Upper East Tenn

Thought I'd put in a plug for Fred Sauceman's column. It's located at www.wets.org On the left side of the page is a link to his columns. Looks as if he writes primarily about neat little places in upper east TN, SW VA, SE KY, but there are a few interesting links to places in Memphis and Knoxville, most notably Cas Walker. Perhaps Sundancer (I'm putting him on the spot) as a life long resident of Knoxville can throw a few good stories about Cas W sometime. BTW, Fred shares comments on Roadfood.com at times, as well.

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre

Thought I'd put in a plug for Fred Sauceman's column. It's located at www.wets.org On the left side of the page is a link to his columns. Looks as if he writes primarily about neat little places in upper east TN, SW VA, SE KY, but there are a few interesting links to places in Memphis and Knoxville, most notably Cas Walker. Perhaps Sundancer (I'm putting him on the spot) as a life long resident of Knoxville can throw a few good stories about Cas W sometime. BTW, Fred shares comments on Roadfood.com at times, as well.

I actually met Cas Walker many times. He had a pony farm just about a mile from where I grew up on Third Creek Lane. He gave me a pony when I was very young.

I really enjoy Fred Saucemans columns and I think I have read everyone he has written. I posted on this forum regarding Bentons Country Hams after "The Mayor, Jane and the Sundancer visited it in Madinsonville, TN back in late spring when the wild azeleas were blooming on the Cherohala Skyway.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Cas Walker... Who remembers.. Thumpin' good, thumpin' good, Cas Walker's melons are thumpin' good.

Red ripe, ready to eat, Cas Walker's melons just cant be beat.

Or the billboard that used to be in Knoxville.
It said, "God's three greatest creations... and had a picture of a raccoon, a watermelon, and Cas Walker..LOL. Ya gotta love it.

Also, I'm about to roll in the floor laughing as I think about this..... On Mulls Singing Convention one morning the conversation between Mrs. Mull and J. Bazell went like this...
(Mrs. Mull) J. Bazell, Cas Walker has the new crop of Georgia Pecans this week.

(J. Bazell) That's right Mrs. Mull, And let me tell you... That Cas Walker has the biggest nuts in town!!!!

LOL LOL LOL

Thanks for the stories. I just live about 3 -4 miles from Ciderville which Cas owned and is still kind of a shrine to him. 2nd leading Martin guitar dealer in the country. On Sat night you can still watch a great c & w band play and you can dance for $4. if you can sing, or play an instrument, you get to play with the band.

Pogo: That is a true story about Cas regarding the comments from J. Bazel Mull. I heard it. Preacher Mull still has a program on every Sunday morning although he is rarely on it any more. Strangely, I was in New orleans and I heard his radio program on the air there?

Carlton, Ciderville seems to be a strange place at the bottom of the hill on Clinton Highway. Sort of a conglomeration of buildings and junky and a crowd on Saturday night. Sort of a East Tennessee version of a Cajun group??? Do they sell food there? I have never stopped.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul,

Ciderville is in an area on Clinton Hwy called Beck's Curve. You've got Cidereville, and a few biker bars, junk yards, strip clubs, you name it. But, Ciderville, is definitely worth a stop. One of the best instrument shops around. Guitars, drums, violins, amps, etc. There's always music being played inside and a lot of musical stars get their equipt there. I went to the Sat nite shindig one time and it was fun, but once was enough for me though I'd go back sometime in the future.

Cas, the old coon hunter ran his grocery empire and had a TV show which was part entertainment - part infomercial. He also was elected Mayor of Knoxville, only to be recalled. He subsequently was elected to the city council. He had a little problem with the IRS over a little tax matter, but after arriving at the court with the "records" of his multi-million dollar operation in a single shoe box, he beat the rap (sympathetic jury?). Alas, he soon lost his city council post. His affinity for coon hunting and blue tick hounds was legendary and well documented in his self written column in the paper (most likely the late Journal).

quote:

Originally posted by wilewil

Cas, the old coon hunter ran his grocery empire and had a TV show which was part entertainment - part infomercial. He also was elected Mayor of Knoxville, only to be recalled. He subsequently was elected to the city council. He had a little problem with the IRS over a little tax matter, but after arriving at the court with the "records" of his multi-million dollar operation in a single shoe box, he beat the rap (sympathetic jury?). Alas, he soon lost his city council post. His affinity for coon hunting and blue tick hounds was legendary and well documented in his self written column in the paper (most likely the late Journal).

You seem very knowledgeable on Cas. Not a lot of people are. Very good comments.

Actually Cas had his own newspaper which was very controversial. He was a character. Dolly Parton got her start on his program at a very young age. I recall he first visit. His grocery stores were not the best but he was the cheapest around. He had quite a empire for a while. He lived a very simple life for a very rich man. Always lived in a very small house and drove a Nash Rambler so I understand. His farm was my neighbor and I met him many times. I was young and he always treated me well. Cas was a politician and created a lot of enemies due to his focus on what he believed what was right. Cas related very good to the common man and I think that was what made him do well at the time. I will never forget his opposition to floride in water. He was wrong but he fought like hell against it using his own personal funds. Cas gave me a pony when I was very young.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Besides Dolly, I recall seeing Bill Monroe on his "Farm and Home Hour". Didn't he fire the Everly Brothers from his show due to their rock and roll sound and gyrations?

quote:

Originally posted by leslie1787

Besides Dolly, I recall seeing Bill Monroe on his "Farm and Home Hour". Didn't he fire the Everly Brothers from his show due to their rock and roll sound and gyrations?

Don and Phil Everly moved to Knoxvile, TN in 1953. The entire family got a job playing on Cas Walkers show for $90.00 weekly. They attended West High School here before moving to Nashville.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I remember the rumor that Cas put embalming fluid in his hamburger meat. I doubt it is true, but Mom never bought hamburger there again. LOL

quote:

Originally posted by Pogo

I remember the rumor that Cas put embalming fluid in his hamburger meat. I doubt it is true, but Mom never bought hamburger there again. LOL

That does not sound like Cas. He had a lot of political enemies but he was a friend of the poor and he showed it. His stores were not the prettiest but he was a straight up fellow and it was apparent at his funeral.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer, I think you should write articles about Knoxville for your favorite local paper. You just might rival Jack Neely with your knowledge and interesting stories about Knoxville! You could, of course, also incorporate food into your articles! I think you would have a large audience!

Although I am from Knoxville and a native, I cannot even come remotely close to Jack Neeley's skills. He is a superb writer and I have personally talked with him several times. He is a very polite and nice person.

Another writer that in my view rivals Neeley is Fred Sauceman in Johnson City that Carlton Pierre mentioned at the top. Fred is equally knowledgeable about the entire East Tennessee Area. Please open the site attached and read the articles he has written on the left hand side. He is very good.

http://www.wets.org/index.cgi?CONTEXT=cat&cat=300&BISKIT=3382073038

Thanks for the compliment though.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I went to the above web-site for Mr. Sauceman! Thanks! I graduated from ETSU and lived in both Johnson City and Elizabethton. I really enjoyed the article on Sammons Hot Dogs! I ate their many times while I was student teaching in that area! My husband has several family members up there and I am going to try Jane's Lunch Box based on Mr. Sauceman's information when we are up there visiting family! I also fondly remember The Cottage and Shamrock that he writes about! I have enjoyed many a Shamrock chocolate chip milk shake in my day! I have heard of Mr. Sauceman before, and am glad I finally took the time to visit that web site!

quote:

Originally posted by zussers

I went to the above web-site for Mr. Sauceman! Thanks! I graduated from ETSU and lived in both Johnson City and Elizabethton. I really enjoyed the articele on Sammons Hot Dogs! I ate their many times while I was student teaching in that area! My husband has several family members up there and I am going to try Jane's Lunch Box based on Mr. Sauceman's information when we are up there visiting family!

I thought you might enjoy the site. Please read his comments on Cas Walker who is one of Knoxville's more colorful politicians. Fred is a excellent writer. He also did a article on Benton's Hams which The Mayor, Janet and I visited back late spring. It is a wonderful place.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

quote:

Originally posted by leslie1787

Besides Dolly, I recall seeing Bill Monroe on his "Farm and Home Hour". Didn't he fire the Everly Brothers from his show due to their rock and roll sound and gyrations?

Don and Phil Everly moved to Knoxvile, TN in 1953. The entire family got a job playing on Cas Walkers show for $90.00 weekly. They attended West High School here before moving to Nashville.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

It is so cool that you know that! Thanks Sundancer.

quote:

Originally posted by leslie1787

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

quote:

Originally posted by leslie1787

Besides Dolly, I recall seeing Bill Monroe on his "Farm and Home Hour". Didn't he fire the Everly Brothers from his show due to their rock and roll sound and gyrations?

Don and Phil Everly moved to Knoxvile, TN in 1953. The entire family got a job playing on Cas Walkers show for $90.00 weekly. They attended West High School here before moving to Nashville.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

It is so cool that you know that! Thanks Sundancer.

Not only do I know that, I met both the guys as I attended Bearden High school which was only two miles down the street. The Everly Brothers were always tops in my opinion.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, Tennessee

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre

Thought I'd put in a plug for Fred Sauceman's column. It's located at www.wets.org On the left side of the page is a link to his columns. Looks as if he writes primarily about neat little places in upper east TN, SW VA, SE KY, but there are a few interesting links to places in Memphis and Knoxville, most notably Cas Walker. Perhaps Sundancer (I'm putting him on the spot) as a life long resident of Knoxville can throw a few good stories about Cas W sometime. BTW, Fred shares comments on Roadfood.com at times, as well.

Thanks for the link. The Riverfront Seafood Company in Kingsport is a pretty tasty place to eat.

Hey Sundancer, here's one fer ya. Do you know Andy Smalls. aka Marshall Andy?

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

J. Bazel Mull still has a program on every Sunday morning although he is rarely on it any more.
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Mr. Sundancer,
Great Scott!! The man must be older than Methuselah!! I think someone told me that he started on WROL about 1929.
Stretching Back A Bit, Ort. Carlton in Meltingly-Sleety Athens, Georgia.

quote:

Originally posted by zussers

Sundancer, I think you should write articles about Knoxville for your favorite local paper.

Zussers,
Just don't send him to The Knoxville Journal - nor The Daily Gazette-Mail in Morristown. I don't think either of those are hiring at the moment.
Suspendedly, Ort. Carlton in One-Newspaper (Alas!) Athens, Georgia.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

quote:

Originally posted by leslie1787

Didn't he fire the Everly Brothers from his show due to their rock and roll sound and gyrations?

Don and Phil Everly moved to Knoxvile, TN in 1953. The entire family got a job playing on Cas Walkers show for $90.00 weekly. They attended West High School here before moving to Nashville.
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Dearfolk,
You are all accurate. This was about the time the Everlys' first single came out - it was on Columbia. Needness to say, it stiffed... but when they moved to Nashville, they wangled their contract on Cadence largely due to that first record - and the good word of another East Tennesseean, Boudleaux Bryant. Archie Bleyer of Cadence really shot himself in the foot when he let them slip off to Warner Brothers! Of course, they ultimately became far bigger stars in Europe then they were in America, but that's for another park and another Sunday. (I've even scrounged up a tattered copy of their Warner Brothers LP "Two Yanks In London.")
As Everly, Ort. Carlton in Ever-Lovely Athens, Georgia.

quote:

Originally posted by Ort. Carlton.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

J. Bazel Mull still has a program on every Sunday morning although he is rarely on it any more.
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Mr. Sundancer,
Great Scott!! The man must be older than Methuselah!! I think someone told me that he started on WROL about 1929.
Stretching Back A Bit, Ort. Carlton in Meltingly-Sleety Athens, Georgia.

The Sundancer still has coffee with Mamaw Smith every morning at 5:00AM. Each Sunday she ha J Bazel Mull's programs on at 6:00AM. I have not seen him on the program for a couple of years but his wife and daughter is there every Sunday. His daughter appears to be around 70 years old. They still feature religious groups popular around this area.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN