Charley Monroe Comes to Mayberry

By Bob Heafner © 2014

Online: January, 2015

Tuesday, November 22, 1938 was a big night for Mayberry. Charley Monroe and his band were going to be putting on a big show at 7:30 pm in the Mayberry School. This was big "doings" for the area because folks could see in person the characters they'd only heard over WDBJ Radio out of Roanoke, Virginia. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning at 8:15 am, WDBJ broadcast Charley Monroe's Big Radio Show.

The Monroe Brothers, Charley and Bill, had split-up earlier that year but their school house concerts had usually been packed, with only half of those who came able to squeeze into the buildings. Probably the same was true of Mayberry for the Charley Monroe show that November night in 1938.

The poster shown below was used to promote the show at every country store and gathering place in the area around Mayberry. One can only imagine the excitement and anticipation leading up to show time at 7:30 that evening. Oh yea, it would have been standing room only!