The Tennessee Tweetsie in Hollywood

The Tennessee Tweetsie in Hollywood. . , The East Tennessee and Western NC Railroad (ET&WNC) became affectionately known as the "Tweetsie" because of the distinctive sound of its steam whistle. In addition, the railroad was famous for its small-town charm, earning the nickname of "the Railway with a Heart" for its service to farms and residents along the line. Trains often made unscheduled stops to give farmers a lift, transport children to school, or deliver groceries and produce. In keeping with this nickname, conductors began using a heart-shaped punch to mark tickets. Longtime conductor Cy Crumley, known for showing special attention to his passengers, was a key part of the railway's neighborly reputation. In 1938, the railroad's story reached Hollywood and Universal Studios produced a short film featuring Crumley. The film, entitled The Tennessee Tweetsie, was part of a series of travel shorts called Going Places, hosted by famous radio announcer Graham McNamee. McNamee (1888-1942) was a pioneering broadcaster who covered the World Series during the 1920s, the famous "Long Count" boxing match between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney, and Charles Lindbergh's return to New York after his solo transatlantic flight. In 2016, the Baseball Hall of Fame honored McNamee with the prestigious Ford C. Frick award for excellence in broadcasting. Although some of the scenes in the Tennessee Tweetsie film were staged by the production company, the film conveyed to the nation the charm of the railroad and its special connection to the region. , , Department of Appalachian Studies, East Tennessee State University