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A MUSICAL ODYSSEY
Present
THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN YEARS Pt. II

THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN MAKE 10,950 APPEARANCES
AT EXPO '67 ~ MONTREAL

During our 1965 performances at the Threshermen's Reunion, we were so wrapped up in the parades of old steam engines, the rodeo action, threshing contests, and enthusiastic crowds that we paid little attention to a small camera crew who filmed our show one afternoon. Much later we learned that they were from the National Film Board of Canada and were gathering footage for Montreal's Expo '67. Two years later we had the thrill of seeing this footage after standing in line for hours at the Labyrinth Pavilion. We then learned that our images appeared on the pavilion's giant split screen, 30 times a day for the whole year.
Official Labyrinth Record Album: Featured Song: Threshermen's Ball
Sue-On in line-up for Montreal '67 Expo's Labyrinth Pavilion featuring Russ Gurr and the Western Union
Sue-On in Labyrinth Queue


COUNTRY GENTLEMEN WITH RUSS GURR
1966: AUSTIN THRESHERMEN'S REUNION
& DAUPHIN EXHIBITION
 

Country Gentlemen: Barry - Bill - Russ - John - JakeCountry Gentlemen on Stage: Barry and BillBarry FormanBarry and Bette Forman with future symphony violinist: son Kent

Russ with Country Gentlemen: Bill - Barry - JakeBill ~ Russ ~ John
The Rodeo BeginsRodeo Opening CeremoniesProviding intro and extros during the Rodeo
Parade Time: Non stop music for an hour or moreSue-On's first parade



A LADY JOINS THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN
Bill and Sue-On together at last: Austin Threshermen's Reunion
Sue-On's first stage appearances: Summer '66
The successes at the Threshermen's Reunion and at Expo led to an exclusive contract with Federal Grain Ltd. Starting in the summer of '66 they supplied us with a tour bus and portable stage and sponsored us on promotional tours every summer to major exhibitions and rodeos across Western Canada. By 1967 Sue-On had joined the group and I felt we had to come up with a name change for the band. I dug through my collection of Zane Grey novels and came up with the name: The Western Union.
Western Union Business Card

It All Started At Austin Threshermen Meet
John Skinner (North Brandon) ~ Russ Gurr (Brandon) ~ Sue-On & Bill Hillman (Strathclair) ~ Barry Forman (Rivers)
John Skinner (North Brandon) ~ Russ Gurr (Brandon) ~ Sue-On & Bill Hillman (Strathclair) ~ Barry Forman (Rivers)
Russ Gurr and the Western Union group sign a contract for the NFB use of
the Gurr song, The Threshermen's Ball at Expo's Labyrinth.
Our first studio publicity shot: Bill - Russ - Barry - Jake - Sue-On
RUSS GURR & WESTERN UNION 
SOUVENIR PHOTO
Farmer-Entertainer Gurr and 
Western Union Group Busy
by Kaye Rowe ~ Sun Feature Writer
Brandon Sun ~ 1967
Minus instruments, Russ and four of his five-man group assembled in a local legal office last week to sign contracts relative to National Film Board's use of their song, The Threshermen's Ball. Recently they roped and tied contracts with Federal Grain for personal appearances at fairs, rodeos and stampedes ranging from Provincial Exhibition at Brandon commencing July 3, and on to some dozen other points in Saskatchewan and the north country Swan River rodeo."

The National Film Board action began back in July of '65 when Russ Gurr and the gang were filmed and taped as part of the whoopee at Austin's Threshermen's Reunion.  Labyrinth -- one of the "must-see" exhibits at Expo according to everyone on more than a cursory look around -- planned to use a segment of their Austin, Manitoba footage and the Gurr song, Threshermen's Ball.

The group includes two high school teachers -- Barry Forman of Rivers on fiddle and Bill Hillman of Strathclair on lead guitar, Jake Kroeger of Rivers on rhythm guitar, and John Skinner, drummer of North Brandon. An added feature is a Chinese doll -- Sue-On Hillman -- Bill's wife, who does lively songs and dances.

The company will perform on a modern-style open-air stage created a la Centennial Caravans using caravan truck that doubles as a parade float, and features a movable stage complete with sets and furnishings. They will play several shows a day as a free feature, and aid in calling the crowd into the grandstand.

Contract Signing with NFB and Federal Grain
Winnipeg Free Press ~ Monday, July 24, 1967
Lethbridge Federal Grain Train Show before Sue-On and Russ make their entrances

 

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Bill & Sue-On Hillman Eclectic Studio
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