Tri', Tri' Again

Yes, once again it's everybody's favorite Anodyne Recordings* superstars, the Tri'Tones!

This is, I believe, a still from their failed attempt to join the cast of The Beverly Hillbillies as a quartet of singing Bugtussle lovelies who come to visit the Clampetts. Either that, or they're showing their devotion to The Lawrence Welk Show by dressing up as Norma Zimmer.

In any case, it didn't get them far - for which I think we can all be grateful.

* A wholly owned subsidiary of Bland-Whitebread Amalgamated Enterprises.

Green Goddesses

When Edie (left) first met Stella and Elaine, on her first day in the typing pool at Snell Snell & Snell, she had no idea that within six months she'd be launched into an exciting second career in show business.

While it lasted, the Key Notes were cherished by a small and very specific audience:  people neither ready for the raw, youthful energy of the Faith Tones nor for the towering glamor of the Tri-Tones.

Sadly, it all went south when Stella got a tempting offer to go on the road as a Florence Henderson impersonator and had the nerve to drag Elaine along with her as Ann B. Davis.  For years, Edie was bitter, not least because she had had a bit of a name back in the pool for her spot-on Robert Reed.

A Family Saga

Poor cousin Winky tried to go on and act like nothing had changed, but she was never really the same after Aunt Marvelle expelled her from the Tri Tones. It's not as if there was much she could say, not after Marvelle stumbled on that little scene with Uncle Waldo in the vestry.

"That pert baggage," said Marvelle later, on learning of her niece's solo release, "would have been better off learning to say 'I don't.'"

Sing...

...Sing a song.  A song of brown.  "Brown-Eyed Girl."  "Sweet Georgia Brown."  The theme from Mrs. Brown, You Have a Lovely Daughter.  "Don't it Make My Brown Eyes...an Even Muddier Shade of Brown"... Name your tune - as long as it's You Know What.

Actually, I think they may be the nephews of those longtime Café faves, the Tri Tones.  They certainly share a fashion sense.  And probably at least a few hair-care products.

Tri-ing Times

Ladies and gentlemen - meet the Faith Tones' glamourous aunts. They live in Vero Beach, drive Dodge Darts, and are staunch members of the Central Florida Abstinence in Marriage League. Well, all except Marvelle there, bottom left. Sometimes she can't help herself.