The Silver Bar Ranch show was one
of the first shows produced at CKCO in 1954 and hit the air every Saturday evening from 7-7.30. The Band
Manger was Mr George Matheson from Princeton.
He drove a big Caddy at the time and did all of the
bands bookings. Our sponsor was Kitchener
Beverages who distributed Wishing Well
Orange and Pepsi. On the
side of our set they had a big wishing well filled with
bottles of Wishing Well Orange.
Johnny Siska was the band leader,
Earl Fries guitar and later with the Chaparrals and now
retired. Mike Slauenwhite who played fiddle and
also sang. He also played for the Kitchener symphony.
Wally Becker played stand up bass (since passed) and
last, but not least, the Fries sisters who sang in
harmony on the show and the dances. They were very
popular.
Oh I forgot to mention 13-year-old
Bob Tremblay. I played triple neck steel for the group
and for the first year I had to be transported to
Kitchener from Guelph and picked up in the middle of the
night. I had only been with the group for a
couple of dances before having to do a TV show.
I remember I was scared and a month later in Oct. I
turned 14.
The following year I was allowed to
drive my parents car because at the time if you had your
parents consent in writing you could go down to the
police station and show proof and get your licence.
