80s TV Movie Resurfaces on Facebook Due to Nashville Location

The other day on Facebook, I noticed a post from the 'Opryland USA' group. I'm pretty sure there's more than one group and tribute page. This popped up because one group member noted the date as October 17th. So what happened on this date?

On October 17, 1979, CBS premiered a TV movie, Concrete Cowboys . Most of the film was shot in and around Nashville. The group member pointed out that the exteriors of the then-Opryland Hotel were featured. I think this movie has something to do with Nashville.

The plot according to Wikipedia: "Will Eubanks (Tom Selleck) and his rowdy gambling buddy J.D. Reed (Jerry Reed) are two good-time roustabouts. After being caught in a sting card game, the two men are forced to leave town in a hurry. Hopping on a freight train, they end up in Nashville and, mistaken for detectives, they are hired to locate a singer (Morgan Fairchild) who has mysteriously disappeared. By the time they realize this game is more than either one of them can handle, they are embroiled in an intricate blackmail scheme with deadly results."

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There are cameos by Barbra Mandrell, Ray Stevens, Roy Acuff, and Red West who served as a close confidant and a bodyguard to Elvis. And yes, that is Morgan Fairchild who plays the kidnapped singer. Okay, I'm going to have to watch this, but how?

Well as you can see, it's on YouTube.

The other gag, the movie was turned into a regular TV series, the downside, Tom Selleck did not return. Don't get me wrong, Jerry Reed, in my opinion, has the stuff to carry a series, but I'd say Magnum P.I. was not far off for his mustached co-star. Also, in Selleck lore, he was almost Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. He passed on what would turn out to be one of the most successful movie franchises of all time for Magnum.

You can watch this Nashville adventure right now, but I suggest pulling it up on the YouTube app on your smart TV.