1938-39 Festival
Mrs. Buchanan was no longer associated with the Festival and Richard Chase took her place. "Much of the festival was taken up with his Punch and Judy shows and children's games..." and traditional dances, which Charles Seeger described as "a flop."
[All That is Native and Fine, p. 207, 209]
"Broadcast of some of the fourth annual White Top Fiddlers' Convention (sic), John Blakemore master of cermonies
Although the venue was dominated by the White Top regular coterie of musicians and attendance was off—about three thousand, in many ways 1938 was a banner year.
"The roads leading to White Top were widened and improved by the State Highway Department in preparation for the 1938 festival on August 12 and 13. That year Walter Bishop of WRVA radio in Richmond, attended the festival... and made recordings while the festival was going on, with John Blakemore as master of ceremonies.
[For a list of those heard on the recordings, see discography at the end of the Exhibit; follow the Indentifier link at the bottom of the Item description for the White Top Festival recordings (to the left) for samples of these recordings provided by Ferrum College's Digital Library of Appalachia.]
"Among the guests in 1938 were many prominant in folklore activities, such as Mary Gadd, of the English Folk Dance Society of America, Dr. Carleton Sprague Smith, of the New York Public Library, Dr. Reed Smith, of the University of South Carolina, and Dr. T.T. Noble of New York."
"Folk musicians from nine states assembledfor the festival opening on August 11 (1939). The Wide World Photos rotogravure division of the New York Times sent a photographer to cover the festival...recognition that the evnt had become national news.
["Music on the Mountain," p.9-10]
Although plans were underway for another festival, heavy rains in the area caused considerable flooding. With roads and bridges washed out the 1940 festival was cancelled. In fact, there was no festival after 1939.