It’s Time For Some Hollerin’

WUNC | By Anita Rao,

Published May 19, 2015 at 11:30 AM EDT

Hollerin’is an ancient form of human communication originally used in rural areas—people would yell from farm-to-farm to share messages over long distances. In 1969, a group of people inSpivey’sCorner, N.C. began the National Hollerin’ Contest to preserve and celebrate this form of communication. A conversation with filmmaker Liv Dubendorf and two of the film’s central characters Iris Turner and Tony Peacock

In its early years the contest drew crowds of more than 10,000 people, and contest winners would regularly appear on the national media circuit. Today, the contest is much smaller and some fear that it may not be around for much longer. A new documentary, “The Hollerin’Contest atSpivey’s Corner” tells the story of the competition through the lives of three contestants who competed in the 2014 contest.

Host FrankStasiois joined by filmmakerLivDubendorfand two of the film’s central characters who are both legendary in thehollerin’world: Iris Turner was the Ladies’Hollerin’Champion in 1977, and Tony Peacock is a five-time NationalHollerin’Champion.

Preview the film here:

https://vimeo.com/126708041

Tony Peacock hollers for the crowd after winning his third of six titles at Spivey's Corner in 2010. He is the current National Hollerin' Champion.

Iris Turner Hollerin' at the National Hollerin' Championship in the 1970s.

Iris Turner became a national darling with her distinct holler after winning the Ladies Hollerin' title in 1977. She was invited to holler on the Johnny Carson Show.

Photos from the archive of the National Hollerin' Contest that has been happening yearly in Spivey's Corner, NC since 1969.