DJ Corcoran

12/10/2025

These photos were captured in the 1950’s during a fire prevention event. Fire Inspectors would visit a school, have a mock fire drill and observer any dangers they may witness while timing the children on their exiting behavior. They would then report to the principal with praises or suggested improvements. Not sure where this school was located, so I’m asking for a little help from the readers. Please leave comments if you know anyone in the photos or identify the school.

12/05/2025

This photo was taken in front of McCampbell elementary school on Emoriland Blvd. in the early 1970’s. The fire truck is a 1954 Maxim housed at the 2600 Whittle Springs station at the corner of Buffat Mill. The man in the suit standing to the left is Principal Smith. In the background is a Volkswagen type 4 that belonged to teacher Mrs. Noah. The fireman kneeling looks like Jerry Galbraith. McCampbell is no longer there, it was demolished and replaced with several single family dwellings. The purpose of these visits from the firemen were educational.

12/02/2025

Thought this photo to be appropriate with Christmas just around the corner, and the 36th anniversary (12/06/89) of the passing of the man photographed.. The picture was taken in downtown Knoxville around 1948 at S.H. George & Son department store located on Gay St. The man pictured was born John Howard Payne 1912 in Roanoke, VA and became a well known actor. You may recognize him as Fred Gailey from 20th Century Fox’s classic “Miracle On 34th Street”. You cant think of this movie without thinking of the boost in popularity making Macy’s department store a household name.
Not sure why he was in Knoxville, possibly passing through or maybe a promotional gig for the store or an upcoming movie??? This would have been February the year after Miracle On 34th Street.

11/29/2025

It’s Eddie’s Auto Parts on Walker Blvd. North Knoxville. Ed Harvey was a great guy! On one particular occasion he let a local man, (a.k.a. Leroy Mercer), get the best of him with a phone prank that went something like this… Leroy, “You sold me an oil filter and my engine blowed up!” Ed, “whatcha want me to do bout it?” Leroy, “I want you to replace my engine!” Ed, “ You’re crazier than #%**!” Leroy, “Well… sounds like somebody’s takin an ***whoopin!”

He kept Ed on the phone for some time, and it just got funnier and funnier😂😂😂😂 “Just how big a boy are you?”😂😂😂😂🤣🤣

11/27/2025

I found these negatives and turned them into a photo via an app.
These are photos of the Broadway Theatre, inside and exterior. I always thought the theatre was in the old Pete Moore appliance store. Actually it was on the other side of the alley, just to the south. This is at the intersection of Fairmont Blvd. and Broadway. Notice the old Fairmont bridge crossing First Creek. This one doesn’t appear to be wooden, but a lot of the ones crossing areas such as this were made of heavy wood planks all the way into the 1970’s when they started replacing with concrete/asphalt.

11/26/2025

The shooting of National Guardsmen in D.C. is disturbing and sad! Prayers for all. I was curious and looked up behavioral reasons why people resort to violence or kill one another, these are reasons I found;

•Inequality (jealousy)
•ideology (religion)
•anger,
•revenge,
•mental illness,
•substance influenced (drugs)
•fear

I’m betting the shooter didn’t know any of the victims personally, so that rules out the first two, which leaves the last five. Again, I’m guessing the shooter was someone that’s mentally ill, paranoid, influenced by drugs (either off their prescribed drugs or taking illegal drugs), mad at the world and seeking revenge or the personal gain of attention.
I wonder if more mental facilities in this country is the answer?
It just seems these type of tragedies happen too often!😡

11/11/2025

11/11/2025

Thank you! To our Veterans on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month…and every day!

11/07/2025

English Mtn. bear 🐻 steals man’s chainsaw. A few years ago we had a blackbear steal a drug dealers co***ne. I hope these two bears paths never cross!! 🤔 I always wondered who carved those wood bears for the tourist to buy.