Marian deserves to be better known for her many accomplishments as a live television pioneer, resourceful and innovative steel guitar soloist, vocalist and songwriter. Marian became a familiar face on live TV in Los Angeles in the 1950s as part of the Town Hall Party cast along with “superpickers”, Joe Maphis and Merle Travis. Marian spent time gigging with Tex Ritter's Ranch Party, Tex Williams band, and even Spade Cooley's all-girl orchestra.

She was a neighbor and close friend of Paul Bigsby and was one of the few for whom PA would gladly do the chore of changing strings. Marian played while seated on a high stool with her Bigsby pedal steel raised up on its leg extensions giving the illusion that she was playing while standing. She had a wonderful, self-deprecating sense of humor and roared with laughter when she told me how the stool once collapsed on live television yet she somehow finished her solo while lying on her side on the stage. And play she could: red-hot, yet always tasteful steel runs and bell-like harmonics tumbled out of her amp while she flashed that girl-next-door-smile to the camera. That she was respected by musicians of the caliber of Travis and Maphis speaks volumes of her abilities.

I'll remember her as a whip-smart, gracious lady who was modest about her abilities yet quietly proud of her accomplishments and her rightful place in the history of California Country and Western Swing music. No doubt feeling the same way, last year, the Seattle Western Swing Society inducted Marian into its Hall of Fame. Not bad for a career that began on live TV at age twelve as one half of the sister duo, The Saddle Sweethearts. I join Cindy Cashdollar and all who knew her in remembering a great lady. R.I.P. Marian.

Thanks to Dave Van Allen for the image of Marian.

[This message was edited by Andy Volk on 19 April 2006 at 05:38 PM.]

She was a great player, nice touch, terrific tone and kept up with Joe Maphis note for note.

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

AFAIK there aren't any Marian Hall albums - all of her work was as a 'side(wo)man' - though I'd like to find out I'm wrong about that!

click

What a happy smile too.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 23 April 2006 at 06:04 AM.]

It is correct, as far as I know also, that Marian never did do an album of her own. However, I have been featuring for years on my "Swingin' West" show some of her wonderful playing on recordings and radio and TV shots with The Frontiersmen, Johnny Bond, Joe Maphis, Tex Ritter, Tex Williams, Tommy Duncan and so many others.

Thanks for the link to the YouTube clip.

Drew

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.

Funny I like these living legends much more
in their early days than best know days.

I like Marian's little looks at the camera at
both the begining and the end of her solo.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 24 April 2006 at 06:32 AM.]

I've been wishing to have more SGF contact with her as she had the answers to many more questions I'd not gotten to yet.
But at least she became an member recently and touched our lives a bit more and I'm eternally grateful for that. Thanx SGF!

I grew up in the same area of So. Cal. (Downey) that she, Bigsby and Noel Boggs lived and missed meeting them all but had the connection to relate to all I've ever heard about them.

Great to see the pic posted above of Marian and her Bigsby again.
I'm happy to say I found it and bunch more on Ebay (3D! ViewMaster) a year ago and posted the info to allow the forum to see these incredible and extremely rare shots. An SGF archive search for these may still provide a cool trip back in time that will never be matched.
*just checked and the pix are not viewable anymore.

Marian Hall, good taste personified!
Rest with the best.

[This message was edited by Ron Whitfield on 31 May 2006 at 05:34 PM.]