"From its construction in 1892, the Ryman Auditorium, named for riverboat captain Thomas G. Ryman, has been an integral part of America's cultural fabric. Today this National Historic Landmark, lovingly called the Mother Church of Country Music, enjoys present-day status as both a beloved piece of Americana and a dynamic venue for contemporary artists. With photography and text by Jim McGuire, Historic Photos of the Opry rediscovers a fascinating chapter in the history of the Grand Ole Opry and its most famous former home. Few of them ever published, more than 100 photographs taken by McGuire in 1974 are showcased here, brought to life through McGuire's insightful captions. With a foreword by Garrison Keillor and opening remarks by Marty Stuart, Historic Photos of the Opry sheds light on a crucial period in the history of the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, and country music. "For those of us who were serious country music fans who spent many Saturday nights on those Ryman pews, the fact that the Opry was moving from that building was a very big deal," McGuire says. Historic Photos of the Opry takes us through every facet of the Opry and Ryman in 1974 through scenes onstage, backstage, and from its gritty neighborhood surrounding. In glimpses of bluegrass legends, famous country duos, bona fide American musical icons, and the Opry's ardent fans, country music's most celebrated phenomenon shines in glorious black-and-white photography, displayed in a large format." -- Publisher.

Called "The Mother Church of Country Music," the Ryman Auditorium saw a historic chapter come to a close in 1974 when it closed its doors on 5th Avenue to move into new quarters at Opryland USA. Nashville photographer Jim McGuire had full access to the Ryman and shares over 100 stunning black and white photographs with chapter introductions and captions from the last year of this landmark and the most famous show in country music. Most of the photographs have never been published so come share the memories of this institution and your favorite legendary country music stars. With the foreword written by Garrison Keillor, and an introduction by Opry legend Marty Stuart, this book is a must-have for any country music lover.

By the mid-nineteenth century, the city of Nashville was a vibrant cultural center of the South. Through the Civil War reconstruction, two world wars, and into a modern era, Nashville has continued to grow and prosper by overcoming adversity and maintaining the strong independent culture of its citizens. This volume, Historic Photos of Nashville, captures this journey through still photography from the finest archives of the city, state and private collections. From the Civil War, Exposition and the great fire of 1916, Historic Photos of Nashville follows life, government, education, and disasters throughout Nashville's history. The book captures unique and rare scenes and events through the original lens of hundreds of historic photographs. Published in striking duo tone these images communicate historic events and everyday life of two centuries of people building a unique and prosperous city.

In a nation reinventing itself following victory in World War II, Nashville's self-portrait blended old with new. New businesses and skyscrapers, a shopping mall, the Interstate system, school integration, and other changes would ultimately bring Nashville into line with the direction of the nation at large, but alongside nationwide trends were treasures unique to the city: Fair Park for thrill-seekers, Sulphur Dell for baseball fans, the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman for music, and the Maxwell House for visitors still arriving through Union Station and now from the air at Berry Field. In this companion volume to Historic Photos of Nashville, Ashley Driggs Haugen leads a tour past many Nashville landmarks from the recent past, reminiscing with Nashvillians who can remember and informing those new to the city who may not. Nearly 200 images reproduced in vivid black-and-white show the Opry at the Ryman, construction of the L&C Tower, 100 Oaks Mall, the Municipal Auditorium, Harveys Department Store downtown, and countless other subjects from yesteryear that remain key to the city's past and present.

By the mid-nineteenth century, the city of Nashville was a vibrant cultural center of the South. Through the Civil War reconstruction, two world wars, and into a modern era, Nashville has continued to grow and prosper by overcoming adversity and maintaining the strong independent culture of its citizens. This volume, Historic Photos of Nashville, captures this journey through still photography from the finest archives of the city, state and private collections. From the Civil War, Exposition and the great fire of 1916, Historic Photos of Nashville follows life, government, education, and disasters throughout Nashville's history. The book captures unique and rare scenes and events through the original lens of hundreds of historic photographs. Published in striking duo tone these images communicate historic events and everyday life of two centuries of people building a unique and prosperous city.

The best and most luxurious history of country music ever published, this 70th-anniversary tribute to the Grand Ole Opry has been selected by this beloved institution as its chief souvenir. The complete history of the Opry is given, from the early days of Roy Acuff and the Carter Family through Dolly Parton and Minnie Pearl to Garth Brooks and Reba McIntire--all illustrated with more than 225 photos, many in full color.