Hackberry Hotel

Hackberry Hotel was amazingly racist by modern standards. But in Dallas, TX in 1948 that's about as surprising as sunshine in the the daytime. The program was broadcast on 570 WFAA-AM and was 15 minutes long and at least in 1948, sponsored by the Armstrong Packing Co. The program continued until at least 1951. You can hear some episodes here.

The "two voice rural comedy" was set in a "mythical peaceful valley" according to it's promotional literature. Other characters appears only via the telephone who's ring opens every episode. In 1948 it was in it's 5th year. They advertised the program for syndication in Radio Daily, and it even ran during the Early Birds radio program according to some sources. The show announcer was John Allen, a WFAA regular. Ben was on the Early Birds program through 1956.  But that program had it's 25th anniversary in 1955, Ben was a late addition. In 1956 the roster also included Elmer Baughman and Alex Keese.

The two main characters on Hackberry Hotel were Mr. Hack Berry the hotel manager and Willie Botts, an African American hotel worker. If you didn't notice in the above image, the one black character is played by a white voice actor. In their promotional ads and post cards he wears black face.Yes, black face. It was the 1940s. 

Ben McClesky played Willie Botts a.k.a. "Little Willie."  He also appeared as the same character on The Saturday Night Shindig. He had created the role possibly as early as 1931 and was also a script writer on Saturday Night Shindig. [SOURCE] Mr. Hack Berry was played by the Managing Director of WFAA, Martin B. Campbell. He had been with the station since at least 1934. Before WFAA he was the publicity director at 1280 WRR-AM in 1938. 

The WFAA Early Birds

WFAA-AM was home to the long-running morning program, "The Early Birds", hosted by John Allen. It was broadcast from from the Santa Fe Railroad Warehouse in Dallas, TX. they called it "the penthouse ." Back in those days 820 kHz was a day share with WBAP-AM and WFAA took over at 7:00 AM, starting each weekday with The Early Birds. It was not like modern morning zoo programs. This was a full-blown variety program. The show premiered on premiered March 31st 1930 and celebrated the quarter century mark with a 25th Anniversary Album in 1955. More here.

WFAA itself only signed on in signed on in June of 1922. It changed frequencies a couple times but starting in 1938 it moved to 570. The share agreement was truly bizarre. WBAP Radio would broadcasting on 820 from midnight till six AM. Then WFAA took over till noon and WBAP broadcast the afternoon slot and WFAA took over again until midnight. Apparently WFAA thought it was worth working for every minute of clear channel signal time they could get on 820. To further complicate this nonsense, they aired NBC network programming on 820 kHz and ABC network programming on 570 kHz. To signal the frequency changes on air WBAP staff always rang a cowbell. 

John Allen hosted the program for it's entire run.He had a number of co-hosts over the years including Bob Shelton, Ben McCleskey, Emcee Jimmle Jefferles, Bert Noyd, Announcer Eddie Dunn, Board Operator Red Lucas, Emcee Norvel Slater, and others. They had skits, stand up comedy, an orchestra, an awkward number of black-face routines and a live studio audience.  Guests included Lynn Hoyt, Katy Prince, Frances Beasley, Terry Lea, Louise Mackey and Dale Evans. 

You can hear an episode here:
PART 1 - https://digi.countrymusichalloffame.org/digital/collection/musicaudio/id/2436
PART 2 - https://digi.countrymusichalloffame.org/digital/collection/musicaudio/id/2437 

In 1945 they debuted an FM simulcast on W5X1C on 94.3. The arrangement continued until the early 1960s gradually adding their own programming until they became an MOR station. On May 1, 1970, this messy and senseless share time arrangement came to and end. WBAP paid $3.5 million dollar to WFAA to buy them out. WFAA was relegated to 570. They dropped the WFAA call letters in 1983 becoming KRQX. The call sign still lives on as Channel 8 on the TV band.