Does anybody remember a folk group called the Town Criers I have a 45 autographed by 3 members I saw them in Gatlinburg TN?

Answer 1

I have been looking for them for years. I also went to Gatlinburg with family and in spite of all there was to do in the town, the best part of the trip for all of us (ages: 8 - 40) was the Town Criers show.

Answer 2

they appeared at homespun vally airport road in gatlinburg

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Yes, I also remember them, in the mid - late 60s in Gatlinburg. They were indeed a folk group,

and I seem to recall they would tell humorous stories or jokes between songs, sort of like the Smothers Brothers on TV, if any of you can recall that.

Our family liked them so much we saw them for at least two summers in a row. My Mom and Dad also recall they would come around to restaurants in the mornings and afternoons, and do a number or two and a pitch for their show in the evening. That is how we found out about them, no doubt.

I was in my late teens at the time, and really enjoyed both their music and showmanship. I understand they relased an album titled Journey in 2002. Here is a web link to some of their bios:

http:/www.folkera.com/towncriers/bio.html

- Larry K, Atlanta, GA

As another Larry, I also remember them well. My family used to vacation in Gatlinburg and always put Homespun Valley on the "fun list". Larry K was right...they were like The Smothers Brothers, but I remember them as much more innocent and far more entertaining. Homespun Valley was one of those good ideas you wish somebody would do again. You could wander the grounds and just take in the aroma of the campfire and grab some of the treats that they prepared for sale there on site. I remember toward the end, after Homespun Valley closed, they moved to the conference room of the Greystone Motel up on the 441 strip (the parkway). Along with the Rebel Corner, Mc Kays, and other noteable Gatlinburg Landmarks, I miss them terribly. My wife, younger kids and I just vacationed there in July and returned again during our evacuation from Hurricane Gustav and while Gatlinburg is still a magical place to visit, it will never be what it was when groups like The Town Criers roamed the streets in the cool evenings serenading tourists and inviting them to the show over on Airport road at Homespun Valley. My older sister and I share those memories, but by the time our younger two sisters came around in the mid sixties...it was all just a memory and a construction site for the new Gatlinburg Civic center which now sits on the site. Nice sharing memories with you Larry K. and Blessings.

Larry R

The Summer of 1966, they lived on the top of the mountain at Turkey nest in an Aframe and house. Party every night after last show in Homespum valley. I was the one there with the White Horse Scotch. I played Cowboys and Indians at Goldrush Junctioon ( now Dollywood) What a great summer of memories. Next door to Homespun valley was a slot car racing shop. The owner had a daughter named "Barry" I wish I could find out what happened to her because I have never forgotten her and the woundereful summer we had together. Funny how looking back brings up lost loves that could have been.

Drtom

My parents used to take us to Gatlinburg on vacation. We were coming from IN so they layed 4 sleeping bags out in the back of the old station wagon and hauled us out of bed about 3-4 a.m. so we would sleep a few hours, wake up at the big truckstop on the IN KY border, eat breakfast and get out of the pjs'

We loved Homespun Valley. Especially the outhouse repro with the "Sears and Robucks" instead of toilet paper. The Town Criers were a regular in the summers we spent there. Especially liked Ed Wing doing his collection of Mason Williams "Them" Poems! Them Moose Goosers, Them Stamp Lickers, Them Duck Pluckers etc. What wonderful memories of long ago vacations with the family. Salt water taffy, real hand blown glass. You just don't see families taking vacations like that now days. What a shame. Rebel Corner, where one of us kids broke a vase on the stairs and all I remember after that is my mon husteling 4 kids out of the shop quick as she could! This was when the sign stating "You break it you buy it) was just becoming popular. Little did I know for years and years the vase was $2,500, and the only way my parents could do all the vacations were to use a credit card and pay for it all year! Good times

VK