Libsyn Directory

02 | Women’s Suffrage Battle | Wolfman Jack at 15WLAC | May 2018 Issue

Release Date: 04/30/2018

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 fight for women’s right to vote came down to a final political battle that took place in Nashville. Host Allen Forkum (editor of The Nashville Retrospect newspaper) interviews Dr. Carole Bucy, the Davidson County Historian and professor of Tennessee history at Vol State Community College, about that dramatic struggle in the summer of 1920 over the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which recognized women’s right to vote. (Segment begins at 04:40)

Josephine Pearson at Hermitage Hotel

Pictured at Nashville’s Hermitage Hotel in August 1920 are (left to right):Mrs. James S. Pinckard, president-general of the Southern Women’s League for the Rejection of the Susan B. Anthony Amendment; a Confederate veteran who (according to a hand-written caption on the photo) “‘fought and bled’ for Tennessee’s states rights”; and Josephine A. Pearson, president of the Tennessee Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Josephine A. Pearson Papers)

This editorial cartoon, titled “Lest We Forget,” appeared in the Los Angeles Examiner on Aug. 21, 1920. It is one of many from the newspaper clippings collection of Carrie Chapman Catt, then president of the National Woman Suffrage Association. The Southern-gentlemen stereotype was used in many cartoons of the time to represent Tennessee. (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Carrie Chapman Catt Papers)

Also in Episode 02, Tom Henderson talks about his personal recording of the April 1975 15WLAC radio show in which deejays Wolfman Jack and Spiderman Harrison ushered a programming change from rhythm and blues and soul to full-time rock ‘n’ roll. Hear audio excerpts from the pivotal show, including appearances by Muhammad Ali, Oprah Winfrey and deejay Hoss Allen. (Segment begins at 26:50.)

Nationally-syndicated deejay Wolfman Jack (right) and WLAC deejay Spiderman Harrison co-hosted the occasion, at which hundreds of people gathered at the Nashville radio station’s studio. (Image: Bill Massey)

Audio of the pivotal 15WLAC radio show was captured on reel-to-reel tape by Tom Henderson. Pictured are the tape and his index cards with notes.

And finally, Allen Forkum reviews some of the stories in the May 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect, including: Minnie Pearl's opinion of “new” country music (1986); Michael Jordan's baseball games at Greer Stadium (1994); photos of prom preparations at local high schools (1966); a shift in black votes away from the Republican party (1907); and a "fearful tornado" (1868). (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):

• “Suffrage Amendment Adopted By House,” Nashville Tennessean, Aug. 19, 1920 (The Nashville Retrospect, August 2010)

• “Battle Began For Suffrage Many Years Ago,” Nashville Tennessean, Aug. 19, 1920 (The Nashville Retrospect, August 2010)

• “Burn Changed Vote On Advice Of His Mother,” Nashville Tennessean, Aug. 20, 1919, (The Nashville Retrospect, August 2020)

• “Ratified! Tennessee Women and the Right to Vote: A Look at the State Museum Exhibition,” The Nashville Retrospect, August 2020

• “Epicenter of the Fight for Women Suffrage; Opposing Sides Headquartered in Nashville’s Hermitage Hotel,” by Tom Vickstrom, The Nashville Retrospect, August 2020

• “Rock ’n’ Roll Takeover” by Tom Henderson III, The Nashville Retrospect, May 2018

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

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