Hazzard County Gazette

Hazzard County Gazette Volume 1 Issue 1 November 27, 2018 Good Ol’ Boys By: Geoffrey Smith Politics with Cooter on Pg 02 The Dukes of Hazzard pre- miered in 1979 and featured an entirely new song for its theme. The song was written by Waylon Jennings and was released as a single in August of 1980 as a single from the album “Music Man”. There were two versions of the song recorded (one for the TV show and one used as the used twice. the Billboard country singles single), and they are slightly The version that chart and became his biggest different. would have been played on hit on the BIllboard Hot 100, The version record- the radio was released in peaking at #21. ed for the TV show debuted August of 1980. This version Along with the Gen- in 1979 along with the first of the song contains a musical eral Lee and the dynamite episode of the show on CBS. bridge which follows the first arrows, Waylon Jennings’ The show opens with a man verse and chorus. Following rendition of the song may be (Waylon Jennings) seated in the second chorus, Waylon one of the most remembered a chair playing the opening Jennings makes a pretty parts of the TV show, and bars of the song eventually funny joke by singing, “I’m one of the longest lasting and going to a montage of the a good ol’ boy, you know my most timeless parts. show featuring the opening mama loves me, but she don’t credits. This version con- understand why the keep tains banjo work from Larry showing my hands and not McNeely, which is not heard my face on TV.” This is funny in the commercially available because of the opening part of version. The TV version also the show not showing his face contains a third verse that and just his hands playing the goes, “Fightin’ the system song on guitar. In Novem- like two modern-day Robin ber of 1980 the song became Hoods.” Following this line is Jennings’ 12th number one a, “Yee-haw,” from the charac- country hit overall. The song ters that is actually just John spent seventeen weeks on Schneider’s (Bo Duke) voice Cooter: The Representative Years By: Andrew Tanner Ben Jones played the charac- ia, making him one of few ter of town mechanic Cooter recent politicians to run for Davenport in The Dukes of office in more than one state. Generally General Lee on Pg 3 Hazzard. Cooter was por- After extreme controversy trayed as the level-headed surrounding the Confederate third party who was always flag in 2015, Jones announced willing to help the Duke boys his support for the flag which out whenever they needed can be seen on the roof of it. Without Cooter and his the General Lee in the show. shop, the General Lee would Jones also runs a store by never have come into being! the name of “Cooter’s Place” After the show ended in 1985, where Dukes of Hazzard mer- Jones went on to pursue a po- chandise and memorabilia is litical career as a Democrat. sold. In 1986, Jones ran for a seat on the U.S. House of Repre- sentatives from Georgia and although he received 47% of the votes he lost to Pat Swind- ell. In 1988, Jones ran against Swindell again and won the election with 60% of votes. Jones was narrowly reelected in 1990, but by 1992 redis- tricting caused his home to be in a different district and he subsequently lost the 1992 primary. In 1994, Jones ran against then-House Minori- ty Whip Newt Gingrich but received only 35% of the vote. In 1998, Jones was one of the few Democrats to suggest Bill Clinton resign during his impeachment. In 2002, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. House from Virgin- Generally General Lee By: Andrew Tanner The General Lee, named by changing various parts. least, regardless of what car after General Robert E. Lee, Although they share the same they were driving the Duke is an orange 1969 Dodge basic body, all three model boys were known by their CB Charger bearing the Confed- years have obvious exteri- radio handle “Lost Sheep,” erate flag upon its roof and or differences. The name of while their Uncle Jesse was a large number “01” on both the car was originally to be “Shepherd” and their cousin sides. Present-day politics Traveler, but the producers Daisy was “Bo Peep.” aside, it is important to note decided that General Lee had that during the filming of more punch to it. Another the show (1979-1985) the notable attribute of the car is Confederate flag was not the the Dixie horn, which plays symbol of controversy that the first 12 notes of the song it is today and still stood as Dixie. The horn was not a symbol for the resurrec- originally planned, but when tion of the South. Thus, it filming the first five episodes was a vital part in promoting in Georgia, a local hot-rod- the “good old boy” feel of der drove past and sounded the Duke cousins and their his Dixie horn, prompting friends in rural Georgia. The producers to chase him down recent controversy prompted to find out where to get such professional golfer Bubba a horn. The reason for the Watson to paint over the flag high number of vehicles used on the roof of his personal is due to frequent usage in restored General Lee. While stunts. The Duke boys were there is nothing wrong with known for pulling off any making a statement, Watson’s and every kind of stunt in car was the very first Charger order to make sure the good ever done up to be the Gen- guys won, even if that meant eral Lee, meaning that it was frequently jumping a river used in many title scenes, bed or washed out bridge. pilot episodes, and originally Sometimes, they even jump had hand painted graphics trains! It is clear in many of instead of stickers. There were these shots that the cars used around 309 Dodge Chargers are totaled, however they used between the years of make a reappearance directly 1968 and 1970 made to look after the jump as if they made like the same 1969 Charger it in one piece. Last but not MORE IN THE NEXT ISSUE.

Load more