Early Perspectives on Jewell

 From the Texarkana (Tex-Ark) Daily News

April or May 1952

“I’ll Be Seeing You” (a column)

By Annie May Turner

A SMART GAL

Ring the bell for Songwriter Jewell House! She’s doing what cannot be done!

Professional tunesmiths say that one has to be in New York or Hollywood – at least where song publishers are – to get anywhere in the song writing business, yet Jewell’s career is zooming and her latest song “A Loveless Marriage,” recorded by Red Sovine, has been selected by eighteen disc jockeys as the nation’s number one hillbilly hit.

     That’s why the beautiful, vivacious young woman has been invited to make personal appearance on radio disc jockey shows in Arkansas, Mexico, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana, including Ernest Tubb’s “Midnight Record Show,” WSM, Nashville. The three-week tour starts Friday. Following her return to Texarkana, she will go to Beaumont to appear on Ken Ritter’s ‘Bar None Ranch,” at KFDM. (Ken, by the way, is Tex Ritter’s nephew.)

     She will be accompanied on the tour by her husband, Charley House, recently made desk sergeant in the Texarkana, Texas, police department, and two handsome sons, David and Ricky. “I wouldn’t make this trip without my three boys,” says Jewell, a devoted wife and mother. It is easy to see that her home and family mean far more to her than a career.

     Her interest in writing began with what she calls “The poetry bug” while her husband was serving with the Army in Germany during World War II. As she plays the piano, accordion and guitar, it wasn’t long until she decided to try her hand at song writing – and the result was the very popular “My Son Calls Another Man Daddy.” It put more than two thousand dollars in her purse. And she had the added pleasure of knowing that in Heidelberg, Germany, American soldiers asked Hank Williams to sing the song eight times during one show.

     Since her entry into the profession, Jewell has written lyrics, or both music and lyrics, to two hundred songs. Many were tailored to suit the talents of top stars of the folk song, or hillbilly field, including headliners of Grand Ole Opry. Her current contracts are with Acuff-Rose Publications and Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas Publishing Co.

     Among her songs are “Don’t Envy Gold,” “Pride is Breaking Your Heart” and “It Just Ain’t Right” for Hank Williams; “Stolen Kisses,” “Misty Eyes” and “Long, Long Road Ahead” for Webb Pierce, the Decca artist; “Weepers Are Losers,” “Echoes of the Past,” “Will You Feel the Same?” and seven other numbers for Texas Tyler; several sacred songs for Wally Fowler; “Fallen Angel” with Leon Payne; Contrary Darling” for Sheb Wooley.

     “Jealous Lies” and “Your Love is Make Believe” for the Wilburn Brothers; “Beautiful Moon Over Hawaii,” “Since You’re Gone,” and “Highway to Heaven” for Shot Jackson; “Dreaming Out Loud,” “That’s the Crazy Way I Fell For You,” “I Wonder Why You Wonder,” “If My Heart Could Talk,” “No Love is Worth the Price I Paid,” “Prison of Tears” and “Love Is Just a Gample” for Johnny and Jack, RCA ace recording stars. She and Red Sovine have completed enough songs for his next three years’ recording sessions. (Sovine is slated for stardom in Grand Ole Opry soon).

     Before Jewell and Charley were married ten years ago, and during the time she was Queen of the Tomato Festival, a talent scout invited her to Hollywood for a test, but her mother vetoed that idea as she considered her daughter too young. Jewell was much interested in show business, but she let the opportunity slip by. Now she is part of it, and a very important part, for her songs are heard wherever folk singers appear personally or on record.

     And she proved that what has been said about a better mousetrap still goes. That’s why so many important folk singers frequently are seen at the House home. Jimmy Davis, Red Sovine and their families visited Jewell and Charley a short time ago.

So let’s have a nice round of applause for Songwriter Jewell House.

-- By permission, Les Minor, Editor, Texarkana Gazette.

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Sunday, May 17, 1953

Texarkana Gazette

No byline; 3-column article, inside page, w/2-col photo of Jewell House

Hayloft Jamboree Swinging Into

High Gear to Get Big Name Stars

The Texarkana Hayloft Jamboree is swing (sic) into high gear to bring the biggest names in the hillbilly field to this city during the summer months.

     The jamboree, which has rapidly grown in stature since it was started early this year to give Texarkanians an opportunity to see the stars in action, has lined up an imposing array of talent for indoor and outdoor shows.

     Such name stars as Ernest Tubb, Moon Mullican and Hank Snow are just a few of many outstanding hillbilly personalities which have been booked in weeks.

The Texarkana Hayloft Jamboree is sponsored by the Texarkana Athletic Commission. All profits are used to finance the kid baseball program and other youth activities in this city.

     Mrs. Jewel (sic) House, 1619 West 17th, has been named director of the Hayloft Jamboree by the Athletic Commission. She will have full charge of all amateur and professional talent to appear on future shows.

     The athletic commission offered Mrs. House the title in recognition for valuable help which she has given the commission in lining up jamboree shows in the past.

Mrs. House, who has extensive contacts in the hillbilly music field, and who has penned several songs herself, said that weekly auditions for the Texarkana Hayloft Jamboree will be started this week.

     The rehearsal and audition will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Fine Arts Building at the Four States Fair Grounds, and all amateur performers from Texarkana and the Four States Area who wish to audition for a future Hayloft Jamboree show are urged to be present. Mrs. House said the auditions will be private and the audience will be confined only to performers and officials of the jamboree.

     Jim Reeves, colorful and popular hillbilly musician and singer, will be the star of next Friday night’s jamboree how in the municipal auditorium. A strong cast of supporting talent from Texarkana and the Four States Area will also be on the show. Included are Jeanette Hicks, The Grant Brothers, The Circle J Ranch Boys, Al Deaton, Betty Choate, Leroy Steib, Amando Zamora and Ray Keenum.

     Reeves’ recording of “Mexican Joe” has surged to the heights of the national hillbilly hit parade and is currently in second place. He has made appearances on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, the Louisiana Hayride and the Big D Jamboree in Dallas.

On May 28th, Mrs. House has booked Blackie Crawford and the Western Cherokees, a nine-piece band of western entertainers who have scored big hits throughout the southwest.

     The Texarkana Athletic Commission plans to move the weekly Hayloft Jamboree out under the stars beginning with the June 5 show. On that night, Ernest Tubb will be in Texarkana in person to star on the jamboree, which will be held at the Spring Lake Park baseball park. Tubb, a favorite from coast to coast and one of the biggest stars in the business, is expected to draw a terrific crowd and the athletic commission decided to schedule the show under the stars so more people will have an opportunity to see him perform.

     On June 19 Moon Mullican will headline the Hayloft Jamboree, and on July 3 Tommy Sosebee will be the star. On July 17 it will be Hank Snow, another national headliner.

Mrs. House recently returned from a trip to Nashville, Tenn., which is the capital of the hillbilly music business in America. She made and renewed valuable contacts in Nashville which will be instrumental in providing the Hayloft Jamboree here with top talent in the future.

     Her visit in Nashville resulted in the Jamboree getting national publicity in the current issue of The Billboard, which is the leading newspaper in the amusement industry.

     Benny Woods of Texarkana is master of ceremonies of the weekly Hayloft Jamboree.

-- By permission, Les Minor, Editor, Texarkana Gazette

*Note: The folio line on the tearsheet for this article carries an incorrect date. Date of publication was May 17, 1953, and not 1952.

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 From a 1956 issue of Country Songs magazine

     Radio Station KCMC, Texarkana, Texas, lays claim to being first for one of the best Country-Western d.j. shows in that part of the country. The show we’re referring to is the “Jewell House Program.” Jewell has built a national reputation because of her ability as a songwriter and entertainer. Many of her compositions have been recorded by leading stars, and sales have been in the millions. A spokesman for the station said, “KCMC is proud and happy to add this brilliant show personality to its roster of stars.”

     Many of Jewell’s fans will be happy to hear of her new location and show. The program features Folk, Western and Country artists only. According to the fan mail, the show is really liked and appreciated by those fortunate enough to hear it. Country stars and Country music is (sic) really doing well in the Texarkana area – and much of the credit goes to Jewell and the fine promoting and programming she features on her show.

     Jewell is a real pretty lass, with a winning smile and beaming personality. Her show is a relaxed type of thing and makes the listeners feel that it’s coming from a cozy living room rather than a formal studio. The little comments that go with each record are just another touch that helps to keep Jewell’s popularity soaring. Since she is on very friendly terms with most of the top Country stars, she often reveals little episodes that please the audience as well as lets them in on little known, often amusing facts.

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From "Country Roundup" in the March 10, 1956, issue of The Cash Box

     Writing a very interesting column for the "Two States Press" of Texarkana, Texas, is Jewell House, well-known songwriter in country music. Miss (sic) House recently inaugurated a new column featuring stories and news of country music personalities each week. The first such feature was devoted to Ferlin Husky, with one on Jim Reeves slated soon.

Many more stories and news briefs were written about Jewell and her work. We will post them as they become available.