Death of “Heartland” draws 10,000 to mourn, party

Michael Ginsburg picked up his black flute and began playing the haunting theme to the “Heartland Series” clear and sweet. Thousands of folks sweating it out in 94-degree heat at the Museum of Appalachia Saturday fell into a reverent hush. The melody was sad and lonely and it seemed to hang in the air.

Carlock Stooksbury, John Rice Irwin and former U.S. Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr. (in chairs) watch a beagle cross the stage Saturday. "Heartland" creator Steve Dean is behind them.

Carlock Stooksbury, John Rice Irwin and former U.S. Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr. (in chairs) watch a beagle cross the stage Saturday. "Heartland" creator Steve Dean is behind them.

The atmosphere of the whole day was bittersweet. Official crowd estimate was 10,000. They all came to bid farewell after 25 years to the beloved WBIR-TV “Heartland Series.” Channel 10’s promotions director, Julie Morris, did a yeoman’s job working with Museum of Appalachia staff to organize a special day at the bucolic 65-acre farm. There were demonstrations, re-enactments, story-telling, and food booths.

Some folks wore costumes they had worn when they appeared on "Heartland."

Some folks wore costumes they had worn when they appeared on "Heartland."

But the emphasis clearly was on the main stage where various notables from the “Heartland Series” history somberly took the microphone and reminisced, sang and sadly bade goodbye.

Master of ceremonies Bill Williams, WBIR’s anchor-emeritus, called “Heartland” creator and long-time producer Steve Dean “a television genius” for his brilliant work.

Dean, for his part, gave the credit to Jim Hart, who was WBIR’s general manager at the time the “Heartland Series” was first conceived. “Jim Hart willed it to happen 25 years ago,” Dean said. Hart personally took two “Heartland” pilots and called on companies trying to get sponsors. Finally he signed up Martin Marietta and Oak Ridge National Lab for the first two years.

“The hardest thing for me is that ‘Heartland’ goes down on my watch,” Morris, the promotions director, said. “But on my watch, we’ll continue caring for ‘Heartland,'” she said. There are 1,900 episodes of “Heartland” and WBIR will continue to air the re-runs. Many hours of un-aired tape will be archived at the East Tennessee History Center.

"Heartland" star Bill Landry tells a story.

"Heartland" star Bill Landry tells a story.

A number of musical acts played Saturday, including the official “Heartland Series” musicians. The leader of that group, Tom Jester, explained that most of the music used in the series wasn’t really bluegrass, but “the grandfather of bluegrass” – music from Ireland and Scotland brought over by the people who first settled East Tennessee.

Jester also said all the music in “Heartland” was music in the public domain. “Public domain music belongs to everyone,” Jester said. “You might not know you know it, but you know it.”

Bill Landry, who as the host of the “Heartland Series” for the past 25 years has become like a member of all our families, delivered the poignant closing remarks.

“”Our ancestors led noble lives and the ‘Heartland Series’ took comfort and refuge in that. It was the history of normal folks,” he said. “There is much of value in a simple, decent life.”

They said not to pet the livestock, but some folks did.

They said not to pet the livestock, but some folks did.

Landry urged the crowd to “please pass your family’s past on to the next generation.”

“Thank you for sharing your lives with us,” he concluded.

The “Heartland Series” was canceled due to budget cuts imposed on WBIR by its parent company, Gannett, which also owns USA Today.

As we walked away from the main stage and headed back toward our car late Saturday afternoon, a gospel band sang the classic hymn, “Precious Memories.” It was so appropriate.

The band "Y'uns" performs.

The band "Y'uns" performs.

Re-enacters take a break.

Re-enacters take a break.

A devoted "Heartland" fan

A devoted "Heartland" fan

Here are links to stories written about the “Heartland” farewell by two of the News Sentinel’s best writers: Sam Venable and Fred Brown. Here is a link to some of WBIR’s coverage of the event.

Filed under: Events, Historic preservation, Journalism, Knoxville, Media, Music. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to Death of “Heartland” draws 10,000 to mourn, party

  1. Susan Kemppainen, on August 10th, 2009 at 3:24 pm said:

    Can’t have better musician than my friends, Michael Ginsberg and Tom Jester! Reading this, I wish I’d have braved the heat.

  2. Betty Boone Best, on May 13th, 2011 at 10:42 am said:

    Bill Landry has made friends all over this area. His efforts to preserve our precious history has presented the real Appalachia for our grandchildren. Let’s hope the Heartland Series is on the air for generations to come. I wanted to cry when they played Precious Memories at the final Homecoming at Museum of Appalachia.

  3. Steve Smith, on February 20th, 2012 at 5:43 pm said:

    I was there that day in August 2009. What a great place in East Tennessee to bring to an end the “Heartland Series.” The “Heartland Series” is a great tribute to our southern culture and hopefully will be available for many to see for years to come. Also the Museum of Appallachia is an eastern Tennessee treasure. Hope that Johnn Rice Irwin makes a complete recovery from his stroke and he will return to the museum soon.

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