I 40 Paradise

Last updated
I 40 Paradise
Theme music composer Lionel Cartwright [1]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerRoss Bagwell
Running time30 minutes
Original release
Network The Nashville Network
ReleaseMarch 1983 (1983-03) –
April 1986 (1986-04)

I-40 Paradise is a 30-minute daily cable TV sitcom broadcast on The Nashville Network from March 1983, [2] when the network was first launched, [3] and lasted until at least April 1986. [4]

Contents

The series was so popular that a weekly 30 minute spinoff, Pickin’ at the Paradise, began in December 1983. [5]

Premise

"The havoc and hi-jinks involved in running a restaurant and entertainment spot just outside Nashville are explored with hilarious results" was how early television listings described the series. [6] [7]

The series was set in the small town of Crab Orchard, Tennessee, and most scenes took place in the roadside diner, I-40 Paradise, that had a separate-room tavern where country artists often stopped to perform. [8] There was a house-band, The Mighty Notes, headed by singer Buck Taylor. Buck's younger brother, Randy, was also in the band. [5]

Local residents frequented I-40 Paradise, and they were part of the episode storylines. Stories included: Sonny, Buck, Orvis and Calvin join a group that helps fatherless boys, but have to share Crab Orchard's only orphan; [9] Will Georgia quit her job to pursue a career in art?; [10] Lathrop is kidnapped and held for ransom; [11] and Velma and Calvin consider marriage. [12]

Cast

Guest stars

Country music performers would drop in on their way to Nashville and sing a couple of songs on each episode. One of the first guest stars to tape segments for the show was Helen Cornelius, [15] and Ty Herndon was on several episodes before he became well known. [16] Reba McEntire was on two episodes. In one she just sang, but the other had her take part in a conversation about video games, which was one of her first opportunities to act. [17]

Production

The series was produced by Cinetel Productions in Knoxville, Tennessee. Producer Ross Bagwell rented a warehouse to use as a studio, and hired mostly local dinner-theater actors as regulars. [8] Outside shots of the I-40 Paradise building were of the nearby Mount Olive Trading Post, a grocery store that closed in 1987. [18]

Lionel Cartwright, who'd been working at the Wheeling Jamboree , wrote the series theme song, and acted as one of the house-band singers. [19]

Spin off series

On December 25, 1983 Pickin’ at the Paradise began a six-week pilot run as a 30-minute Sunday series, advertised as a weekly visit to the Paradise's music room, where Crab Orchard residents would stop by to hear the house-band sing. Regulars included Lionel Cartwright as Randy, Jack Crook as Buck, and Kelli Warren as Melody Dawn. [5] Lionel Cartwright wrote the series theme song. [19]

The Cineteo Productions [5] series was popular enough that additional episodes were made, and the series aired until at least March 1986. [20]


Related Research Articles

<i>Hee Haw</i> American television show (1969–1993 and 1996–1997)

Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with the fictional rural "Kornfield Kounty" as the backdrop. It aired from 1969 to 1992, and on TNN from 1996 to 1997. Reruns of the series were broadcast on RFD-TV from September 2008 to April 2020, and aired on Circle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsport, Tennessee</span> City in Tennessee, United States

Kingsport is a city in Sullivan and Hawkins counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, its population was 55,442. Lying along the Holston River, Kingsport is commonly included in what is known as the Mountain Empire, which spans a portion of southwest Virginia and the mountainous counties in northeastern Tennessee. It is the largest city in the Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area, which had a population of 307,614 in 2020. The metro area is a component of the larger Tri-Cities region of Tennessee and Virginia, with a population of 508,260 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Braunfels, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the seat of Comal County. The city covers 44.9 square miles (116 km2) and had a population of 90,403 as of the 2020 Census. A suburb just north of San Antonio, and part of the Greater San Antonio metropolitan area, it was the third-fastest-growing city in the United States from 2010 to 2020. As of 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates its population at 104,707.

<i>Bonanza</i> American western television series

Bonanza is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, Bonanza is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on U.S. network television, and one of the longest-running, live-action American series. The show continues to air in syndication. The show is set in the 1860s and centers on the wealthy Cartwright family, who live in the vicinity of Virginia City, Nevada, bordering Lake Tahoe. The series initially starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon and later featured Guy Williams, David Canary, Mitch Vogel and Tim Matheson. The show is known for presenting pressing moral dilemmas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorne Greene</span> Canadian actor (1915–1987)

Lorne Hyman Greene was a Canadian actor, musician, singer and radio personality. His notable television roles include Ben Cartwright on the Western Bonanza and Commander Adama in the original science-fiction television series Battlestar Galactica and Galactica 1980. He also worked on the Canadian television nature documentary series Lorne Greene's New Wilderness and in television commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Dean</span> American singer, TV host, actor and businessman (1928-2010)

Jimmy Ray Dean was an American country music singer, television host, actor and businessman. He was the creator of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand as well as the spokesman for its TV commercials, and his likeness continues to be used in advertisements after his death.

<i>The Danny Thomas Show</i> American sitcom

The Danny Thomas Show is an American sitcom that ran from 1953 to 1957 on ABC and from 1957 to 1964 on CBS. Starring Danny Thomas as a successful night club entertainer, the show focused on his relationship with his family, yet went through a number of significant changes in cast and characters during the course of its run. Episodes regularly featured music by Thomas, guest stars and occasionally other cast members as part of the plot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bec Hewitt</span> Australian actress, presenter and singer (born 1983)

Rebecca June Hewitt is an Australian actress, presenter and singer. From 1998 to 2005, Hewitt played Hayley Smith Lawson on the soap opera Home and Away. As Bec Cartwright, Hewitt released an eponymous pop music album in 2002. In 2005, she married professional tennis player Lleyton Hewitt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Martin</span> American actress (1909–2000)

Helen Dorothy Martin was an American actress of stage and television. Martin's career spanned over 60 years, appearing first on stage and later in film and television. Martin is best known for her roles as Wanda on the CBS sitcom Good Times (1974–1979) and as Pearl Shay on the NBC sitcom 227 (1985–1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Night Long (All Night)</span> 1983 single by Lionel Richie

"All Night Long (All Night)" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie from his second solo album, Can't Slow Down (1983). The song combined Richie's soulful Commodores style with Caribbean influences. The single reached number one on three Billboard charts (pop, R&B and adult contemporary). In the UK, it peaked at number two on the singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Messina (musician)</span> American musician

James Messina is an American musician, songwriter, singer, guitarist, recording engineer, and record producer. He was a member of the folk rock group Buffalo Springfield, a founding member of the pioneering country rock band Poco, and half of the soft rock duo Loggins and Messina with Kenny Loggins.

Byron Hill, is an American songwriter from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Living and working professionally in Nashville, TN for more than forty years, his songs have been recorded by many Country and Pop artists.

Lionel Burke Cartwright is an American country music artist. Between 1988 and 1992, Cartwright charted twelve singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, including a No. 1 single in 1991's "Leap of Faith". He also charted in the Top 10 on the same chart with "Give Me His Last Chance", "I Watched It All " and "My Heart is Set on You". Cartwright has also released three studio albums, all on MCA Records.

Panamanian Americans are Americans of Panamanian descent.

<i>Standby...Lights! Camera! Action!</i> American TV series or program

Standby...Lights! Camera! Action! was an American educational television series hosted by Leonard Nimoy. The program aired on Nickelodeon from October 1982 to December 31, 1987. Episodes of the show included interviews with film crew members and examined the stages of production for various motion pictures in a behind-the-scenes format.

<i>Weve Got Tonight</i> (Kenny Rogers album) 1983 studio album by Kenny Rogers

We've Got Tonight is the fourteenth studio album by American singer Kenny Rogers, released in 1983. It is also his last with Liberty Records before signing with RCA Records.

Cartwright is an English surname that originally means a maker of carts. Notable people with the surname include:

<i>Special Delivery</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

Special Delivery is an American anthology series on Nickelodeon, broadcast during weekend afternoons from 1980 until 1993, when the network's original programming output was deemed sufficient to discontinue the block. Special Delivery mainly carried a variety of productions for children purchased by Nickelodeon, including both live-action and animated programming. Much of this programming was made up of children-focused made-for-TV movies produced in Canada in the 1970s and 80s, short films originally made for the ABC Afterschool Special and CBS Schoolbreak Special anthology series, sports specials, and some unsold television pilots adapted to an hour-long timeslot.

CBS Children's Mystery Theatre is an American television anthology series aimed at teens and pre-teens. A total of five episodes were produced by and aired on CBS from 1980–83.

The Mountain Music Museum in Kingsport, Tennessee, was a museum dedicated to the history of music that originated primarily in East Tennessee, North Carolina, Southeast Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia during the 19th century and evolved into what is now generally recognized as bluegrass music and country music. The museum is owned and operated by the nonprofit Appalachian Cultural Music Association (ACMA). Exhibits include vintage musical instruments, recordings, photographs and other memorabilia. Among well-known 20th century performers who have exhibits in the museum are the Carter Family, the Stoneman Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Flatt & Scruggs, Mac Wiseman, The Stanley Brothers, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Mel Street, Archie Campbell and others. Originally based in Bristol, Tennessee, the museum is now located at 316 Broad Street in Kingsport.

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Michael, All Music Guide to Country, page 78, Miller-Freedman, 1997
  2. ↑ Daily Listings, The Times Recorder, March 18, 1983, page 15
  3. ↑ Coming Soon! - TNN ad, The Germantown News (Germantown, TN), March 3, 1983, page 5
  4. ↑ Television and Radio, The Boston Globe, April 25, 1986, page 23
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 New special is paradise, The Daily News-Journal (Murfreesboro, TN), December 11, 1983, page 80
  6. ↑ TV listing, Longview News-Journal, March 27, 1983, page 126
  7. ↑ Cable Tonight, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, April 13, 1983, page 46
  8. 1 2 Wolfe, Charles K, & Akenson, James E., Country Music Annual 2001 (ebook), University Press of Kentucky, page 16-17
  9. ↑ Weekday TV, New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung (New Braunfels, TX) December 14, 1984, page 34
  10. ↑ Weekday TV, New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung (New Braunfels, TX), November 4, 1984, page 55
  11. ↑ Weekday TV, New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung (New Braunfels, TX) March 31, 1985, page 49]
  12. ↑ Weekday TV, New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung (New Braunfels, Texas), December 23, 1984, page 43]
  13. ↑ Otto, Becky, Actor wants to contribute to new theater movement, Kingsport Times-News (Kingsport, TN), January 1, 1988, page 90
  14. ↑ Hull, Christopher, Actress learns to fly on television series, The Morning Star (Vernon, BC, Canada ), December 21, 1989, page 45
  15. ↑ Davis, Doug, Country Happenings, The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio), March 11, 1983, page 31
  16. ↑ Oermann, Robert K., Herndon goes from 'pretty boy' to hit maker. The Tennessean, May 13, 1995, page 30
  17. ↑ Sandvold, Jon, Softball to benefit from McEntire show, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 13, 1983, page 33
  18. ↑ For Decades, Store Sold Beer On One Side, But Not On Other, The Herald-Sun (Durham, NC), May 17, 1987, page 41
  19. 1 2 'Chance' carries singer to top, The Tennessean, October 28, 1989, page 57
  20. ↑ Pay Television, The Province, March 27, 1986, page 158
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.