We Love His...

David Inman Is Ever Incredible

We can find sources of connection through our family, our friendships, our work and volunteer lives, and even our pets. David Inman — a journalist, author, podcaster, and educator — demonstrates through his work that movies and TV can be added to that list because they not only serve to entertain us, but they can connect us in deep and long-lasting ways.

For more than 30 years, David wrote a column called The Incredible Inman, which appeared in The Courier Journal and later in other newspapers around the country. “I was Google before there was Google,” David says. If there is anything you want to know about a movie, TV show, or actor, you’ll find it in his anthology.

The research involved is incredible, but better than that is the way that David immediately engages you with his humor, wit, and obvious love for the subject matter. His work comes from the heart, drawing upon the emotions that come from watching shows he loved with people he treasured. “It happens for all of us. TV is universal. Some people don’t want to admit it, but we all watch,” David says. “I began my column in an age well before computers and the internet. Such a cool job, being able to talk about movies that many people watched when they were young. These stories leave an impact that stays with you. It’s not trivia for trivia’s sake. It’s a genuine connection that brings people together.”

IT’S NOT TRIVIA FOR TRIVIA’S SAKE. IT’S GENUINE CONNECTION THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

David has also authored seven books, one of them called Louisville Television (2010), which takes a close look at 50 years of TV in our city. He also hosts a podcast called Incredible Inman’s Pop Culture Potluck. Despite the fact that he’s officially retired now, David stays quite busy with these projects. “Nostalgia makes people happy, and I see a great need for it,” he says. “I like being able to tap into that. I can be the conduit to happy memories and special times.”

These days, David and his wife still live in Louisville, but they also have a home in Chicago where they live part of the year. “I like to get out and do something different every day. When I’m in Chicago, I enjoy getting on the train and riding around, just observing and taking it all in,” he says. “I do a lot of walking in Louisville, and we live near beautiful Seneca Park. I love getting out and meeting new people, finding new projects, and staying as busy as I want to be.”

What’s The Incredible Inman’s take on the importance of connection with others? “It’s like a muscle,” he says. “You kind of want to exercise it.”

If you had to pick one item that brings you joy, what would it be?

“That’s an easy one. Back when I worked at The Courier Journal, I saw a giant stack of TV Guides, going back as far as 1956, all bound up and ready to be thrown away! I couldn’t have that. I asked if I could have them, and was told ‘sure.’ No one else wanted them. They are a treasure. None of that can be found online, and it’s a wonderful glimpse of Louisville TV. A piece of history.”

By Megan S Willman | Photo by Shai-ann Vera

Today's Transitions | Winter 2024-2025