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The only podcast dedicated to square dancing, this show brings the excitement of square dancing to you with live recordings and vintage albums that celebrate callers from both yesterday and today.
Episodes are released on the 1st and 15th of each month with occasional bonus episodes. Each episode offers a rich snapshot of square dancing - honoring its roots while spotlighting its living legacy. Hosted by Buddy Weaver, acclaimed caller, recording artist, and publisher of American Square Dance.
Episodes
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Produced by Merl Olds, owner of Hi Hat Records for use by CBS to promote square dancing, here is an album of easy dances. Although one or two calls are no longer used in beginner dances, the overall recording is ideal for beginners and an excellent resource for SSD dancers/callers.
Music is by Hi Hat Records. Calling is by Lee Schmidt, who has been featured in the BWM podcast before. He was an excellent caller and singer who limited his travels to the western states, where he was greatly sought after.
From the Gloria Schmidt collection.
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Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Ken Bower has been featured in other BWM podcast episodes. As popular today as ever, this dance was recorded live in Michigan in 1972. It is an incomplete dance but captures the energy of one of the most iconic callers in Modern Western Square Dancing.
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Sunday Jan 14, 2024
Sunday Jan 14, 2024
This episode we feature a vintage Blue Star Records long-play album recorded by Jerry Helt. Released in April 1976 as Blue Star 1032. It was the American Bi-Centennial and there was lots of interest in everything 1776. This album of Quadrilles, was an homage to the cotillion dances from that time.
Buddy Weaver provides instructions prior to each of the five Quadrilles.
Please take a moment to make a gift to offset our production costs. Every contribution helps and is appreciated.
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
A FIRST FOR ANY DANCE RECORDING.
Here is a "halfway dance" for SSD dancers/students. Recorded in December 2023. Caller Buddy Weaver at the Wranglers Square Dance Club in Poway, California.
For dancers who don't have a caller for their SSD dances and for callers learning more about SSD. This episode features the current sound of modern western square dancing.
Sunday Dec 31, 2023
Sunday Dec 31, 2023
WELCOME TO SEASON SIX
The Sets In Order organization, started in 1948 as a monthly square dance magazine along with a record label producing music with and without calls for square dancing. Under the direction of Bob Osgood, Sets In Order would branch out into educational resources, printed and recorded along with institutes for dancers and callers. Many point to Sets In Order and Bob Osgood as the major force behind the evolution of Modern Western Square Dancing.
In 1967, Sets In Order produced an album of Canadian callers to commemorate Canada's Centennial. Here by permission of the Bob Osgood family, is the album that commemorates the 18th Anniversary of Sets In Order Magazine.
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Sunday Dec 24, 2023
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
ENCORE PRESENTATION
"When dancing first started, a large white cloud rose up over Santa Monica."
The episode talks about where that cloud came from and so much more as we present part three in the series covering the Santa Monica Diamond Jubilee.
You will also hear one of the only known recordings of Dr. Lloyd "Pappy" Shaw calling a dance live. "Pappy" is credited with the resurgence of square dancing. He was an educator, author, and entrepreneur who made the evolution of Modern Western Square Dancing possible.
In this episode you will hear the following callers and dances:
Lloyd Shaw - "Split The Ring"
Marjorie Stout - "Sisters Form A Ring"
Bob Osgood - "Rip 'n Snort"
Del Holley - "Spinning Wheel"
Van Vanderwalker - "Sashay Partners All"
Carl Myles - "Star By The Right"
Please help to keep this podcast meet it's production cost by making a contribution.
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Here is part two of the live dance recording of Al Brundage. Part one was featured in last week's episode.
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Sunday Dec 10, 2023
Sunday Dec 10, 2023
Few callers have been as popular and active for as many years as Al Brundage. He started calling in 1933 and continued to end of the century. A remarkable figure who recognized the growing popularity of Modern Western Square Dancing and introduced it to New England. His exciting calling style grew a huge following in the Eastern States. A full-time traveling caller, a pioneer in caller education, a recording artist, and a founding member of CALLERLAB.
Here is a live dance from 1961.
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Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Here is part two of the live dance recording of Jerry Schatzer from 1982. Part one is the feature of last week's episode.
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Sunday Nov 26, 2023
Sunday Nov 26, 2023
A star that burned bright but brief was that of Jerry Schatzer. In the seventies, Jerry began a national travel calling career that saw him quickly become one of the most popular callers in the country. Featured at festivals, weeks and weekends, recordings, Jerry Schatzer was well-known up to his passing in in 1986.
Here is a live dance recording from the George Knox collection. From 1982 in Northern California.
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Sunday Nov 19, 2023
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
The Sets In Order organization, started in 1948 as a monthly square dance magazine along with a record label producing music with and without calls for square dancing. Under the direction of Bob Osgood, Sets In Order would branch out into educational resources, printed and recorded along with institutes for dancers and callers. Many point to Sets In Order and Bob Osgood as the major force behind the evolution of Modern Western Square Dancing.
In 1967, Sets In Order produced the third in an annual series of long play album as a premium for subscribers. Here by permission of the Bob Osgood family, is the album that commemorates the 18th Anniversary of Sets In Order Magazine.
Keep this podcast going by making a contribution using the button below.
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
Ken Bower is one of the most iconic callers in modern western square dancing. As popular and sought after today as he was fifty-five years ago. This was a studio recorded collection of singing calls, some originally done by him and some by his friends.
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Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Here is part two of the dance covered in the previous episode of this podcast.
Lots of hours went into re-mastering this tape from 1957. If you are enjoying it, please make a contribution using the button below.
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Texas caller, Joe Lewis was one of the true pioneers of MWSD. Among the first to record, his recordings introduced thousands of people to square dancing and brought him to the attention of promoters in Australia. Those promoters brought Joe Lewis to Australia for a series of lessons. From this came the start of square dancing in an entire country.
Joe Lewis preferred the simpler dances throughout his career and this recording is a good representation of the kind of dance called by him. His style was one-of-a-kind and set an example for future generations of callers.
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Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
This episode we feature a vintage Blue Star Records long-play album recorded by Jerry Helt. Released in December 1974 as Blue Star 1029. Here is an album recorded for dancers wanting to try Contra Dancing.
Buddy Weaver provides instructions prior to each of the five Contra dances.
Please take a moment to make a gift to offset our production costs. Every contribution helps and is appreciated.
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
ENCORE PRESENTATION
This episode takes another look back on vintage square dancing.
Seventy years ago, the Santa Monica Diamond Jubilee was the largest square dance ever, a record held to this day. Present for this huge event were 15,000 dancers and 35,000 spectators. Also in attendance was California Governor Earl Warren and Hollywood Star, Leo Carrillo. Hear them welcome the folks. A true piece of history.
The callers and dances in this episode are:
Arnie Kronenberger - "Alabama Jubilee"
Doc Alumbaugh - "Just Because"
Ross Christenson - "Missouri Hoedown"
Al Lockaby - "Sally Goodin"
Bert Corell - "Catch All Eight"
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Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
For dancers who don't have a caller for their SSD dances and for callers learning more about SSD, here is a live Social Square Dance called in San Diego, California in 2023.
This episode features the current sound of modern western square dancing with most of the musical accompaniment used, available from buddyweavermusic.com
Sunday Oct 01, 2023
Sunday Oct 01, 2023
In the 1960's there was a flood of new square dance calls being introduced to the dance enthusiast. This album includes a large quantity of these new calls, some written by the caller Gordon Blaum. Both he and Jim Brower are featured on this album, a one of a kind record which was recorded live at the Blue Ridge Square Dance Camp.
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Sunday Sep 24, 2023
Sunday Sep 24, 2023
Few people in the modern western square dance activity have sustained the popularity that Ken Bower has. Starting as a traveling professional caller in 1967, he is just as sought after today (2023) and finds himself busy on the festival circuit in the Western United States.
This was remastered from a cassette album recorded live in Hemet, California where Ken was the resident caller at Golden Village RV Resort.
Sunday Sep 17, 2023
Sunday Sep 17, 2023
The Sets In Order organization, started in 1948 as a monthly square dance magazine along with a record label producing music with and without calls for square dancing. Under the direction of Bob Osgood, Sets In Order would branch out into educational resources, printed and recorded along with institutes for dancers and callers. Many point to Sets In Order and Bob Osgood as the major force behind the evolution of Modern Western Square Dancing.
In 1965, Sets In Order produced the second in an annual series of long play album as a premium for subscribers. Here by permission of the Bob Osgood family, is the album that commemorates the 18th Anniversary of Sets In Order Magazine.
Keep this podcast going by making a contribution using the button below.