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Tamara Faye LaValley Evokes a Plethora of Emotions
Sylvia Chase narrates this account of the life and career of singer, evangelist, entrepreneur, author, and television personality Tamara Faye LaValley Bakker Messner, from her 1942 birth, in International Falls, Minnesota, daughter of Pentecostal preachers Carl and Rachel Fairchild LaValley, who also welcome a son, before divorcing. Rachel remarries Fred Grover and welcomes six additional children.
As the Grover family struggles to survive, four daughters sharing one bed, four sons another, Tammy Faye assists with domestic responsibilities, also taking an after school position with Aunt Virginia, working at Woolworth Department Store, and attending an Assemblies of God Church, where, at age ten, she decides to become a minister and/or missionary, while bullies at her school pick on poor Tammy Faye, calling her, "that Christian girl."
Often commended for her beautiful voice, Tammy Faye sings in the church choir throughout her formative years, and, upon graduation becomes engaged to her pastor's son, Stanley, while entering North Central Bible College in Minneapolis.
Whether or not fine with Stanley, Tammy Faye continues to see other young gentlemen socially. When she flirts with a North Carolina native, two years her senior on campus, he decides not to go out with other guys' fiancées, and so she dumps Stanley for one Jim Bakker.
Jim and Tammy Faye marry on April 01, 1961, but because the camera breaks that day, they haven't the wedding photographs. And the Bible College, finding out about the union, expels Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker because Christian students are forbidden to marry.
The Bakkers head to California, before relocating to North Carolina, in 1962, to travel to Virginia to begin a series of appearances on "The 700 Club" television ministry program, so named for the need for 700 viewers to submit $10 per month to remain on the air.
Viewers begin to multiply as Jim preaches, and Tammy Faye presents her ministry of song and puppet show performances. But trouble soon erupts as they become more popular than founder Pat Robertson, and, once again, Jim and Tammy Faye are on their own.
In 1974, back in North Carolina, the Bakkers found Heritage Village, site for their new televangelist program, "The PTL Club," bringing a sense of fun to preacher programs of the day, and also permission for followers to seek wealth and affluence during the onset of the age of materialism, characteristic of the 1980's era of conspicuous consumption.
After welcoming daughter, Tammy Sue, in 1967, son, Jamie, arrives in 1975. And soon, the children join the cast of their programs, which are reportedly the envy of other televangelists who cannot afford the technology of these world-famous preachers who weren't even able to finish college.
In 1978, Jim breaks ground for Heritage USA, Christian retreat complex with hotels, restaurants, amusement park and television studios, destined to become the third largest tourist resort in the country at its peak.
But Tammy Faye reportedly objects to Jim's investing pledge donations into this resort and heads to Nashville to record Christian albums, when rumors circulate of a secret romance between Tammy Faye and her mentor, Gary Paxton.
Jim Bakker, too, finds cause for alarm, as a 1980 vacation in Florida finds his secretly associating with a Jessica Hahn, who is reportedly paid a large sum of PTL funds to maintain her silence.
The decade of the 1980's isn't particularly kind to televangelism in general, as scandals begin to ride one televangelist after another, and soon charges are filed against Jim Bakker for allegations of embezzling PTL partners and viewers and for his bout with adultery.
Jim Bakker asks fellow televangelist Jerry Falwell to step in to rescue the ailing PTL Ministries, but Jerry Falwell pulls a fast one on him, and bans the Bakkers from Heritage USA, adding Gay rumors to the list of charges to bring against Jim.
Tammy Faye forgives one and all for turning against the Bakkers in their hour of need, even Jerry Falwell, saying that she hopes the Falwell family never has to experience the pain and suffering which Jerry has put toward the Bakkers.
During Jim's imprisonment, Tammy Faye divorces him for the good of the family, after Tammy Sue runs off and elopes, and Jay and Tammy Faye are left with a very small stipend.
In 1993, she marries former PTL associate Roe Messner, who, in 1997, is also imprisoned for a small role in the previous scandals, and, subsequently released, as is Jim, who soon marries Lori Bakker, another minister.
By the time of this broadcast, Roe is informed by doctors that Tammy Faye has contracted a delicate disease, which could prove life-threatening, and now Tammy Faye has another battle on her hands for her very survival.
But family, friends and a few former associates stand beside her to express appreciation for this courageous and inspiring lady, who has often lost everything and continues her career in television with love and forgiveness for family and detractors alike.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Virginia Fairchild (Aunt), John Grover (Brother), Tammy Sue Bakker Chapman (Daughter), Jamie Charles Bakker (Son, as Jay Bakker), Jim Bakker (former Husband), Roe Messner (Husband), Emma Howard (Friend), Judy Bycura (Friend), Samuel C. Woods (schoolmate), Marjorie Bakker Klages (Cousin of Jim), Marian Kucera Johnson (Secretary), Shirley Fulbright Martin (Secretary), Laura Lee Oldham (former Assistant), Doug Oldham (former PTL Co-host), Sam Orender (former TV Director), Frye Gaillard (former Charlotte Observer Reporter), and James A. Albert (Author), with Sylvia Chase (Narrator), and Harry Smith (Host). Tammy Faye Messner appears in a 1984 archive interview.
Television Clips include Tammy Faye in scenes from "Jim and Tammy Show," "The P.T.L. Club" (1976), "Tammy's House Party," the 1981 U.S. Presidential Inaguartion, "Prime Time Live" (1996), "The Jim J. and Tammy Faye Show" (1996), "Larry King Live," "Good Morning, America" (2000), and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" (2000).
As the Grover family struggles to survive, four daughters sharing one bed, four sons another, Tammy Faye assists with domestic responsibilities, also taking an after school position with Aunt Virginia, working at Woolworth Department Store, and attending an Assemblies of God Church, where, at age ten, she decides to become a minister and/or missionary, while bullies at her school pick on poor Tammy Faye, calling her, "that Christian girl."
Often commended for her beautiful voice, Tammy Faye sings in the church choir throughout her formative years, and, upon graduation becomes engaged to her pastor's son, Stanley, while entering North Central Bible College in Minneapolis.
Whether or not fine with Stanley, Tammy Faye continues to see other young gentlemen socially. When she flirts with a North Carolina native, two years her senior on campus, he decides not to go out with other guys' fiancées, and so she dumps Stanley for one Jim Bakker.
Jim and Tammy Faye marry on April 01, 1961, but because the camera breaks that day, they haven't the wedding photographs. And the Bible College, finding out about the union, expels Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker because Christian students are forbidden to marry.
The Bakkers head to California, before relocating to North Carolina, in 1962, to travel to Virginia to begin a series of appearances on "The 700 Club" television ministry program, so named for the need for 700 viewers to submit $10 per month to remain on the air.
Viewers begin to multiply as Jim preaches, and Tammy Faye presents her ministry of song and puppet show performances. But trouble soon erupts as they become more popular than founder Pat Robertson, and, once again, Jim and Tammy Faye are on their own.
In 1974, back in North Carolina, the Bakkers found Heritage Village, site for their new televangelist program, "The PTL Club," bringing a sense of fun to preacher programs of the day, and also permission for followers to seek wealth and affluence during the onset of the age of materialism, characteristic of the 1980's era of conspicuous consumption.
After welcoming daughter, Tammy Sue, in 1967, son, Jamie, arrives in 1975. And soon, the children join the cast of their programs, which are reportedly the envy of other televangelists who cannot afford the technology of these world-famous preachers who weren't even able to finish college.
In 1978, Jim breaks ground for Heritage USA, Christian retreat complex with hotels, restaurants, amusement park and television studios, destined to become the third largest tourist resort in the country at its peak.
But Tammy Faye reportedly objects to Jim's investing pledge donations into this resort and heads to Nashville to record Christian albums, when rumors circulate of a secret romance between Tammy Faye and her mentor, Gary Paxton.
Jim Bakker, too, finds cause for alarm, as a 1980 vacation in Florida finds his secretly associating with a Jessica Hahn, who is reportedly paid a large sum of PTL funds to maintain her silence.
The decade of the 1980's isn't particularly kind to televangelism in general, as scandals begin to ride one televangelist after another, and soon charges are filed against Jim Bakker for allegations of embezzling PTL partners and viewers and for his bout with adultery.
Jim Bakker asks fellow televangelist Jerry Falwell to step in to rescue the ailing PTL Ministries, but Jerry Falwell pulls a fast one on him, and bans the Bakkers from Heritage USA, adding Gay rumors to the list of charges to bring against Jim.
Tammy Faye forgives one and all for turning against the Bakkers in their hour of need, even Jerry Falwell, saying that she hopes the Falwell family never has to experience the pain and suffering which Jerry has put toward the Bakkers.
During Jim's imprisonment, Tammy Faye divorces him for the good of the family, after Tammy Sue runs off and elopes, and Jay and Tammy Faye are left with a very small stipend.
In 1993, she marries former PTL associate Roe Messner, who, in 1997, is also imprisoned for a small role in the previous scandals, and, subsequently released, as is Jim, who soon marries Lori Bakker, another minister.
By the time of this broadcast, Roe is informed by doctors that Tammy Faye has contracted a delicate disease, which could prove life-threatening, and now Tammy Faye has another battle on her hands for her very survival.
But family, friends and a few former associates stand beside her to express appreciation for this courageous and inspiring lady, who has often lost everything and continues her career in television with love and forgiveness for family and detractors alike.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Virginia Fairchild (Aunt), John Grover (Brother), Tammy Sue Bakker Chapman (Daughter), Jamie Charles Bakker (Son, as Jay Bakker), Jim Bakker (former Husband), Roe Messner (Husband), Emma Howard (Friend), Judy Bycura (Friend), Samuel C. Woods (schoolmate), Marjorie Bakker Klages (Cousin of Jim), Marian Kucera Johnson (Secretary), Shirley Fulbright Martin (Secretary), Laura Lee Oldham (former Assistant), Doug Oldham (former PTL Co-host), Sam Orender (former TV Director), Frye Gaillard (former Charlotte Observer Reporter), and James A. Albert (Author), with Sylvia Chase (Narrator), and Harry Smith (Host). Tammy Faye Messner appears in a 1984 archive interview.
Television Clips include Tammy Faye in scenes from "Jim and Tammy Show," "The P.T.L. Club" (1976), "Tammy's House Party," the 1981 U.S. Presidential Inaguartion, "Prime Time Live" (1996), "The Jim J. and Tammy Faye Show" (1996), "Larry King Live," "Good Morning, America" (2000), and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" (2000).
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- WeatherViolet
- Jul 12, 2010
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