David Carroll, author of “Hello Chattanooga!” Famous people who visited the Tennessee Valley “will hold two book signing sessions this weekend in northern Georgia. This Saturday he will be at Park Place Restaurant, 2891 Lafayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and this Sunday he will be at The Dinner Bell Restaurant, 3258 Chattanooga Valley Road in Flintstone from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Mr Carroll also announced that in addition to his website, autographed copies of the book are on sale at Barn Nursery (I-24 off 4th Avenue), Wally’s Restaurant (6151 Ringgold Road in East Ridge ) and at the Refindery (1300 McCallie Street).

“Hello Chattanooga” is a 700-page book featuring some two hundred photos, over a hundred years of history, and a comprehensive index allowing the reader to instantly locate the date Tammy Wynette played Lake Winnie, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Chickamauga Dam or Winston Churchill slammed the door of his Read House hotel room in the face of a reporter.

“It started as a story of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium,” Mr. Carroll said, “and then it got a lot bigger. I realized that the Tivoli Theater should be included as well. told people about the project, they said I should include the Riverbend Festival, then the UTC Arena and so on. The deeper I got into I decided it should be a full story that includes all of our famous visitors, with a few stories and images mixed in. So I have included all of our scenes and locations in the area, inside and out, as well as all the notable politicians, president, movie star, athlete, author , military man and evangelist, as well as a list of films and music videos that were shot here.

The book lists visitors in each category in chronological order, from 1900 to the present day.

Mr. Carroll said, “The Chattanooga area has attracted some of the world’s best-known celebrities and artists, with our historic sites, beautiful scenery and powerful people. This book will finally give readers the opportunity to sort out a few arguments by learning the dates and places that your favorite star (or president) visited here.

“Hello Chattanooga” also lists local residents who have gained national and global fame in all fields, including political figures like Bill Brock and Estes Kefauver, athletes like Rick Honeycutt and Reggie White, and artists from Samuel L. Jackson. to Usher to Kane Brown.
Amid the show listings and photographs are stories tracing the history of each local venue, especially the Memorial Auditorium and Tivoli, each approaching the 100-year mark. There are also stories detailing famous people who appeared on our local stages before they were famous, from Frank Sinatra to Billy Graham, from Jimi Hendrix to John Goodman.

The book also points out that many of today’s superstars performed in Chattanooga venues in the first half. Among them, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Jeff Foxworthy, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift.

There are also tales of big names who had a personal connection to the Chattanooga area, whether through early jobs (Jim Nabors), a quickly arranged marriage (Dolly Parton), or even run-ins with the justice (Johnny Cash).

Mr. Carroll said: “I am honored to share this interesting and valuable information which can now be added to the incredible history of Chattanooga.

“Hello Chattanooga: Famous People Who Have Visited the Tennessee Valley” is available in softcover ($ 29.95) and hardcover ($ 39.95), with signed copies on ChattanoogaRadioTV.com. It is published by Fresh Ink Group. Mr. Carroll is available for speaking engagements and book signings and can be contacted at [email protected]