That's a fascination question, what Mayberry would be like in 2012. Here's my take:
*Sarah, and her successor, would be long gone. Mayberry would be using automated calling, even cell phones. But I have a feeling it would be one of those rural areas where internet access is limited. I see people taking their iPads and laptops to the Bluebird Diner for its free wifi. The "Mayberry Gazette" likely has a website that's updated constantly by the publisher's son, Opie Taylor Jr. *I'm betting the Walmart would be up in Mt. Pilot and Mayberrians would still frequent their local stores. I see a few more antique stores in Mayberry than there used to be. Perhaps Thelma Lou now runs one. *Wally's Filling Station probably lost its pumps and pumped its last gallon years and years ago. Since it looked like one of the old-time cottage stations, I'd like to think the building is still around as an antique store (Thelma Lou's Antiques?). Gomer is probably mostly a part-time owner/manager at a repair shop that doesn't pump gas (notice he and cousin Goober are already running a pumpless garage in "Return to Mayberry"); Mayberrians likely get their gas from a couple of competing convenience stores. *Mayberry's movie theater probably stopped showing first run "Gary Grant" movies in the 1980s, and is likely lovingly preserved and used by a community theater group. Every once in awhile it shows a classic film like "It's a Wonderful Life," "No Time for Sergeants" or "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Mayberry is also exactly the kind of place where someone likely would've opened a new-generation drive-in theater on the edge of town that does show first run films. *I'm betting high school football and basketball is huge now, and Mayberry perhaps even hosts "race week" NASCAR-related festivities. *The Mayberry squad car can't be a Ford anymore since Ford stopped making the Crown Vic. I'm guessing whoever's sheriff now uses a 2011 or 2012 Dodge Charger. One of the 1960s Fords perhaps now belongs to the local FOP and joins the town's antique fire engine in parades and car shows. *The All Souls Church very likely uses a bigger building now, and starts its services with a set of music from a rock band that would've "scandalized" the high school principal in the 1960s. Mayberry likely doesn't have a "town drunk" anymore since the church has a successful "Celebrate Recovery" program. *Mayberry likely has a unisex haircutting salon where men and women alike blab their socks off. *The town likely hosts an antique car show twice a year (one hosted by the church), and a certain blue Comet and green Falcon likely make repeat appearances. *Mayberry likely has cable and I'm betting the "CSI" and "Law and Order" series are popular, ditto "American Pickers." (I'd like to hear them discuss the one episode of "Jersey Shore" and "Honey Boo Boo" they all watched before deciding not to watch anymore.) Before he died, Goober probably dreamed the "Pickers" would show up at his house, where he probably had a barn covered over with old gas and oil signs. I'll bet he saved the Mail Pouch tobacco thermometer when he closed Wally's. *The main highway into town is probably four lanes now, and perhaps called "Sam Jones Parkway" after the city councilman who was later elected mayor for four terms in the 1970s and 1980s before retiring in 1984. *...and finally, the old courthouse. New, separate buildings likely house the sheriff's office and jail now with "eletronal marvels" such as modern cell doors. I'm betting the new courthouse is called "The Andrew Taylor Judical Building" and the jail is called the "Bernard Fife Corrections Center." The old courthouse is likely lovingly preserved, with photos of former sheriffs Taylor, Fife, etc. on the walls, and is likely home now to the Mayberry Chamber of Commerce. There's probably a bench out front on the sidewalk with Floyd Lawson's name on a small plaque. Time does go by and life does change in Mayberry, but I'd like to think the town's spirit never, ever changed. Dixon _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
