Do you remember Mull’s Singing Convention?
A friend reminded me the other day that I left someone out of my “Chattanooga Radio and Television” book. Despite my efforts to include the most memorable faces and voices of our city’s 90-plus year broadcast history, I wasn’t able to include everyone. In some cases, photos were not available, and in other cases I simply used poor judgment.
“How,” my friend asked, “did you manage to leave out Mull’s Singing Convention?” Good question. For about 30 years, the faces of Rev. J. Bazzel Mull and his wife Elizabeth (Lady Mull) were about as familiar as anyone’s.
The Mulls first brought Southern Gospel music to local audiences on WRGP Channel 3 in 1956, then switched to WTVC Channel 9 in 1959. At first, the Mulls did a nightly show, before settling into a Saturday noontime slot from 1960 until 1975, in glorious black and white. For the next several years, their show was seen Sunday mornings, well into the 1980s. They had a long run of loyal sponsors like Soddy Men’s Shop, Elm Hill Meats, Mayfield Milk and JFG Coffee, but when the sponsors ran out, the Chattanooga telecasts ended. The Mulls continued their show in their home base of Knoxville as long as they were physically able to go to the studio.
J. Bazzel, blind since a childhood accident at the age of 11 months, was best known for his raspy voice, and a frequent question to his wife that became a local catch-phrase: “Ain’t that right, Miz Mull?” “That’s right!” she would cheerily reply. He often wore thick glasses to hide his closed eyelids, and many viewers had no idea he was blind.
From Channel 9’s old Signal Mountain studio, and later from the Golden Gateway, the Mulls would introduce live or filmed performances from the Speer Family, the Blackwood Brothers, the Chuck Wagon Gang, and the LeFevres, to name a few. In addition, the Mulls would host live multiact concerts at Memorial Auditorium, part of local TV’s one-two punch of big ticket sellers at that venue (Harry Thornton’s live wrestling shows also filled the seats). The Mulls also sold truckloads of record albums and songbooks. At their peak, they presented 75 live concerts, primarily in the Southeast, every year.
Today’s young people might wonder how a weekend gospel music TV show had such a big impact. After all, in today’s 400-channel universe, it’s hard for anyone to get noticed. But in those days, we had only three channels from which to choose. The Mulls had a prime spot of TV real estate, between Saturday cartoons and football games, so it’s quite likely their weekly show was must-see TV for many, or just on in the background at the very least.
Frankly, it was hard not to notice the voice of J. Bazzel Mull. We didn’t know it at the time, but when the preacher would get carried away and lose track of time, “Lady Mull” would pinch his leg under the desk to let him know it was time to move on, and introduce the next group.
Old-timers still chuckle about their J. Bazzel stories. The preacher loved a good joke, even when he was the subject. His blindness led to some (hopefully) goodnatured pranks in the studio. One old Channel 9 crewmember told me about the time Rev. Mull got wound up talking about a Bible issue. The fellows who had been listening tiptoed away, leaving the preacher talking to a hat rack for about five minutes. Another remembered an auditorium show in which the person who was supposed to lead him off the stage forgot to do so, leaving Rev. Mull standing awkwardly in front of a singing quartet for the better part of their song.
He didn’t let his blindness keep him from his busy calling. Mrs. Mull, who drove him everywhere, faithfully read the Bible to him daily, and even late in life he had a photographic memory of every chapter and verse. The Mulls owned a Knoxville radio station, and his distinctive voice was also heard on powerful New Orleans station WWL (AM 870) with a nighttime signal that carried into several states. Long distance truckers were among the Mulls’ biggest fans.
Both Mulls were inducted into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame, and are credited with starting the careers of many acts that became household words. J. Bazzel passed away in 2006 at the age of 91, and Elizabeth passed away in 2012 at the age of 85. Their daughter Charlotte continued the show, but passed away the following year at 67. All three family members are buried in Lenoir City, Tenn.
Although no longer aired in Chattanooga, the show is in its 60th year, hosted by Tommy Spencer, and airs in Knoxville Sundays at 7 a.m. on WVLT2 and at 4 p.m. on the KNOX Fox affiliate.
Lesson learned: I have another book coming out soon, and the Mulls will be in it.
David Carroll is from Chattanooga, Tenn. You may contact him at 900 Whitehall Road, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37405 or 3dc@ epbfi.com.