On Nov. 10, 1973, Tex Ritter stood on the Ryman Auditorium stage and brought David "Stringbean" Akeman to the "Grand Ole Opry." "Stringbean, like Grandpa Jones, since the 'Hee Haw' shows is playing a ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Marc Berman is a New York-based reporter who covers media. If you are of a certain age or simply fancy TV variety-themed series, ...

Gailard Sartain, the character actor and comedian whose breakthrough role on Hee Haw launched a career of playing Southern good-ol’-boy that included his memorable performance as The Big Bopper in ...

Beloved character actor Gailard Sartain, known for “Hee Haw,” “Mississippi Burning” and “Fried Green Tomatoes,” has died at age 78. The Church Studio in Oklahoma, where he was a visitor and his wife ...

Editor's note: Peter Cooper's reporting on the 1973 killing of David "Stringbean" Akeman and his wife, Estelle, is being republished on the fiftieth anniversary of their deaths. On Nov. 10, 1973, Tex ...