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Mount Airy Coverage

It's all about balance. The Tar Heel Traveler made his way to the hometown of Andy Griffith to meet a former monk turned moonshiner.

<p>AND FRIES. &gt;&gt; NICE SHOT OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH WILL. THIS MAN HAS LIVED A LIFE OF 2 EXTREMES AND IS AT PEACE WITH BOTH. TONIGHT WE FIND OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER IN MOUNT AIRY, SCOTT MASON MEETS THE MOONSHINE MONTH. &gt;&gt; IT'S A BIG GRIFFITHS HOMETOWN, BUT MOUNT AIRY ALSO HAS ANOTHER KIND OF MAYBERRY SPIRIT. THIS TEAM WILL RISE TO THESE CHAMBERS. IT'S A WHISKEY. STU SORGHUM WHISKEY. 100 PROOF. SO IT'S ABOUT A WEEK OF FERMENTATION. HE'S MAKING MOONSHINE. AND SO THE EAST TO THE SUGAR TO CREATE THE ALCOHOL SMOOTH, BEAUTIFUL, ICED TEA KIND COLOR TO IT. REFRESHING, ESPECIALLY ON A NICE AFTERNOON. IT'S A NICE AFTERNOON IN MOUNT AIRY, WHICH OF COURSE, IS ALSO KNOWN AS MAYBERRY. I GREW UP IN IN MAYBERRY, MAYBERRY, NORTH CAROLINA, BUT THE MAN WHO NOW MAKES MAYBERRY SPIRITS SPEND 25 YEARS NOT IN MAYBERRY, BUT IN A MONASTERY. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LIFE. YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF. &gt;&gt; THE DARKNESS WITHIN AND THE CLARITY WITH THE SOMETHING THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SHARE SOME JOY TO A LOT OF IT WAS GREAT JOY IN THE LIFE THAT I LIVE. BUT I KNEW AT THE TIME THAT I WAS BEING CALLED. &gt;&gt; SOMETHING ELSE. HE CAME BACK HOME TO MOUNT AIRY. AND MY THOUGHT WAS SEEING WHERE THE CRAFT BEERS WERE GOING AT THE TIME THAT DISTILLERIES WOULD BE THE NEXT THING TO HAPPEN AND SO BEGAN MAYBERRY SPIRITS, DISTILLERY WHISKEY BARREL FOR AGING OR INSTEAD OF PUTTING THE LIQUOR IN THE WOODS. SOMETIMES WE PUT THE WOOD IN THE LIQUOR. &gt;&gt; IS THERE A GREAT IRONY IN THE FACT THAT YOU NOW MAKING MOONSHINE? HAHA WELL TO GO TO MOONSHINE. I LIKE TO THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT WITH YOUR SPIRIT. &gt;&gt; HE'S HAS BEEN LIST. WE RECENTLY WON A GOLD AND SILVER MEDAL IN THE WHISKEY COMPETITION AND TOOK MOST FIRST AND SECOND PLACE IS WHAT AN HONOR FOR MAYBERRY MAYBERRY RFD REALLY FIND RING. AND IF YOU CAN MAKE A GOOD PRODUCT ALL THE BETTER AND WHAT'S MORE AMERICAN THAN APPLE PIE AND WHISKEY FROM A VERY WHISKEY FROM MAYBERRY BY WAY OF A MONASTERY THAT WILL MAKE YOUR EYES TWINKLE LITTLE MORE AND WILL HELP YOUR HEART WAS TO WOW. WHAT A LIFE. &gt;&gt; MAYBERRY SPIRITS. DISTILLERY IS OPEN FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS</p>

Tar Heel Traveler: The Moonshine Monk

Mayberry Days celebrates The Andy Griffith Show and its connection to Mount Airy. Ronnie Schell is one of the former actors in town looking back at his career at the impact the show had on his life. 

Carter Hill traveler has been enjoying Mayberry days in Mount Airy. The festival celebrates the Andy Griffith show and draws many of the actors who appeared on it back in the 60s tonight Scott Mason connects with a character actor who's famous for another show too. Well, here I am, darn it. There he is more than 50 years ago, Ronnie Schell, were you a good stand up comedian? He started his career doing stand up and once opened for the Kingston Trio in the audience was a manager from the Andy Griffith show who invited Ronnie to audition. I tried out for it and luckily I got the part and that's how I got into television and onto the Andy Griffith show. I'm sorry. That's how we say, let's get things rolling. It helped my career. I'll tell you that much. Ronnie Schell is at Mayberry Days in Mount Airy reminiscing one episode where I was for salesman 1100. Do you enjoy coming back to Mount Airy? Very much. Oh yeah, I almost forgot Ronnie was a regular on Gomer Pyle. How many episodes of Gomer Pyle did you do? 99 99. And what was your character was his best friend? Duke slater. Alright, you nitwit, you lame brained, you knucklehead. He had a knack for the stage, went on to make movies and even had his own tv variety show with Goldie Hawn. So it was good. I've had a great career. I've had my turn and it's still his turn among the Mayberry fans at Mount Air Nip it in the bud. Mayberry makes me smile here. The actors from yesterday are still in What a legend. The Mayberry Days Festival runs through sunday in Mount Airy.

Ronnie Schell reminiscences on Andy Griffith Show at Mayberry Days

Ronnie Schell

Rodney Dillard is part of the bluegrass group The Dillards who in the 1960s appeared as The Darlings on TV's The Andy Griffith Show. 

<p>SMALL BUSINESS AND WOMAN OF THE YEAR. SIGN UP TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHO WINS RIGHT NOW ON THE WRAL NEWS APP. &gt;&gt;&gt; OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER LOVES THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW AND INTERVIEWED ONE OF THE DARLINGS OR IS IT THE DILLARDS? WE ARE IN MOUNT AIRY WITH MUSICIAN RODNEY DILLARD. &gt;&gt; WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO ONE EPISODE. GO ONE EPISODE OF THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. &gt;&gt; Reporter: THE DARLINGS. &gt;&gt; AND HE KNEW WHAT BANDS WOULD COME OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS. &gt;&gt; Reporter: THE DARLINGS WERE IN REAL LIFE, THE DILLARDS AND THEY CAME OUT OF THE OZARKS. &gt;&gt; WE GREW UP WITH NO ELECTRICITY OR RUNNING WATER. BACK THERE WAS THE GRAND OLE OPRY. &gt;&gt; I HAD A GUITAR AND I PLAYED AND WE STARTED PLAYING BLUEGRASS. &gt;&gt; Reporter: THEY ARE BROTHERS AND THEY ADDED OTHERS AND CUT A RECORD AND WENT TO HOLLYWOOD. &gt;&gt; WE PLAYED IN THE LOBBY. &gt;&gt; Reporter: IT WAS A WELL- KNOWN CLUB. &gt;&gt; THE GUY THAT OWNS THE PLACE SAID, YOU CAN'T DO IT HERE. DO IT ON STAGE. &gt;&gt; Reporter: A PRODUCER FROM ELEKTRA RECORDS WAS THERE. BACK WE SIGNED WITH ELEKTRA AND IT CAME TOGETHER THAT NIGHT. AS WE ARE LOOKING GUYS FROM THE OZARKS WITH THIS WEIRD MUSIC. &gt;&gt; Reporter: ANDY GRIFFITH READ THAT MAGAZINE ARTICLE WHEN HE NEEDED A GROUP FOR HIS SHOW FOR ONE EPISODE AND ASKED THE DILLARDS TO AUDITION. &gt;&gt; WE PICKED HALFWAY THROUGH THE SONG AND HE SAID, THAT IS IT. AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE KICKING US OUT. AND HE SAID, YOU'VE GOT THE JOB. &gt;&gt; Reporter: ONE EPISODE TURNED INTO FIVE AND THE DARLINGS WERE A HIT. THE DILLARDS WERE, TOO. &gt;&gt; THE RECORD COMPANIES DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH US. &gt;&gt; Reporter: THE DILLARDS BEGAN PERFORMING ALL OVER THE WORLD. ELTON JOHN, IN 1972. &gt;&gt; HE SAID WE BLEW HIM AWAY. &gt;&gt; Reporter: TODAY, THE DILLARDS ARE STILL ADDED, PERFORMING IN MOUNT AIRY, THE BIRTHPLACE OF ANDY GRIFFITH. &gt;&gt; I'M STILL A KID FROM THE OZARKS THAT ENDED UP ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, JUST BEING A SMALL PART OF SOMETHING. A CAMP FIRE ON A COLD NIGHT. I'M SO GLAD WE HAD THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW TO RELATE TO. [ APPLAUSE ]</p>

Bluegrass group made popular by The Andy Griffith show returns to Mount Airy 

Bluegrass group made popular by The Andy Griffith show return to Mount Airy 

Today, Ben Currin does lots of volunteer work in Mount Airy. He plays music for people at nursing homes and helps with the Mayberry Days festival every September.  

ARMY VETERAN. >> I WAS 18 YEARS OLD. MONSOON RAINS ALL DAY, TROPICAL TEMPERATURE. WHEN SOMETHING HIT, IT HIT FAST. >> JUST TAKE YOUR TIME. >> I REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. >> DO YOU EVER THINK WHY DID I COME BACK?>> YOU HIT THE DEFINITION OF SURVIVOR'S GUILT. >> HE WENT BACK HOME TO GRANVILLE COUNTY.>> THE ONLY THING THE KIDS WERE WORRIED ABOUT WAS WHAT MOVIE WAS PLAYING TONIGHT. MY FRIENDS WERE STILL KIDS. I WAS TO, BUT NOT REALLY. I MADE MY MIND UP TO FINALLY GO BACK. >> HE BECAME A DRILL SERGEANT AT AGE 20. LATER HE JOINED THE BALL AND BECAME AN ARMY RECRUITER. THEN TEAM LEADER. >> JUMPING INTO HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, FOOTBALL GAMES, STADIUMS, AND WE WON THE HEARTS OF AMERICA. >> HE RETIRED FROM THE MILITARY IN 1991.>> I WAS NOT QUALIFIED. EVERYTHING WAS DEMORALIZING AND EVERYTHING I TRIED TO PIECES.>> HIS LIFE SOON TURNED. >> A FRIEND INVITED HIM TO THE MAYBERRY FESTIVAL IN MOUNT AIRY. >> I WENT BANANAS. I WAS LIKE A KID IN A CANDY SHOP. THEY ARE ALL COMING BACK. IT IS MAGICAL. IT MADE ME A KID AGAIN. >> IT HEALED HIM. HE IS PROUD OF HIS MILITARY PAST, AND AT PEACE AT LAST. >> IT IS MAGICAL. YOU GET HOOKED ON IT AND IT WILL NEVER GO AWAY.

Vietnam veteran finds home, healing in Mount Airy's 'Mayberry Days'

WRAL's Tar Heel Traveler is celebrating Mayberry and Mount Airy and the old Andy Griffith Show. 

>> A LOT OF COOL THINGS BACK HERE. >> EVERYBODY FOLLOW ME. >> IT'S LEGENDARY. >> UNBELIEVABLE. >> THIS IS A GREASY WORSE. >> THIS IS THE WAY WE DO IT. >> DELICIOUS. >> I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT. >> WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL MAYBERRY ADDITION OF THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER. I'M SCOTT MASON IN MOUNT AIRY WHICH IS CLOSELY LINKED TO MAYBERRY. THE TOWN FROM THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. IN THE PAST, ACTORS FROM THE SHOW HAVE REUNITED. AS THEY DID IN 2010. >> I FELL INTO A POT OF HONEY. >> MAGGIE PETERSON. CHARLENE. >> AND WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED WATCHING THE EPISODE YOU FEEL GOOD. >> IT'S JUST A LOVELY BUNCH OF PEOPLE. >> ELEANOR DONAHUE, ANDY'S GIRLFRIEND. >> A MESSAGE OF LOVE AND RESPECT. >> WHAT PART DID YOU PLAY? >> A FOR SALESMAN. >> RONNIE SHELL. >> THE PRODUCER, AARON RUBIN, WAS A GENIUS. HE CAPTURED THE ESSENCE OF THE SMALL SOUTHERN TOWN AND MADE IT REMARKABLE. >> YOU WALK ON THE SOUNDSTAGE WITH THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW AND YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY FIND FAMILY. >> MARGARET CAREY. SHE APPEARED IN TWO EPISODES AND WAS ALSO THE MODEL FOR WALT DISNEY'S TINKERBELL. >> YOU GO OUT AND YOU MAKE HER WHAT YOU WOULD DO. >> THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW DEBUTED ON OCTOBER 3rd, 1960. >> IT WAS A JOY. >> THAT'S WHAT YOU GET. THIS WARMTH. IT WAS FUNNY AND SWEET AND TOUCHING AND LOVING. AND IT'S STILL ON, THANK GOD. AND I HOPE IT WILL BE FOREVER. >> QUIET, PLEASE. WE ARE ROLLING. >> HE IS A FAR CRY FROM WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. >> I WAS TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS OLD. >> HE PLAYED QUIETLY ON. THE BOY WITH THE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH. >> I WOULD OFFER IT TO, USUALLY, BARNEY AT A VERY INOPPORTUNE TIME. PEOPLE REALIZE I WAS A NATURAL AT IT. >> HIS BROTHER, RON HOWARD, PLAYED OP. >> RON WAS FIVE YEARS OLDER THAN ME AND I WOULD LOOK AT WHAT HE WAS DOING AND SAY, I CAN DO THAT. I CAN DO THAT. SO I WAS NEVER INTIMIDATED BY THE BUSINESS BECAUSE I SAW MY BIG BROTHER DO IT. >> CLINT HOWARD HAS COME TO ANDY GRIFFITH'S HOMETOWN. THE MODEL FOR MAYBERRY. THE TOWN IN THE SHOW. >> I WAS IN THE SHOW, I THINK, FIVE EPISODES. >> HE WAS FUNNY, EVEN BEING CARRIED OFF THE SHOW. >> I WAS SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT. I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT OUR FAMILY, MY BROTHER, MY MOM, MY DAD. I'M GETTING BROKEN UP BECAUSE THEY ARE GONE. WE ALL GOT TO EXPERIENCE IT. >> HIS DAD WAS WELL KNOWN ACTOR, RANCE HOWARD. THAT'S CLINT HOWARD IN APOLLO 13. WHICH HIS BROTHER, RON, DIRECTED. >> I'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD COMEDIES. I WAS IN WATER BOY AND AUSTIN POWERS. I WAS IN A TELEVISION SERIES WHEN I WAS LITTLE. I HAVE HAD A BLESSED LIFE AND A BLESSED CAREER. >> AND HE HAS HAD PLENTY OF PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES. >> I LIKE SHOWING MY APPRECIATION FOR THE FANS THAT SHOW APPRECIATION FOR THE SHOW. >> AND SO THIS TRIP, WHICH TODAY STILL HONORS MAYBERRY. >> THIS IS REAL PEOPLE HONORING WHAT WAS A GREAT SHOW IN THE 60s. >> IT WAS JUST GREAT. OUR FAMILY WOULD GATHER AROUND THE TV. WE WERE TOTALLY INTO THE CHARACTER THAT HE WAS PLAYING. IT WASN'T LIKE THERE WAS DATA UP THERE. IT WAS LIKE ARNIE. >> PLAYED BY DON KNOTTS. WHOSE DAUGHTER IS KAREN KNOTTS. A ONE-WOMAN COMEDY SHOW, TIED UP IN KNOTS. >> IT'S MY STORY OF GROWING UP WITH MY DAD AND HIS CAREER. HE WAS SORT OF HIS CHILD SELF. HE CAN'T HIDE IT. IT'S THERE ON HIS FACE. THAT WAS LIKE HIM AS A CHILD. >> KAREN, AS A CHILD. >> I FEEL LIKE I WAS UNDER A MICROSCOPE. >> SHE STILL LIVES IN CALIFORNIA BUT UNOFFICIALLY VISITS MOUNT AIRY. >> WHAT DO YOU WANT? >> WAS YOUR DAD MUCH DIFFERENT IN PERSON THAN HE WAS ON TV? >> VERY DIFFERENT. HE WAS NOT LIKE THE CHARACTER. BUT HE WAS FUNNY. HE WAS VERY LOW-KEY IN PERSON. >> WHAT WERE YOUR DAD'S FAVORITE EPISODES? >> THE PICKLE STORY. AND A BARNEY'S NEW CAR. THOSE WERE HIS FAVORITES. AND THE CHOIR. ARNIE AND THE CHOIR. EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS RIGHT WHERE YOU LIVE. >> SOMEWHERE AROUND MAYBERRY IS A LOADED GOAT. >> ANDY GRIFFITH HAD THIS RULE. IF SOMETHING SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE, THROW IT OUT. THAT'S WHY THE CHARACTERS ARE SO BELIEVABLE AND HONEST. THEY WERE JOKE BASED. THEY WERE BASED ON REAL HUMAN BEINGS. >> DON KNOTTS LATER HAD HIS OWN VARIETY SHOW. THE PERSON HE IS SINGING TO IS KAREN. HER FATHER DIED IN 2006. LIKE HER DAD, KAREN HAS GONE INTO SHOW BUSINESS. HONORING BOTH THE PARENT HE WAS AND THE CHARACTER HE PLAYED. DO YOU THINK YOU'D BE PROUD OF YOU? >> I KNOW HE WOULD. HE WOULD BE PROUD. HE IS PROUD, I FEEL. >> I LOVED BEING ON THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. IT MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME. >> BARNEY? THIS IS VELMA. >> VELMA LOU, PLAYED BY BETTY LYNN. >> I LOVED ANDY AND DON. I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT SHOW. IT WAS SO GOOD. AND IT STILL IS. >> EVEN TODAY, PEOPLE ARE STILL LINING UP TO SEE BETTY LYNN TO REMEMBER VELMA LOU. >> IT'S EMOTIONAL. THEY ARE FEELING ABOUT THE SHOW. I'M HERE TO RECEIVE ALL OF THAT I GUESS. I GUESS I AM. >> BETTY LYNN LIVES IN MOUNT AIRY. >> MOUNT AIRY IS LIKE MAYBERRY IN A LOT OF WAYS. IT'S VERY SWEET. >> EVEN BEFORE SHE WAS A VELMA LOU, BETTY LYNN WORKED WITH PROMINENT ACTORS. >> BETTY DAVIS, ROBERT MONTGOMERY, MAUREEN O'HARA. >> AND THEN ANDY GRIFFITH AND DON KNOTTS AND JIM NEIGHBORS. >> I'M JUST ABOUT THE LUCKIEST PERSON I KNOW. IMAGINE AN OLD LADY LIKE ME. >> WHETHER YOU SWEETTALK ME OR NOT, BARNEY. IT'S YOU I WANT. >> THE CHARACTER IS STILL SO SWEET. THEN AND NOW. >> I'M SO GRATEFUL AND HAPPY. >> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETTY LYNN. >> THANK YOU, ALL. THANK YOU. >> ORDER TAR HEEL TRAVELER BOOKS AT THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER WEBSITE. BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE THE STATE. COPIES AUTOGRAPHED AND PERSONALIZED. THETARHEELTRAVELER.COM. >> I COME FROM A SMALL TOWN NAMED IN MAYBERRY. WHEN I SAY SMALL, IT'S SO SMALL THEY HAD TO WIDEN MAY STREET TO PUT A WHITE LINE DOWN THE MIDDLE. >> IT'S ALWAYS MAYBERRY DAY RIGHT HERE IN MOUNT AIRY. >> WELCOME BACK TO THE SPECIAL MAYBERRY EDITION OF THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER. CELEBRATING MOUNT AIRY AND ITS CONNECTION TO THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. WENT TO A RING MOUNT AIRY IT'S EASY TO FIND SIMILARITIES. EVEN FROM THE TO HER GUIDE. >> ARE YOU READY TO GO? >> READY OR NOT? CITIZENS, WATCH OUT. >> DOPEY JAYWALKING NOW. >> IS THAT BARNEY FIFE? ACTUALLY, HIS NAME IS DON. NOT TO DON KNOTTS BUT DON BOND. >> MY NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO OBEY OUR RULES IN MAYBERRY. >> THE SQUAD CAR, THE MAIN STREET. >> YOU HAVE YOUR ORAL THEATER. THE SNACKING LUNCH. >> THE BLUEBIRD DINER. >> BARNEY WAS ALWAYS TALKING TO WANITA AT THE BLUEBIRD. NIP IT, NIP IT. >> DON IS NOT A DEPUTY BUT HE'S A BIT OF A STAR. HE DRIVES AROUND MOUNT AIRY GIVING TOURS IN A 1967 FORD. AND FOR FOLKS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD. >> WE HAVE THEM FROM AUSTRALIA. THOSE ONCE, I LOVE. >> THEY TO LOVE THE OLD ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. >> THEY ARE OVERWHELMED WHEN THEY COME HERE. THEY SAY, IS THAT WHERE ANDY LIVED? >> YES, THIS IS WHERE SO MANY IDEAS ON THE SHOW CAME FROM. >> THAT'S WHERE ANDY GREW UP. WHEN I GREW UP I HAD TO WATCH RADIO. WE DIDN'T HAVE TELEVISION. >> HE'S BEEN DRIVING A SQUAD CAR FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW. >> CITIZENS ARREST! >> HE HAS YET TO MAKE A CITIZENS ARREST. >> DO YOU STILL WATCH THE SHOW? >> EVERY DAY. ONE THING ABOUT DON KNOTTS IS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANYONE ELSE LIKE HIM. >> ALTHOUGH DON BOND MIGHT COME CLOSE. HE HAS A CIRCLE TO THE TOWN THOUSANDS OF TIMES CARRYING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS. >> THEY WANTED TO REFLECT BACK ON THE DAYS WHEN THINGS WERE SIMPLE. >> THAT'S WHY THEY COME TO MOUNT AIRY. THEY COME LOOKING FOR MAYBERRY. >> I DON'T THINK I COULD LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE. >> DON BOND LOVES HIS JOB. WITH OR WITHOUT A CITIZENS ARREST. >> THE NUMBER ONE RULE IS TO OBEY ALL RULES.  >> COME ON IN, BOYS. >> RUSSELL CUT ANDY'S HAIR IN REAL LIFE. >> DID YOU HAVE A FEELING HE WOULD BECOME SOMEBODY ONE DAY? >> YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA IN THE WORLD. >> HE'S A PRETTY CLOSE OTIS. >> I TRY TO LOOK LIKE A DEPUTY AND ACT LIKE A DEPUTY. >> I WILL AT NO TIME WHILE WEARING THE UNIFORM TAKE A DRINK. >> I FEEL LIKE I GOT A TASTE OF HARD TIMES. >> IS THIS THE CAR FROM THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW? THAT'S ALWAYS THE QUESTION. >> IT'S A REPLICA OF THE CAR. JUST AS MAYBERRY IS A REPLICA OF MOUNT AIRY. >> VERY LAID-BACK, JUST LIKE MAYBERRY. >> IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU IN OUR FAIR CITY. >> A LOT OF HUMOR. AND A LESSON ABOUT LIFE IN EVERY SHOW AND EVERY EPISODE. >> THE MAKE-BELIEVE AND REAL. NIBBLE ON THAT A WHILE. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. >> SEE, YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THESE THINGS MIGHT TURN OUT. >> IF IT'S LUNCHTIME IN MOUNT AIRY AND YOU ARE HUNGRY, GO AHEAD AND EAT AND MAKE IT SNAPPY. THERE'S PORK ON THE GRILL. PORK, PORK AND MORE PORK. AND BATTER. IT LOOKS LIKE A PANCAKE. BUT THIS IS THE FAMOUS PORK CHOP SANDWICH AT SNAPPY LUNCH. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PORK CHOP SANDWICH? >> IT'S AWESOME. >> IT'S VERY SOUTHERN. >> WHAT DID YOU GET ON IT? >> ALL THE WAY. >> A PORK CHOP SANDWICH. >> THEY COME FROM FAR AND WIDE TO GET IT. LET ME TELL YOU. >> THEY COME TO MOUNT AIRY. ANDY GRIFFITH'S HOMETOWN. AND THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. THE ONES MENTIONED SNAPPY LUNCH ON THE SHOW. >> AFTER THE SHOW WE CAN GO DOWN TO SNAPPY LUNCH AND GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND SOME COFFEE. >> WASN'T ONE EPISODE? >> ONE EPISODE, ONE REFERENCE. >> BUT THAT ONE WAS A BIG ONE. >> HOW DOES IT TASTE? >> THEY COME A LONG WAYS. THEY DRIVE THREE AND FOUR HOURS. >> FOR A PORK CHOP SANDWICH. >> I WONDER WHY IT BECAME SO FAMOUS. >> I DON'T KNOW. JUST SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> CHARLES DOWELL INVENTED IT. >> HE LOVED TO PICK AND CUT UP. >> AND HE LOVED TO COOK PORK CHOP SANDWICHES ON THE GRILL BY THE WINDOW. >> SO HE COULD LOOK OUT AND SEE EVERYBODY. >> THAT WAS HIS WORLD. >> SO HE STARTED GETTING THE BONELESS PORK LOINS AND STARTED TENDERIZING THEM AND THAT'S HOW THE PORK CHOP BECAME FAMOUS. >> DIDN'T HE SAY HE WANTED SOMETHING PEOPLE WITHOUT ANY TEETH COULD EAT? >> YES. THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT TENDER ENOUGH FOR SOMEBODY WITHOUT TEETH TO EAT. >> CHARLES OWNED SNAPPY LUNCH FROM 1960 UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 2012. AND STILL, THE CUSTOMERS KEEP COMING. >> WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? >> EVERYWHERE. EVERYWHERE. EVERY STATE. >> I'M FROM UTAH. >> IT'S PRETTY UNIQUE. YOU CAN SPEND THE DAY HERE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. >> A DAY IN MOUNT AIRY. AND LUNCH AT SNAPPY LUNCH. >> WE HAVE HAMBURGERS AND HOTDOGS. WE HAVE A BREADED HAMBURGER. >> I LOVE BREADED CHEESEBURGERS. NOTHING LIKE THEM. >> AND NOTHING LIKE A PORK CHOP SANDWICH. CHARLES'S LEGACY SIZZLED ON. >> LIKE STEPPING BACK IN TIME.  >> MAYBERRY IS RIGHT HERE. MAYBERRY IS IN YOUR HEART. >> YOU CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING BEFORE WE GO? >> WHAT IS IT? >> I LOVE YOU. >> WELCOME BACK TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER. CELEBRATING THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW AND THE TOWNS OF MAYBERRY AND MOUNT AIRY. THE SHOW ITSELF HAS MANY LAYERS. >> THE TWO WORDS THAT I HATE ART, IT'S SIMPLE AND IT'S SILLY. IT'S NEITHER. >> IT'S COMPLICATED. >> IT'S A GREAT TRAGEDY SET IN A NORTH CAROLINA COUNTRYSIDE. >> THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. >> IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE SHOW ENDLESSLY PORTRAYS MAYBERRY AS DIFFERENT. AS DISTINCT. AS UNUSUAL. IT I THINK THAT WAS INTENTIONAL. >> ACTOR, ANDY GRIFFITH. >> WENT ON TO BE WANTS TO DRIVE A CAR, AND HE IS ALWAYS INITIALLY WORRIED. HE HAS TO LEARN THAT THE WORLD IS CHANGING AROUND HIM AND HE ACCOMMODATES. HE ADAPTS. PEOPLE MAKE A BIG DEAL OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NOT BLACK CHARACTERS IN MAYBERRY. BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. THERE ARE BLACK CHARACTERS WALKING THE STREET EVERY DAY. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW THEIR STORY. >> YOU ARE NOT AS IGNORANT AS YOU THINK YOU ARE. >> I THINK THAT ERNEST T BASS IS MIXED-RACE AND A PARIAH IN PART BECAUSE OF HIS HERITAGE. THERE ARE STORIES WHICH ALLUDES TO THE FACT THAT MAYBERRY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1865. A VERY AUDIT DATE. >> THE YEAR THE CIVIL WAR ENDED. MAYBERRY, AN ODDLY NEUTRAL TOWN. >> FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NO CONFEDERATE HEROES IN THE STORY OF MAYBERRY. >> ARE YOU SAYING THAT ANDY GRIFFITH THOUGHT OF ALL OF THESE THINGS? >> WHO ELSE WOULD HAVE MADE IT ALL UP AND MADE IT COHERENT? >> ANDY GRIFFITH, A UNC GRADUATE. >> HE DOESN'T APPEAR IN HIS CLASS PICTURES. HE WAS AN INCREDIBLY SHY PERSON. >> FROM MT. AIRY. >> HE FELT AT ODDS WITH THAT COMMUNITY. MUCH OF WHAT I THINK IS GOING ON IN THE SHOW IS THE CONFLICTS THAT HE HAD WITH HIS OWN PERSONAL STORY. AND WHAT HE WANTED COMMUNITY VALUES TO BE. >> WHAT'S THIS ABOUT RULES? >> WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT ANDY GRIFFITH HAS A SON AND NO WIFE? >> NO ONE HAS EVER EXPLAINED WHO SHE IS UNTIL I FIGURED IT OUT. EARLY IN THAT EPISODE, THEY REFERENCE THE MASONIC PICNIC OF 1962. >> AND THE APRICOT QUEEN. >> I BELIEVE THE APRICOT QUEEN OF 1952, THINK OF THE COLOR OF APRICOTS AND THINK OF RON HOWARD'S HAIR. I THINK THAT THIS WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THERE IS DEPTH TO THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. IN FACT, IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE WARS IN THE UNITED STATES AND YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN BE RESOLVED, WATCH THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW AND THE MESSAGE WILL BE CLEAR. BOTH SIDES CAN ACCOMMODATE THE OTHER IF THEY LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER. >> FIRST, THERE WAS THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. THEN MAYBERRY RSD. AND IN 1968, THIS EPISODE PLAYED A BIG PART IN SHATTERING SEGREGATION. >> IT'S SURREAL TO THINK THAT ANYBODY WOULD WANT MY AUTOGRAPH. >> WHEN CALVIN PEELER WAS 13 HE WROTE A LETTER TO THE SHOW'S PRODUCER. >> PERHAPS HAVING AN AFRICAN- AMERICAN ON THE NEW SHOW WOULD BE A RECOMMENDATION. >> RICHARD RECEIVED THE LETTER AND CALLED CALVIN. CALVIN LANDED THE ROLE. >> THE TURNING POINT OF MY LIFE. >> MY LIFE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, OVERNIGHT. >> CALVIN RETELLS HIS REMARKABLE STORY TO A CROWDED MOUNT AIRY. CALVIN, WELCOME TO MAYBERRY. >> YOU MAY DISCOVER TODAY AS A TURNING POINT IN YOUR LIFE. >> YES, YOU MENTIONED THAT. >> I FILLED FOR THREE DAYS AND IT WAS A MUCH BETTER SALARY THAN DELIVERING NEWSPAPERS. >> HE HAD BEEN A DELIVERY BOY IN TENNESSEE WITH ALMOST NO ACTING EXPERIENCE. >> ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? >> YES, MR. SPRAGUE. WHY DO YOU KEEP THOSE RECORDS FROM WAY BACK? >> WHY DO WE KEEP RECORDS FROM WAY BACK? >> IT WAS A PUZZLING TIME. MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD RECENTLY BEEN ASSASSINATED. AND THEN ROBERT F KENNEDY. >> THERE WEREN'T MANY AFRICAN- AMERICAN CHARACTERS ON TV AT THE TIME. THERE WERE SOME. >> DID YOU DO WELL? >> WELL ENOUGH FOR ONE EPISODE. >> I DON'T THINK I LEARNED ANYTHING. >> ME EITHER. >> THE BLONDE BOY IS BUDDY FOSTER. A WELL-KNOWN CHILD ACTOR. AND THAT LITTLE GIRL'S BROTHER. JODIE FOSTER. THE EPISODE DID MAKE MEMORIES. FOR A HELP TO BRIDGE A DIVIDE. >> I CAME BACK TO SORT OF A HERO'S WELCOME. >> HIP HIP, HOORAY. >> CALVIN NEVER APPEARED ON NATIONAL TV AGAIN. HE BECAME A LAW PROFESSOR. BUT HE PLAYED A SMALL PART IN TELEVISION HISTORY. AND IT'S TURNED TOWARDS DIVERSITY. IT'S THAT WELL-KNOWN WHISTLE AND THOSE OLD RELIABLE LAUGHS. >> STOP, THIEF! >> THESE FOLKS ON THE FLOOR AND IN THE SEATS, THEY STILL CONNECT TO THE OLD BLACK AND WHITE SERIES OF THE 60s. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW WENT OFF THE AIR 50 YEARS AGO. 50 YEARS. THEY ARE STILL LAUGHING, STILL LOVING. BARNEY AND ANDY AND ALL OF THE OTHERS. >> MAYBERRY. IT TAKES YOU BACK TO A TIME, AND ERA AND A PLACE THAT I THINK WE ALL SOMETIMES WANT TO DRIFT BACK TO IN WHICH WE CAN GO BACK TO. >> EVERY MONTH THIS GROUP GETS TOGETHER IN OXFORD. >> IT'S A FUN SHOW TO WATCH. >> IT'S THE 6 7/8 CLUB. >> ANDY, HE PULLED OUT THE HAT SIZE. >> LET'S CALL THE MAN. >> JUST CALL THE MAN. >> IF YOU LOOK PAST THE HUMOR OF THE SHOW, EACH ONE -- >> IT'S GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WITH US HERE TONIGHT. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW WAS ALWAYS BASED ON LOVE. >> THE LUCKIEST THING A MAN CAN HAVE IS FRIENDSHIP. >> BEN AND CAM AND ALL OF THE OTHERS. AND ANDY AND ALL OF THE OTHERS. THEY SHARE THE BOUNDLESS LOVE. OF MAYBERRY. >> HE LOOKED UP IN HIS ROOM AND SAID THIS CAGE SEEMS AWFUL EMPTY, DOESN'T IT? AND ANDY LOOKED DOWN AND SAID YES, SON. IT DOES. THOUGH THE TREES SEEM NICE AND FULL. >> THERE ARE ANDY GRIFFITH FAN CLUBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PEOPLE WHO NEVER TIRE OF WATCHING THIS SHOW. WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED WATCHING THIS SPECIAL MAYBERRY EDITION OF THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER. FROM MOUNT AIRY. WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN, NEXT TIME DOWN THE ROAD. I'M SCOTT MASON. THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER. ORDER TAR HEEL TRAVELER BOOKS AT THETARHEELTRAVELER.COM. BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE THE STATE. COPIES AUTOGRAPHED AND PERSONALIZED AT THETARHEELTRAVELER.COM.

Tar Heel Traveler special: A tribute to Andy Griffith's Mayberry, and the actual town that inspired it 

There was a Walker's Soda Fountain Drugstore in the early episodes of the Andy Griffith Show. And there's one today in Mount Airy, an old-timey place serving burgers and dogs and shakes and floats.



WE FIND SCOTT MASON AT IT SODA FOUNTAIN CALLED WALKER'S MADE FAMOUS BY THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. >> Reporter: WALKER'S SODA FOUNTAIN IN MOUNT AIRY, KNOWN FOR BURGERS AND ICE CREAM AND MILKSHAKES. >> MILKSHAKE OR MALT I CAN DO IT WHATEVER YOU DREAM UP. I DO EGG CREAMS, ALL THE OLD STUFF. TASTE OF THE PAST. >> EVERYONE FRIENDLY. >> RINGS BACK MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN. >> AMERICAN PIE, WONDERFUL VALUES. >> Reporter: ON THE SHOW, ANDY'S GIRLFRIEND WORKED THERE. >> THIS IS THE DRUGSTORE THEY MIMICKED ON THE SHOW AS WALKER'S. >> Reporter: I BET YOU SERVE A LOT OF ICE CREAM. >> WE DO. >> Reporter: KALLOS THE ROOT BEER FLOAT? >> AWESOME. >> Reporter: HOW LONG WITH A DISTORT? >> 90 YEARS. WHAT IS REALLY COOL, BACK UP THE STAIRS IS THE CHEMICAL COMPANY WHERE THEY MANUFACTURED POWDERS AND YOU KNOW THAT COMPANY AS GOODIES. IT STARTED IN THIS BUILDING. >> Reporter: CHEESEBURGERS AND MEMORY. >> I NEVER HAD A FREIGHT ICE CREAM BEFORE, I HAVE NOT HAD A PAGE 1 LATELY. >> Reporter: HIS VERY FIRST MILKSHAKE EVER. >> WOW. THAT IS REALLY GOOD. PERFECT MIXTURE OF CHOCOLATE AND WHIPPED CREAM. >> Reporter: WITH THE CHERRY ON TOP. >> WHEN YOU DRINK IT, YOUR HEAD WILL CAVE IN. >> I GET MY BURGERS DONE FRESH EVERY DAY. IT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE . I'VE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE. IN REAL LIFE, ANDY GRIFFITH GREW UP HANGING OUT HERE EVERY DAY. HE WORKED HERE ONE SUMMER AS A DELIVERY BOY AS A TEENAGER. >> SHE'S A REALLY NICE LADY, AIN'T SHE? I MEAN ISN'T SHE? >> I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CAST MEMBERS FROM THE SHOW. >> IT IS REALLY FUN. >> IT IS AWESOME, LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME. >> Reporter: A COFFEE SHAKE. WHAT IS THE BEST MILKSHAKE TO GET? >> I'M SIMPLE, GIVE ME A

Tar Heel Traveler: Walker's Soda Fountain

An Aunt Bee lookalike lives in Mount Airy and keeps a room full of artifacts from the actress who played Aunt Bee on the Andy Griffith Show.

REMEMBERS ONE OF THE CHARACTERS FROM THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, THE OTHER. >> WELCOME TO AUNT BEE'S ROOM. >> USED IN THE SHOW, THIS WAS USED IN THE KITCHEN, EYEGLASSES. >> SHE ACTUALLY WORE THAT ON THE TV SHOW. >> SHE DID, OF COURSE THE TV SHOW WAS THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. THERE WAS ANDY. >> THERE ARE THINGINGS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY. >> THE ACTRESS WAS FRANCIS BOBIAE, WHO RESTS IN SEILER CITY. >> THIS CAME FROM HER ESTATE, ALL THESE ITEMS KEPT SAFE AND CARED FOR BY THE OTHER AUNT BEE. >> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PORTRAYING AUNT BEE? >> DOES SHE RECALLS. ? SHE IS FROM MOUNT AIRY, THE ASHTRAY WAS MADE BY ANDY'S MOTHER, SHE NEVER SAW HIM BUT GAVE IT TO ME, TO HER, IT IS A LITTLE LIKE MAY BERRY, ANNA HAS OWNED IT FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS. >> DO THE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THIS ROOM? >> SHE IS HAPPY TO PHOTOS OF YOUNG AUNT BEE. >> SHE WAS A PRETTY GOOD ACTRESS, HER TV SHOW CONTRACT. >> GOT $2,500 A WEEK. >> THE FINAL SCRIPT, ALMA WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER AUNT BEE, BECAUSE OF AL MA THE OTHER AUNT BEE, SO MANY WILL OTHERS. >> TOO BAD AUNT BEE STAYED IN THIS ROOM, I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE LOVED IT.

Tar Heel Traveler: Aunt Bee Room

Aunt Bee Room

It's the diner in Mount Airy made famous in the Andy Griffith Show. Snappy Lunch is as popular as ever, and so is its world-famous pork chop sandwich!

OKLAHOMA, NO WORD ON WHAT THE INVESTOR HAP MIND. >>> WHICH CAME FIRST, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW OR THE PORK CHOP SANDWICH? >> TONIGHT WE FIND OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER IN MOUNT AIRY. OR IS IT MAYBERRY? >> IF IT'S LUNCHTIME, GO AHEAD AND EAT, AND MAKE IT SNAPPY. THERE'S PORK ON THE GRILL. >> PORK LOIN. >> Reporter: PORK AND MORE PORK. AND BATTER. >> MILK, SUGAR, FLOUR, EGG, AND A LITTLE BIT OF SALT. >> Reporter: THIS IS THE FAMOUS PORK CHOP SANDWICH AT SNAPPY LUNCH. >> IT'S VERY SOUTHERN. I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A GREAT WORD. >> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU GET ON IT? >> ALL THE WAY. >> Reporter: A PORK CHOP SANDWICH. >> THEY COME FROM FAR AND WIDE TO GET IT, LET ME TELL YOU. >> Reporter: THEY COME TO MOUNT AIRY, ANDY GRIFFITH'S HOMETOWN. ANDY OF THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, WHO ONCE MENTIONED SNAPPY LUNCH ON THE SHOW. >> AFTER THE SHOW WE CAN GO DOWN TO SNAPPY LUNCH AND GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND SOME COFFEE. WANT TO? >> WAS IT JUST THAT ONE EPISODE? >> ONE REF REASONS. >> Reporter: BUT THAT ONE WAS A BIG ONE. >> Reporter: HOW DOES IT TASTE? >> THEY COME A LONG WAY. THEY DRIVE THREE AND FOUR HOURS. >> Reporter: FOR A PORK CHOP SANDWICH. >> I'M NOT A VERY ADVENTUROUS PERSON. I HAD THE BLT. >> Reporter: BUT IT'S THE FAMOUS PORK CLOP SAPPED WIN. >> I WONDER HOW IT BECAME SO FAMOUS. >> I DON'T KNOW. I GUESS IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT. . >> Reporter: CHARLES DOWEL INVENTED IT. >> HE WAS A CARD. HE LOVED TO PICK AND CUT UP. >> Reporter: HE LOVED TO COOK PORK CLOP SANDWICHES ON THE GRILL BY THE WINDOW. >> SO HE COULD LOOK OUT AND SEE EVERYBODY. >> HE SAID THAT WAS HIS WORLD. HE SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON. >> SEW STARTED GETTING THE BONELESS PORK LOIN AND STARTED TENDERIZING THEM, AND THAT'S HOW THE PORK CHOP BECAME FAMOUS. >> Reporter: DIDN'T HE SAY HE WANTED SOMETHING PEOPLE WITHOUT ANY TEETH COULD EAT? >> YEAH, HE WANTED TO MAKE IT TENDER ENOUGH FOR SOMEBODY WITHOUT TEETH TO EAT. >> Reporter: CHARLES OWNED SNAPPY LUNCH FROM 1960 UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 2012. AND STILL THE CUSTOMERS KEEP COMING. >> WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? >> EVERYWHERE. EVERY STATE PROBABLY. >> Reporter: WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> I'M FROM UTAH. >> PRETTY NEAT. >> YOU CAN SPEND A DAY HERE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. >> Reporter: A DAY IN MOUNT AIRY, AND LUNCH AT SNAPPY LUNCH. >> OH, WE HAVE HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS. WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A BREADED HAMBURGER. >> I LOVE THEIR BREADED CHEESE BURGERS. NOTHING LIKE THEM. >> Reporter: AND NOTHING LIKE A PORK CHOP SANDWICH. >> IF YOU AIN'T NEVER TRIED IT, I RECOMMEND IT. >> Reporter: CHARLES' LEGACY

Pork chop sandwich at Mount Airy diner made famous in Andy Griffith show 

Our Tar Heel Traveler speaks with a retired history professor who has studied "The Andy Griffith Show" and reveals fascinating cultural influences tucked within many episodes.


>> STUDENT YOU THE ANNUAL MAYBERRY FESTIVAL IF MOUNT AIRY IS THIS WEEKEND. FESTIVAL CELEBRATE THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. >> THIS EVENING BEING WE FINE THE TAR HEEL TRAVELER IN ROWAN COUNTY. SCOTT MASON MEETING A MAYBERRY HISSER TO YAP WHO FIND INTRIGUING CLUES WITHIN THE EPISODES. >> Reporter: THE TWO WORDS THAT I HATE ARE IT'S SIMPLE APPEAR SILLY. THE NEITHER. >> Reporter: THE COMPLICATED. THE A GREAT TRAGEDY SET IN A NORTH CAROLINA COUNTRYSIDE. >> Reporter: THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. >> IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE SHOW ENLESSLY PORTRAYS PORTRAYS MAYBERRY AS DIFFERENT, DISTINCT AND I THINK THAT WAS -- >> SHALL WE DRIVE? WITH AUNT BEA WANTS TO DRIVE A CAR, ANDY IS ALWAYS INITIALLY OPPOSED. >> LET'S FOR GET ABOUT THE CAR PAR. >> YOU HAVE TO LEARN A LESSON THAT THE WORLD CHANGING AROUND HIM AND HE ACCOMMODATE. RACE, PEOPLE MAKE A BIG DEAL OF THE FACT THIS THERE AREN'T BLACK CARBS IN MAYBERRY. THERE ARE BLACK CHARACTERS WALKING THE STREET EVERY DAY. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW THEIR SOREE. >> YOU ARE NOT AIGNORANT AS YOU THINK YOU ARE. >> I THINK THAT ERNEST T. BASS IS MIXED RACE. I THINK THAT ERNEST T. BASS IS A PARIAH IN PART BECAUSE OF HIS HERITAGE. THERE ARE STORIES WHICH ALLOWED IT THE FACT THAT MAYBERRY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1865. >> THE YEAR THE CIVIL WAR ENDED. MAY BAERY AN ORDLY NEUTRAL SOUTHERN TOWN. >> Reporter: FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NO CONFEDERATE HEROES IN THE STORY OF MAYBERRY. >> ARE YOU SAYING THAT CANDY GRIFFITH THOUGHT ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS. >> WHO ELSE WOULD WITH MADE IT UP. >> Reporter: ANDY GRIFFITH A UNC SWAT. >> HE DOESN'T APPEAR IN THE CLASS PICTURE. OF INCREDIBLY SHY. MUCH OF WHAT I THINK IS GOING ON IN THE SHOW IS THE CONFLICTS THAT HE HAD WITH HIS OWN PERSONAL STORY AN WHAT HE WANTED COMMUNITY VALUES TO BE. >> NOW, WHAT IS THIS ABOUT RULES FOR PAS ANSONS. >> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT ANDY GRIFFITH HAS ASON AN NO WIFE. >> FOR ONE HAS EVER EXPLAINED WHO SHE IS UNTIL I FIGURED IT OUT. >> JUMPING RIGHT ALONG. >> EARLY IN THAT EPISODE BE THEY REFERENCE A MASONIC PICNIC OF 1952. >> Reporter: EN THE APRICOT QUEEN. >> YOU TOOK HER AROUND, REMEMBER THAT. >> I BELIEVE THE APRICOT QUEEN OF 1952, THINK OF THE COLOR OF APRICOTS AN THINK OF RON HOWARD APPEAR HAIR, I THINK THAT THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS IS DEPTH TO THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T EVEN PLUMBED YET. IF YOU WANT TO AND THE CULTURE WARS IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY AND YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN BE RESOLVED, YOU WATCH THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW AND THE MESSAGE WILL BE CHEER THAT BOTH SIDE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE OTHER

Retired history professor reveals hidden clues within episodes of 'The Andy Griffith Show'

It is Black History Month, and our Tar Heel Traveler tells the story of a young boy's big break and how he helped break the color barrier on national TV.

Young boy's big break helped break the color barrier on national TV

Scott Mason, our Tar Heel Traveler, has the inspiring story of a former female placekicker from Mount Airy who has lined up to make the kick of her life.

Former female Mount Airy High School football star now making kick of her life

"The Andy Griffith Show" debuted on Oct. 3, 1960. We find Scott Mason, our Tar Heel Traveler in Mount Airy, which just hosted its 30th annual Mayberry Days Festival. He profiles a familiar face from the show.

Anniversary of 'The Andy Griffith Show' brings familiar face back for festival

The 30th annual Mayberry Days Festival, which celebrates all things involving "The Andy Griffith Show" is next week in Mount Airy. Scott Mason, our Tar Heel Traveler, features an actor lookalike and the Aunt Bee Room.

Aunt Bee Room in Mount Airy one of the top places for "Andy Griffith Show" fans

If you've never heard of it, you're in for a unique treat found in Surry County. Scott Mason, the Tar Heel Traveler, was in Mount Airy with the world's only dessert of its kind.

Sonker is unique treat made popular in Surry County

An Amber Alert was canceled Sunday for 12-year-old Anthony Manuel Diaz.