OAKBORO – Cute little Charlene Darling had a huge crush on Sheriff Andy Taylor. Whenever her dad, her brothers and she came down from the mountain to Mayberry, she couldn’t take her big eyes off the man with the badge. So her dad and brothers tried to trick him into getting hitched.
Somehow, the wise lawman could always outsmart the Darlings.
On Friday, the real Charlene Darling will be at the Oakboro Cruise-In, one of the largest car shows held in North Carolina.
She will be joined by the real Rodney Darling and Mayberry Tribute Artists – Otis, Howard, Barney, Ernst T., Briscoe and Floyd for a parade at 7 p.m. along the main drag – N.C. 205.
Charlene Darling is the actress Maggie Peterson from Las Vegas. She met the actor Andy Griffith decades ago. She tells the story that she sang in a band with her brothers and a producer caught the show. He said, “If you’re ever in New York City kid, look me up.” She did.
Along the way, producers of “The Andy Griffith Show” were looking for a talented young singer. Griffith heard her sing and asked her to read for the part. She wound up being cast as a country girl who yearned for love.
Rodney Darling is the actor and bluegrass musician Rodney Dillard, who lives in Branson, Missouri.
His story is that his brothers and he hit the road for fame and fortune in California with a whopping $9 and change in their pocket. They stopped along the way to work, but continued driving their Caddy westward.
They wound up performing on stage one night in front of a producer who connected the group to Andy Griffith.
Peterson and Dillard love to share their stories about the show.
Fans can meet the stars and tribute artists, have their pictures made with them and get their autographs during the Oakboro Cruise-In on Friday. The event runs from 5-9:30 p.m. and is held in downtown Oakboro.
On Saturday, Peterson, Dillard and the Mayberry Tribute Artists will be in concert in Troy at the First Bank James Garner Center at 211 Burnett Street. Tickets are $15 at the door. The event is a fundraiser for the Montgomery County DARE program – Drug Abuse Resistance Education. It is one of two programs in the state which includes elementary, middle and high school.
For information, call 704-985-6987.