Libsyn Directory

01 | Crime Reporting, Sit-in Protests, Newspaper Competition | Fisk Jubilee Quartet | April 2018 Issue

Release Date: 04/03/2018

13 | Larry Brinton | Cash-for-Clemency Scandal, ‘Marie’ Movie | JFK Visit, Janet March Murder | August 2019 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Veteran reporter Larry Brinton recalls growing up in Nashville, how he became a reporter, and more of this big news stories, including the Janet March murder, President Kennedy’s Nashville visit, and the cash-for-clemency scandal, which led to his portrayal of himself in the 1985 movie “Marie.” This special podcast, on the occasion of Brinton’s recent death, is a continuation of the interview from Episode 01. The contents of the August 2019 Nashville Retrospect are reviewed.

12 | Early TV, Hermitage Hotel, WWII Marriage | ‘Near You’ and Music City USA | March 2019 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

At 94 years old, Mary B. Williams remembers being a teenager in East Nashville during World War II, dancing at the Hermitage Hotel, and her TV career at the birth of the medium. Historian Don Cusic tells the story of Nashville’s first big hit record, “Near You” in 1947, and the beginnings of Music City USA. And the contents of the March 2019 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed.

11 | Slavery, Runaways, Fancy Girls | Alex Haley’s ‘Roots’ | African-American Genealogy | February 2019 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Bill Carey relates how pervasive the institution of slavery was in Tennessee, as evidenced by ads in newspapers, including runaways and fancy girls. Taneya Koonce discusses the novel “Roots” and African-American genealogy. Also hear “Roots” author Alex Haley speak at the state capitol. And the contents of the February 2019 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed.

10 | War of 1812, Andrew Jackson, Creek War | Richard Fulton’s Country Music Record | Sulphur Water | January 2019 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Dr. Tom Kanon discusses the War of 1812, including: Tennessee’s rise to national prominence, becoming known as “The Volunteer State”; Native-Americans’ loss of millions of acres of territory in the Creek War; Gen. Andrew Jackson becoming president after a lopsided victory in the Battle of New Orleans; and how a comet and earthquakes helped launch the war. Also hear U.S. Congressman Richard Fulton’s country music record. And the contents of the January 2019 issue are reviewed.

09 | Christmas Eve River Rescue | Bygone Old Christmas | December 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

A woman jumped off the Shelby Street Bridge on Christmas Eve, 1956, with a baby in her arms. Interviews with Harold Hogue, Anne Knox, and Judy Hunt Charest about the tragic yet heroic event and its aftermath decades later. Also, Tennessee folk singers Dee and Delta Hicks discuss the lost tradition of Old Christmas. And the contents of the December 2018 issue are reviewed.

08 | World War I Relics | Gold Star Records | Military Branch Museum | November 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Dr. Lisa Budreau discusses World War I relics in the Tennessee State Museum, including a German cannon and Sergeant York’s medals. Allison Griffey relates stories from the Gold Star Records, as well as stories about women factory workers, the influenza epidemic, and the Mexican village at the Old Hickory gun powder plant. Dan Pomeroy tells the history of the Military Branch Museum. And the contents of the November 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect are reviewed.

07 | City Cemetery | Dr. Lucifur and Sir Cecil Creape | Halloween | October 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Fletch Coke tells the history of Nashville City Cemetery (established in 1822) and the stories of the people buried there. Jeff Thompson and Larry Underwood discuss Nashville legendary TV horror hosts Dr. Lucifur and Sir Cecil Creape. And the spooky contents of the October 2018 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed.

06 | Glenn School Integration | 1957 Desegregation Hearings | Brown v. Board of Education | September 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

In 1957, the desegregation of Nashville public schools involved protests by white supremacists, political stalling, and a school bombing. Hear interviews with people who were there, including Lajuanda Street Harley, Sorena Street, Debi Oeser Cox, Joe Casey and Larry Brinton. Dr. Bobby Lovett explains Brown v. Board of Education. Also hear excerpts of desegregation hearings, and a review of the contents of the September 2018 Nashville Retrospect newspaper.

05 | Settlement of Nashville, Indian Wars | Elvis at the State Capitol | August 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Paul Clements relates stories about the first settlers to arrive in the Nashville area in the late 1700s, including why they came and why Native Americans attacked them. Hear Elvis Presley speak to the Tennessee legislature in 1961. And the contents of the August 2018 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed. (This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence.)

04 | Dutchman’s Curve Train Wreck | Elmer Hinton’s Humor Album | July 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Betsy Thorpe tells the stories from the 1918 Dutchman’s Curve train wreck in West Nashville, the deadliest in U.S. history. Also hear excerpts from humor columnist Elmer Hinton’s 1968 album “Down to Earth.” And the contents of the July 2018 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed.

More Episodes

The Stringbean killings. The Marcia Trimble murder. The civil rights sit-in protests. These are just a few of the big news stories covered by Larry Brinton, an award-winning reporter who worked for the Nashville Banner in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Host Allen Forkum (editor of The Nashville Retrospect newspaper) interviews Brinton, who also discusses the Haynie Gourley case, competition with The Nashville Tennessean, the samurai sword case, and more (segment begins at 07:30).

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Be sure to also listen to Episode 13 for the second part of this interview with Larry Brinton, who died on July 25, 2019. And watch our video presentation “True Crime Nashville: The Reporting of Larry Brinton.”]

Larry Brinton 2018

Larry Brinton being interviewed in his home in March 2018.

Larry Brinton 1974

From the November 2010 issue of The Nashville Retrospect: On July 22, 1974, Dist. Atty. Gen. Tom Shriver (left), Banner reporter Larry Brinton (middle) and Metro Detective Davie Roberts wait as police divers search a nearby pond for the Stringbean’s satchel, which Brinton and some confederates had secretly recovered earlier in the day in order to scoop The Tennessean on the story. In the background, John Brown, who had shot and killed Grand Ole Opry star David “Stringbean” Akeman the previous November, is seen walking, handcuffed and under escort. (Image: Nashville Public Library, Nashville Room, photo by Jack Gunter)

Also in Episode 01, hear the story of “Golden Slippers,” a slave song recorded by the Fisk Jubilee Quartet in 1909 (segment begins at 33:10).

And finally, Allen Forkum reviews old newspaper articles reprinted in the April 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect, including original 1968 coverage of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. assassination and the resulting violence in Nashville (segment begins at 01:30).

SHOW NOTES

A list of stories relating to this episode contained in archive issues of The Nashville Retrospect (archive issues can be ordered by clicking here or on the issue links below):

• “75 Students Arrested,” Nashville Tennessean, Feb. 28, 1960 (The Nashville Retrospect, February 2010)

• “Nashville Banner & The Sit-Ins” by Larry Brinton (The Nashville Retrospect, February 2010)

• “Slain Girl Found in Woodbine Lot,” Nashville Banner, Dec. 2, 1969 (Kathy Jones murder, The Nashville Retrospect, November 2009)

• “Before Marcia Trimble” by Larry Brinton (The Nashville Retrospect, August 2011)

• “Police Push For Killers Of Stringbean, Wife,” Nashville Banner, Nov. 12, 1973 (The Nashville Retrospect, November 2010)

• “The Stringbean Murders” by Larry Brinton (The Nashville Retrospect, November 2010)

• “Samurai Sword” by Larry Brinton (The Nashville Retrospect, April 2010)

• See the April 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect for other stories referenced on this episode.

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