Nashville:Ryman:GOO

Until 1974 The Grand Ole Opry was staged at the Ryman Auditorium. Whether or not you're into country music, it is a very historic place. From Mary Pickford to Bo Jangles to W.C. Fields to Bob Hope to Isadora Duncan to Elvis, everyone pretty much showed up at the Ryman at one time or another. Google it.

Stage costumes from all the stars through the years are there. Flashier and flashier as time marched on.

After that the GOO went to its own new HQ a dozen miles away. This May that whole area flooded deeply and has mostly not recovered, BUT the 85th anniversary of the GOO was Saturday night and there was a huge show with Dolly Parton and many others. We didn't know about this ahead of time. We could have gotten SRO tix, but decided against them.

Minnie Pearl's

Jewel stopped by for a jam session.

June and Johnny's wear.

And an even more famous country star. Just can't remember his name right now.

The new place

Thousands and thousands of people were there. The first concert was only hours away. Mike asked everyone to clear the plaza so he could get a pristine picture of it. Surprisingly, they did.

Oh ... we're back on eastern time.