Junior Kentucky Briar Hoppers
Estil McNew was a caller who led a group called the Kentucky Briar Hoppers. They danced at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance and appeared (as The Midwesterners) on Midwestern Hayride on WLW radio and television. McNew also led a younger group, pictured here.
First Row: Left to Right: Lois Wilson, Della Sue Hoskins, Dianne Hopper, and Paige Hudson.
Guys: Lou Bloom, Tommy Johns, Mike Morton, Lee Roy Reams.
Footage of the older Briar-Hoppers in performance is available in these two clips:
Dance #1
Dance #2
See this video about the Soco Gap dancers, an earlier renowned exhibition square dance group from North Carolina.
A poster on this site commented:
"The Midwestern Hayride began on radio in the 1940's and was simulcast on radio and television from about 1948. Willie Thall was the host for many years, and then later Dean Richards. My mother's youngest sister, Helene, married Estil McNew in 1943, and they had already been working together with a group called the Kentucky Briarhoppers. Estil was from Rockcastle County, Kentucky and the group appeared on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance occasionally, the first time in 1939 I believe. The Kentucky Briarhoppers were the first group to take the traditional clog step a little faster than usual, and to have taps with cletes (loose plates) on their shoes, which made the taps ring more. They were not traditional "Western Style" square dancers and were unique with their own style and did not dance the flat-footed clog style. Estil called the squares and my aunt was the lead female dancer. My aunt made the costumes for the women and sometimes the shirts for the men if she couldn't find the right shirts in a western wear store. She also did much of the booking, as Estil had a full time job during the week. Sometime in the mid-fifties, Estil decided to form a group called the Tiny Eight, which soon became The Junior Kentucky Briarhoppers. My aunt made all the costumes for them too, usually smaller versions of the costumes of the older dancers. Both groups were very popular in the tri-state area of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In the late '50's a labor dispute at WLW caused several acts to leave the Hayride, and the Briarhoppers was one of them. They went to Indianapolis and became stars on the Indiana Hoedown on Channel 6, WFBM with Charlie Gore and the Rangers, and other acts both local and from the Hayride cast as well. The Briarhoppers went back to WLW and performed under the name the Midwesterners at times on WKRC television as well. Estil and Helene divorced about 1966 and went their separate ways. I don't remember if he stayed with the Hayride and the dancers but I know she didn't. I believe the Hayride left the air in 1972. As a child we lived in central Indiana and were able to attend many of the shows in the area where the dancers were dancing. The Jr. group spent the night as my house guests in 1955. I practiced with the Jr. group but never danced with them. My step-cousin did dance with them however. The Cincinnati Museum has copies of several old Hayride shows with the various stars of the '50's."
Subjects: Southern / Appalachian / Four-couple squares
Tags: Briar Hoppers, Estil McNew, Kentucky
Item Relations
| This Item | is related to | Item: Square Dancing in the Kentucky Foothills |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Maggie Valley - Mountain Square Dance |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Square Dance in Haywood County, NC |
Citation
Dublin Core
Title
Description
First Row: Left to Right: Lois Wilson, Della Sue Hoskins, Dianne Hopper, and Paige Hudson.
Guys: Lou Bloom, Tommy Johns, Mike Morton, Lee Roy Reams.
Footage of the older Briar-Hoppers in performance is available in these two clips:
Dance #1
Dance #2
See this video about the Soco Gap dancers, an earlier renowned exhibition square dance group from North Carolina.
A poster on this site commented:
"The Midwestern Hayride began on radio in the 1940's and was simulcast on radio and television from about 1948. Willie Thall was the host for many years, and then later Dean Richards. My mother's youngest sister, Helene, married Estil McNew in 1943, and they had already been working together with a group called the Kentucky Briarhoppers. Estil was from Rockcastle County, Kentucky and the group appeared on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance occasionally, the first time in 1939 I believe. The Kentucky Briarhoppers were the first group to take the traditional clog step a little faster than usual, and to have taps with cletes (loose plates) on their shoes, which made the taps ring more. They were not traditional "Western Style" square dancers and were unique with their own style and did not dance the flat-footed clog style. Estil called the squares and my aunt was the lead female dancer. My aunt made the costumes for the women and sometimes the shirts for the men if she couldn't find the right shirts in a western wear store. She also did much of the booking, as Estil had a full time job during the week. Sometime in the mid-fifties, Estil decided to form a group called the Tiny Eight, which soon became The Junior Kentucky Briarhoppers. My aunt made all the costumes for them too, usually smaller versions of the costumes of the older dancers. Both groups were very popular in the tri-state area of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In the late '50's a labor dispute at WLW caused several acts to leave the Hayride, and the Briarhoppers was one of them. They went to Indianapolis and became stars on the Indiana Hoedown on Channel 6, WFBM with Charlie Gore and the Rangers, and other acts both local and from the Hayride cast as well. The Briarhoppers went back to WLW and performed under the name the Midwesterners at times on WKRC television as well. Estil and Helene divorced about 1966 and went their separate ways. I don't remember if he stayed with the Hayride and the dancers but I know she didn't. I believe the Hayride left the air in 1972. As a child we lived in central Indiana and were able to attend many of the shows in the area where the dancers were dancing. The Jr. group spent the night as my house guests in 1955. I practiced with the Jr. group but never danced with them. My step-cousin did dance with them however. The Cincinnati Museum has copies of several old Hayride shows with the various stars of the '50's."