From My Studebaker to Yours this Holiday Season

[Rafe Hollister]

Just did the Ferndale (California) Farm Tractor Christmas Parade last night. Sooo much fun. I towed our float with my Powerhawk the 40 miles from my place to Ferndale, hooked it up to Cathy's Massey Ferguson. Bill drove while 5 of us played Country Christmas music and waved to people. There were probably 20 floats, most far more elaborate than ours.
Back story: David and Bill are brothers (in 60s), the both collect old cars, tractors and hit&miss engines. They do all the car/tractor shows. David died of Covid a few months ago and so left Cathy after just a year of marriage. Bill told me that was the end of shows for him with no one to do them with. So I called Cathy, and in between her tears she decided that she wanted to try to do the Parade in memory. Then Bill was in. So we had 5 days to get it all ready.
Now Cathy wants to learn to drive both her tractor and her 1929 Buick.
So much wonder, pain, beauty, tears, laughter, sorrow, and joy. This has been an amazing Christmas season for me! I wish you all the best.
Merry Christmas,
Rafe Hollister
PS I'm the giant elf.

[firestoper 25]

Thanks Rafe, the holiday spirit can boost us all !

[StudeRich]

A very Good albeit Sad Story Thom.

I guess I am from the wrong Generation to understand all this Rafe connection stuff, or maybe just don't watch enough TV!

[Rafe Hollister]

Actor Jack Prince was in 6 of the 249 episodes of the Andy Griffith Show. He played 3 different characters. Rafe Hollister was in 3 episodes, most notably as the golden voiced country bumpkin. The 1st time I heard his name it just stuck in my head. It was a simpler time when people were predictable and the worst thing you might do is gossip, park illegally, or run a still in your barn.

[Skip Lackie]

Rafe-
Thanks for the explanation. Like Rich, the Rafe Hollister reference meant nothing to me. I don't think I ever watched the Andy Griffin show.

[Rafe Hollister]

The Pink Floyd post... Floyd Lawson was the town barber on the Andy Griffith show. He was played by actor Howard McNear. He was an occasional character who became a regular. Howard had a stroke that left him with limited use of arms and legs, so he left the series. But a year later the producers talked him into coming back and constructed special chair and devises. He acted like this from season 4 till 7. He died just after season 8. His claim to fame was that he could not cut sideburns evenly.

[Blue 15G]

Rafe, that's a great story and congratulations to you for helping to get the event organized on such short notice.

[Skip Lackie]

Rafe-
I guess I'm more of a radio fan. FYI, Howard McNear played Doc on the Gunsmoke radio show, and was in almost every episode for the whole 9-year run. Gunsmoke was one of the last network radio dramas broadcast, lasting until 1961. I don't believe any of the radio cast made the transition to the Gunsmoke TV series.

He also regularly appeared on many of the most popular mystery radio shows, such as Suspense. He had a distinctive voice that was easily recognizable.

[Rafe Hollister]

Any of you notice the first photo, two little lights on the lower right? Those are the luminescent eyes of my cat, Lloid. I played with the picture editing and surprisingly got this picture!
Rafe