A Last Hurrah

Bill Landry will be discussing his recent book, A Last Hurrah, along with his Tennessee book which was published just in time for the pandemic, When the West Was Tennessee. A Last Hurrah is a collection of writings, poems, short stories and behind the scenes experiences and tales from the WBIR-TV Heartland Series which aired from 1984 through 2009.  When the West Was Tennessee is a unique account of Tennessee’s history which the Heartland team wished they had had when beginning the series. It just took 30 years to write it! Join us to learn more about the history of the state and this historic television series.  

About the author:

Bill Landry has experienced a lifetime of performing, educating, and entertaining.  He's among the lucky few whose vocation became his avocation. He holds two Emmy-Awards for directing, an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Lincoln Memorial University, Educator of the Year Award from Carson Newman University, and has served on the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Bill's a trained theater artist with a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Dallas Theater Center, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX; with these credentials, Bill served as Spokesman for the Tennessee Valley Authority at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville and TVA's 50th Anniversary Celebration.  His lifetime interest in the people and the culture of the region and the Smoky Mountains brought him and The Heartland Series together.  In 1984, Bill became the spokesperson, a writer, co-producer, and host for the series.