MetroPulse Videos: Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound

All the Way Home

All the Way Home: On-location Home Movies (1962)   Local resident Bud Campbell shot this 8mm home movie on the various local sets utilized for the major Hollywood production of "All the Way Home", a 1963 film based on James Agee's Pulitzer prize-winning novel "A Death in the Family". Featured are glimpses of actor Robert Preston, and location shooting in Fort Sanders, Cades Cove, and the Southern Railway Depot! Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound

Children of God: The Jesus Freaks

Children of God: The Jesus Freaks (1970)

  In 1970, local television reporter Carl Warner infiltrated the then-notorious Children of God Church, once located in the Cumberland Avenue area. During the hippie-era, this church was a haven for local youth seeking alternative ways of worshiping, with members practicing communal living. The idea was a bit too radical for the Knoxville of the early 1970s, leading to rumors of illegal drug use, group orgies, and thievery. Reporter Warner get the real scoop on what actually took place behind closed doors.

Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound

Cas Walker Granny Commercial

Vintage Cas Walker Granny Commercial (circa 1960)   This classic television commercial for the Cas Walker Grocery stores was shot on-location at the Henley Street bridge and Walker's Chapman Highway grocery store (current home of the Disc Exchange and Book Eddy). Look for comedian Fred E Smith in drag! A rare, surviving example of early Knoxville regional television. Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound

Gay Street at Night, (1940)

Gay Street at Night, (1940)   This very brief 16mm home movie clip, shot by A.J. Wardrep, was discovered on the tail-end of a decomposed reel of film. Amazingly, this historic piece of footage managed to survive, and depicts downtown Knoxville as it looked 70 years ago. Watch out for the original Riviera and Tennessee Theatre marquees! Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound

Elvis Presley Concert

Elvis Presley Concert, May 20, 1977, Knoxville, Tennessee   The King stopped in Knoxville on one of his last tours, performing at the Stokely Athletics Center. By this point, Presley was in pretty bad shape, and according to writer Peter Peter Guralnick , "there was no longer any pretence of keeping up appearances. The idea was simply to get Elvis out on stage and keep him upright". One dedicated fan attending the Stokely concert managed to smuggle in a super 8mm sound home movie camera, capturing a raw glimpse of Elvis just several months before his death. Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound

The Reed Sisters Show

The Reed Sisters Show (1983)   The pride and joy of Oak Ridge public access Channel 7, the legendary Reed Sisters had their own self-produced musical variety television show during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The following except from the program is a prime example of the wonders of public access television. Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound

Watchdog: This is the City (1970s)

Featuring Cas Walker. For years, local grocer and political powerhouse Cas Walker published a newspaper entitled The Watchdog. Cas himself made a very rare 45 rpm disc given away to Watchdog readers during the 1970s. This bizarre recording makes no sense whatsoever, but perhaps this is why the record is so unique. What were they thinking? Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

Tennessee Theatre Radio Ad: High Times (1960)

Interesting radio spot advertising the Bing Crosby turkey "High Time," then showing at the Tennessee Theatre on Gay Street. Check out those ticket prices! Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

A Walk in the Spring Rain Ad (1970)

This short ad was sent out to local radio stations on vinyl disc to promote the 1970 Columbia film by the same name. Portions of the film were shot in Knoxville, Cades Cove and Gatlinburg (see archival footage from that time). This film, starring the great Ingrid Bergman, premiered in Knoxville at the old Capri Theatre in Bearden. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

Southern Credit Jewelers Ad (circa 1942)

A unique radio advertisement for a downtown business located around Market Square. This was recorded off a local radio station by an early home disc recorder. Surviving regional ads such as this are rare to come by, as most went out live and were not captured on any format for posterity. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

Radio Snapshot: Glesby Avenue [Gospel] Quartet (circa 1942)

An interesting and historic curio from the early days of Knoxville radio. Someone using an early home disc recorder was obviously interested in capturing a radio broadcast featuring the performance of a local gospel group. There must have been extra space at the end of the disc, as the recording continues with our home recording engineer twisting the AM dial from one end of the radio to the other, unknowingly capturing for history fragments of sound from various stations along the way. A great audio "snapshot" of the state of radio broadcasting during the 1940s. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

Energy Express (1982)

The theme song for the 1982 Knoxville World's Fair. The type of tune that sticks in your brain, whether you want it to or not. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

First Annual International Creptitation Contest (circa 1945)

The conclusion of a vintage windbreaking contest professionally recorded by bored radio station engineeers in Canada during WWII. These black market discs were sold under the counter by the thousands during the 1940s. The track also includes a Pepsi commercial spoof. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

Vintage Cas Walker Commercials (1960s-70s)

Vintage television commercials from that thumpin' good watermelon man, Mr. Cas Walker. You can still get Supraderm Salve at David West's Ciderville Music Store. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

The Generation Gap (circa 1972)

Knoxville's answer to the Partridge Family (they even played their own instruments!), The Generation Gap played locally, made records, and performed on local television throughout the 1970s. This vintage television clip is from the Ladies Day Show, with Margie Ison. The very fact that this clip survives is a miracle as most television programming from the era no longer exists. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

Historic Shots of Downtown Knoxville, 1920s-'50s

A great example of the importance of locating, collecting and preserving regional home movies. This piece was compiled using footage culled from home movies shot by local Knoxvillians, spanning the 1920s through the 1950s. Here is a chance to see our city as it looked years ago. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

Crotch Grabbin' Town (circa 1956)

Silent 8mm home movie shot about 1956. This orphan film was discovered in a junk shop in Sevier County about 5 years ago. The town and filmmaker are unknown. This footage may not have even been shot in Tennessee. You never know what you are going to discover when you pick up these forgotten orphan films at estate sales, junk shops and flea markets. What we do know is that this is one strange town, one we hope to never find ourselves in. Pity the poor long-suffering woman trapped in a town full of adolescent senior citizens. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).

1969 Dogwood Arts Festival

1969 was a big year for Knoxville. That year, the city hosted one of the largest and most successful Dogwood Arts Festivals, attended by politicians, celebrities and sizable crowds. Also that year, Knoxville, Cades Cove and Gatlinburg served as locations for the production of Columbia Pictures "A Walk in the Spring Rain," starring Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn. Local resident Bill Minnich was at both events, shooting away on his 8mm home movie camera. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound For more on TAMIS, read "Reel History: the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound," by Jack Neely (2006).