MUSIC BROUGHT GOOD TIMES TO COMMUNITIES
Fiddling contest of long ago were a popular event everyone looked forward too. It didn't matter who won, if you were lucky enough to attend one, everyone was the winner for the good times and memories to be had.
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Feb. 5, 1926
Repton Fiddler Wins Prize In Evansville
The first prize in the final contest of the old-time fiddlers contest held in Evansville was carried off by a Crittenden County man, Isaac W. Jenkins, of Repton. The contest was held under the auspices of the Evansville Courier and a large crowd was in attendance to hear the playing of the 15 old time fiddlers, who each played some old air like "Turkey in the Straw."
Mr. Jenkins is a merchant at Repton and is 65 years old. For years he has been for the old time music he knows how to make his "fiddle" produce. The prize he won was a cash on of $20.
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April 2, 1926
Jenkins Crittenden County Representative
Crittenden County will have a representative in the inter-state old fiddlers contest to be held in Jefferson City, Missouri, April 2. Isaac W. Jenkins, merchant at Repton has been appointed by Governor Fields to represent, with "Blind Joe" Mangrum of Paducah, the state of Kentucky in a "fiddling" contest with Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska. The governors of the respective states have appointed two old fiddlers to take part in the contest.
The contest is being staged by radio station WOS at Jefferson City. The sixteen fiddlers from the eight states will gather at the broadcasting station in Missouri's capital city and there they will play the old time "tunes" as if before an immense audience consisting of people in all parts of the united States.
The judges in the contest are to be those who listen in on WOS Friday night. Each person who tunes in with that station may vote, the voting being done by telegraph and long distance telephone. Each telegram of long distance call will be counted as one vote for the contestant that the message favors.
People in this section are boosting for Mr. Jenkins, who is an accomplished "fiddler," and has played at different times for various occasions over the county. Only recently he won a prize in Evansville as being the best of the "fiddlers" and "foot patters." Mr. Jenkins says he is not a violin player, but a fiddler who likes to play the old time tunes.
Mr. Jenkins would like to have all his friends who own radios tune in on WOS and wire a vote for him on this Friday night. The telegraph offices are to remain open until a late hour to receive messages. (note: I don't know how Mr. Jenkins did in this contest. Mr. Jenkins died March 22, 1941 and is buried in the Repton Cemetery)
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Feb. 8, 1928
Jonas Rushing Best Fiddler
An old fashioned fiddlers contest will be given under the auspices of the Frances P.T.A. at the Frances school house, Tuesday, February 5th. Prizes offered for the first, second and third best fiddlers, and for oldest and youngest fiddlers. There will also be a harmonica contest with prizes including those offered for the youngest and oldest harmonica players.
Participants are Jonas Rushing, Franklin Mines; Elbert Brown, Crayne; Isaac W. Jenkins, Repton, George Perkins, Frances; Elzie Frazer, Frances; Oman Matthews, Frances and others.
The winners of this old fashioned fiddlers contests were: Jonas Rushing, of Franklin Mines, who was awarded first prize and Isaac W. Jenkins of Repton, second prize. The judges were B. F. Walker, Jr., Allie Whitt and A. Hodge. Evidently no one participated in the harmonica contest.
Mexico School house was also a place for an old fiddlers contest. Winners here were 1st prize was won by Jonas Rushing, 2nd prize by Elbert Brown, 3rd prize by Jim Woodall, and the best guitar player was J. Lowry.
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Nov. 1930 – Old Fiddlers Contest
The largest crowd ever assembled in the Shady Grove High School auditorium was present last Friday night at the Old Fiddlers Contest.
Elmo Morris was selected as the best all-around fiddler and Miss Mary Tudor as the best woman fiddler. First prize for string bands went to Traylor's band of Caldwell County and Stewart's string band of this county.
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Nov. 20, 1936
Brewer Best Fiddler
The fiddlers' contest held at Mattoon last Friday evening was well attended and enjoyed by a large audience. Buck Brewer was declared to be the best fiddler, with F. W. Hughes a close second. Many and varied were the different types of contests beginning with sacred selections and finishing with the selection of the best of the fiddlers.
Prize winners of the various events and also entries were:
- Best Fiddler playing some sacred selection – First, Lemand White; second, Buck Brewer; and third, Chester Yarbough. Entries were Edd Hunt, Lemand White, Wilburn Hall, Buck Brewer, F. S. Hughes, Chester Yarbrough, J. W. Jenkins and Joe Rushing.
- Guitar selection with yodeling First, Virginia Wilson; second, Elmer Newcom, Entries: Virginia Wilson, Elmer Newcom, Frances Davis, Crawford Cowens, Wilbur Hall, Claude Cruce and Kenneth Davis.
- Best family family band – First, Hall band, second, Newcom brothers.
- Hawaiian guitar – First, Claude Cruce; second, Mrs. Hall.
- Breakdown – First, F. W. Hughes; second Buck Brewer; and third, Edd Hunt. Entries: Buck Brewer, Edd Hunt, Joe Rushing, Lemand White, F. W. Hughes, Wilburn Hall, J. W. Jenkins and Chester Yarbrough.
- French Harp – First Raymond Cain; second, Elden Harding; third, Elmer Newcow. Entries other than the prize winners: Lemand White and Crawford Cowen.
- Best string band – First, Ragtown; second, Hughes; third, Hunts.
- Vocal duet – First, Raymond Cain; second , Ms. Hill and son. Entries besides winners; Newcom brothers , Wilson sisters, Cruce and Cruce. , White and Newcom, and Vaughan and Vaughan.
- Best fiddler Playing own selection – First Buck Brewer; second Chester Yarbough, third , Isaac W. Jenkins. Other entries were: Edd Hunt, Joe Rushing, Wilburn Hall, Lemand White.
- Best fiddler of the evening – First Buck Brewer, second, F. W. Hughes.
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Good times of long ago. May the memories live on.
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