Timeless Viewing: The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

When Glen Campbell died on Tuesday at the age of 81 following a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s, he left behind countless fans as well as a musical legacy that included such standards as “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Wichita Lineman.” His contributions to film and television are also noteworthy — including the 2014 documentary Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me was a candid look at his farewell tour and the country crooner’s fight with the disease that eventually took his life. For millions of viewers though, he will be best remembered as the creative force behind the hugely influential 1969-72 CBS variety show The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Each week Campbell hosted an array of impressive guests (including Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Jerry Reed) for an episode of television that was indeed a good time. Two volumes of the series are currently available on DVD, one focusing on country stars as well as a compilation of his 1969 and 1970 Christmas specials that include appearances from the likes of Cher and Andy Griffith. As much as it hurts that Campbell is no longer with us, thanks to these releases the good times he shared with us never have to end.