Banjo Hangout Logo
Banjo Hangout Logo

Premier Sponsors


Aug 30, 2026 - 4:06:49 PM
likes this
418 posts since 7/13/2006

I was Flipping through old copies of Banjo Newsletter and what do you know? I stumbled across the issue where one of our regular contributors here took the reigns from Jack Hatfield to continue the Beginner's Corner.  This happened in the March 1994 issue.
I'll put a little suspense in here. Does anyone know who it is? I'd be amazed if the author himself guessed it correctly first.

Edited by - LittleGoomba on 08/30/2026 16:07:27

Aug 30, 2026 - 5:20:30 PM

1062 posts since 4/28/2012

Hi Rob!

Would that be Mr. Ian Perry?

Aug 30, 2026 - 5:24:18 PM
like this

chuckv97

Canada

79933 posts since 10/5/2013

Ira Gitlin and Ken Norkin also contributed articles to BNL

Aug 30, 2026 - 8:19:37 PM
likes this

7269 posts since 10/13/2007

If memory serves correctly, It was the amazing Flinthill Flash.
Ken

Aug 30, 2026 - 8:45:02 PM
like this

17660 posts since 6/2/2008

quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97

Ira Gitlin and Ken Norkin also contributed articles to BNL


Yes. Hub ran two or three of my tabs from a collection I sent him, a photo I took of Alan Munde when Country Gazette played the Red Fox Inn (misidentified in BNL as the Childe Harold), and a short piece I edited for John Janzegers about using wood wedges and not screwdrivers to pry tight tone rings off of rims (to avoid damaging the top of the rim). He put my name on it as a co-author. That's every appearance of mine in BNL I can remember. This was from 1975 to early 80s.

I also wrote a review of the Peters adapters that turned regular tuners into D-tuners. But since my review was about how I couldn't get them to work, Hub didn't run it. At least that's my memory.

Whoever is the mystery columnist here, it wasn't I.

Aug 31, 2026 - 7:05:21 AM
likes this

3288 posts since 2/12/2005

Mike Bailey?

Aug 31, 2026 - 9:17:12 AM

dpalmer

USA

63 posts since 9/22/2005

Jim Pankey with a tab of Cumberland Gap.
DanP.

Aug 31, 2026 - 9:24:19 AM

7269 posts since 10/13/2007

Oh, I did not read close enough and was thinking of the great Hatfield column Scruggs Corner when I said Flinthill Flash.
ken

Aug 31, 2026 - 10:38:47 AM

418 posts since 7/13/2006

Dan Palmer got it! Jim Pankey took the reigns. As I go through these magazines, I wonder if he kept that article to himself or if it passed on to any of the other folks mentioned above?
What I find fascinating in going through all these old newsletters is how when I took up the banjo all these folks seemed immortal on stage and print, and now, I've had conversations and gotten to play music with so many of them/you. One of the newsletters from the 70s had a friend of mine, who I thought was a guitarist all this time, wind up with a detailed interview about him! He never mentioned it. I just thought he was an outstanding guitar player/builder and just a local fellow. One of the nicest and most unassuming people I ever met. He's long deceased and I miss him. It was a real surprise to see he was the subject of a two page interview about Banjos! (Scott Morgan, August 1979)

I'm sure I'll have plenty more raised eyebrows as I go through this collection. I'm only missing a few percent of every issue published. Thanks, Bob, for the two boxes of issues!

Aug 31, 2026 - 10:54:04 AM

418 posts since 7/13/2006

And, as I go through more issues, it looks like Beginner's Corner went through a few hosts. Ian Perry in May, Andy Cushing in June.Jim again in August, Ian again... It looks like that column got a bit de-emphasized and had a rotation of hosts when Jack Hatfield moved on, ala Jeapordy and it's host search.

Aug 31, 2026 - 12:11:58 PM

17660 posts since 6/2/2008

90s was a period when I wasn't subscribing. Appears I let it expire in '87. Restarted around 2007. I looked today and saw who was writing the Beginner's Corner then. A name I recognize from someone still posting lessons online. Since I looked, I won't say who it is.

Aug 31, 2026 - 12:44:07 PM
like this

Bart Veerman

Canada

6170 posts since 1/5/2005

Ken mentioned the Flinthill Flash. After all these years, someone PLEAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZE spill the beans: who was that??????????????????????????????????

Aug 31, 2026 - 12:56:10 PM

17660 posts since 6/2/2008

The name I saw in the 2000s was Eddie Collins.

I missed that Rob confirmed Dan was right in guessing Jim Pankey.

Aug 31, 2026 - 1:00:07 PM

7269 posts since 10/13/2007

quote:
Originally posted by Bart Veerman

Ken mentioned the Flinthill Flash. After all these years, someone PLEAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZE spill the beans: who was that??????????????????????????????????


Yes!! I still smile when thinking of him. He was passionate and fun and dead on right. 

Ken

Aug 31, 2026 - 5:26:42 PM

597 posts since 9/5/2013

Maybe former Editor Donald Nitchie could be bribed to disclose the identity of the mysterious Mr. F. H. Flash.

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)

Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.





Hangout Network Help

View All Topics  |  View Categories

0.1179199