"Wild River"

In 1959 the famous director Elia Kazan chose Bradley County and the Hiwassee River as the scene of the 20th Century Fox movie "Wild River". This was a story of an old woman who did not want to leave her home on Garth Island to make way for the TVA to flood the Island. TVA sent a man to get her off the Island but once he was there he fell in love with her daughter-in-law. It was based on the Novel "Mud on The Stars" by William Bradford Huie of Hartselle, Alabama.

The movie stared: Montgomery Cliff, Lee Remick and Jo Van Fleet. Several locals were used in the movie such as: Mark Anthony as the hotel night clerk; Ross Apperson was  Alderman Armstrong; Mike Dodd was sheriff; C.C. L. Ray was the Justice of the Peace and his wife was played by Edna Snapp; Francis Cheatam and Mary Alice Byrd sang hymns in the movie; seventy-year old Judy Harris of Charleston played the part of Lee Remick's daughter and Jimmy Menard, her son; Judy's mom, Mrs. Bill Harris, had the part of a TVA secretary, along with Mrs. Ray Quinn. There were 75-100 local people used as extras.

The old business district of Charleston was converted into "Garthville" the fictitious town in "Wild River". Props and paint were used to convert the buildings into the 1930's small southern town.

During the filming of the movie the stars and crew stayed at the Cherokee Hotel. Lots of locals hung around trying to catch a glimpse of the stars. Ms. Van Fleet's make-up chair was located in the lobby, they say it took three hours to change her from a 35 year old woman to a 75 year old woman.

The movie was a success and provided jobs for citizens of Bradley County as well as lots of excitement.