“The Heartland Series” host, renowned Tennessee storyteller and author Bill Landry was welcomed at Art Circle Public Library on Nov. 2 for a reading and book-signing event for his newest publication, A Last Hurrah.
The Cumberland Meeting Room was packed as Landry presented a few of his favorite episodes of “The Heartland Series,” giving insights and backstories on the filming, the places, the people, the challenges and the funny things that warranted storytelling.
Landry sold and signed copies of his books A Last Hurrah and When The West Was Tennessee. Ironically, A Last Hurrah may not be a last hurrah, but potentially a second-to-last hurrah, as ACPL administrative assistant Wayne Schobel said, “This book, A Last Hurrah, is probably going to have a sequel because it’s not the last one,” when introducing Landry to speak.
“He’s got some great stories in there,” Schobel added.
A Last Hurrah is a compilation of Landry’s memoir, untold tales from “The Heartland Series,” and a selection of his writings.
“I just wanted to sort of start with the fact that there’s a lot of stories around here and a lot of great storytellers, and I was fortunate to get to meet some of them,” Landry said. “Telling it for the truth; all great stories, you’ll probably hear and hear again because there’s a lot of truth in great stories.”
Landry narrated as the audience watched “The Heartland Series” episodes about Civil War bushwhackers “Tinker” Dave Beaty and Champ Ferguson, a prehistoric Cumberland Plateau flint mine and the Pig World Championship game at Forbes General Store in Pall Mall, before reading from The Last Hurrah.
“Thirty years doing my job, it’s just incredible what we got to do,” Landry said. “And funny things that happened.”
WBIR Channel 10’s iconic broadcast “The Heartland Series” aired from 1984 to 2009, telling the stories of the people, places, heritage, traditions and culture that contributed to the lore and legends of Southern Appalachia.
“It’s untelling how many things are unique to this region,” Landry said, “and even the people that have lived here for generations, we would impressed what people know, what people can share, if you give them the chance.
“I appreciate you coming and listening to my stories,” he concluded.