TV LAND STATUE HONORING THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW   TV Land, television’s home to the best of everything television, in the town of Mount Airy, North Carolina honard The Andy Griffith Show with a bronze statue – a replica of one dedicated in Raleigh, North Carolina - last October depicting Andy and Opie walking to the fishing hole. The statue was placed on the lawn in front of Mount Airy’s Andy Griffith Playhouse and unveiled at a special ceremony there on Friday, September 24th, at 9:30 a.m. to kick off the town’s annual Mayberry Days celebration. Griffith, who was born in Mount Airy, was joined on stage by Jack A. Loftis, Mayor of the City of Mount Airy, and Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land and Nick at Night.

“Mayberry is a state of mind that represents the very best of southern living – friendly, unpretentious, compassionate, fun-loving, decent and solid,” states Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land and Nick at Night. “Mayberry Days celebrates The Andy Griffith Show annually and TV Land is thrilled to honor Andy’s birthplace and kick off Mayberry Days with the unveiling of a replica statue of Andy and Opie. There is no better way to celebrate The Andy Griffith Show than by dedicating this statue as Mayberry Days begins.”

Jack A. Loftis, Mayor of the City of Mount Airy, says “We are very excited over the news that a statue of Andy Griffith will be placed in Mount Airy! In addition to this much deserved and well-earned tribute and recognition for Andy, it will also have a significant impact on our growth and tourism efforts.”

The TV Land Landmarks effort is an on-going program paying tribute to the shows, the characters and the places that they are forever connected with in the viewers’ hearts and minds. The network’s first salute – a bronze statue of Ralph Kramden of The Honeymooners – was unveiled in 2000 and now adorns the entrance to New York City’s Port Authority Bus Terminal. Most recently, TV Land unveiled The Bob Newhart Show statue, which commemorates Newhart’s role as Dr. Robert Hartley on the classic The Bob Newhart Show on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue on July 27, 2004.

“This will certainly be the biggest and most exciting thing that has happened in Mount Airy in my lifetime! It is a dream come true for Mount Airy – and for me personally,” says Emmett Forrest, Andy Griffith’s childhood and life-long friend.

StudioEIS, a three-dimensional design and sculpture studio in New York founded by brothers Ivan and Elliot Schwartz, is the same studio which created The Andy Griffith Show statue – of which this is a replicate – in Raleigh, NC and The Bob Newhart statue in Chicago.

The StudioEIS sculpture and design team is comprised of 10 members which includes portrait Sculptor, Stuart Williamson, a former senior at Madam Tussaud’s London, as well as Mark Barnett and Kiril Kirov. All are under the direction of Ivan Schwartz, Founder and Art Director for the project.

Jim Clark, President of TAGSRWC, says that “For fans of Andy Griffith, “The Andy Griffith Show” and Mount Airy, being able to attend Mayberry Days this year is a thrill beyond belief. I mean, Andy Griffith, in Mount Airy, during Mayberry Days. Can it get any better for a Mayberry fan than that? I know that it can’t for me. And not only that, but he’s helping TV Land unveil a special landmark statue for the town. Shazam! Did I really just say “Shazam”? Well, it certainly fits the occasion. I always look forward to Mayberry Days and any visit to Mount Airy, but this year, more than ever, I really can’t wait for Mayberry Days to get here. I know thousands of other fans feel the same way. It’s promises to be an especially poignant and fun weekend. No doubt about it – it’s big!”

Since its beginning in 1990, the Surry Arts Council’s annual Mayberry Days celebration has become one of the most anticipated events for fans of The Andy Griffith Show. The celebration, occurring near the anniversary date of the show, draws fans from all over the United States and Canada. This year scheduled guests for Mayberry Days include Betty Lynn – our beloved Thelma Lou, Maggie Peterson-Mancuso – everyone’s favorite Darling, Doug and Rodney Dillard along with LeRoy McNees – playing the bluegrass music that is indigenous to Mount Airy and the Blue Ridge Mountains – Darling style, of course!, and George Spence who played Frank in episode #151 “Guest in the House”. Earle Hagen, composer of the theme for The Andy Griffith Show and the most famous whistler in the world to fans, will be attending for his second year. Numerous other “Mayberry” personalities will be on hand. Mayberry Days festivities include a golf tournament, bowling tournament, horseshoe tournament, apple peel-off, children’s games with the Ernest T. Bass rock throwing contest (Mount Airy granite – of course!) and a pickle toss. Mayberry Days entertainment includes The Dillards in concert, Mayberry Days Revue, Colonel Tim’s Talent Time, VW Boys Salute to Mayberry, “Memories of Elvis” featuring Michael Hoover, and for the first time – a live performance of “No Time for Sergeants” at the Andy Griffith Playhouse.

Tanya Rees, Executive Director of the Surry Arts Council, states that this visit by Andy Griffith and the unveiling of the TV Land Statue of Andy and Opie, is the ultimate reward for countless volunteers and fans who have worked so hard to honor Andy Griffith and The Andy Griffith Show with the annual Mayberry Days celebration. After 17 years at the Andy Griffith Playhouse, it is especially gratifying to me personally to know that following Andy’s visit last year, he realizes the importance of this festival to the overall success of the arts in our community – and that he is willing to do this to help and support our efforts. We all just want him to know how much – we appreciate it.”

Now seen in over 82 million US homes, TV Land’s program mix features popular dramas, sitcoms, westerns, Retromercials and a TV- referential interstitial environment, all programmed with a specific audience in mind – the first generation of Americans to grow up watching television and features all-time Classic hits like “All in the Family,” “I Love Lucy,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Bonanza”.