June 16, 1938

Charles B. Pierce was born in Hammond, Indiana; his family moved to Hampton (Calhoun County) when he was a few months old. Pierce became an independent filmmaker whose movies have become cult classics. Films that he wrote, directed, and/or produced include The Legend of Boggy Creek, Bootleggers, and The Town that Dreaded Sundown, which were not only made in Arkansas with local actors but also drew their inspiration from Arkansas themes. Some believe him to be the source of one of the most famous lines in American film history: “Go ahead, make my day.” Pierce died on March 5, 2010, in Tennessee. Each year, the Little Rock Film Festival presents the Charles B. Pierce Award for Best Film Made in Arkansas.