The Plan To Demolish The Ryman 

Here's that New York Times article that Brenda mentioned. It's a powerful piece of writing from, Ada Louis Huxtable . It's amazing that the NYTimes architecture critic understood and appreciated the cultural significance of country music (and the Ryman) much better than the "good ol' boys" in Nashville. www.nytimes.com/1973/05/13/archives/only-the-phony-is-real-architeeture.html

I loved that show at the Ryman with Emmylou -I own a copy of it on VCR tape! I love that she played a role in saving it. Whatever is good about Americana it figures so much with her, Levon Helm, Lucinda, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch. The importance of reinvigorating the role of roots country to American culture is so important to me. People like Jerry Garcia and Bob Dylan also inspired reinvestigation of all things around old timey music. Finally, we owe a lot to the people who actually spent the money to keep the Ryman going.

The Ryman is iconic and irreplaceable. When I moved to Nashville to pursue my music career, playing it was at the top of my bucket list. I was fortunate to play the Grand Ole Opry 5 times - 3 at the Ryman and twice at the new Opry House. God bless Emmy Lou and Ada Louise Huxtable for heading off Life and Casualty/Gaylord!

I love that Emmylou album ''Live at the Ryman" , with a full bluegrass band backing her up.

Thanks. As a northerner, I had no idea of this idea to raze the Ryman. Unimaginable.

Bean counters never cease to amaze me with how short sighted they can be. All of the intangible factors have to be considered before tearing down a piece of history...unfortunately, there is no button labeled "Intangible" on a calculator.

Totally cool place ..and I’m in love with EmmyLou 😘

I remember driving through downtown Nashville in the mid 70's with my family, shortly after the Grand Ole Opry moved out- the entire neighborhood was a sad sight. I visited again with my own young family in the mid 80's, and again in '96, after the renovations were completed and the Ryman re-opened. It was a beautiful sight to behold. My wife and I traveled to Nashville in 2016 and again in 2021, finally touring the Ryman- in fact, we were there the day of Naomi Judd's celebration of life was broadcast on live TV. We couldn't get tickets, so we watched from our hotel room. I'm planning to visit this year and take in a show. We would love to attend the John Mellencamp show- I've long been a fan of his music, and possibly Gov't Mule- another great band I've long admired.

We had to go through this same kind of battle in Atlanta over the Fox Theater for about 3 years in the late 70s. AT&T wanted the land to build corporate offices. It was a struggle, but they saved the Fox and restored it to it's former splendor. Just another battle with the soulless money men.

I visited the Opry at the Ryman as a kid with my parents and sister in 1970. It was so hot in the Balcony. I seen Roy Acuff, and Jack Greene, and the one and only "Stringbean". Everytime I have visited it since, I touch it as if it is Sacred.

Brenda, Hope you’re good. Great interview. We miss you! The flood interview was great too!

Visiting the Ryman was the highlight of my Nashville trip. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a show there yet but the back stage tour gave me goosebumps just thinking of those who walked the hallways. Thank God it was saved. 🙏

I'm 53 and have listened to CW music my whole life. I had it in my head the Ryman was fixed up in th early 80's. Damn, I didn't realize it wasn't that long ago.

John Hartford's "Tear Down the Grand Ole Opry" comes to mind from that time before the Ryman was saved.

Emmylou Harris and The Nash Ramblers at The Ryman was the first Emmylou Harris record I owned. I had heard her songs over the years, but this was the first CD of hers that I ever purchased. And I wasn't disappointed! It began the journey of my love for Emmylou's music, all different kinds of it. I'm a history buff who believes strongly in preserving important buildings of our past and They Ryman certainly belongs in that category. Here in the US we tend to tear things down too easily. Go to England/Europe and you'll see some truly old structures, many of which are important in the history of mankind. We all owe Emmylou a big thank you for taking up the task of saving The Ryman, and giving us a great concert in doing so!

Got the amazing chance to meet Emmylou riding up in an elevator before the Peter Cooper memorial. As was expected she’s a gracious, down to Earth sweetheart. Of course she was behind saving the Ryman

❤nice video Otis. Thankyou Brenda. I have stood in that circle at the church of country music.❤

The best concert venue that I have ever been in hands down

Yes I remember when they were going to tear it down. I was thinking this is uncool the ryman meant too much to country music it's self. Thanks friends for doing this video.

Ways to support this channel. www.patreon.com/otisgibbs ru-vid.com/show-UCYX2... Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel. paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=... www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs Paypal: @otisgibbs Venmo: @OtisGibbs

‘Money doesn't talk, it swears’ Bob Dylan Development at the coast of abandoning history is the work of speculators and developers and hardly ever a concern for art and tradition. Money and speculation for making more money are a kin the seven deadly sins of ‘pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth’. All are hardly an example of traditional music and its intrinsic value.

So glad cooler heads prevailed. Love to see more interviews with her

⚓️ Thanks Brenda Otis ⚓️ I thot I heard Marty Stewart was big in the restoration of the Ryman, am I mistaken? Thanks 😎

Thanks for this😎

really enjoyed this one!!! Brenda is the coolest!!!!! thanks you guys!!!!

I was fortunate to take one of the dollar tours a week before they closed the Eyman to begin renovations. We were allowed to walk around anywhere we wanted to. I took photos of how it was in the original state and the dressing room which was so tiny. Thank you Emmylou. You are a true hero in saving the Ryman.

heard some of these tales but cool to hear succintly and from the wel spoken elegant clear mouth of someone whos so involved thanks Otis and Brenda - SJOCR

I’m so glad this treasure was saved. Kinda makes me crazy that another institution like Ernest Tubbs Record Store wasn’t saved. Thankfully the sign still remains and there’s talk of revitalization but with all the $$ in the Nashville music scene, or the town itself, this small little shop should be on the historic registry.

1982 Went to see the Ryman , stood on the stage where so many greats had stood .🙂 I’ll never forget it.

This is so awesome I just can’t !!!❤🎉 She so eloquently connects all the dots of any news coverage you might have heard on this story.

I sang on the opry stage!... Got my pic taken too!,they had a guitar to play and sing.i couldn't help but to sing " hey good looking" by Hank sr.i still got the pic,so glad I got to do that.

This is a cautionary tale given the ongoing destruction of cultural landmarks in Nashville to make room for condo’s and office buildings. The destruction of the Mercy Lounge/ Cannery/ HiWatt complex is a great example. The buildings that are going up on the sites of these iconic venues are disposable boxes; the landmarks they supplant are irreplaceable

Thank goodness for Emmylou and everyone else that knew how important the Ryman is to Country Music and Nashville. Like you said Otis, can you imagine what Nashville would be like without the Ryman Auditorium? No I can’t

I did not realize that the Grand Old Opry had left the Ryman Theater that long ago.

"it's where Nashville went to see the world" man carve that in stone and put it above the door

Never failing to bring some of it if not, the most important American music history to light. All of my country heroes, except if you have passed away but the Ryman still stands. Hopefully it does for a long time to.

Too bad Indianapolis did not figure that out in the 1980s when Mayor Hudnut destroyed Indiana Ave.

Are they utterly and absolutely crazy?!! Sacrilege. Great thing it got saved. It is a historical structure in at least three categories: historical as the old church, historical as the Grand Ole Opry venue and historically significant architecturally.

I was driving from SETX to near DC in '86 and made a point to drive downtown get out and walk around The Ryman because I wanted to see it just once before they tore it down. Bucket list checked off.

A historical building if there ever was one.

How nuts would Nashville be, to demolish the Ryman!?!?!?!?

It was SO HOT in there during shows in the mid 1990s.

Have you ever been to a show at the Ryman? Who did you see?

At first glance I thought you called this video The Plan to Demolish Rhythm - I thought - this guy knows me....

Come to think of it, we’ve got an Eiffel Tower in Kings Island Amusement Park and The Matterhorn at Disneyland. I think it would be safe to tear down and dynamite the originals. I’m sure Paris and the Swiss Alps wouldn’t mind.

That's The Mother Church o f Country Music

Unfortunately every decision made today by a corporation is ruled by the dollar.... Emmylou is my hero!

Tear down the Ryman , you better call Ghost Busters

God bless Emmylou

Grew up in Nashville. I know what the implementors of the Nashville Sound did to country music. Say goodbye to your heritage.

in 1985, me and my guitar pickin' friend were off from texas to louisville for the kentucky fried bluegrass fest... we stopped in nashville to pay respect to the ryman and ernest tubbs record store... when we got there we were blown away, the pit was already there, ready to bring her down and we didn't even know that was gonna be happening... we walked around and john went up and said, shit the doors open... that's how they close they were, the left the doors open... we walked it up and down and around, got on stage and yelled a little... emmylou helping to save it doesn't surprise me... on emmylou? after being an honest promoter on my way to not doing it, i decided i'd get emmylou as my last show... frank riley? that prick held emmylou over my head for 2 years.... he did give me richard thompson instead... so as a last show... not bad

This would have made the greedy developers very happy……glad it didn’t happen.

While I’m sure Otis has tracked down the real story. I’ve also heard that Ricky Skaggs bought and saved it. (Not true) and I’ve heard that Marty Stuart saved it by raising 22 Million for the A/C system retrofit. Is there any truth to either of these ?

Autotune..!!! AI-generated “music”..!!! Tearing down the Ryman..!!! What’s going on, Otis ..??? Thanks for keeping this in people’s minds…👍🏼❤️

How dumb to even think about demolishing that building.

Sacrilege

This must never happen