GRAND FORKS – The Empire Arts Center will present “An Evening with Terry Dullum: Stories, Many of Them True” on Friday, Jan. 9.

Dullum, a retired WDAZ-TV news anchor and reporter, will be in conversation with Tom Brosseau, singer-songwriter and host of “The Great American Folk Show,” a podcast produced by Prairie Public Broadcasting.

The event, which begins at 6:30 p.m., is being held to raise funds to upgrade the Empire’s air-handling equipment.

Dullum, who appeared on WDAZ-TV from 1975 to 2014, will be fielding questions – rather than asking them, as he did for the station’s long-running “The Dullum File” program. He conducted more than 800 interviews for episodes of that video essay series, according to Kathy Coudle-King, managing artistic director at the Empire Arts Center.

For a significant portion of his career, the program aired on WDAZ-TV and its sister station WDAY-TV, based in Fargo. WDAZ-TV ceased locally-produced newscasts Dec. 21, 2018, merging all news operations with WDAY-TV.

Dullum, who served as news anchor, producer and reporter with WDAZ-TV, also became well-known for coverage of the Flood of ‘97 and for launching the station’s 5 p.m. broadcast.

He was a member of the newsroom staff that won a national Edward R. Murrow Award and two Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Awards.

At Friday’s event, attendees are welcome to purchase classic martinis and other beverages and mingle with the presenters and guests when doors open at 6:30 p.m., Coudle-King said.

At 7 p.m., Dullum will sit down with Brosseau to talk about growing up in Hillsboro, North Dakota; his service in the U.S. Army; education at UND; and his 39-year TV broadcasting career.

As a member of the WDAZ-TV news team, Dullum had the opportunity to meet and interview well-known figures including Tony Bennett, former President Jimmy Carter, Phyllis Diller and many other celebrities, comedians and politicians.

He may also draw from his experience flying with the Blue Angels and the time he almost visited Peggy Lee at her mansion in Bel Aire, California, among other highlights from his career.

Woven into the program will be surprise videos, Coudle-King said, and guests will be invited to ask their own questions of the experienced interviewer.

On the Empire stage, the audience will be seated at cafe tables surrounding Dullum and Brosseau, creating an intimate setting for the conversation, she said.

Guests will also have the opportunity to visit with the presenters after the formal presentation.

Funds raised during this event will be used to replace five air-handlers that keep the building warm in the winter and cool in the summer, Coudle-King said.