Vintage Chicago TV, WCIU Ch. 26: “Rock of Ages” Gospel Fashion Show
November 12th, 2007 by Scott Marks
From the late 70s to the early 90s, the first Saturday of the month meant one thing to me: a fresh fashion show on Isabelle Joseph Johnson’s Rock of Ages.
WCIU-TV proved to be a great source of entertainmen. First came Arkansas Big Bill Hill whose Red Hot and Blues program was a Friday night staple throughout high school. Big Bill was a low rent Don Cornelius, a giant man with hands the size of canned hams. God only knows how many sound engineers suffered permanent hearing damage every time Bill clapped his pancake-sized palms together.
With an ever-burning cigarette in his hand, Bill would talk up a bunch of “crazy plate mates” and a gang of a dozen or so kids would wriggle for the cameras. In addition to providing thunderous applause, each song would conclude with Bill shouting “Eeeeeeeeeee-Yah. How ’bout that, huh?”
Bill shared his microphone with advertisers eager to get their faces on television. Don, from Don’s Cedar Club, 1184 Milwaukee, Milwaukee at Division Street, was a two bit hood fronting a dance club in the then un-trendy Wicker park neighborhood.
Don frequently brought acts with him, none more astounding than Alfred Farrell. Bill’s introduction was as memorable as the performer himself: “Here’s a man with one leg! Alfred Farrell, huh?” After a small smattering of applause, Farrell emerged from the wings on crutches. The music started, the crutches went flying and Alfred hopped around on one leg for three minutes.
How ’bout that, huh? Can I get an Eeeeeeeeeeee-Yah?
Bill was on WOPA-Radio, but it wasn’t the same. He would kick off each show with, “You’re listening to the Big Bill Hill Shopping Bag Show by choice, not by chance,” and proceed to spin records and exchange leaden banter with advertisers. You needed the visuals.
Bill never smiled. I don’t think he ever moved a muscle on his face. With the exception of bringing his hands together, he stood motionless. The week after the King riots, Bill showed up wearing a cast on his left arm. Unable to clap, Bill would slam his hand against the cast with such force it’s a wonder the plaster didn’t crumble to dust.
Most of his advertisers probably did jail time for fraud and Red Hot and Blues didn’t make it beyond the early seventies. Years later I hooked up with another Ch. 26 staple, Rock of Ages, a Saturday night Gospel show hosted by the unflappable Isabelle Joseph Johnson.
Not much is known about Isabelle. She owned a beauty shop on the south side that was a regular advertiser. As was Catfish Digby’s (”Eat Fish! It’s so good!”), meat packing companies like Moo and Oink, Nita’s Shoes and the incomparable Marhoul’s.
Marie Marhoul was a God-fearing Bible thumper who must have poured tons of dough into Isabelle’s coffers. Along with her husband Rev. Paul Marhoul, Marie owned a clothing store on 28 W. Madison in Oak Park.Mrs. Marhoul, or “Miz Muh-hull,” as Isabelle called her, was a cross between an African missionary and Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz. The first Saturday of every month found Mrs. Marhoul gussying up a bunch of God-fearing Baptist gals to parade before the camera “modeling” her latest fashions.
What;s the opposite of flame retardant? Marhoul’s fashions. There wasn’t one stitch of natural fiber in any of the poly-blend garments. Never comfortable in front of the camera, Mrs. Marhoul would sit opposite Isabelle and deliver a play-by-play brimming with sartorial insight. Hat’s by Chapeau (isn’t that redundant?), bags by Paul Marhoul and miles of “black trim” frequently punctuated her scintillating ability to paint with words.
Helen Roberson, Ernestine Mitchell, the mischievous Mary Smith and particularly Amanda Bunton (”a good Christian and a testament to the fuller-figured woman”) soon became as recognizable to me as Columbia bit players in Stooge two-reelers.
This excerpt is very rare among fashion shows inasmuch as Isabelle and Mrs. Marhoul taped their appearances on separate days. Try as she might to mask her impatience with her long-winded sponsor, Isabelle, who could frequently be caught rolling her eyes, probably begged to be absent when Marie taped her segment.
Pay close attention to the obligatory passing of the check. Remember how Hitchcock seamlessly edited the reel changes in Rope? You ain’t seen noting yet!
Tags: Arkansas Big Bill Hill, Chicago Television, Marhoul-s Fashions, Marie Marhoul, Mrs. Marhoul, Paul Marhoul, RED HOT AND BLUES, ROCK OF AGES, WCIU-TVShare: 
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11 Responses to “Vintage Chicago TV, WCIU Ch. 26: “Rock of Ages” Gospel Fashion Show”
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PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!
I have been writing everybody but nobody has been able to help me. I was on Soul Train in Chicago before it was synicated and moved to California. Somebody out there has to have the old tapes from the Chicago Soul Train. I would like to see them before my days on this earth end. Could you please help me, I’ve tried Don Cornelius and channel 26 with no success.Please reply.
p.s. I can narrow down the dates I believe I was on the show.
Sorry, Lamarr, but I never archived “Soul Train.” Don’t they re-run old episodes Saturday afternoons on WGN? Wish I could help, but “Soul Train” was too classy for me, the production values too high. I was a WCIU man! Two chairs, one mic and a riser.
Help!!
I’m looking for footage from the mid 70’s,from the Rock of Ages Show.My Pastor was the late A.D. Spriggs and he was a popular quest on the show.And our youth choir would go and sing on the broadcast along with him.The name of the church is Kendrick Memorial Missionary Baptist Church. I pray you can help me find some footage.
Didn’t own a VCR until 1982, so I’m afraid that I can’t help you, Dionne. I’m afraid that your quest, like my pursuit of Big Bill Hill video, may be in vain. I’m sure that WCIU didn’t archive these classic shows. Best of luck!
Back in the early 70’s I also watched the Chicago Soul Train when Clinton Gent was the host. When I was sixteen I believe, I attended the show and after one dance was interviewed by Mr. Gent. I almost did not get there. It was great.
I was on the big bill hill show several times as a kid, I would love to find footage of the shows, please contact me if you have any information. Thank You
Sorry, no video of BBH. I wish…
bill hill is my great grand father and i really would like some footage of him
If that’s the case, you truly are unique. If you get any footage of the great man, please send it my way.
I remember hurrying home from Ballroom class on Friday night to watch Red Hot and Blues. All we had with UHF was a 7″ Sony portable but that did not stop us. I first saw the Jackson 5 on Red Hot and Blues about 1967/68. It amazed me to see Michael Jackson, a child my age, take command of the stage the way he did.
A group of Chicago TV enthusiasts / collectors have set up a website that features hundreds (if not thousands) of vintage clips that once aired on the airwaves of Chicago:
http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/index.php
While searching there, I found a website that has a “Rock Of Ages” 10th Anniversary clip:
http://tinyurl.com/l7l4ue
Sadly, no Big Bill Hill show but you never know…