Two Talented People Now Gone–The End of the Initial Grapevine Opry Era

In 1974, High began his country music show, when he and dance teacher Chisai Childs of Fort Worth, bought and renovated Grapevine’s Palace Theatre. In 1979, Childs moved to Branson, Missouri, when High opened his Saturday night show at Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort Worth. It stayed there for almost 13 years before moving to Haltom City’s Shannon Auditorium.

In 1995, High bought an old movie theater in Arlington, Texas and created the Arlington Music Hall.

Concerning the original team at the Grapevine Opry, Chisai said,”The people don’t come to hear us gab about ourselves or anything else. They come to be entertained, and we try to keep the entertainment center stage.” Costumes to be used in the local show are custom made by Nudie of Hollywood, who also makes clothing for Roy Rogers and did for Elvis. The costumes, some of which cost as much as $10,000, often take half a year to make and involve three or four individual fittings. Chisai’s five “Hee – Haw” appearances, featured  her talents in the comedy area. In addition to the two Grapevine Opry shows every Saturday night, Chisai and Johnnie High averaged at least one big road show every week.

Chisai and High emphasized that the show is completely family oriented, to the point that “you can bring your husband, your kids, your mother, and your preacher and everyone will have a good time.”  As Miss Talent Teen U.S.A., Chisai toured seven countries with a U.S.O. show while still a teenager, performing with such notables as Bob Hope. Now one of the two main stars of the Grapevine Opry and about to begin taping a series of appearances on the syndicated comedy show “Hee – Haw” Chisai says the Opry venture is responsible for bringing her back to a career she thought she had left “After the U.S.O. tour and some other performances,” she said in a interview in 1974, “I stopped in show business because I didn’t want to go into bars to perform. But those were the only places where there was work. Then I got involved with the Grapevine Opry, which is an alternative to that bar scene.”

Together, aided by Chisai’s aunt, Mrs. R.L Slaughter, the two singers put together what they called “a first class, professional family show.” Chisai drew on a repertoire of more than 50 different acts in putting together each performance. With a background in comedy, she interspersed her singing with comedy bits during the show. “I imitate Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn and several other singers as a part of the act,” she said. “In fact I am the only woman singer I know of who does an Elvis imitation. But I don’t know right now what will happen with that now that Elvis has died.” One imitation that Chisai says is especially popular now is her impression of Miss Lillian Carter, mother of President Jimmy Carter. Chisai currently had four records in release”