![]() ![]() The Smiling Boys continued until Freddy enlisted in the Army in 1953. Being an NBC affiliate, the show covered the local broadcast area from Terre Haute to Indianapolis and beyond to parts of Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois. In 1950, the station added the duo to another entertainment show, The Hayloft Frolics. The first local TV station, WTTV in Bloomington hit the air in 1949 and the pair was chosen to perform on The Happy Valley Show. In time, nearby stations added the radio show and their performances were extended to a pair of fifteen-minute shows with one on Saturday. The boys packed the place on Friday and Saturday nights where alcoholic drinks weren’t allowed as families could enjoy an evening out. In 1948, Fred built a large barn behind the family business (a general store) and featured his sons on The Monroe County Barndance. Still, Fred had bigger plans for his sons. ![]() Billed as The Smiling Boys, the duo won the hearts of locals. ![]() In fact, Freddy and Bobby were so good that Fred had lined up a gig at a local radio station that featured his boys singing live for fifteen minutes daily. This was the way of life for the Helms family in Bloomington, Indiana in 1943. By the time Bobby Helms was seven years old, he was singing in the family band consisting of his grandfather, uncles, his father Fred and his older brother Freddy at family get-togethers. ![]()
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