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

Release Date: 07/31/2018

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

Nashville today attracts thousands of new residents every month, but over 200 years ago, people risked their very lives to move here. Host Allen Forkum (editor of The Nashville Retrospect newspaper) interviews historian Paul Clements about the first settlers to arrive in the Nashville area in the late 1700s. Led by James Robertson, the settlers not only endured a treacherous journey, but after arriving they also faced an ever-present threat of attack from Native-American groups trying to drive the settlers from their hunting grounds. (Note: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence. Segment begins at 03:50)

This postcard image, from the mural in the west lunette of the nave of the Kentucky State Capitol, depicts representatives from the Transylvania Land Company and Cherokee Indians negotiating the Transylvania Purchase in 1775. James Robertson attended the meeting, along with Richard Henderson and Daniel Boone. Some of the land acquired would be the future home of the Cumberland Settlements and Nashville. (Image: Mike Slate)

General James Robertson (1742–1814) as depicted by Henry Benbridge (1744–1812). (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives)

This mural, located in offices of the Tennessee State Capitol, depicts the Battle of the Bluff, which occurred on April 2, 1781. Legend holds that Charlotte Robertson, James Robertson’s wife, let dogs out of Bluff Station (later know as Fort Nashborough) to drive off attacking Creek Indians.

Also in Episode 05, hear Elvis Presley’s speech to the Tennessee Legislature at the State Capitol on March 8, 1961. School-skipping teenagers in the galleries screamed as a gavel was banged to bring the crowd to order. Elvis received a round of applause after declaring that he would never leave his adopted home of Tennessee. (Segment begins at 48:00)

Excerpt from the original caption in the March 8, 1961, Nashville Banner: “Gov. Buford Ellington introduces singer-actor Elvis Presley to the State Legislature this morning amid applause from the packed house. … The artist, who drove up from Memphis for the appearance, was named a colonel on the governor’s staff and in reply said: ‘This recognition is the greatest honor I’ve ever received.’ … He’ll be returning here this weekend for a RCA Victor recording session.” (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives, photo by Don Foster)

Original caption from the March 9, 1961, Nashville Tennessean: “Ann Ellington and Elvis share a private joke at the entrance to the governor’s mansion after his tumultuous reception at the Capitol. Shorty before, Gov. Buford Ellington said, ‘You’re a great man.’ And Elvis rode off—with Ann.” (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives, photo by Gerald Holly)

The blue vinyl disc above features the audio recording of Elvis’s appearance before the state legislature in 1961. A machine like the one pictured below was used to make the recording. Both items are archived at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

And finally, Allen Forkum briefly reviews some of the stories in the August 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect, including: the rediscovery of a mystery tunnel on Capitol Hill in 1961; old swimming pools of Nashville, such as Cascade Plunge and Centennial Park (story by Tom Henderson); the city of Nashville’s purchase of slaves in 1830 (story by Bill Carey); and a road rage incident in 1884. (Segment begins at 01:30)

SHOW NOTES

A list of articles 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):

• “Our Frontier Heritage and Why It Matters” by Paul Clements, The Nashville Retrospect, October 2010

• “James Robertson” by Paul Clements, a 25-part series, The Nashville Retrospect, from September 2014 to September 2016

• “Richard Henderson” by Paul Clements, a 3-part series, The Nashville Retrospect, from December 2017 to February 2018

• “Colonel John Donelson” by Paul Clements, a 4-part series, The Nashville Retrospect, from May 2014 to July 2014

• “Prehistory Life and Death in the Cumberland River Region” by Paul Clements; The Nashville Retrospect, July 2013

• “Indian Village Uncovered In Granny White Area,” Nashville Banner, June 8, 1973, (The Nashville Retrospect, June 2017)

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

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