August 8, 1995
It started many years ago, even before 1990 when Don Clark saw an old 1955 Flxible bus sitting under a big tree rusting away, which he talked the owner into selling. What evolved has become a piece of bluegrass history reborn. The bus was overhauled, fixed up, and repainted. What started out as a bus in a pasture out for decay has turned into a reproduction of one of the busses which Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs toured in from 1956 to 1969.
In 1956, Lester and Earl had finally reached the point where they could afford to purchase a tour bus. Although their original bus wasn't new, it did become their symbol. The bus was recognized by bluegrass lovers whenever they passed it traveling down the highways.
After a while, when Lester and Earl were touring, they actually had 2 busses. One was a blue and white diesel and the other was a gasoline powered red and white Flxible. The red bus had an affinity for catching on fire and one story goes that when they would pull into a station to fill it up, that the dialog went something like this...
Station Attendant: Can I help you? Bus Driver: Yep, fill it up Station Attendant: OK, but put out the fire first!
Don Clark had wanted to build a reproduction of the bus for some time but the opportunity just wasn't right. When he saw the old bus in Baldwin Park, CA behind a feed and tackle shop almost totally obscured by the big tree it was under, he found what he was looking for. After two years of restoration and conversion, the bus was pretty much ready.
The year was 1992 and Don's Martha White Bus was headed to Bean Blossom. That journey marked the beginning of a project to continue a symbol of bluegrass history. Since that initial venture into the bluegrass world, the Martha White Bus was reborn and a lot of bluegrassers took notice. Seen at festivals around the country, the Martha White Bus often enjoys a place of honor. Festival sponsors and promoters try and give the bus a special place to park so that the audience may also experience that piece of history.
Don received permission from both Martha White Flour and WSM to put their logos and trademarks on the bus. The Grand Ole Opry trademark is there as well. Martha White and WSM are early sponsors of The Grand Ole Opry dating back to at least 1948. From the blue and white paint job to the Martha White Flour on the top to the red WSM and The Grand Ole Opry down the sides, this bus is a dream come true for Don and lovers of Bluegrass who can remember the original bus.
Since the bus' restoration and conversion into a replica of the original, Don's bus has become a virtual rolling museum. Just about everybody who's anybody in bluegrass has autographed the door. Bill Monroe, Grandpa Jones, and even Marty Stuart have signed it. It was at Bean Blossom in June of '92. Tim O'Brien, Kenny Baker, and, yes, even Earl's signature is there. Before you ever get onto the bus, you'll spend at least five minutes soaking in the door and chatting with Don and Linda about its history.
In late summer 1994, when Don took the Martha White Bus to Owensboro for the big IBMA annual dog and pony show, they passed Grandpa Jones on the street. Don and all his friends naturally backed up to say hello. Grandpa's eyes were wide open and his mouth agape and he said to Don, "Where'd you get that bus!". Needless to say, they had to visit for a short while. Grandpa, like many others, autographed the door to the bus.
Once inside, one is first amazed at the wall paper and memorabilia. Then, one realizes the size of the bus. It isn't a big wide Winnebago or a 'Cruise America' Rental. In fact, its pretty crowded inside even if you're the only one in it. Just imagine touring the country, day in and day out, in it! With the whole band!
The wall paper and decor covers the entire ceiling and any open wall space that is visible. There's a cast metal sign which reads, "Mr. & Mrs. Lester Flatt" on the drivers side below two original Flatt and Scruggs performance posters - One sponsored by Martha White. Photographs and posters of bluegrass stars and events and even some country music fans are everywhere. Who, when, and where preserved in a rolling monument to bluegrass music.
Click Here for another view image.
For the 16 years that Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys toured the country promoting Martha White Flour, they became known as "The World's Greatest Flour Peddlers" and their bus became known as the Martha White Express. The original is believed to have been sold to Jim and Jesse McReynolds.
Rumor has it that the original bus is now in a junkyard near Nashville, Tennessee. According to Don, a friend of his in Nashville said there is an old bus which doesn't even have wheels on it anymore and is so rusted out that one can't even read the writing on it, rotting away with the rest of the shells of abandoned automobiles. Some people went out to get a picture of themselves hanging out of the windows of the old bus and had to clear it of snakes, bugs, and other creatures before they could even get inside. If this is one of the original busses, it may be too far gone to revive.
Click Here for another right side view.
A lot of the history of the Martha White contribution to bluegrass as well as the history of Martha White Flour can be found inside the Martha White Cookbook. That is one source for the information regarding Martha White in this article.
Martha White is the longest running continuous sponsor of the Opry having begun sponsorship back in 1948. The Opry, which went on the air in 1925, is the longest running Saturday night show in radio history.
In 1988, the Martha White logo was changed from the original little girls face to a woman holding a fresh-baked pie. The red ring around the logo symbolizes the red ring painted on the head of a Martha White flour barrel. Martha White Foods was established in 1899 to bring quality baking ingredients to the homemaker.
Click Here for a close up of the back.
Just as every square inch of the inside is historic, the outside justifies observation as well. Hot Rize also used the Martha White Flour as the source of their name. The Martha White Bus carries a Hot Rize bumper sticker on the back as a fitting contribution to the bus' history. On the front are three plates. A Tennessee flag plate, a Bill Monroe plate, and a License-plate which says "BLU GRZZ" That pretty much sums up what the bus is all about. Oh, and what about that Ralph Stanley for President sticker?
The bus is a real Flxible, made by the Flxible Motor Cycle company - named for a flexible mounting side-car. The name Flxible® was intentionally misspelled back in 1919 so that the company could get a copyright on the name. This became the company's trademark.
Don and his bus travel around the country and spread the word about bluegrass music. He spends a considerable amount of his time promoting and helping out this music style. He and his wife are always willing to give anybody tour the inside of the bus anytime that its open. Bring your camera as this piece of history is constantly changing. New signatures on the door, new photos and posters for the inside, new memorabilia from festivals and concerts. There's always something new in the bus. Even Don's banjo is new!
