October 11, 1934

Ludlow Porch (October 11, 1934 to February 11, 2011) was a comic writer from the American south. His books were successful and he was famous in the American south as a spokesperson for a certain way of life. His exposition of the rural American south stressed its quiet virtues--- humor, generosity, food and a flaunted redneck way of life which excluded none. His words were a wistful evocation of vanished times. Ludlow Porch had a radio show for maybe, decades, in which these charming vistas were sketched out. The stories he told on the air were funny, fabulous and fresh. He was taken off the air to make way for right wing political spokespeople, in the 1980s.

Ludlow Porch was the pseudonym of Bobby Crawford Hanson.He lived in North Georgia, His stepbrother was Lewis Grizzard, also once famous for his books, and also now forgotten.

Some of his books:

A view from the Porch (1981)
The cornbread chronicles (1983)
There's nothing neat about seeing your feet: the life & times of a fat American (1984)
Can I Just Do It Till I Need Glasses?: And Other Lies Grown-Ups Told You (1985)
Weirdos, winos & defrocked priests (1986)
Honest, officer, the midget was on fire when I got here (1989)
Lewis & Me & Skipper Makes 3 (1991)

The books mention cats but these references are not Ludlow Porch at his best. The cats in this imaginary and lovable south are pretty much cliches. Bad luck black cats, raining cats and dogs cats. Cathead biscuits refer to the size of that southern treat.

But who wants fiction which is all fluffy. Plenty to enjoy with Ludlow Porch without cats, and I miss him.