Show #3900

Linda and I had reserved seats at Table 12, second row on far left side of the stage. The show started at 7 p.m. They opened with Texas Plains, made introductions, then did How the Yodel was Born, Wahhoo, Cool Water, and Farr Away Stomp.

They discussed the Val Air Ballroom and that Bobbie Darin and Jimmy Dorsey, among others, had played there. The Val Air was built in 1939 - ah, 39 - this is our 3900th show - coincidence, I don't think so!! Woody says 9 is muliples of 3 and Slim says we started 3900 shows again with 3 little cowboys, then Joey came along and wanted to join, but we said 9 and he came anyway. Doug says Jack Benny is 39 and lived in Santa Monica. They immediately went into the dysfunctional love song, La Maleguena.

They did more songs: Sioux City Sue, Phantom of the Chuckwagon, Hoop de Doo, Night Riding Song, and Rawhide/Bowling - survey of bowlers/trail drivers.

Ranger Doug said I see some children in the audience - How about if we get some help from the kids??? Slim asks them to come up - Only 5 went up (but 2 were at our table--they had a note in the guestbook) and they did I'm going to Leave Old Texas now. Then they did Timber Trail and Arms of my Love. Slim brings out the goosegun and Woody asked him if he salted his own balls and Slim replies he has a college girl that comes in twice a week as an intern....They did the Celtic routine and broke for intermission.

After intermission, they opened with Here Comes the Santa Fe, 160 Acres, Cherokee, and Texas Sand (Joey). Ranger Doug if Joy's Fan Club was out there and I let out a BIG war hoop and Joey says Thanks Mom!

Slim asked if they believed in the afterlife then dedicated a song to Woody - Reincarnation.

They did questions and the audience was asking a lot but no prize winners. They asked questions about RRT (they're doing 4 in April), worked with Roy and Gene (yes, both of them), why do you change your shirts between shows (you aren't sitting on the front row), Do you want to help move cattle in a week (they didn't think so),and finally some guy mentioned the Penn and Teller show and asked how they got along in the Las Vegas atmosphere (they liked it and said we have an 8 track tape winner).

Requests came next then they did Lonesome Town, Ghost Riders, Strawberry Roan (dedicated to Doyle age 85 in the audience - they asked HIM if he wanted to help move cattle in a week). Gene Autry tribute: Be Honest with Me, Riding Down the Canyon, Silver haired Daddy, South of the Border, and Back in the Saddle.

Woody did Rope tricks with interference from Too Jaws who kept losing his teeth and they did I Fall to Pieces.

Slim mentioned his great uncle Frank Gotsch, a wrestler from Iowa and said that his Mom also lived in Iowa. They ended the show with Roy Rogers tribute: Pecos Bill, Blue Shadows, Lights of Santa Fe, Don't Fence me In, Navajo Trail, Skyball paint, and Happy Trails.

No encore.

Linda and I talked to the guys after the show and Woody asked me how far I had to drive this time. I told Joey that I was disappointed that they didn't do Fastest Accordion and instrument change routine. He had surgery in his pinky finger but was glad that I liked it. Proud Dad said Bert had started back at the office and Baby was fine. Ranger Doug said he was glad we came and asked where he would see me again. I said I'm talking Jeff into taking me to Bartlesville OK and Quincy IL. He said Bartlesville is on my birthday. I said yes I know!!

Nancy