Anyone who grew up anywhere in America in the 70s and 80s remembers Hee-Haw. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. Every week brought new musical guests, and lots of laughs from old-timey farmers in overalls and scantily clad farmer's daughters.Although as country as the Grand Ole Opry, Hee Haw's appeal was not limited to a rural audience. It was successful in all of the major markets, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Part of the appeal was the classic country music, and part the silly wacky humor that seemed during the post-Vietnam era, to make us all feel a little better about being Americans. In the news was hostage crisis, gas rationing, inflation, the decline of American auto, and a major recession lasting through the 80s, but on Hee-haw, everything was cheerful and simple, and polyester and plaid. It was an America about as accurate as Archie comics. And exactly what we wanted to hear.
Of course, the fun part was the subtle (or not so subtle) sexual innuendoes of the jokes. The farmer's daughters in short shorts and tight shirts knotted at the waist and hair in pigtails. Didn't we all wonder, during the 70s, what was really doing on back stage, between skits?
