{"id":4883,"date":"2019-01-18T11:23:38","date_gmt":"2019-01-18T17:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/?p=4883"},"modified":"2019-02-18T10:54:06","modified_gmt":"2019-02-18T16:54:06","slug":"the-weaver-brothers-elviry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/2019\/01\/18\/the-weaver-brothers-elviry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Weaver Brothers & Elviry"},"content":{"rendered":"

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PLATE 1.<\/b> From left, \u201cAbner\u201d Leon Weaver and brother \u201cCicero\u201d Frank Weaver with June \u201cElviry\u201d June Petrie Weaver.<\/b><\/p>\n

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The Weaver Brothers and Elviry<\/h1>\n

by Joshua Heston<\/p>\n

All but forgotten today, the Weaver Brothers & Elviry, originally of Christian County, Missouri, were one of the greatest stage attractions to ever tour North America and Europe.<\/p>\n

Combining down-home hillbilly humor, novelty musical instruments, orchestral scores, dance numbers and popular songs, Leon Weaver (known as \u201cAbner\u201d) and Frank Weaver (known as \u201cCicero\u201d) performed alongside June Petrie Weaver (\u201cElviry\u201d).<\/p>\n

June would marry Leon about the time the group hit their stride on the vaudeville circuit of Europe. Known even by their close friends and family by their stage names of Abner, Cicero and Elviry, the group became renowned during the Roaring \u201920s, and would inspire folks such as Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl.<\/p>\n

The Weaver Brothers & Elviry pioneered the concept of a fast-paced live show with rapid costume changes, traditional country music and popular music, all tied together with heaping helpings of comedy.<\/p>\n

Sound familiar? From Lee Mace\u2019s Ozark Opry to Hee Haw to the Mabe Brothers\u2019 Baldknobbers Jamboree and the immensely popular Presleys\u2019 Country Jubilee here in Branson, the Weaver Brothers & Elviry prescription for entertainment continues to this day.<\/p>\n

What did that original show feel like? The Ralph Foster Museum has graciously allowed the reprinting of the following 1920\u2019s-era script. Let your imagination wander back to the heyday of vaudeville, celebrating Ozark culture all the way[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4876″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The lights are low, scarcely illuminating the thick red velvet curtains. A fanfare is played by the pit orchestra and slowly the curtain opens. Several young men are seated on stumps and old nail kegs, singing Wagon Wheels<\/em> in the key of D, accompanied by a trio of pretty girls. A campfire is at the left of the stage \u2014 a quaint background of mountains and log cabin frames the scene.<\/p>\n

At the end of the song, Abner (wearing a rumpled black hat, checkered shirt, overalls and black work shoes) doffs his hat to the audience, saying, \u201cFolks, howdy! We\u2019re glad to be here on another visit to your town. I ran on out here ahead to tell you what\u2019s going to happen and what we aim to do. Now we\u2019ve gathered up a bunch of folks just a little bit different than we used to have. Always before we had local Ozark folk and neighbors from down home, but we got the idea of taking in more territory so now we\u2019ve got folks from all over the country and they\u2019re right here with us. We\u2019re going to start entertaining you without embarrassing you at any time. They\u2019ll be dressed up at all times. There\u2019s no advertising, no knock-knock jokes and no fan dances.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to start off by introducing this little band [at which point, Don, Floyd, Warren, Ernie, Harold, Everett, Hank and Curly step up and around Abner]. They play be ear and cuss by note and sometimes we get together.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the same little band that went down to the depot to play for the President when he went through out town. Of course, his train didn\u2019t stop, but we played just the same. Now we\u2019ll try to raise a little rural static…\u201d<\/p>\n

At that, the boys break into From the Canebreak<\/em> accompanied by the pit orchestra. At the finish, Abner returns to introduce Harold Blackwolder to sing Down the Oregon Trail<\/em>. As Harold finishes, the lights dim and Cicero comes from center curtain. Spotlights center on both brothers as Cicero, playing something of a dandy with bowler hat, bow tie, pinstripe suit and oversized black riding boots, strides to center stage.<\/p>\n

Never once speaking, Cicero leads Abner and the boys in Down In Arkansas<\/em> in the key of F on the auto-harp. Abner joins in with the novelty instrument of musical pipes attached to a farm rake. Cicero continues with the tune When I Grow Too Old To Dream<\/em> and finishes by playing the Anvil Chorus<\/em> on a series of handbells.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4877″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]A bugle call is heard offstage and Cicero and Abner move to stage left to the tune of Dixie<\/em>, Abner saying, \u201cFolks, this is Brother Cicero! I forgot to introduce him awhile ago and he got kinda mad. He wants to get acquainted with all you folk and he thinks I ought introduce him overtime. You gals look over him. He\u2019s a ladies man, all right! Right there stands the Playboy of the Ozark Mountains! Law me, he\u2019s broke up many a home in the hills. You don\u2019t see one like him every day. He\u2019s the pride of our family. The flower of the flock.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cicero responds by grinning the audience and then playing the melody of Nobody\u2019s Sweetheart Now<\/em> with a rubber balloon, leaving stage to pick up a handsaw. Abner continues, \u201cFolks it wouldn\u2019t seem right to be back here and not play the handsaw. After all it was the old saw that got us away from our little farm and here for our first visit which was a long time ago. You\u2019ve heard lots of handsaw music and probably enough of it but I believe Brother Cicero\u2019s got something a little different to offer, other than the way you\u2019ve heard a saw played.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s an experimenter. I should say an inventor. I\u2019ll tell you why. Last summer, up home, he built a chicken coop all by himself and yes, he nailed himself up in it! Oh, he is smarter than he looks. He\u2019d have to be \u2014 to get along![\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4878″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]\u201cNow he\u2019s gonna bring out two tones on this common handsaw. In other words, he\u2019s going to play a duet on one saw! Right here\u2019s something that scientists or nobody has ever explained\u2026 I mean the saw, not Cicero!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cicero plays Moonlight and Roses<\/em>. Abner walks to center stage and Cicero stands at his side. Abner begins, \u201dWe\u2019ve got another one of our family with us. I don\u2019t know whether or not I can get her to come out, she\u2019s so stubborn. I never know what she\u2019ll do next. I\u2019ll go try to get her out.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, Abner begins off stage with Cicero tagging along right behind. \u201cWhoa! Where are you going? Now, Cic, you stay here! There\u2019s always supposed to be someone on stage all the time. Stay here and get acquainted!\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner exits leaving Cicero staring at the curtain. Grinning at the audience, he laughs, then pulls out a large knife and begins whittling on a stick. Abner walks back on stage leading Elviry, a striking woman whose dark hair is framed with a massive checkered bow and matching dress.<\/p>\n

\u201cFolks, this is Sister Elviry! This is the one I was telling you about!\u201d Amid the applause, Abner continues, \u201cI finally got her out here. Now go on Elly. Say something to the folks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elviry mere stares.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ain\u2019t afraid are you?\u201d asked Abner. \u201cNo, I ain\u2019t skeered,\u201d replies Elviry.<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cWell, why don\u2019t you nod like I told you? Elviry: \u201cI ain\u2019t a\u2019going to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cYou ought to nod or speak. Show \u2019em you got a little manners.\u201d Elviry: \u201cI ain\u2019t got any manners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cYou ought to learn some.\u201d Elviry: \u201cI don\u2019t want to learn any manners\u2026 I want to be like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cThat\u2019s no excuse. You should be nice. Tell me one thing: What was you figuring on doing when you come out here?\u201d Elviry: \u201cNot a durned thing. I jes\u2019 come out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cWell, why would I bring you out here then?\u201d Elviry: \u201cI don’t know. That\u2019s for you to worry about. I could stand here flat-footed and look \u2019em in the face all night and never bat an eye!\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cLet me explain. Everyone that comes out here when this is all lit up like this is supposed to be doing something.\u201d Elviry: \u201cNo wonder. If I was all lit up maybe I\u2019d be doing something too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cNo, it\u2019s entertainment, I mean. A song, dance, speech or something like that. Can\u2019t you think of anything?\u201d Elviry: \u201cBusiness with sleeves and Abner asks her why she\u2019s scratching her arm. She answers that she\u2019s the only one who knows where it itches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cIf you do something for the folks, I\u2019ll take you over to see Sears & Roebuck.\u201d Elviry: \u201cI don’t want to see Sears & Roebuck. I was raised on them catalogues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cWell, I got a better idea. What do you think you can do the best?\u201d Elviry: \u201cWell, taking it all in all, getting down to brass tacks, right down to bed rock, I mean, simmering it all down, culling everything out and leaving that one thing I do best\u2026 I don\u2019t know what in the world it\u2019d be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cCan\u2019t you think of something like what you did the last day of school?\u201d Elviry: \u201cI don\u2019t like to think about it. I never passed. Well, can I have my \u2019druthers? If I can have my \u2019druthers, I think I’d \u2019druther sing. I don\u2019t sing good but I sing loud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cAnything to get started.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elviry sits on the wheelbarrow.<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cYou mustn’t sit down.\u201d Elviry: \u201cThey\u2019re sitting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cWell, they\u2019re not singing.\u201d Elviry: \u201cNeither am I.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cI know you\u2019re not but you’re getting ready to.\u201d Elviry: \u201cNo, I\u2019m gonna sit here awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cYou can\u2019t do that! What\u2019s the matter with you tonight Elly?\u201d Elviry: \u201cNothin\u2019. I\u2019m just further behind with my sitting than I thought I was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cI\u2019m ashamed of you Elly.\u201d Elviry: \u201cI\u2019m not proud of you either.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cCan\u2019t you see we\u2019ve got a lot of company here tonight?\u201d Elviry: \u201cI never asked them over. What do you want me to do? Make sandwiches?\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cGo ahead and sing.\u201d Elviry: \u201cI don\u2019t know what to sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cName some of them over.\u201d Elviry: \u201cShe\u2019s More To Be Pitied than Censured,<\/em>\u00a0The Bird in the Gilded Cage<\/em>, The Wreck of the No. 9<\/em>, or The Wreck of the \u201997<\/em>. I can wreck either one you want me to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cOh, sing some old songs.\u201d Elviry: \u201cI don’t know any old songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cWell, sing a late song.\u201d Elviry: \u201cThree O\u2019clock in the Morning<\/em> is the latest song I know. Get some music out here. I can\u2019t sing raw!\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner calls to left stage for Cicero to bring out his big ukulele and when Cicero walks on stage, Elviry shuts her eyes, shrugs her shoulders and turns face to right, away from Cicero.<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cWhat’s wrong Elly?\u201d Elviry: \u201cI can\u2019t look at him and feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cWell, go on with the song anyway.\u201d Elviry: \u201cShould I stand or sit?\u201d [Now sitting down in a wheelbarrow.]<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cGet up on your feet.\u201d Elviry: \u201cThat\u2019s what I was figuring on getting up on if I got up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner and Cicero move Elviry and her wheelbarrow to stage left, pick up their instruments and gather around her.<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cWhen you\u2019re through singing, put in a few steps at the end.\u201d Elviry: \u201cLet me alone. I’ll dance if I get hot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elviry sings Butcher Boy<\/em> and Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley<\/em>, pausing to bawl out the bass player during his solo, calling him \u201ca stump jumper, hay barber, plow jockey, corny-on-the-cob, 10-easy-lessons, and put that thing under your chin and play it right.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end of the song, Elviry pulls up her sleeves, saying to Abner and Cicero, \u201cGet out of the way, boys. I\u2019m gonna dance. I’m just burning up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dancing in the spotlight to the applause, Elviry stops to say, \u201cMuch obliges,\u201d and walks off stage.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4879″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Abner continues, \u201cNow friends, I want you to see Elviry\u2019s boyfriend. Somebody start him out over there [pointing to stage left]. That\u2019s it! Here he is, folks. Totsie Pearson! He\u2019s a friendly little feller. You\u2019ll want to get acquainted with him. He never sees a stranger. He knows everybody in town. Pick out a place there\u2026 and start dancing!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tots comes on stage, waving his arms to the audience, and begins to tap dance. The boys come on stage left and the music begins and the spotlight follows Tots.<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cNow folks, I know you\u2019ve seen all the big shows in the country but in none of those shows have you ever seen a beauty chorus like Elviry\u2019s. She\u2019s take a lot of time and pains to gather up all the best looking gals from the county fairs down home. She calls them the Weaverettes. Bring \u2019em on Elly!\u201d<\/p>\n

With a martial right, left, right, left cadence, Elviry leads her chorus girls on: Sunny, Willa, Lil, Nanon, Mayno and Madelon. The curtain in back of boys raises. The boys play while the girls march on.<\/p>\n

After they\u2019re in line, Madelon breaks rank, pushing her way nearer Elviry. \u201cWhere do you think you\u2019re going?\u201d asks Elviry, telling Madelon to get back to her place. The chorus sings When You Wore a Tulip, exiting left on the finish of the song, then making a second entrance from stage left.<\/p>\n

As the chorus walks back on stage amid applause, Willa bumps into Elviry from behind. \u201cIf you want to ride, I\u2019ll get a saddle,\u201d retorts Elviry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI brought the girls back out to show you what Abner said was true. This is the smartest batch of girls I ever had and I\u2019ve had eight or 10 batches. We\u2019ve been out since Septober. No, it was Nowonder and they\u2019ve picked up a lot of things. Of course, I made them put \u2019em back but they picked them up anyway. They\u2019ve seen a lot of moving pictures and they\u2019ve learned to do some imitations from them nervous photographs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, now I want my prettiest girls to come out.\u201d Madelon walks to center as Elviry continues without looking back, \u201cShe’s just awful smart. I think I’ll just take her home and keep her. Sunny, will you come here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sunny walks out to center as Madelon asks Elviry, \u201cDon’t you think I\u2019m the prettiest one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d says Elviry, turning to Sunny. \u201cSunny, you tell the folks right now what you are going to do. You\u2019ve got such a nice voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sunny \u2014 with perfect, urbane diction \u2014 replies, “\u201cI\u2019d like to give an imitation of Dorothy Lamour singing Moonlight & Shadows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elviry: \u201cGee, I wish I could talk like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the boys form a semi-circle behind Sunny, the lights dim. Spotlight is on Sunny as she sing\u2019s Dorothy Lamour\u2019s song. At the end of the song, Elviry returns to stand beside Sunny: \u201cGee, I like that high-class singing. I never could do it but I sure do like it. Now, let\u2019s see…\u201d<\/p>\n

Madelon and Willa rush to center stage, fussing for their turn. Elviry chooses Willa and, as Madelon returns to the chorus line, makes a face at Willa. \u201cOh!\u201d exclaims Willa loudly, causing Elviry to turn. \u201cWhat’s the matter with you?\u201d asks Elviry. \u201cMadelon made a face at me,\u201d replies Willa. As Madelon shakes her head, Elviry responds, \u201cShe did not. Madelon always looks like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elviry introduces Willa as her own daughter with a naturally pretty voice \u201cthat has never been plowed.\u201d Abner corrects Elviry, \u201cYou mean cultivated, Sister Elly. Not plowed.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4880″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Willa does an imitation of the broken phonograph record (with Bub playing guitar).<\/p>\n

Then \u201chillbilly\u201d Ella Sue does Sophie Tucker\u2019s song Some of These Days<\/em> as well as a number of imitations including the bird (swallow), the dog (spitz), the bee and the honey and limburger cheese, and the mockingbird five miles away. At the finish, the lights come up and Elviry says, \u201cNow\u2026\u201d as Madelon prematurely walks up front from the chorus line.<\/p>\n

Elviry looks at Madelon hard and the girl turns and hurries back to her place.<\/p>\n

Elviry: \u201cI want you to hear my quartet of three girls. They just sing so pretty I can hardly stand it. Here are Mayno Van Zandt, Charlotte Wood and Sunny Clarkson! These girls are from KTWO, Keep Watching the Ozarks, Springfield, Missouri!\u201d<\/p>\n

The trio of girls walk to center as the boys step up behind them. The lights dim as the trio sings With Plenty of Money & You<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The song ends, the girls walk back to their place and, as the lights come up, Madelon pushes her way to center. \u201cDo you know what I’m going to do?\u201d asks Elviry, patting Madelon on the shoulder and smiling. Madelon shakes her head and smiles back sweetly.<\/p>\n

Elviry: \u201cI’m gonna slap you flatter than a wet sock.\u201d<\/p>\n

Madelon turns and runs off stage. Elviry continues, \u201cNanon, come here. What would you like to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nanon: \u201cA tap dance like Eleanor Powell.\u201d As Elviry says OK, the chorus separates, toes to sides of stage. The intro music begins, the lights dim and the spotlight hits Nanon as she sings and dances to You Are My Lucky Star.<\/p>\n

At the finish, Elviry continues: \u201cThat\u2019s all! I just wanted to show you how smart\u2026\u201d \u201cPssst!\u201d interrupts Madelon. \u201cHow smart, I was saying\u2026\u201d says Elviry. \u201cHssst!\u201d goes Madelon, waving.<\/p>\n

\u201cGotta cold?\u201d asks Elviry. \u201cNo, I wanna act! Please!\u201d responds Madelon, jumping up and down and throwing kisses. \u201cWell, come here!\u201d commands Elviry, \u201cWhat do you think you could do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Madelon: \u201cAn imitation of Martha Raye.\u201d Elviry: \u201cAn imitation of Martha Raye? You think you could do it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Madelon opens her mouth but before she can make a sound, Elviry interrupts her, \u201cGood, that’s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! That’s just a sample!\u201d exclaims Madelon. \u201cOh, you want to sing?\u201d says Elviry and Madelon sings the swing number You’ll Have to Swing It Mr. Paganini. At the end, Elviry commands the chorus girls off stage.<\/p>\n

Abner comes on from stage left: \u201cOne of the boys in the band has his own original ideas of musical combination. First he\u2019ll play the clarinet and the accordion at the same time. Introducing Everett Sanderson!\u201d<\/p>\n

Everett Sanderson comes on playing clarinet and accordion simultaneously, the two clarinets in harmony while Tots dances. As the lights go up, Abner explains, \u201cNot long ago in Ripley\u2019s column Believe It Or Not there was a man quoted as playing three clarinets at once. That man was none other than our Everett Sanderson, this man right here. And he\u2019s going to play three clarinets at the same time, just like he played them for Mr. Ripley.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everett stands in the spotlight, playing all three clarinets. At the finish, the lights go up and Abner goes off stage with Elviry coming back on from left, asking, \u201cIf Everett can play three clarinets at once, I wonder how many Joe E. Brown could play?\u201d<\/p>\n

Elviry: \u201cLadies and friends, I have a couple of girls that made up a little dance they want to do for you. You won\u2019t believe it but you will when you see it. They made their own dresses too. It\u2019s Willa Weaver and Madelon McKenzie. Come on kids! Play boys!\u201d<\/p>\n

Willa and Madelon do the double dance to Red Wing.<\/p>\n

After the dance, Elly goes off stage left; Willa and Madelon goes off stage right. The curtain closes in behind Abner as he walks front stage: \u201cNow I\u2019ve got another one here \u2014 get him down here!\u2014 Bugling Sam! Come here Sammy. This is the village bugler down home. Now Sammy\u2019s got an ordinary bugle just like they used in the army. Some folks get it mixed with a trumpet or cornet because it looks like one. It is shaped like one but it lacks an awful lot of being one. A lot of the time Sammy doesn\u2019t get the credit for playing the bugle on that account.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s the one thing we all know. A trumpet and cornet have valves right along here [reaching over to touch the bugle] and have to be fingered to be played. The boy in the orchestra [points to orchestra pit] has one. But this bugle [pointing to Sammy] was made only to play bugle calls on. Sammy\u2019s the only one we know of that can play tunes on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow Sammy, just show the folks you don\u2019t finger it. Grab ahold of the bell with both hands will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sammy plays Bugle Call Rag<\/em>. \u201cSammy here comes from way down in New Orleans,\u201d continues Abner. \u201cThat happens to be Louis Armstrong\u2019s hometown too and Sammy\u2019s known him all his life. Heard him play when Sammy was just a little boy. Now Sammy\u2019s going to do an imitation of Louie on the bugle,\u201d as Sammy plays Basin Street. The boys come out from curtain for this number.<\/p>\n

At the finish, Abner says: \u201cI\u2019ve been doing all the talking. Why don’t you say something Sammy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sammy steps to front: \u201cWe are glad to be at this theater this week\u2014\u201d Abner interrupts, \u201c\u2014Or any other theater as far as that goes.\u201d Sammy steps back and won\u2019t go on. \u201cThat’s all,\u201d he stammers.<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cI\u2019ve got to give Sammy a little time here to catch his breath. It takes a lot of air to play that thing. I know! I tried it once and looked almost as bad as he did. Have you got another little short one you can play Sam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sam: \u201cYes, but I got to have my drummer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abner: \u201cWell, I\u2019ve known this drummer [pointing to drummer in orchestra pit] a long time and he\u2019s all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sam: \u201cYes, he\u2019s all right but I\u2019ve got my own drummer with me this week.\u201d Abner: \u201cWell, where is he? Let\u2019s see him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere he is!\u201d announces Sam, the curtains open and Cicero is at center stage with drums. Cicero laughs and goes into drum routine with Sam, playing Diana<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The curtain closes as Abner says, \u201cThis next scene looks something like our little home down in the hills. As near as we can get it here. The idea is to take you all back to where we live for a little visit. You\u2019re going to see and hear just about what you would if you were over to our house some day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lights dim and, from off-stage, the choir sings Twilight on the Trail<\/em> and Hills of Old Wyoming<\/em>. The curtain slowly opens to reveal a cabin with four boys and four girls [Charlotte at the little organ on the porch] informally grouped about the porch. Others are sitting on the stumps, at sides of stage sewing, knitting, or looking at the choir. An old lady is rocking a baby in the rocking chair.<\/p>\n

Elviry comes out the cabin door as the lights come up. \u201cI reckon we should dance,\u201d says Elviry and the musicians start the square dance music. The boys choose their partners with Cicero being left out.<\/p>\n

Elviry takes the baby. Charlotte plays the organ. Lights dim.Cicero sits in the rocking chair. Elviry tries to get him to take the baby, which he does. She whispers in Cicero\u2019s ear and goes back to place by the well next to the porch, pats her foot and watches the dancers whirl about the stage. Cicero rocks the baby. Abner is on the porch, playing for the dance. Spotlight is on Cicero.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Cicero stops rocking and hurries off stage. A shot is heard. The dance breaks up and the group separates to either side of the porch as Grandpappy comes out the door of the cabin, wearing long nightshirt and nightcap, gun in hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat in the sam hill\u2019s going on out here? How do you think I can get any sleep with all this racket going on? Go on home! Every dad\u2019blamed one of ye! Er, Elly, you get in this house and go to bed!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat fer?\u201d demands Elviry. \u201cIt\u2019s derned near eight o\u2019clock!\u201d says Grandpappy.<\/p>\n

Elviry: \u201cEight o\u2019clock ain\u2019t late! Why you used to stay up till midnight and you never had any good music to dance by either.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4881″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Elviry puts her hand to Grandpappy\u2019s ear, enabling him to hear the hoedown that beings softly. She talk to him, coaxing him to dance. The group calls to him. Finally, he gets into the spirit and begins to pat his foot in time to the music. Elviry retires to the arm of the rocking chair. Grandpappy throws his cane and gun to the floor, steps forward, gets out his harmonica and plays a tune for the gang. Then he does some jigging. At the finish, Cicero hands him his cane. Grandpappy puts his harmonica back in his pocket and, with a little difficulty in getting up the two steps into the cabin, bids the group \u201cGoodnight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elviry comes to center stage to go on the porch and stand by the door. Cicero and Abner are on either side of the steps.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess Grandpappy is a little tired,\u201d says Elviry as the announcer\u2019s voice says, \u201cWe\u2019ll come back some other time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elviry nods assent and take her place on the porch. The group pairs off, singing Wagon Wheels. The spotlight is on Abner, Cicero and Elviry on the porch. All wave in intervals and the thick red curtain closes slowly.<\/p>\n

The pit orchestra continues as Elviry, Abner and Cicero take bows at the curtain. The end.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4882″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_text_separator title=”Story Credits”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Weaver Bros. & Elviry: State of the Ozarks<\/h1>\n

RALPH FOSTER ARTICLE REPRINT \u2014 THE STAFF OF COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS\u2019 RALPH FOSTER MUSEUM HAS GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED THE REPRINT OF THIS HISTORIC SCRIPT FROM THEIR ARCHIVE.<\/p>\n

Photography by Joshua Heston, March 4, 2011<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] PLATE 1. From left, \u201cAbner\u201d Leon Weaver and brother \u201cCicero\u201d Frank Weaver with June \u201cElviry\u201d June Petrie Weaver. [\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text] The Weaver Brothers and Elviry by Joshua Heston All but forgotten today, the Weaver Brothers & Elviry, originally of Christian County, Missouri, were one of the greatest stage attractions to ever tour North America and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[942,582,581],"tags":[669,670,671,668],"class_list":["post-4883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hillbillybroadway","category-sotoarchive","category-sotofeature","tag-abner-leon-weaver","tag-cicero-frank-weaver","tag-june-elviry-weaver","tag-weaver-brothers-and-elviry","category-942","category-582","category-581","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4883"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4902,"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4883\/revisions\/4902"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateoftheozarks.net\/showcase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}