And don't forget his little boy Carl Junior. Carl's full name was Carl Beach, and he was not your typical local no-talent. Carl was a darn good singer, songwriter and entertainer. A lot of people, including me, loved his show, sponsored by the Gulf Coast Furniture Warehouse on Hwy 35 in Alvin.

Here's a link to a great article about Carl on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame website. http://www.rockabill.../UtahCarl1.html

[Alpha]

I remember watching him when I was really young. I always thought he was saying, "I'm just a wonder of the waistline." I couldn't figure that out, because he wasn't fat or anything.

[Heights2Bastrop]

I remember Utah Carl from when I was a kid, and for all these years I thought the song was "I'm just a wonder of the wasteland".

OK, Who's next - Curly Fox and Texas Ruby?

[DeeDee]

Utah Carl and the Gulf Coast Playboys at the Gulf Coast Jamboree! He used to play at Magnolia Gardens too.

[artistpro]

Heights2Bastrop, on Saturday, September 2nd, 2006 @ 8:13pm, said:

I remember Utah Carl from when I was a kid, and for all these years I thought the song was "I'm just a wonder of the wasteland".

OK, Who's next - Curly Fox and Texas Ruby?

After hearing the name Utah Carl, the next one I thought of was Curly Fox, lol Last week I found a photo here of Don Red Berry...cowboy actor...who went to elementary school with my dad. My dad told me his real name is (was) Milton Ponboff.
I couldn't believe I found a photo of Berry...I recognized him even after 50 years.

[FilioScotia]

artistpro, on Saturday, February 7th, 2009 @ 9:42am, said:

After hearing the name Utah Carl, the next one I thought of was Curly Fox, lol Last week I found a photo here of Don Red Berry...cowboy actor...who went to elementary school with my dad. My dad told me his real name is (was) Milton Ponboff. I couldn't believe I found a photo of Berry...I recognized him even after 50 years.

Actually, his name was Don "Red" Barry. He was indeed from Houston, and he got the nickname "Red" from the years he spent playing Red Ryder in a string of films and serials in the 40s.

Sometime in the 50s Barry became one of John Wayne's "stock company" of actors, and appeared in a lot of Wayne's movies, including The Hellfighters, which was filmed in the Houston area. The Internet Movie Database says his real name was Donald Barry De Acosta.

He was a little guy with a chip on his shoulder and his "attitude" caused him problems his entire life.

Here's a link to his page on the IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0057983/

This post has been edited by FilioScotia: Sunday, February 8, 2009 at 8:55 AM

[fpfundstein]

I was searching on Google for my grandfather, Utah Carl Beach and came across your posts. It is great to see that he still has fans that are talking about him. Unfortunately, I was a bit young to remember his performances, but I remember many great nights sitting around his house or my great aunt and uncle's house listening to them play and telling great stories. My mom, Sandra and uncle, Carl Jr. have many great stories of their own.

I wish I could find more information about him, but I'm afraid most of it is probably in the film and article archives of the local tv stations and newspapers. I have seen some of his outfits, boots, his guitar and some of his vinyl 45s, but would really like to see some footage of him on tv.

Anyway, thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading your comments.

Frank

[FilioScotia]

fpfundstein, on Sunday, February 8th, 2009 @ 8:41pm, said:

I was searching on Google for my grandfather, Utah Carl Beach and came across your posts. It is great to see that he still has fans that are talking about him. Unfortunately, I was a bit young to remember his performances, but I remember many great nights sitting around his house or my great aunt and uncle's house listening to them play and telling great stories. My mom, Sandra and uncle, Carl Jr. have many great stories of their own.
I wish I could find more information about him, but I'm afraid most of it is probably in the film and article archives of the local tv stations and newspapers. I have seen some of his outfits, boots, his guitar and some of his vinyl 45s, but would really like to see some footage of him on tv.Frank

Didn't you see that link I posted up at the top of this thread? It's to a great article about Carl in the Galveston County Daily News. Do I see your name in that story? Down at the bottom where it lists his survivors?
http://www.rockabill.../UtahCarl1.html

This post has been edited by FilioScotia: Sunday, February 8, 2009 at 7:56 PM

[fpfundstein]

Yes, I did. Bill Cherry was writing that article while I was still in Texas just before my grandmother passed away. It was first published in the Galveston Daily News and then Rockabilly picked it up.

[FilioScotia]

fpfundstein, on Sunday, February 8th, 2009 @ 8:56pm, said:

Yes, I did. Bill Cherry was writing that article while I was still in Texas just before my grandmother passed away. It was first published in the Galveston Daily News and then Rockabilly picked it up.

It's a genuine pleasure to meet someone related to one of my favorite entertainers. Carl was "top of the line" in local country music and I never missed his TV show.

[fpfundstein]

FilioScotia, on Sunday, February 8th, 2009 @ 7:58pm, said:

It's a genuine pleasure to meet someone related to one of my favorite entertainers. Carl was "top of the line" in local country music and I never missed his TV show.

Thank you for the kind words. I will pass this along to my family as I am sure they will really appreciate it.

[Don Julio]

fpfundstein, on Sunday, February 8th, 2009 @ 6:41pm, said:

I was searching on Google for my grandfather, Utah Carl Beach and came across your posts. It is great to see that he still has fans that are talking about him. Unfortunately, I was a bit young to remember his performances, but I remember many great nights sitting around his house or my great aunt and uncle's house listening to them play and telling great stories. My mom, Sandra and uncle, Carl Jr. have many great stories of their own.

I wish I could find more information about him, but I'm afraid most of it is probably in the film and article archives of the local tv stations and newspapers. I have seen some of his outfits, boots, his guitar and some of his vinyl 45s, but would really like to see some footage of him on tv.

Anyway, thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading your comments.

Frank

There is a good photo of Utah Carl and a few of his songs featured on the reissue "Complete D Singles Volume 1":

http://www.bear-fami...ook.html?lang=1

[fpfundstein]

You all may have already seen this, but someone created a MySpace page for my grandfather. There are a few of his songs on there for your listening pleasure and several good photos.

www.myspace.com/utahcarl

This post has been edited by fpfundstein: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 8:46 PM

[artistpro]

[quote name='FilioScotia' date='Sunday, February 8th, 2009 @ 7:45am' post='306344']
Actually, his name was Don "Red" Barry. He was indeed from Houston, and he got the nickname "Red" from the years he spent playing Red Ryder in a string of films and serials in the 40s.

Sometime in the 50s Barry became one of John Wayne's "stock company" of actors, and appeared in a lot of Wayne's movies, including The Hellfighters, which was filmed in the Houston area. The Internet Movie Database says his real name was Donald Barry De Acosta.

He was a little guy with a chip on his shoulder and his "attitude" caused him problems his entire life.

Thanks for the details on Barry's career. Donald Barry De Acosta? Has just the kind of aristocratic ring a short guy would claim for a name, doesn't it? My Dad always laughed when the told me people's real names eg. Tony Curtis...lol! His acquaintance with Don was personal contact...from elementary school days; I trust he had superior information on Red's real name.