Watch for a "Dukes" museum in Canada

Paul Harrington is known in "Dukes of Hazzard" circles as a really big fan in the Great White North. He's the president of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, as well as the Jerry Rushing Fan Club, and he and his General Lee, Hazzard County sheriff's cars and boat, and traveling "Dukes" museum are a fixture at "Dukes"-related events.

Well, Paul has been working on a permanent "Dukes of Hazzard" museum at his home in Ruscom Station, Ontario. He tells BRBTV that he expects to have it up and running in the summer of 2009. A couple weeks back, he wrote, "We dug the first hole in the ground to get the Dukes Musuem offically started. We will pour the cement maybe later today; it is a big hole in the ground to rest the two beams on that will hold the third story (a 20' wide by 40' long Dukes room)." Three levels? Wowzers.

Here is a photo of the property where the museum is being built. You can track the progress of the museum at Paul's website, http://www.canadiandukes.com/ourbuilding.html. And if you want to see a little of his display, check the May 24 post of this BRBTV News Blog.

"Dukes" ride high at the Motor City Comic Con

Fans of the TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard" have a lot to look forward to at this year's Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan. This is generally a good show anyway, but this year, the media guest list is rather eye-popping (even Charlene Tilton of "Dallas" will be there -- all three days, BRBTV learned from the event organizer). There'll be a "Dukes of Hazzard" display that will be awesome, with the General Lee, Rosco's cars and a traveling museum, as well as your own BRB signing copies of the new print version of the "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" fact book.

The Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, based in Ruscom Station, Ontario, Canada, will display the General Lee, along with two Hazzard County Sheriff's cars modeled after the vehicles used in the originial series and in the 2005 motion picture. The fan club will also feature its traveling "Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Museum" at the Novi comic con, which is in a new location this year, the Rock Financial Showplace. The show runs May 19, 20 and 21.

Paul Harrington is founder / president of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club and a lifelong "Dukes" fan. He's heading up the "Dukes" display. Harrington, who had a role as an extra in the 2005 "Dukes" film, has been displaying his "Dukes" collection since 1997.

"This year will be the largest 'Dukes of Hazzard' display that I have ever put together in one place, including props from the original TV series and the 2005 movie, and I'm pulling many friends into this with their TV and movie star cars," Harrington says. He purchased his own 1969 Charger in 1991 in Georgia, where the first five episodes of the show were filmed.

A hard-core "Dukes" fan through and through, Harrington is pals with Jerry Rushing, the actor, author and former moonshiner who was the inspiration behind the "Dukes," has met all of the "Dukes" stars over the years and even featured a "Dukes"-inspired car chase in the May 2000 wedding to his wife, Cheryl! Harrington is founder and president of the Jerry Rushing Fan Club in which Rushing's daughter is an active member. Harrington works as a licensed mechanic in Essex, Ontario, at Elford & Stowe Ltd., where some of the display cars have been built.

BRB is delighted that Harrington asked her to be part of his "Dukes" display. She'll be signing copies of "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" on the Saturday of the show, and possibly on Sunday, depending on how things work out. To learn more about the fact book, which includes cast list, character guide, episode guide and lots more (and really, you probably know the deal by now, if you're a reader of this blog), click on the link from the BRBTV.com home page.

Besides the "Dukes" display, the Motor City Comic Con will feature a huge 40th anniversary celebration of the TV show "Batman," with appearances by several of the show's stars: Adam West, Burt Ward, Yvonne Craig, Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether and Malachi Throne. An original Batmobile will be there, along with a Batcycle, Batcomputer and other goodies.

"We're the first convention to have this many 'Batman' cast members brought together at one time," says Gary Bishop, event organizer. "And we're the only show this year that's celebrating the show's 40th anniversary."

The Motor City Comic Con runs 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information about the show, visit www.motorcitycomiccon.com. For more information about the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, visit www.canadiandukes.com.

Get ready for the Hair Dare Dukes Weekend

Here on the BRBTV News Blog, we've been telling you all about the Hair Dare Dukes Weekend in Ontario, Canada, a benefit event focused on "The Dukes of Hazzard." BRB was a guest at the event last year, and will be returning this year. For today's post we offer you the full rundown of the event with the text of the official press release ...


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Paul Harrington, 519-975-0056
Canadian Dukes Museum, Ruscom Station, Ontario, Canada
http://www.canadiandukes.com/
cdndukes@mnsi.net
http://hairdaredukesweekend.blogspot.com/
http://canadiandukesofhazzard.blogspot.com/

------------------------------------------------

This year Paul Harrington of Ruscom Station, Ontario, Canada, his wife Cheryl, and son Lance Brown, along with family members and some very close friends, have united to put together one of the best events in Southern Ontario, maybe even one of the best events in Canada.

It's the Hair Dare Dukes Weekend, a car show, swap meet and cut-a-thon cancer benefit, scheduled for Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 at the Leamington Fairgrounds, with a special dinner event on Friday, August 22 beginning at 3 p.m. This year is the sixth year for the Hair Dare event, which celebrates the classic TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard" as its theme.

"The reason I keep this event going is it is the only way that I know I can help make a little bit of a difference," Harrington says. "We can share our feelings with others about this sickness, because at least 90 percent of the population out there knows someone that has died from cancer."

Though he began the event in 2003 in honour of his mother, a cancer survivor, this year is even more meaningful for Harrington. "In February of this year, we lost another great man, my boss of almost 11 years and close family friend Steve Stowe, to this dreadful disease we call cancer. What hurts me the most, Steve was the only reason I became a licensed automotive technician, and during his short stay in the hospital we talked about a lot of things. I mentioned to Steve what we were planning this year as a charity, and he said 'That's great, Paul.' I will remember those words for as long as I live."

A special memorial will be held for Steve Stowe on the Sunday of the event, at 2 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

The past five years of the Hair Dare event have raised more than $28,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. For this year's event, Harrington and his sister, Debra-Ann Taylor of Tilbury, contacted St. Clair College to start a scholarship fund for a student surviving cancer.

The scholarship will be put into place with the help of Susan Maxwell, executive director of the St. Clair College Foundation, Windsor, and Lynn McGeachy Schultz, director of advancement at Thames Campus, Chatham.

"I think this was a great choice that we made," Harrington says. "At least we can see where the money is going, and it will be helping a local student that is surviving cancer."

Part of the way the event raises money is through pledges for "Hair Dares" -- when participants vow to daringly cut or shave their hair for the cause. Haircuts on Saturday will be provided by Estelle's Affordable Hair Cuts from Chatham, and on Sunday haircuts will be provided by Mastercuts of the Devonshire Mall. "Thanks so much for their time; it is greatly appreciated," Harrington says.

The Saturday morning of the event starts with a "Parade of All Cars." Participants should meet at the Comfort Inn in Leamington at 8 a.m. The parade route is from the Comfort Inn to the Leamington Fairgrounds. "Special thanks to the Leamington Police for their help this year," Harrington says.

There will be several special guests at this year's event. Don Pedro Colley, who portrayed Sheriff Ed Little on "The Dukes," will sign autographs and chat with fans. He'll be joined by Byron Cherry, who played Coy Duke in the series.

Felix Silla, a prolific classic TV actor who portrayed the Alien Visitor in the "Dukes" episode "Strange Visitor to Hazzard," will appear for the first time at the event. Silla also played Cousin Itt on "The Addams Family," and was Twiki on "Buck Rodgers in the 25th Century." He also portrayed an Ewok on "Star Wars," and appeared in "The Planet of the Apes" and "Batman Returns."

All the actors will be signing photos and other items all weekend long, and there will be a lot of photo opportunities for the fans, Harrington says.

Also appearing at the event will be Billie Rae Bates of Atlanta, Georgia, author of the "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" reference guide.

Will Rodgers, aka "THE VOICE MAN," of Chattanooga, Tennessee, will be returning to warm the crowds again. "Will's voice impersonations are just overwhelming, from all of the 'Dukes' casts members to the 'All in the Family' theme song," Harrington says. "Wow, he's just incredible."

Billy Stephenson will be making his way on stage, all the way from Georgia also, just a few hours from where the 'Dukes' started out.

"We have a few extras who were in the 'Dukes of Hazzard' 2005 movie that will be here as well," Harrington says, including himself. He's been a lifelong "Dukes" fan and not only owns his own General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger painted orange, but also Hazzard County Sheriff's cars from both the series and the 2005 movie. Currently he is building a Monster 4x4 General Lee, and a Cooter tow truck. He's collected "Dukes" memorabilia -- including genuine props from the filming of the series, and the 2005 "Dukes" movie for many years.

Other features planned for the Hair Dare Dukes Weekend include the Smack-A-Wreck, where participants get a chance to swing a hammer on a clunker car, and a Daisy Duke look-alike contest. A dunk tank also will keep everyone busy, as well as a silent auction.

The Memphis Kings, a band from Essex County, Ontario. will be on stage Saturday, and country singer Traci Kennedy of St. Thomas will be appearing on Sunday.

"A special thanks goes out to all the local newspapers that help us put this out in print so the public can read about this event," Harrington says.

Admission to Saturday and Sunday of the event is only $3 per person. The Leamington Fairgrounds are located at 194 Erie Street North in Leamington. Tickets for Friday night's Dinner With the Stars, at $25 each, are now available: call 519-975-0056 to reserve yours.

Harrington would also like to thank all of the event sponsors, because without their support this event would not take place:
Sign A Rama - Garden City Michigan
Comfort Inn - Leamington
Johnny Lightning - U.S.A.
Chochi's Pizza - Essex / Leamington / Belle River
J & B Auto Recyclers - Windsor
Murphy Bus Lines - Arva
AutoBarn / Car Quest - Essex
Elford & Stowe Ltd. - Essex
Harrington Aviation - Essex
Affordable Family Fun - Essex
Cottam Transmission - Cottam
Car Classica - Leamington
Jay Deeze Lounge & Grille - Leamington
Local printers of Essex & Kent Counties
Country Radio Station 92.7 FM - Leamington

Motor City Comic Con: We love us some "Dukes" ...

... At least ... one Duke and a lawman ... Mr. Byron Cherry and Mr. Don Pedro Colley, known respectively (and respectfully) as Coy Duke and Sheriff Ed Little of "The Dukes of Hazzard," were on hand at this past weekend's Motor City Comic Con at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan. We kick off a full week of coverage of the event with this check-in from our beloved "Dukes" realm ...

The "Dukes" has had a presence at this con for many years, but we're pretty sure this is the first time that "Dukes" guests have been featured in a panel discussion. On Friday late afternoon, Colley and Cherry assembled in one of the panel rooms along with Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers, Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club and BRB herself to talk "Dukes."

Colley told the story of his spin on the classic show "Daktari" that eventually led to his role on "The Dukes," through the Leonard Kaufman connection (see our August 27, 2008 post). He described his strong, stern audition as Sheriff Little, when he could barely be convinced to read from a script, he was so in character:

"Sheriff Little is being told this big lie about Boss Hogg," he said to set the audition scene, "and he has a shotgun, and he cocks his shotgun as emphasis to the lie. Well, you don't have a shotgun in the producer's office. You can't very well walk around ... So I said, if you focus the sound of 'cow chips' just right, it can sound like you're cocking a shotgun. Cow-chips! Cow-chips! So I came up on the line, and I went, 'Cow-chips!' Paul Picard came right up out of his chair about that far. Boom! And he looked at me, and right after that, he's stumbling and fumbling and says, 'Well, thank-you, thank-you for the audition. That'll be enough.' I said, 'Oh, thank-you, Mr. Picard!' I took off my hat. I shook his hand. ...

"I left the office, and I no sooner got outside of his office than the telephone rang for the secretary. She says, 'It's Mr. Leonard. He wants you to come over and talk to him.' So I went over and said thank-you and so forth. And while I'm in Leonard's office, the phone rings again, and they said, 'Be ready to go to work tomorrow morning. The script is on your way. And later this afternoon you'll get a costume, and you'll pick up your costume,' and so forth. And the rest is 'the rest of the story.' "

Cherry, meanwhile, shared the story of his original audition for "The Dukes" (which was for the part of Bo, at the very beginning of the series' production) and how he later nabbed the role of Coy Duke.

Back at the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard museum display, things were hoppin' and fun all weekend. Above, display organizer Paul Harrington goofs around with Byron Cherry and a couple "Dukes" fans who traveled from long distance -- Ken of Denmark and Sabine of Germany, whom BRBTV was delighted to meet after crossing paths so many times on Facebook!

Ken tells us he first saw "The Dukes" in only 2006, but Sabine was able to begin watching the series in Germany in 1989, after satellite TV opened up new possibilities there. She says "The Dukes" aired in the late afternoon, and sometimes repeated the next morning.

"I think they missed a few episodes," she laughs. "I never could figure out why they had two sets of cousins."

The episodes were dubbed, but Sabine now owns all of the seasons on DVD, so she can actually hear the real actors in their real roles, in real English!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand!

Love "The Dukes"? Share the love in a Yahoo group

OK, what we've got goin' for you today is your handy-dandy guide to a bunch of great Yahoo groups focused around "The Dukes of Hazzard." Here, you can discuss the Dukes, delight in the Dukes, display your love for the Dukes, and just all-around dip into Dukes lore.

These groups all happen to be from Mr. Paul Harrington, "Dukes" fan extraordinnaire in the Great White North of Ontario, Canada. ("Man, I need to get a life," he jokes about all these groups he's started over the years.) Paul's name has come up on the BRBTV News Blog before -- he contributed some great material to BRBTV's "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" reference guide, and he has a traveling museum of "Dukes" memorabilia, as well as a General Lee, a couple Hazzard County Sheriff's cars (series and 2005 movie), a Hazzard County Sheriff's boat and some other goodies. Learn more at www.canadiandukes.com.

Here are the groups; check 'em out and join what may interest ya ...

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/thecanadiandukesfanclub/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Canadian_Dukes_of_Hazzard_Museum/

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Canadian_Dukes/

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Dukes_of_Hazzard_Movie_2005/

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Monster_4X4_General_Lee_Club/

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/TV_STAR_CARS/

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/JERRY_RUSHING_FAN_CLUB/

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Honest_John_Ledbetter_Fan_Club/

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Byron_Cherry_aka_COY_DUKE/

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Dukes_Fest/

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/TV_Star_Ben_Jones_AKA_Cooter/

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_New_York_Canadian_Dukes/

(And don't forget -- if you're anywhere near the birthplace of "The Dukes," Covington, Georgia, this weekend, or you can be ... BRB will be at the car show in the historic square on Sunday, October 1, from 1 to 4 p.m., signing copies of "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!")

Yeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!

Motor City Mania: The "Dukes" do Detroit!

A TV show that's near and dear to her heart, paired with a town that's near and dear to her heart -- it was like a little slice of Heaven this past weekend for BRB ...

Paul and Cheryl Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club once again brought a wonderful cacophony of "Dukes" memorabilia to the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Mich. Besides the General Lee, which was a required guest, of course, they displayed a Hazzard County Sheriff's boat, two Hazzard County Sheriff's cars (one from the TV series and one from last year's motion picture) and their traveling "Dukes" museum trailer. Step inside, and you see all kinds of cool props from the TV series as well as a wealth of signed photos and other great stuff. On the outside, he has all sorts of fun "Dukes" collectibles for sale, including the more-obscure stuff like a Mego Boss Hogg and a UK-released paperback novel from the series. It's a smorgasbord for the "Dukes" nut!

Paul has every "Dukes" star he meets sign the trunk of his General, as you can see here.

BRB, of course, signed copies of the newly released "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" fun-fact guide to the show. Along the way, BRB had fun chattin' with hard-core "Dukes" fans Jason and Don, who came along with Paul and Cheryl on this trip, and Mike, who brought a fabbo KITT ("Knight Rider") car. Thanks, guys, for making this "Dukes" display a great one for the fans!

This photo by Scott Bates;
other photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Art imitates life, at least the life we'd all love to live in Hazzard County

Jim Wilson of London, Ontario, had dreams like any other kid growing up in the 1970s who watched "The Dukes of Hazzard" when it originally aired. He wanted to meet the Dukes, he wanted to see the Duke farm, and Hazzard Square, and any of the other sites featured on the show. He wanted to see a General Lee.

"Well, I did watch 'The Dukes' every Friday night when it was new, when I was a kid," Jim tells BRBTV. "Looked forward to it, and my mom would always pop some popcorn on the stove for me, back then we did not own a microwave, LOL."

Jim made his dreams come true. He did grow up to meet the cast members, even see John ("Bo Duke") Schneider and Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat in concert, and he visited Hazzard Square and the Duke farm. And he's seen a few General Lees over the years, both at Dukesfest and elsewhere, even though he lives in the Great White North where it would seem you wouldn't see such a sight!

"You would be surprised, there are a few General Lees around my area," he says. "I always seem to find somebody who enjoys the show. My good friend Jason Darling, who lives near Kingston, Ontario, is building two Generals right now, a dirt tracker and a nice street car."

But while all of that is mighty fine, that's not the reason we're featuring Jim Wilson on the BRBTV News Blog today. You see, he's the kind of fan that is so inspired by "The Dukes" that it touches off his artistic creativity. More specifically, it sets him to painting.

"As for inspiration for the paintings, I like to capture the feel of the late '70s, early '80s," Jim tells us. "Hard to explain, my childhood seemed to last forever back then, always wondering when will I grow up and be a big person like Bo and Luke. I have always drawn things, have a gift I guess. I had a special art teacher who would come in once a week to expand what I had done. Taught me perspective, stuff like that. But basically I just draw or paint or weld what is in my mind."

And what a talent and imagination it is. We especially like his interpretation of the recovery of Lee 1, the very first General ever jumped on "The Dukes of Hazzard." Now, there's an interesting thing to paint, especially for what that moment, and the ensuing years of the car's change in ownership and its restoration, have meant in the "Dukes" fan community, both positive and not so much.

Jim is sure capturing a certain feeling in his work. And it's clear that comes from his own love of the show and of all that surrounds it these days.

"I love going to events in the South," he says. "Last year at the Hazzard Homecoming I finally met Tom Wopat, so now I have met everybody, even Honest John Ledbetter, who until his death lived in Canada. I had a nice talk with him about the 'Dukes.' I can see why Cooter lives in the Blue Ridge mountains. I fell in love with 'em, too. Any reason to go back there, I would. Beautiful."

 

"My favourite 'Dukes' character I would have to say is Uncle Jesse," says Jim, who had the above moment at the site of the original Duke farm in Georgia captured for all time. "I don't own a General Lee yet. That pic of me you saw was just luck that somebody was at the farm with one; he let me pose in front of it. I'd like to mention that the gas pumps were Jason's idea and the Hoggoco oil cans were mine. He lives and breathes the 'Dukes' like me."

And does it seem unusual that such a fervent "Dukes" fan would be Canadian born and bred? Not to us, as we used to attend the Hair Dare Dukes Days in Ontario and see the love of the show there in the North.

"I don't think the Canadian perception is any different from the American on the show," Jim says. "We both know you can't fly a car without damage, LOL. For some reason there are a lot of Confederate flags flying up here. Everybody wants to be a rebel, I guess, and American flags, after 9-11, the stars and stripes were everywhere in Canada in support."

And "The Dukes" isn't the only classic TV show he loves.

"As for what I watch on TV today, not much. I did enjoy the new 'Battlestar Galactica' series. I also like 'The Big Bang Theory.' Everything else I buy on DVD. Love the 'Waltons.' I went to Waltons' Mountain museum last year after the Homecoming as it was two hours away from there. Makes you wish you grew up on Waltons' Mountain. I also enjoy the series 'Rat Patrol' from the '60s. 'Magnum P.I.,' I adore that show. 'The Fall Guy,' 'McHale's Navy,' 'Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Petticoat Junction,' aughhh so many!"

When he's not painting, Jim's "day job" is at St. Thomas Rent-all in St. Thomas, Ontario. He also enjoys making welding sculptures out of scrap material from work, model railroading. "In my younger years I was dirt biker. I miss my motorcycle. ;("

But his No. 01 hobby, as he puts it, is searching for 'Dukes' stuff! He does admit it's harder to find in the Great White North.

"Back in the '80s, Canada had Kmart, (not anymore) and I got my first 'Dukes' toy, an ERTL General Lee. I was so excited. The '90s were a real dry spell for 'Dukes' stuff. I remember hearing about the first reunion movie, but we didn't have cable. I missed out on it, then when the DVDs starting coming out, I was in heaven. It's like every show is brand new again, and that's when I found out about Dukesfest. I HAD TO GO!! My first was 2005 in Bristol, my first real trip South as an adult. Terrible drive there. Long story short, we got there late at night on a back road, thunderstorm, we stayed at a crappy hotel. I woke early next day, it was humid, dark, grey sky, and in the mist, I see my very first General Lee sitting on a trailer. I was so excited, I MADE IT, it was a dream come true, 50,000 people like me in the same town!! And I have been going ever since, pic of that General in the mist included. ;)"

He says traveling to Atlanta was another dream come true. "When I went inside the Duke farm, stood in front of the Boar's Nest, drove around Hazzard Square in my Cadillac at the time. Never thought in a million years I'd ever see this stuff. What HISTORY!"

He continues, "Then a couple years back, I put an ad on Kijiji looking for '69 Charger parts. Well, this guy named Jason Darling answers. He had a trunk lid for me. I met him in Toronto, as it's kinda halfway for both of us. I walked up to him, and I felt like I had known him my whole life. Well, thanks to him, I have a trunk lid and a door, one piece at a time like Johnny Cash. The door blew me away. I met him in Niagara Falls last April for the John and Tom concert. I was thinking I was getting an old rusty dented door; he pulls out of his truck a freshly painted 01 orange door signed by Bo and Luke. I started to well up. I was floored. He is now one of my best friends. I consider him my brother; we text everyday, no less, always comparing 'Dukes' stuff. Amazing who you meet through the 'Dukes.'"

Yup! Don't we know it! Many thanks to Jim for sharing his story.

Photo and art courtesy of Jim Wilson; please do not copy without permission.

Hang out with us in Covington before DukesFest

DukesFest is only a few weeks away, and BRBTV can't wait for that great, great time, especially since the fun is starting early, right there in the birthplace of "The Dukes of Hazzard" -- lovely Covington, Georgia!

Classic car owners, "Dukes" fans and friends alike, c'mon out to the Town Square in Covington on the Wednesday and Thursday before DukesFest, June 25 and 26, then on that Sunday after DukesFest, June 29, beginning at 6 p.m. each day. There you will see an array of fabulous cars, along with Tom Sarmento, lead mechanic for "The Dukes," and his Hazzard County Stunt Team. The Stunt Team has a wealth of information about "The Dukes" and about the stunt world in general! And two "Dukes" authors you know will be there: Jon Holland, who just released his book about the filming of the first five episodes of the show, "The Roads Back to Early Hazzard," and BRB herself, author of "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!," a reference guide to the show. They'll both be signing copies of their books.

It's called the "Hazzard County Cruise-In," and it's sure to be a good time, leading up to (and after) your DukesFest experience! We're sure many folks'll be touring the original film sites in and around the Covington countryside that week, as well as dropping in on Dianne and Harold at A Touch of Country -- home of the fab "Dukes" museum -- so we're really looking forward to a whole blessed week of fun!

- And while we're talking "Dukes," another one of the stunt guys popped up on the radar: James August Smith, who worked on the 2005 flick and has done stunts at DukesFest over the years. Smith just appeared this past weekend at an event in Yakima, Washington, RacingWest.com reports.

- And speaking of the 2005 movie ... We don't know too many fans out there who enjoyed it, for sure, and StarPulse.com addresses that fact, naming it one of the worst movies made from a TV show.

- We've reported on this blog about John Schneider's new TV series on ABC Family. You can see the video promo for the series, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," and catch a nice glimpse of John-John, at the ABC Family site. The series premieres soon, July 1. Thanks to Renee at the All-John blog for the tipoff. We simply adore the fact that our fellow 1968-born redhead Molly Ringwald will also star, as well as Josie Bissett, whom we loved on "Melrose Place."

- Finally, to round out today's "Dukes"-themed post, read a couple fresh quotes from our own Rosco P. Coltrane at Southern Illinois' TheSouthern.com, which talked with him after he threw out the first pitch at a baseball game there late last week.

"Dukes of Hazzard" stars have appearances lined up for May and beyond

Thanks to Phyllis, Cooter's Place and our friend Brian for the latest appearances and happenin's for the "Dukes of Hazzard" cast members ...

May 5
Come see Ben “Cooter” Jones playing music from 1 to 3 p.m. and then meeting fans after from 3 to 4 p.m.! (Free concert, free autographs)
Cooter’s in Luray, Virginia
4768 U.S. Highway 211 West
Luray, VA 22835
540-843-2515

May 12
Dukes of Hazzard Fan Get-Together at Cooter’s Place in Luray, VA
Cooter’s Place, Ben and Alma, and DukesCollector invite everyone who loves "The Dukes of Hazzard" to an old-fashioned Fan Get-Together at Cooter’s In The Valley in Luray on May 12. Just like the Old-Time Ridgerunners reunion in the "Dukes" episode “Days of Shine and Roses,” we welcome all fans to meet up, share "Dukes" stories, show off their "Dukes" cars and collectibles, meet fellow fans, and have a good ol’ "Dukes" time. Featuring music by Cooter’s Garage Band, "Dukes of Hazzard" trivia, Lego Master Cody from C3Brix, and Dave’s travelling "Dukes of Hazzard" Museum. Bring your scale model General Lee, your life-size General Lee, your favorite collectible, your favorite "Dukes of Hazzard" fan, your most cherished story, your most cherished autograph ... and the whole family!
Cooter’s in Luray, Virginia
4768 U.S. Highway 211 West
Luray, VA 22835
540-843-2515

John ("Bo Duke") Schneider will be in concert at the Twisted J - Bar, Backyard and Live Music Venue in Stephenville, Texas, on May 12. Get your tickets.

August 10-12
The Big Three of the "Dukes" -- John Schneider, Tom Wopat, Catherine Bach -- will be at the Steel City Con near Pittsburgh on August 10-12. Visit the site to learn more.

December 1-2
After the success of last weekend's Bo's Extravaganza event, Schneider has decided to have another event at John Schneider Studios. This event is called Bo's Christmas "Bozaar" and will be on December 1-2 at John Schneider Studios! Tickets are on sale now and prices will go up later so buy your tickets today! Get more information and tickets.

"Dukes of Hazzard" history inspires this artist and avid fan

We showed you in our March 29 post the talent of Canadian artist Jim Wilson, who paints up very nice "Dukes of Hazzard"-themed scenes. Well, consider today's post "part 2" of that, as we take a look at another talented artist out of Ontario. His medium is quite a bit more three-dimensional than the painted canvas. He's put together a beautiful diorama that chronicles an important event in "Dukes" history -- the recovery of the very first General Lee used for a jump in the TV series, from a home in Georgia many years after its 1979 debut. What's more, this artist, Jason Darling, is friends with Jim Wilson, and it's really their artistic collaboration that you see in the first photo below, with Jim's painting in the background.

If you recall the story, this famous Dodge Charger was found still wearing its blue, roughed-up "71" paint job from its appearance in the fourth episode of the show, "Repo Men," when it doubled as a Richard Petty car. It changed hands a few times after the recovery and has most recently been fully restored to the way it appeared as blazin'-orange, jumpin' "Lee 1" in the pilot episode.

"The idea for the diorama came when Jim and I were talking about it and he had started painting again," Jason says. "I, of course, had many spare Charger model kits so I started my project! I have always followed the 71 story and I was present when it was unveiled at Oxford College (near Covington, Georgia) at the 25th anniversary event by Mr. Bell and helped push it on and off the trailer."

He continues, "I have about 13-14 hours in building the model and have researched it for years. The gentleman who bought it from Travis even contacted me for facts about it before its restoration. I am strongly against 71 ever being restored; I think that was an atrocity."

"Jim Wilson and I pride ourselves in recreating 'Dukes' facts and pieces for each other's collections such as our HOGGOCO oil cans and my and Jim's gas pumps, to name a couple," Jason says. "If Jim and I put our collections together, we would have a very nice 'Dukes of Hazzard' museum."

As with a lot of "Dukes" fans out there, the show made a big impression on this creative fan that goes way beyond art. "My favorite character on the 'Dukes' while it aired will always be Bo Duke, and then Uncle Jesse. I live my life with Bo Duke in my back pocket, with Uncle Jesse's values."

That's part of Jason's collection below. "My favourite episode," he says, "is a tie with 'Happy Birthday, General Lee' and 'The Ghost of General Lee.' I loved the history behind the birthday episode and the emotion behind the ghost episode."

"Jim and I go every day finding new 'Dukes' things and keeping the show alive and honest; we are 'Dukes' cousins for sure," Jason says. "We have helped one another with our collections, and I've even gotten Jim started on some General Lee parts! LOL."

Jason, of course, has his own General. "I'm in the process of building my own second-unit version General Lee, going on five years now, but I'm proud of it. I have been extremely fortunate to attend many 'Dukes' events, and I've gotten to meet every living cast member, something I never would have thought I'd ever get to do four years ago, being that I live down in Canada. The cast of the show are amazing and friendly people."

Jason continues, "I met Jim through an ad on Kijiji looking for General Lee parts -- now we're best friends. Funny how 'Dukes' fans find each other."

Thanks to Jason for sharing his story and his fabulous art!

Photos courtesy of Jason Darling; please do not copy without permission.

Dukes Cruise: Byron Cherry

Part 4 of a full week's worth of coverage of the 2007 Hillbilly Woodstick 2 Dukes of Hazzard Cruise, which culminated this past weekend in Covington, Georgia ...

When the BRBTV News Blog reported on Byron Cherry's involvement in the 2007 Hair Dare Dukes Days in our August 14 post, we mentioned several descriptors that the casual observer could associate with this great guy ... fun-loving, boisterous, always smiling, the life of the party. Well, after last weekend's Hillbilly Woodstick 2 Dukes of Hazzard Cruise, we have one more to add to the list: trooper!


If you were anywhere near the cruise's display at the Lions' BBQ cookoff in Covington on Saturday, you saw our lovable Coy Duke hauling around boxes and setting up tables and canopies as if he were part of the backstage crew instead of the honored guest. You saw him triapse up on stage to talk about "The Dukes," then go up again a little while later to put on a pig's snout and oink! You saw him turn in an interview for a local radio station, strike a pose with Miss Hazzard County, then follow the crowd to the Square in Covington, having already been all over the place, including the antiques mall on Elm Street, earlier that day. You saw him pose with "Dukes" museum curator Jo McLaney and sign items at the A Touch of Country shop, and you saw him sign, sign, sign and turn a smile and a good-natured attitude toward everyone who approached him. You saw him do all of this, after having spent a week on the road with the cruise, making other appearances, and (very importantly) you saw him do all this on Saturday after he spent the first part of the day very sick to his stomach! If that's not being a trooper, we're just not sure what is!



All of those appropriate lauds aside, however, Cherry also took part in the "Dukes" reminiscing of the event and offered some fun stuff as he spoke to the standing-room-only crowd in the meeting room of the Super 8 Motel in Covington on Friday.

As he took the floor, he first thanked Wayne and Donna Wooten for organizing the show, as well as the fans. "Without you guys, the show would be nothing," he said.

"I used to come to Covington to hunt and fish," the Atlanta native pointed out. Cherry still has family here in Atlanta.

Then he told about how he first came to be associated with "The Dukes of Hazzard."

"I'd see John (Schneider) all over Atlanta. I knew him. We go way back. We were doing little commercials here and there, enough to get by, nothing big. As an actor, you try to stay positive, but you do 10, 20 auditons and nobody hires you, you think you're in the wrong business. I was up originally for (the part of) Bo, but I missed the audition. A few years later, the same agent calls me and says, 'Hey, Byron, you ever hear of a show called "The Dukes of Hazzard"?' I said, 'Yea, I watch it every Friday night!'" Cherry laughed.

"I went over there, and they gave me a three-page scene. Stratton was playing Daisy, and I was trying to play the Coy Duke character. He was talking like a woman, and I just started laughing. This was in Atlanta, Georgia. I hadn't been to L.A. yet. I got through the scene, and mostly it was just laughing. They overnighted it to Warner Bros."

When Cherry got the news that he'd made the cut, though, he had trouble believing it! While he was out on a family dinner at TGIFridays (for his mom's birthday), the bartender approached the table to tell Cherry he had a phone call. It was Jimmy, his roommate. "He said, 'Byron, you're going to Hollywood, man! They called you.'"

Cherry thought it was a joke and hung up! At the third call, he finally believed. "I think the next day I was on a plane to do a screen test," he said. "I get out there, and they give me prep. I said, 'Who am I going to read with?' and they said Daisy Mae, and I said, 'No, really?' The real Daisy Mae! That audition was supposed to last two days, and it was almost a month for me, because they'd bring in people from all over the place. I didn't know I really had the job. I was the only blond-haired, blue-eyed guy there!" Again, Cherry laughed.

"Finally, the producers called me in after reading hundreds of people. I walked in there and they had a big ole bottle of champagne."

Cherry also learned that it was his workout buddy, Chris Mayer, who got the role of the other Duke cousin. The two remain friends to this day.

(Don Schisler, by the way, threw in a comment during this talk: He said that Byron Cherry was being modest, because he himself saw the casting call for this Coy Duke role, and there were thousands of people there.)

Well ... we'd have to say that Warner Bros. made a fine choice.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Dinner with the Dukes? It's yours in August

Gracious. That's the word we'd use to describe that ole' Coy and Vance Duke, otherwise known as Byron Cherry and Christopher (Chip) Mayer. The "Dukes of Hazzard" stars are more than willing to venture up to the Great White North to help out Paul Harrington in his Hair Dare Dukes Day charity event. This year's (fifth annual) event is actually a Hair Dare Dukes Day Weekend, two whole days of fun, and it happens August 11 and 12, 2007.

But you can extend the fun beyond those two days. As part of the event, Paul, who is the proprietor of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club and the Canadian Dukes Museum, is offering dinner with the stars on Friday night, August 10. Mayer and Cherry will be there, along with Don Pedro Colley, who played our wonderful, lumbering Sheriff Little, and Jack Gordon, who portrayed "Honest" John Ledbetter in the pilot of the show. It all happens at Colasanti's Tropical Gardens in Ruthven, Ontario, Canada. (BRB will be there for dinner, too! Can't wait!)

"This event is in support of the Canadian Cancer Society," says Paul, whose mother had cancer. "At last year's Hair Dare Dukes Day in August 2006, we raised over $13,000. Thanks to everyone who attended."

Tickets for the dinner are $25, and you get the ear of these stars for the evening, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The goal of this year's Hair Dare Dukes Day (which originally got its name from the fact that you cut or color or otherwise alter your hair for the event, on a dare) is $25,000.

You can find tickets on eBay, or contact Paul at cdndukes@mnsi.net.

And by the way, when you see this license plate, you're seeing Paul Harrington ...

Photo courtesy of Paul Harrington

Checking in with the "Dukes" museum in Canada

You know we like to keep you up-to-date on what's happening with the "Dukes of Hazzard" museum currently under construction by Paul Harrington and his Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club. Paul sent us a bunch of photos a while back, some of which we're featuring here, to give you more of a glimpse of the building's progress.

Check earlier posts of this blog, too, to see additional photos and information about this fun project, which will house Paul's considerable collection of "Dukes" memorabilia. (That's Paul diggin' the hole below! What an inenviable task!)

It's a labor of love, we know ...

Stay tuned for more updates on the museum as time passes.

Photos courtesy of Paul Harrington

"Dukes" museum is progressing

Like a blazin'-orange beacon shining in the sun, in a few years this "Dukes of Hazzard" museum will be leading "Dukes" fans from all over to a great assortment of memorabilia. Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club has been working on the building for his museum for a few years already, and he offers us this update on his progress. As these photos show, it is, indeed, coming along!

"Lance and I were outside most of today and painted the south wall of the building," he reported yesterday. "It does look a lot better, ORANGE than the rustic look, lol."

The building, at Paul's home in Ruscom Station, Ontario, is 56 feet long and 40 feet wide, with walls that are 20 feet high. The roof peaks are over 27 feet. "I hope by August, the east wall will be completed," he notes.

Photos courtesy of Paul Harrington

Yeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Motor City Mania: As always, the "Dukes" are abundant! And we like it that way!

You know, BRB has attended the Motor City Comic Con -- as a special guest, as a member of the media, or simply as a geek -- many times in the nearly 20-year history of the show. And to her it just wouldn't be the Motor City Comic Con if Paul Harrington and his Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club display weren't there. She first saw the display in 1999, when the beast we call BRBTV was just a pup, so to speak, and she delighted in photographing Paul's General Lee, a photo later used for the cover of the "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" reference guide.

This year, the "Dukes" display got even bigger and better. Paul gets new "Dukes" memorabilia all the time (just ask his ever-patient wife, Cheryl!), in anticipation of the actual museum building currently in progress on his home property.




Paul was on the set of the 2005 "Dukes of Hazzard" movie (and saw some screen time). His collection of props from the film (above) includes production signs and a rear bumper from a jumpin' General Lee. He also has a collection of props from the TV series, shown below.

Paul has some items from the original Boar's Nest in Georgia, utilized in the first five episodes of the show shot. The building is now rented by a church.

New to the "Dukes" display this year was Will Rodgers, the "voice man," a guy who can perfectly nail just about any classic TV voice you name! And the dialog he memorizes for this stuff? Don't even get us started! Will performed his voice impersonations at last year's Hair Dare Dukes Weekend in Ontario, Canada. He has set a goal to become an in-demand voice performer. When he gets a website up and runnin', we'll post a link here! We'll also note that Will served as an editor for BRBTV's recently released "Destination: Dallas" reference guide, and for that we are thankful!

Every year, females wear that Princess Leia skin-baring outfit to this comic con. This year we counted at least four of 'em. How fun, that Leia and her friendly neighborhood Stormtrooper could pause for a photo op with the General Lee!

Here's BRB's display at the show. Thanks to Paul and Cheryl Harrington for the hospitality and the fun, once again!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand!

Motor City Mania: An overview

Wowzers ... BRBTV is coming up for air after three solid days of fun at the Motor City Comic Con in sunny (though at times brisk) Novi, Michigan. What a great show, and a great time, chatting with folks from all over the place. Thanks to all those who came by BRB's table and opened up some great geek vortexes with chatter about classic television and modern television and just all kinds of television. It was like heaven for BRB!

Special thanks to the celebrities who came by the "Dukes of Hazzard" museum and car display and posed and chatted. You'll see some of their photos below and more later this week, including the culmination on Friday, with the "BRBTV Most Congenial in Show" Award. (He's a classic TV guy you'll certainly know!)

Thanks, also, to the two big, adorable teddy bears at HeroesTV.com who had the sheer audacity to ask just what special ability Cooter would have if he were on NBC's "Heroes"! (Do you know? We had to say he'd be able to "fix" mechanical things like little Micah does.) Check out the blogs of these guys, who go by the handles Strongbad and Jotham Knight.

And many thanks, as always, to Paul and Cheryl Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, as well as all their Duke cousins -- Mike the "Knight Rider" Maniac, Jason the Duke of Duke, Cousin Don and his Hazzard County cop car, Doug of the "Mad Max"-mobile. It was fun to hang, as per usual!

Now ... on to some photos ... Stay tuned all week for special Motor City Mania reports ...

One of the Hazzard County sheriff cars is brought in on Friday.

BRB's display included first and second editions of the print version of "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!", as well as e-book versions on CD.

Felix Silla, who played the alien visitor in the "Dukes" episode "Strange Visitor to Hazzard," stopped by the display to pose for photos.

The "Dukes" museum display includes props used in the original series.

Matthew Atherton, aka "Feedback" of "Who Wants to Be a Superhero," came in at the end of the day Friday and was only too happy to get in character at the General Lee. He told BRBTV that the Sci Fi Saturday-night movie featuring him was filmed in Bulgaria in October and will be airing in July. But as far as the title of the film ... his cute little smiling lips were sealed.

A couple cars from the "Mad Max" movies, including this black beauty moving into position on Friday, attracted a lot of attention during the three days.

What's a comic con without Herbie the Love Bug, anyhow?

Photos by Billie Rae Bates; copy to your own website with credit, if you like. If you are interested in higher-resolution copies, email us.