The cast of the Old Dominion Barn Dance, ca. February 18, 1956. Left to right: Allen Shelton, Roy Russell, Curley Howard, Irving Gurganus, Buster Puffenbarger, Sunshine Sue, John Workman, Zag Pennell, Janis Martin, Audie Webster, Earl Webster, and Carl Butler. Comedian/bass player Joe Phillips aka Flapjack sits at front. Photo courtesy of Matt Levine.
Notes & Queries – July 2023
Old Dominion Barn Dance
Multi-instrumentalist Matt Levine recently shared this photo of the Old Dominion Barn Dance that he won on eBay. He noted, “I actually got it pretty cheap. I usually don’t get photos on eBay, but I couldn’t pass that up.” From the looks of the various people in the shot, program attendees and radio listeners that night were treated to a wonderful cross-section of music.
Advertisement for the February 18, 1956, performance of the Old Dominion Barn Dance. This is the likely date for the photo featured above.
Moving from left to right, there are four groups and/or soloists. First is Curley Howard and the Farm Hands (Allen Shelton on banjo, Roy Russell on fiddle, Curley Howard on guitar; bass player/comedian Joe “Flapjack” Phillips sits at front/center). Second is the show’s host Sunshine Sue and her band, the Rangers (Irving Gurganus on fiddle, Charles Elbert “Buster” Puffenbarger on accordion, Sunshine Sue and her husband/bas
