Bill Landry is most known for his southeastern Tennessee drawl as host, narrator and co-producer of “The Heartland Series,” a television production that begun and ran on WBIR for 25 years.
The series brought Landry two Emmy Awards for directing the series and honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree from Lincoln Memorial University. The show also earned the prestigious Iris Award. He also wrote and performs a one-man play “Einstein the Man.”
Landry now has a new title, that of author. In the book, “Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures,” Landry recalls stories, tales, and adventures he collected over the years.
He dedicates the book to his wife Becky, who passed away recently.
Landry appeared at the Sunsphere, May 16, to share some of his experiences with a crowd of about 200. The event was organized by retired teachers, Phyllis Garrison and Martha Woodward.
STEM Academy Singers entertained with The National Anthem, America The Beautiful, and other patriotic standards.
Afterwards, Landry and Publisher Jim Johnston held a meet-and-greet where many of the attendees purchased the “Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures,” book which Landry and Johnston autographed.
“What is humor?” Landry asked, followed by a number of examples that only he can deliver so well.
He told the story of Delmar Cagle of Townsend. “I was in little Becky’s awhile back and saw Delmar. He’s 72 and still works everyday. Delmar told me, ‘I am going to be a new father. I will be the father of a baby boy. If everything goes well it will be nine months from last Saturday night.’”
The book, Landry says, is something he has been thinking about for 25 years. “It has a hundred stories,” then Landry goes back into storytelling mode, almost as if -well, it IS his nature.
“I want to tell you how I broke my finger. I was doing a story about Buford Strunk. Buford had a dog, a blue-tick hound, that ran through a fence and I ran through it chasing him.”
Landry said he had a hard time explaining when he filed an insurance claim when he dislocated another finger on the job. “I was chasing goats.”
Out comes another story, “A woman called me in a panic. It was cold and all her animals swam to an island in the Clinch River, and she wanted me to get them off because the dogs were attacking her goats. ‘We can’t do much with a camera crew, I told her. ‘But if you can get some people to help we’ll come and film it.’
“She called me back. ‘We got 35 people to help,’ she said. We had 35 people stretched out trying to catch the goats. “We didn’t catch any animals, but Igot a dislocated finger.”
Landry said he learned during “The Heartland Series,” “I found out what it’s like to stick your hand in hole where a catfish lived.”
Landry continues on the circuit peddling stories, but now in written form, in the book, “Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures.”
Budgets, budgets, budgets—-that is all I am hearing this week. Those in charge of our government are burning the midnight oil seeking ways to spend the hard earned money we taxpayers have to give them. Let’s hope they hold the line on raising taxes and find some ways to cut spending. Many thanks to Mayor Rogero who didn’t raising taxes.
Where were you in 1982? As we begin the month of May we think back to 1982 when “the world came to Knoxville.” I have been attending celebrations and receptions around town this week and think there will be more of those this year. Where did 30 years go?
Open House at the Sunsphere on Tuesday with Sara Spangler and her team, George and Chad. Sara is the exclusive booking agent for the Sunsphere. She is doing a great job. If anyone wants to host a party, a reception or have a delightful event on the 6th floor of the Sunsphere, call 865 363 9538 and Sara can make it happen.
E
veryone is invited to the: Sunsphere’s 30thBirthday Party. Bill Landry will be the featured speaker for the fun event. Join Bill for a delicious picnic lunch with lots of cold iced tea. Listen as he entertains you with ONLY humorous stories he has heard along the way during his last 30 years in journalism.
11:00 a.m. until 1 p.m., Wednesday May 16, 2012
You will have plenty of time to talk to Bill.
Sunsphere’s 6th floor $16 per ticket Or table of 8 for $120
Buy your ticket on line by e mailing Sunsphere book@aol.com or over the phone by calling 865 951 0319. Make check payable to Sunsphere Account and mail to 939 Chickamauga Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
I interviewed Bill Landry this week and he told me a funny story—-a short one. A man came to an event where Bill was the speaker and at some point, when he met Bill, Landry asked, “How are you?”
The man answered, “Bill, I am doing great. As a matter of fact, I am 70 years old and just found out that I am going to be a father.”
“Wow!” replied Bill. “That is amazing. So you just found out you are going to be a dad?”
“Yes, said the man. “If all goes well, the baby will be born 9 months from this next Saturday night.”
It has been 30 years since the 1982 World’s Fair took place in Knoxville. Many look back on it as a magical time “when the world came to Knoxville.” All in all, it was a good thing for the city and most people have fond memories of Expo ‘82. Celebrations of the event are planned for the upcoming months.
Bill Landry visited the Sunsphere and World’s Fair Park on May 1st in preparation for an upcoming event to be held on Wednesday, May 16 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in which he is the featured speaker. Tickets are on sale for $16 each or $120 for a table of 8.
Landry was on hand to be interviewed for an upcoming special to be aired on Community Televisiion of Knoxville. Channel 12 Comcast and Charter and Channel 6 for Knology.
Landry said that he worked at the fair as an actor. “I was a fake captain on a riverboat,” he said. He worked on one of the barges that took guests on a ride up the river to points of interest. Landry said that he gave a lecture 4 to 6 times a day about the history along the river to a group of approximately 75 that was seated inside the barge in a theatre.
He said that he remembered working long hours and that it was hot, very hot. “There was no air-conditioning on the barge and that summer was one of the hottest on record,” he said. Landry said that he did visit the fairgrounds and view the exhibits, the pavilions, and watch the parade, but, he was so tired every day from the work and the heat that all he wanted to do when his shift ended was to go home and rest.
Landry was employed by TVA and spent two years after the fair closed traveling the river visiting ports of call all along the way. He said that it was during those years that he met many of the people who would later become topics for shows on the Heartland Series.
Landry said that he always knew he would write a book because his life had been full of stories. As a writer, actor, speaker and entertainer in general, Landry said that he was always looking for the story. Working on the Heartland Series provided him with the opportunity to hear thousands of stories—mysteries, comedies, ghost, historic and the ones“told to him as the truth.” Landry’s book, Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures includes:
100 of Bill’s favorite stories, people and adventures
175 pictures
200 pages
Available in hard ($49) or soft copy ($27)
10 X 9 inches
Landry said that he has been pleased with the success of his book and plans to write a second book.
Tickets for the event on May 16 can be purchased by calling 865 951 0319. Make checks payable to Sunsphere Account and mail to Landry Luncheon, 939 Chickamauga Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
Budgets, budgets, budgets—-that is all I am hearing this week. Those in charge of our government are burning the midnight oil seeking ways to spend the hard earned money we taxpayers have to give them. Let’s hope they hold the line on raising taxes and find some ways to cut spending. Many thanks to Mayor Rogero who didn’t raising taxes.
Where were you in 1982? As we begin the month of May we think back to 1982 when “the world came to Knoxville.” I have been attending celebrations and receptions around town this week and think there will be more of those this year. Where did 30 years go?
Open House at the Sunsphere on Tuesday with Sara Spangler and her team, George Parks and Chad Brooks. Sara is the exclusive booking agent for the Sunsphere. She is doing a great job. If anyone wants to host a party, a reception or have a delightful event on the 6th floor of the Sunsphere, call 865 363 9538 and Sara can make it happen.
Everyone is invited to the: Sunsphere’s 30thBirthday Party. Bill Landry will be the featured speaker for the fun event. Join Bill for a delicious picnic lunch with lots of cold iced tea. Listen as he entertains you with ONLY humorous stories he has heard along the way during his last 30 years in journalism.
11:00 a.m. until 1 p.m., Wednesday May 16, 2012
You will have plenty of time to talk to Bill.
Sunsphere’s 6th floor $16 per ticket Or table of 8 for $120
Buy your ticket on line by e mailing Sunsphere book@aol.com or over the phone by calling 865 951 0319. Make check payable to Sunsphere Account and mail to 939 Chickamauga Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
I interviewed Bill Landry this week and he told me a funny story—-a short one. A man came to an event where Bill was the speaker and at some point, when he met Bill, Landry asked, “How are you?”
The man answered, “Bill, I am doing great. As a matter of fact, I am 70 years old and just found out that I am going to be a father.”
“Wow!” replied Bill. “That is amazing. So you just found out you are going to be a dad?”
“Yes, said the man. “If all goes well, the baby will be born 9 months from this next Saturday night.”
It has been 30 years since the 1982 World’s Fair took place in Knoxville. Many look back on it as a magical time “when the world came to Knoxville.” All in all, it was a good thing for the city and most people have fond memories of Expo ‘82. Celebrations of the event are planned for the upcoming months.
Bill Landry visited the Sunsphere and World’s Fair Park on May 1st in preparation for an upcoming event to be held on Wednesday, May 16 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in which he is the featured speaker as the Sunsphere is honored on its 30th year. Tickets are on sale for $16 each or $120 for a table of 8.
Landry said that he worked at the fair as an actor. “I was a fake captain on a riverboat,” he said. He worked on one of the barges that took guests on a ride up the river to points of interest. Landry said that he gave a lecture 4 times a day about the history along the river to a group of approximately 75 that was seated inside the barge in a theatre.
He said that he remembered working long hours and that it was hot, very hot. “There was no air-conditioning on the barge and that summer was one of the hottest on record,” he said. Landry said that he did visit the fairgrounds and view the exhibits, the pavilions, and watch the parade, but, he was so tired every day from the work and the heat that all he wanted to do when his shift ended was to go home and rest.
Prior to the 25 years he spent working on the Heartland Series, Landry was employed by TVA and spent two years after the fair closed traveling the river visiting ports of call all along the way. He said that it was during those years that he met many of the people who would later become topics for some of the 1,900 shows he hosted.
Performing at the Sunsphere will be one of many places Landry has been booked during his latest book selling and signing tour.
100 of Bill’s favorite stories, people and adventures
175 pictures
200 pages
Available in hard ($49) or soft copy ($27)
10 X 9 inches
Landry said that he always knew he would write a book because his life had been full of stories. As a writer, actor, speaker and entertainer in general, Landry said that he was always looking for the story. Working on the Heartland Series provided him with the opportunity to hear thousands of mysteries, comedies, ghost stories and the ones“told to him as the truth.”
Landry said that he has been pleased with the success of his book and plans to write a second book.
Tickets for the event on May 16 can be purchased by calling 865 951 0319 or by e mailing Sunspherebook@aol.com. Make checks payable to Sunsphere Account and mail to Landry Luncheon, 939 Chickamauga Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
The wife of Bill Landry, Rebecca Carlock Webb Landry, of Tallassee, Tenn. died April 19, 2012 after an extended illness. A family service was held in Due West, S.C.
According to a report in the Knoxville News Sentinel, “Becky was born March 5, 1954 in Sacramento, Calif. to Ruth and Bruce Carlock. Adventuresome and fearless, Becky came into the world elbow first and followed that trend throughout her life, always facing lifes hardships head on, and assisting others in need with her compassion and strength. She was a lover of all creatures great and small, and taught others to do the same.
She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and volunteered extensively at Blue Grass Elementary teaching students the creative arts and dramatics, use of imaginations, and how to use their unique abilities. Beloved wife, mother, partner, aunt, daughter, and friend, she was creative and talented, loving and giving, stubborn and hard-headed, funny and very sociable.
Becky loved her family above all else and always put them first. Her two sons and her beloved Husband Bill Landry and her extended family were the focus of her life. Becky was a champion of the needy and the helpless, and nurtured anyone or thing that needed her. She had an amazing gift for making life fun and exciting for those around her and anyone else that needed her. She was artistic and hard-working, and the mountaintop home she built and shared with her husband is a testament to her skills in design and construction, decoration and gardening, but not stonemasonry.
She is survived by her Husband, Bill Landry; Sons, Michael Scott Webb, of Seattle, Wash. and Ryan Edward Webb, of Eugene, OR; also Jack and Weatherly Landry and their children, Gus and Boone Landry, of Wilmington, NC; Father, John Bruce Carlock Jr. , of Due West, S.C.; Sister, Elizabeth Carlock, of Clemson, S.C.; Brothers, John Bruce Carlock III, of Greenville, S.C., Mathew Benjamin Goldstein, of Washington, DC; Nieces, Sydney Carlock, of Washington, DC, Madeline Carlock, of Vermont, and Jianna Carlock of Clemson, S.C., also by her Cats, Moxie and Callie and Buddy the dog, all of which she saved and raised well. She is preceded in death by her Mother, Ruth McCardle Carlock of Due West, S.C. In lieu of flowers donations should be sent to Fish Hospitality Pantries, 800 Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919.”
Knoxville’s Sunsphere will welcome Bill Landry on Wednesday, May 16 from 11:30 until 1 p.m. as the featured speaker for Luncheon for Laughers.
Sara Spangler of Prolific Living, the exclusive booking agent for the Sunsphere, says that hosting an event that includes Landry is a thrill. “We love keeping the 6th floor of the golden ball filled with activity,” she said. “We were pleased to see this deal develop and become a reality.”
Landry says he has been given two rules for the Luncheon for Laughers: l. Be yourself and 2. ONLY humorous stories allowed. He says he has plenty of those.
Luncheon for Laughers will have a country theme and include music, a picnic-style lunch and door prizes. It will be a time when people can sit in one of the most beautiful settings this city has to offer and enjoy a tasty lunch while listening to Bill spin yarns and funny stories.
Those who attend are guaranteed to laugh until their tummies hurts.
The Sunsphere will be an important setting for Landry who says the response his fans have had to his book “Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures” has been overwhelming and heart-warming.
“Seeing lines of folks waiting to meet you does something to you—it pulls at your heart strings,” he said.
Martha Woodward, a local writer who is serving as treasurer for the event, says she became involved with the event because it is a relief from all the negative news. “We are bombarded 24/7 with murder, mayhem, floods, tornadoes, missing children and angry mobs,” she said. “People need something refreshing and positive. We need a break and some fun. I love to laugh. I can‘t wait to hear what Bill has in store for us. Everyone around here thinks Bill belongs to us. He’s like a friend who has been in our homes for 25 years.”
Tickets for Luncheon for Laughers are on sale now and include admission and lunch. $16 for Individuals and $120 for a Table of 8 (if 8 seats purchased at one time). You may buy tickets in 2 ways: e mail
Sunspherebook@aol.com or call 865 951 0319. Hurry and buy your ticket now, space is limited. Sponsorships also available.
Bill will also have books on sale before and after the event. Soft cover $27; hard cover $49.
Knoxville’s Sunsphere will welcome Bill Landry on Wednesday, May 16 from 11:30 until 1 p.m. as the featured speaker for Lunch for Laughers.
Sara Spangler of Prolific Living, the exclusive booking agent for the Sunsphere, says that hosting an event that includes Landry is a thrill. “We love keeping the 6th floor of the Sunsphere filled with activity,” she said. “We were pleased to see this deal develop and become a reality.”
Landry says he has been given two rules for the Lunch for Laughers: l. Be yourself and 2. ONLY humorous stories allowed. He says he has plenty of those.
Lunch for Laughers will have a country theme and include music, a picnic-style lunch, plus some truly special door prizes. It will be a time when people can enjoy the majestic landscapes provided by the Sunsphere and share a tasty lunch with friends.
After their tummies are full, those who attend are guaranteed side splitting laughter as Bill takes to the microphone to entertain as only Bill can.
Tickets for Lunch for Laughers are on sale now and include admission and lunch. $16 for Individuals and $120 for a Table of 8 (if 8 seats purchased at one time).
call 865 951 0319. Hurry and buy now, space is limited. Sponsorships also available.
The purpose of Lunch for Laughers is to highlight the use of the Sunsphere as a great place for meetings and events of all types. Bill has agreed to headline the event in honor of the 30th year history of the building.
Planners for the event say that Landry will also take time to sell and sign books. He has been burning up the highway since the debut of Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures, published by Celtic Cat owned by Jim Johnston. Landry says he has nearly worn out the tires on his car traveling around on the book tour.
Landry says the response his fans have had to his book has been overwhelming and heart-warming. “It does something to you. It has made me very grateful and humble. The Series, and our work and these stories behind the scenes really has meant a lot to folks,” he said.
Martha Woodward, a local writer who is handling ticket sales for the event, and an avid supporter of the Sunsphere, says she became involved with the event because it is a relief from all the negative news. “We are bombarded 24/7 with mayhem. Seems like all we hear about is murder, war, missing children and angry mobs,” she said. “People need something refreshing and positive. We need a break and some fun. I love to laugh. I can‘t wait.”
You do not have to buy a book to attend Lunch for Laughers. If you have a book and want it signed, Bill will take care of you. This event is all about fun and laughter. Bill Landry is as funny or funnier than any comedian in business nowadays. This is an opportunity for folks to kick back and laugh. Books will be on sale before and after the event as a courtesy for any fans who may want them. Soft cover $27; hard cover $49.
The Knoxville Writers’ Guild cheerfully welcomed WBIR-TV star of the Heartland Series, Bill Landry, as their guest speaker for the December 1st meeting. Landry, who was invited by the Program Committee to discuss his new book “Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures,” arrived early to sign books and meet with members and guests. A crowd of over sixty chatted with the author while everyone munched on an array of Christmas snacks.
The meeting was called to order by president of the Guild, Terry Shaw, who made announcements and introduced the vice-president of the group, Judith Duvall. Duvall spoke to the group about all the things that have to be done in order to keep the Guild in operating order. “The Board of Directors for Knoxville Writers’ Guild wanted to pay honor to one of our leaders who, more than anyone, works tirelessly doing the business of this Guild,” said Duvall. “That person is Martha Yarnell.” Yarnell was then presented with an award from the Guild.
Shaw then introduced Jim Johnston, owner of Celtic Cat Publishing Company, the publisher for Landry’s new book who was given the honor of introducing Landry. Johnston, an Irishman with a heavy Irish accent, told the group of how he met Landry one day in a church parking lot. “We were both headed to meetings and were late,” said Johnston. “There was a heavy rain and Bill had left the lights on in his car. I stopped him to let him know. We made friends on that day and have been friends since, and that was 20 years ago. Bill hired me to play a tavern owner in one of the Heartland shows due to my accent,” explained Johnston. Johnston also told the group that Landry’s book has been selling at a remarkable pace. “We first ordered 3,000 copies,” he said. “We’ve had to reorder because we ran out of books,” he said.
Next, Landry took to the stage and delighted the crowd with his tales of how he came to create the Heartland Series. He read a few pages from his book, took questions from the crowd, but mostly talked about the people and events he had experienced during the last 25 years of working on the show. He also introduced his wife, Becky, and son.
Landry’s comments about people from Ohio drew the largest laughter from the crowd. “People from Ohio are stupid,” quipped Landry. “One lady from Ohio stopped in Cades Cove to tell one of the rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains that “your fences are broken and your deer have gotten out.” One man asked a ranger, “How much does it cost to ride an elk?” “See,” said Landry, “I told you they are stupid.” When Landry asked for questions from the audience, the first man he called on began his question by saying, “I am from Ohio.”
Landry’s book can be found on the internet and at all local stores. He has a full schedule of book signing events coming in the near future and can be found at
Bill Landry, known for over 25 years as the host of the Heartland Series, has released a new book just in time for Christmas. “Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures“, published by Celtic Cat, a local company owned by Jim Johnston, is what would be expected from Landry—a book full of funny and interesting tales he heard during the production of his television series.
In typical Landry fashion Bill writes about unique individuals like Euylss Roberts in The Moonshiner’s Tale. Landry says “Eulyss Roberts is the moonshiner who lived near Oliver Springs at the foot of Windrock Mountain. We heard about him from a friend of a friend of the Assistant Deputy Sheriff of Anderson County. Just far enough back that our sources got a little hazy. Dealing with moonshiners and moonshine, you don’t want to know too much about what’s going on. You have to trust the people you’re dealing with because they trust you. You can’t ask too many questions until you know exactly where you are and who you’re dealing with.
We trusted our sources and found Eulyss, pronounced “you-less.” He lived down an old gravel road in a small house with a sofa on the front porch. The porch ran the length of the house, which had an overhang. When we drove up the road Eulyss was sitting on the old sofa on his porch in his pajamas.”
Landry says the moonshiner explained how he used to drink until he had an encounter with a batch of “licker” that contained a deformed rat.
After that encounter Eulyss determined that, “Whiskey’s made to sell. It ain’t made to drink.” Eulyss also told Landry, “Whiskey’ll ruin the best man in the world. I know. I’ve drunk enough of it to climb a locust tree backerds.”
Landry’s book has been an instant success as he has seen larger than expected crowds in attendance as his book signings. A schedule of Landry’s upcoming appearances can be found on the web site
