Have You Heard Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Bear Story?
A few weeks ago, Dolly Parton visited The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote her new holiday special, Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.
During the interview, she told a story about a famous bear in Pigeon Forge, and gosh darn it, she’s hilarious.
We love her storytelling so much, we had to share:
< hr>
40 for 40: Pierre Robert's Favorite Moments from the Past 40 Years at WMMR
Greetings Good Citizens! Because time has always been difficult for me, and because late is such an ugly word, some years ago I came up with the phrase “running ever so slightly behind…”. Eventually I started referring to my challenges with clock oriented events as: running on “PST” ( Pierre Standard Time ).
Every year for well over 20 years I’ve put out a Holiday card, sometimes before, but many times after Christmas…I had big plans for a 40th anniversary card last year but…um…well…PST got in the way once again. As a result, running ever so slightly behind, I now happily, finally present-on the occasion of my 40th Anniversary ( um…well… it’s really now 41 ) some of my ‘MMR Radio story at this legendary station…
If you received the full card in the mail there’s a QR code on the backside. By using that it’s taken you here (or you may just have clicked on this portion of the website without getting the card). Either way, this is where I can offer you a brief explanation and approximate timeline of the various photos and events from my start here in 1981, when I was just 11 years old… It’s obviously an incomplete scrapbook but it does give you a glimpse of my magical journey, this long, strange trip… A Thousand Thanks for your friendship, along the way, and for being such an important part of our ‘MMR family!
Cheers and Love, Pierre
A NOTE FROM PIERRE’S PRODUCER, FROM THE DESK OF MR. CAKE: Looking to get on the mailing list for future Pierre Christmas Cards? We’ll be launching a program in a few months to collect addresses. Please stop back in June or July for more info. We’ll also start promoting it on air during Pierre’s show at that time, once the details have been finalized.
– Thank you
[Row 1] #1 Dave Grohl
Backstage with Dave Grohl before a Foo Fighters show in Camden.
[Row 1] #2 Rittenhouse Sq Studio
Mid 80s, on a Hawaiian Shirt Gonzo Friday on Rittenhouse Square. Notice the reel to reel tape recorder in the background. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 1] #3 Camp Out For Hunger
Camp Out For Hunger Broadcast 2020. (Photo by Chorus Photography)
[Row 1] #4 Californa, 1959
A very young, cowboy ready to ride off into the sunset (if I could just find a horse). In my backyard in California. Photo credit: my mom, Katie, Robert!
[Row 1] #5 Pierre, Jackson Browne, Ed Sciaky
Late 80s summer concert at the Mann Music Center after interviewing Jackson Browne with the late, great Ed Sciaky.
[Row 1] #6 Pierre, Joey Ramone & Chip Chip Horaneck
Mid 80s backstage at the Tower Theatre with Joey Ramone and Morning Zoo, producer Chip Horaneck AKA Lou Brutus
[Row 1] #7 Eddie Vedder with Nick, Matt Cord & Pierre
“To Nick, Matt, and Pierre” before the second Pearl Jam show after interviewing Eddie Vedder. October 22, 2013.
[Row 1] #8 DEBELLA
Mid 80s with the one and only John DeBella! (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 1] #9 Nick, Jason, Gunner & Pancake
My various producers through the years from left to right, Nick McIlwain, Jason, Fehon, Kevin Gunn, and Pancake. Not pictured: Michael Anthony Thompson.
[Row 2] #1 Rittenhouse Sq
Early 80s kicking back in the original Rittenhouse Square Studios with Chuck Taylors, Levi’s 501s, giant, oversized, headphones, and, of course… Superman! (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 2] #2 Keith Richards
Interview for a national radio show with Keith Richards in NYC.
[Row 2] #3 DeBella DeBall
The “Classic” cast of MMR: the lovely Lyn Kratz, Joe Bonadonna, and JDB at a DeBella DeBall, early 80s. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 2] #4 Mick Jagger
With Mick Jagger after a national interview for the release of “Exile on Main Street”.
[Row 2] #5 Jaxon
Jaxon doing a selfie with me on stage at the MMRBQ three years ago. (Photo by Chorus Photography)
[Row 2] #6 Bono
With Bono backstage after a show in Boston. Although I’ve had him on my show before, they’ve been shorter conversations. Here, I’m trying to convince him to do an extended interview on ‘MMR. I’m still on that campaign!
[Row 2] #7 Nick the Hot Dog Man
At our best location, Rittenhouse Square, on 19th and Walnut. Early 80s with the legendary Nick, the Hotdog Man. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 2] #8 Elton John
With Sir Elton after hosting the Elton John AIDS foundation tennis tournament an auction in Villanova. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 3] #1 Returning to Rittenhouse Sq
On our 50th anniversary in 2018 we went back to our original studios on Rittenhouse Square (now a law office) and broadcast my show. Like I did in the 80s, I sat in the windowsill with my legs dangling out and watched the world go by from one of the best views in Philadelphia! (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 3] #2 Eddie Van Hamster
Early 80s on Rittenhouse Square with some of the gifts people would send for our pet, Eddie Van Hamster! (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 3] #3 MMR’s Spring Break
Before the MMRBQs, we would put on a concert around April or May which we called Spring Break. This one is on stage at the Liacouras Center circa 2005.
[Row 3] #4 Minerva
After Collision Max fully restored my microbus, Minerva, we did a photo shoot at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
[Row 3] #5 Neil Young
Neil Young stopped as he was leaving the Tower Theater after a solo acoustic show to say hi to me and we grabbed this photo.
A live broadcast in Rittenhouse Square with Pierre Robert
Our great engineer, Rodney Byrd, Pancake, and myself on April 29, 2018, our 50th birthday. We broadcast from our old studios as well as actually going down, live on Rittenhouse Square (still my favorite spot in Philly) on a beautiful Spring day! (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 4] #1 Lucy
With my beloved golden retriever, Miss Lucy.
[Row 4] #2 Philly Music Walk of Fame
The honor of being inducted into the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame on Broad Street on October 22, 2019. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 4] #3 Philly Music Walk of Fame
The plaque, my glitter Chuck Taylor sneakers, and one of the Hooters’ tie-dyed melodicas. They were also inducted in 2019. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 4] #4 Phillies 1st PItch
Don’t invite me to a party if you don’t expect me to attend… The Phillies invited me to throw out the first pitch at “tie-dyed” night on July 29, 2010. I practiced with Jason for a week, and I actually threw this right down the runway without it crashing into the ground, and it was caught by the Phillie Phanatic! A triumphant Sports moment in Philly Sports history!
[Row 4] #5 Pete Townshend
The Who and The Pretenders were at the Big Joint for my 30th Anniversary Party! Backstage before the show with Pete.
[Row 4] #6 On Stage
Early 80s (notice there’s no beard) introducing the Magnificent Beru Revue at a street fair in Old City.
[Row 5] #1 Phil-a-del-phia
Pancake and I two years ago at the Camp Out For Hunger, with the city, looking splendid behind us. (Photo by Chorus Photography)
[Row 5] #2 Flipper
Mid 90s, in Hawaii, my sisters and I went swimming with the dolphins… Eat your heart out, Aquaman!
[Row 5] #3 Brandon Flowers
Backstage before the show with Brandon Flowers of the Killers, October 12, 2022, Washington DC. I will travel anywhere for a great interview!
[Row 5] #4 Beru Revue
Backstage before the annual Beru Revue Christmas benefit concert at the Ardmore Music Hall, 2018.
[Row 6] #1 Jacky Bam Bam
Jacky Bam Bam and I before the ceremony for the induction into the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame, October 22, 2019. Do we look underdressed?
[Row 6] #2 The Hooters
Oh, how I love them: The Hooters! They had not played in a number of years and agreed to get back together for my 20th anniversary concert, November 21, 2001 at The Spectrum. They had so much fun, the they have stayed together and continue to tour and actually sound better than ever!
[Row 6] #3 The “Flying Hair”
Promotional photo in 1993 for the billboard on the Ben Franklin Bridge and other places announcing I would be doing - believe it or not -The Morning Show! Somehow I pulled that off between ‘93 and ‘96… Although, maybe it was just a dream…
[Row 6] #4 Green Day
Backstage in Camden after my interview with Green Day.
[Row 6] #5 MMR Staff
A group photo of our supremely, talented current cast of on air characters. Our radio family from left to right: Marisa, Kathy, Preston, Steve, me, Bam Bam and Jaxon. Lower: Nick, Casey and Brent Porsche. Each of these radio performers are not only incredibly talented, but also incredibly nice. We are SO lucky to have them!
[Row 6] #6 Live 8 with Jason Fehon
My producer in 2005, Jason Fehon, as we, along with the rest of the staff broadcast from the sequel to Live Aid, which was called Live 8, held on the Ben Franklin Parkway. Philly was the only city in the United States to get the show.
[Row 6] #7 20th Anniversary Banner
November 21, 2001 the night of my 20th anniversary show at The Spectrum. Mayor and soon to be Governor, Ed Rendell came on stage to lower a banner from the rafters announcing my 20 years at MMR. It lasted a good month or so and then was promptly stolen. Someone’s got it in their garage… somewhere… Someday we may solve that mystery!
[Row 6] #8 Chris Cornell
I loved him so much and still love him, the extraordinary talents of the late great Chris Cornell. I was blessed to speak with him many times over the years. This was his last visit to MMR after performing songs in our studio on October 15, 2015.
[Row 6] #9 You, Dear Listener
Getting ready to go on stage at the MMRBQ in 2017. Not quite Liberace but it’ll have to do….
[Row 6] #10 Graham Nash
My favorite of all, how I love him so much, the massively talented Graham Nash. Not only is he a great storyteller with beautiful songs, he’s also the nicest rockstar and one of the greatest human beings that I have ever known! Long live, Graham!
[Row 7] #1 Geater, Jon Bon Jovi & Pierre
Jon Bon Jovi was being honored at the Kimmel Center. He’s another of the great people on this planet who has made and continues to make such a positive difference trying to improve people’s lives. Alongside him is one of my true radio heroes: the Geator with the Heater, the Boss with the Hot Sauce, the one, and only Jerry Blavat!
[Row 7] #2 Rittenhouse Sq 1985
Another shot from our original studios on Rittenhouse Square, early 80s. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
[Row 7] #3 Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee flew down from Toronto for one day to do the interview with me and a live studio audience. December 18, 2000.
[Row 7] #4 Pierre studio
The earliest photo I can find of me taken by Susan Lamania. It was on Rittenhouse Square. Again, no beard, giant headphones, reel to reel, tape recorders an old control panel… and, of course, real turntables!
[Row 7] #5 Ozzy 2
Right before the Osbournes started on MTV, Ozzy and Sharon came to ‘MMR and talked with me for an hour and a half in front of a live studio audience. He told great stories, but he cursed so many times, and we didn’t have a “dump” button or a delay. Even though I enjoyed it, I finally had to ask him to stop cursing. He reluctantly agreed.
[Row 7] #6 Bon Jovi at Wells Fargo Center
One of our 50th anniversary concerts at the Big Joint with Bon Jovi. This was prior to anyone entering the arena and right before we had a conversation on the floor with Jon.
[Row 7] #7 Drum Parade
One year I hosted the Philadelphia Music Alliance induction ceremony in the afternoon in front of the Academy of Music. Right as the ceremony was ending, this local high school band started playing and I was captivated by their sound and spontaneously joined in dancing, Grateful Dead style, in the streets!
[Row 7] #8 Joe Bonadonna
Late 80s. We believe this was the first time any radio show had broadcast live from a moving wooden roller coaster. It was at Dorney Park, and the ride was called Hercules. Joe Bonadonna and I are at the highest point about ready to descend into madness, but it was great fun! (Photo by William Thomas Cain/CAIN IMAGES for WMMR)
