Magazine Funnier Than Ever? Mayberry Alum Ronnie Schell Still Going Strong
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M1 OCTOBERMayberry 2017 ISSUE 5 MAGAZINE FUNNIER THAN EVER? MAYBERRY ALUM RONNIE SCHELL STILL GOING STRONG AUTUMN LEAVES FESTIVAL ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS IN THE SOUTH THE OTHER MUSEUM EXHIBITS CHRONICLE MOUNT AIRY HISTORY, CULTURE WHAT’S A SONKER? IT’S SWEET, DELICIOUS, WITH ITS OWN CELEBRATION! COMPLIMENTARY COPY M2 Serving Mount Airy and Surrounding Areas for Over 41 Years. 121 West Lebanon Street • Mount Airy, N.C. 27030 www.homewayfurniture.com | 336-786-6151 Like Us On Facebook! 00898939 2 OCTOBER 2017 MAYBERRY MAGAZINE M3 00895489A 3 OCTOBER 2017 MAYBERRY MAGAZINE M4 TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER STORy — RONNIE SCHELL From taking the stage to avoid KP duty to being the oldest comedian with a regular Vegas show, Ronnie Schell has enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades. Along the way he made stops on “The Andy Griffith Show,” co-starred in the “Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.” show, hobnobbed 12 with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, and regularly visits Mayberry Days. See his story inside. Page 12 BEST FESTIVAL IN THE SOUTH? For more than 50 years, the Autumn Leaves Festival has been drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from far and wide (even from halfway across the Pacific!). It’s routinely ranked among the top events in the Southeast, and seems to just keep getting bigger and better. See what all the fuss is about. Page 6 6 THAT OTHER MUSEUM… Mayberry fans the world over have heard of The Andy Griffith Museum in his hometown of Mount Airy. What many don’t realize, however, is there are two museums here, and the second one — The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History — tells the story of the area, its people, culture, and traditions, stretching back thousands of years! Page 10 IN THE COUNTRY KITCHEN For this month’s Country Kitchen feature, we’re actually 10 leaving the kitchen, going outside to explore one of this area’s culinary delights. The Surry County Sonker — not quite a cobbler, not quite a fruit pie — is celebrated at the annual Sonker Festival every October. Page 16 WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO Do… Did you say festival? From the Autumn Leaves Festival to the Shelton Vineyards Harvest gathering to the annual Sonker Festival, this is the month for festival lovers of all stripes. But that’s not all — we have concerts, movies, live theater productions and more! Page 21 SO, YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW? 16 Well, let’s see just how deep your knowledge runs. Check out our Mayberry Trivia Quiz! Page 27 The region’s ONLY comprehen- sive guide to entertainment, fun, SANDRA HURLEY and all things Mayberry, reaching Publisher more than 40,000 local residents AND tourists with each edition! SHERRY STANLEY Published monthly, May Advertising Manager through September, by The JOHN PETERS 21 Mount Airy News. 319 N. Renfro Editor Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030 4 OCTOBER 2017 MAYBERRY MAGAZINE M5 Our advertisers make Mayberry Magazine MayberryMAGAZINE successful! 319 North Renfro Street Homeway Furniture ..............................................................2 Mount Airy, North Carolina 27030 Northern Hospital of Surry County .................................3 336.786.4141 Sage Sport ................................................................................6 Publisher NC Granite Corporation ......................................................6 Wyatts Trading Post ..............................................................6 Sandra Hurley Snappy Lunch .........................................................................6 Derby Restaurant ...................................................................7 Editor Uncorked In Mayberry .........................................................7 Rustic Trails Tear Drop Campers .......................................7 John Peters Quality Inn & Suites ..............................................................8 Walker’s Soda Fountain .......................................................8 Advertising Manager B’s Treasures .............................................................................8 The Mount Airy News .......................................................10 Sherry Stanley Tlaquepaque ........................................................................11 Farmer’s Mulch & Rock Inc. .............................................11 Distribution The Dapper Hound ............................................................13 Mayberry Spirits ..................................................................14 Ferris Simpson Hampton Inn ........................................................................14 American Healthcare Services .......................................15 Content Producers 13 Bones ................................................................................15 Eagle Carports .....................................................................17 Jeff Linville Leisure Designs ...................................................................18 Bill Colvard Veteran’s Memorial Park ...................................................19 Leisure Designs ...................................................................19 Mount Airy Museum of Regional History ..................19 Sales Consultants Anderson Audiology .........................................................21 Samantha Turner Frank Fleming Body Shop ...............................................22 Lindsay Compton Salon 222 ...............................................................................22 Twisted Fork .........................................................................22 Bob Ward The Mount Airy News .......................................................23 Shannon Fenner Beamer & Kirkman Realty ................................................24 Donna’s Barber Shop .........................................................24 Cover Design and Publication Designer Chili’s Bar & Grill ..................................................................24 Floyd’s City Barber Shop ..................................................24 Benjamin Haskins Golden Corral .......................................................................25 The Groovy Goose ..............................................................25 For advertising information, Roger’s Realty & Auction Co ...........................................26 Call 336.415.4684 Mayberry Motor Inn ..........................................................26 [email protected] Creative Designs .................................................................27 Mt. Airy Equipment Company, Inc. ..............................32 5 OCTOBER 2017 MAYBERRY MAGAZINE M6 Showing off the best of Mount Airy Autumn Leaves Festival among top events in Southeast Mount Airy is known for many things, not the least of which is being the inspiration for the fictional town of May- berry, which has over the years become a household name, synonymous with an easy-going, relaxing, small-town kind of life. Anyone who has spent time in the big cities such as New York, Boston, or Atlanta, or even in the larger metropolitan areas of North Carolina, such as Raleigh or Charlotte, will tell you Mount Airy is, in many ways, truly Mayberry. File photo | Mayberry Magazine One weekend ever year, though, the city becomes a teeming Ellery Easter, of Mount Airy, enjoys the dancing “limberjack,” played by mass of humanity, when nearly a quarter of a million people Randy Miller of Newton during the 2015 Autumn Leaves Festival. In the background banjo player Chris Sekerak, of Davidson, plays banjo with descend on Mayberry for one of the largest and most popular the Possum Holler Old Time String Band jam tent. craft and art shows in the Southeast. Autumn Leaves Festival. ing — their creations. Held the second full weekend of October (this year’s ver- The event has been so popular and well-run it perennially sion will be Oct. 13-15), three-day celebration, food, fun and makes the Top 20 Events in the Southeast list published by most of all, artists of all backgrounds showing off — and sell- the Southeast Tourism Society. Of course, with that much publicity, the festival does draw a crowd. Providing the weather is nice, the festival is usually jam-packed with people, perusing as many as 200 artist and crafter booths. It wasn’t always so. Humble beginnings Yvonne Nichols, who has organized the event for nearly half of its 51-year run, said it began with a twofold purpose; to cel- ebrate the harvest in a community that was still largely agrar- ian at the time of the festival’s inception; and to take advan- tage of the fact that hundreds of thousands of leaf watchers were traveling nearby highways, meandering along the Blue 151 Granite Quarry Trial, Mount Airy, NC 27030 Ridge Parkway to see the brilliant fall foliage. (336)786-5141 • 1(800)227-6242 Surely, there had to be a way to bring those folks a few www.ncgranite.com See FESTIVAL | Page 8 The Home of Dimensional Stone 00895722 Jim Shore • Willow Tree • Trail of Painted Ponies The Signature Sandwich of HOME OF THE • Keepers of the Light candles Locals and • Western • Lodge • Flags Visitors alike! WORLD FAMOUS • Mats • Ladies Clothing PORK CHOP • Jewelry • Home Decor SANDWICH & lots more! We carry the areas most unique assortment SNAPPY of gifts, collectibles, & home decor. 125 N. Main St. | Mt. Airy, N.C 27030 LUNCH 336) 786-4931 | thesnappylunch.com 235 North Main Street • Mount Airy, NC Mon., Tues., Wed. & Fri. 6:00am-1:45pm 00901022 [email protected] 336-789-7700 wyattstradingpost.com Thurs. & Sat. 6:00am-1:15pm 00901029 6 OCTOBER 2017 MAYBERRY MAGAZINE M7 ting Our 80t