Rare Country Music Footage Discovered

LA-based music footage library Reelin’ In The Years Productions has uncovered a 30-minute film of home movies from the 1950s featuring country legend Hank Williams Sr. along with Marty Robbins, the Carter Family, Merle Travis, Lefty Frizzell, Hank Snow, Maddox Bothers & Rose, Bill Monroe and a host of others.

The images, shot in pristine 16mm color film, capture the artists in performance and in rare candid moments. Highlights include Williams singing at a disc jockey convention in Nashville, Robbins playing guitar on a front lawn, Kitty Wells standing in front of her tour car and Travis preparing to board a small plane.

The newly recovered footage was shot by John Banks, part owner of radio station KRDU in Dinuba, CA while these artists were at the station and at his home. In addition to filming these artists in California, Banks took his 16mm camera to Nashville and captured many artists backstage during a convention of disc jockeys held in the early 1950s.

“There exists precious little footage of many of these artists shot so early in their careers,” says David Peck, President of Reelin’ In The Years Productions. “To now have pristine color film documenting Hank Williams just a few short years before his untimely death, is thrilling. This is an important piece of country music history.”

The forgotten original 16mm color films had been in the garage of Banks’ widow Bernice until their recent discovery. The film has now been restored and transferred directly to digital

format, highlighting the richness of depth and color that 16mm film offered.
Another recent discovery by Reelin’ In The Years is 50 minutes of home movies from the Louisiana Hayride in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s featuring color 8mm footage of Johnny Cash, George Jones, Ray Price, Faron Young and Hawkshaw Hawkins, among others.
For more information and licensing inquiries visit www.reelinintheyears.com.