Archie Campbell

Archie Campbell. . , Comedian, singer, painter, golfer, television host, scriptwriter, businessman and raconteur Archi Campbell is principally remembered for his roles on the long-running television series , "Hee Haw". One of his comedic trademarks was spoonerisms, in which "Cinderella" became "Rindercella" and "Three Little Pigs" became "Pee Little Thrigs". Before "Hee Haw", though, Campbells already had a 35-year career in entertainment., Born in Bulls Gap on Nov. 7, 1914, Archie James Campbell studied art at Mars Hill College near Asheville, North Carolina, from 1932 until 1933. He hoboed through Alabama as what he called a "strolling" musician and worked in medicine shows. Broke, he arrived in Knoxville in 1936 and earned a spot on WNOX's popular "Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round". Roy Acuff was among the show's top stars. Program Director Lowell Blanchard encouraged Campbell, then a singer, to introduce comedy into his act, prompting Campbell to create the character of "Grandpappy"., Campbell doubled as a sign-painter before leaving in 1937 for WOPI in Bristol, Tennessee, and the WDOD in Chattanooga. He remained in Chattanooga until joining the Navy in 1942. After the Second World War, Campbell returned to Knoxville, where a Grandpappy Day welcomed him home. he worked first on WOX, where he again starred on the "Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round", before moving, around 1949, to the noon0hour "Dinner Bell" show on WROL, where the newly formed bluegrass duo Flatt and Scruggs were his regular guests. That year, he made his first recordings, as Archie Campbell and His Oldtimers, for Mercury Records., Starting in 1952, Campbell began hosting Knoxville's first country music television show, "Country Playhouse", on WROL-TV, later WATE-TV. The following year, Campbell co-founded Knoxville's first independent record label, Valley and his record, "Blue Memories", was its debut release., In 1958, The Grand Ole Opry hired Campbell as a comedian on its networked "Prince Albert" portion. Campbell ditched his "Grandpappy" character, appearing as a mischievous, cigar-chomping wisecracker, drawing parallels with George Burns and Will Rogers. Chet Atkins, who had worked with Campbell in Knoxville, signed him to RCA. Campbell's best-known record, "Trouble in the Amen Corner", was released in 1960., When "Hee Haw" started in 1969, Campbell was hired as an on-air comedian and one of the two original writers (the other being Gordie Tapp). He was a regular until 1987. His recurring characterizations included "The Barber" where he began the "That's good, that's bad" routine and popularized spoonerisms. He appeared as "Doctor Campbell" and "Justus O'Peace". Campbell also began using "Pfft, You Were Gone" (a song originally written and performed in 1952 by western swing star Bob Newman) as one of the show's recurring set pieces., "Hee Haw" made Campbell into a household name. He tried other concepts, including a game show, "Skeedaddle", that didn't make it past the pilot episodes, and "Yesteryear in Nashville" on the The Nashville Network (TNN). He also recorded several comedy albums, including Bull Session at Bulls Gap with Junior Samples, and continued to paint prolifically., Archie Campbell died in Knoxville on Aug. 29, 1987.