Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Beech Springs, Jackson Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1982-10-15

Duration: 00:27:19

Subjects: MOVIES | SINGING | YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE | HORSES | LIVESTOCK | Davis, Jimmie, 1899-2000 | Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 | Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 | Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969 | Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 | Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 | Louisiana State Capitol (Baton Rouge, La.) | Politics | Music | Louisiana Governors

Contributors:

• Dupaquier, John Composer
• George, Beth Executive Producer
• Fowler, Ken Producer
• Breazeale, Kathryn Producer
• Fourrier, Clay Director
• Weill, Gus Host
• Davis, Jimmie Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from October 15, 1982, features the second part of an interview with Governor Jimmie Davis conducted by Gus Weill. Davis, a successful country singer, served two terms as the Governor of Louisiana from 1944-1948 and 1960-1964. He is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He discusses: his college experience in New Orleans; graduating from Louisiana College in Pineville; not being bitter about growing up poor; teaching in his hometown of Beech Springs and at Dodd College in Shreveport; his early political, movie and music careers; the history of “You Are My Sunshine” and “Nobody’s Darling But Mine”; the people he met in the music industry; his relationship with Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson; riding his horse, Sunshine, up the steps of the State Capitol and into the Governor’s Office; his life after the governorship; singing “Don’t Fence Me In” during the debate on a bill to fence livestock; the secrets to living a long life and his successful careers; and the importance of his faith. Host: Gus Weill