Proof of the Greatest Photobomb of All Time - Hazzard Homecoming 2012

Perhaps my favorite picture of all time is the photobomb picture I snuck myself into at Hazzard Homecoming with John Schneider, Tom Wopat, and Catherine Bach.  It's just so good.  Blog readers seems to enjoy it as well.  Of course, I have been showing it to everyone.  About half the time I show it to someone on my phone, they say its photoshopped.  They gotta believe!

Recently fellow fans Julie and Dan Braeckman shared their photos from HH with me.  I happened to be in a bunch of theirs, and they were in a few of mine.  So know I give to the world:  proof that the famed photobomb photo is real and that John Scnheider really sent it to me.  

I guess this is a photobomb in itself.  Me and Jeff must have made it in to a bunch of peoples pictures. Hey look, it's my buddy Ed in the right of the picture.  Love Ed.  

There is Catherine's phone that the infamous picture was taken with.

I saw myself on the screen.  I knew I made it in.

I thought for a moment I was caught.  But that didn't happen until after the picture was taken.  And thank goodness it did or I probably never would have seen the photo.  

And just because I love it, here is the notorious photobomb one more time.  Can you blame me for loving it so much?  It is awesome.

Thank you Julie and Dan for sharing your pics.  They also have a video of the jump that I made myself into as well.  Great stuff.

Hazzard Nation speaks from the heart and Warner Bros listens

Hey Y’all,

Today something extraordinary happened. Warner Bros. listened to the fans of “The Dukes of Hazzard”. And we should thank them for that.

There were reliable and verifiable reports from WB car licensees with whom we do business that as of January 1, 2013, the Confederate Banner on top of the General Lee would be removed because some people “found it offensive.” Hazzard Nation found the very idea of such political correctness invading Hazzard County to be so narrow-minded and insulting that we took to the internet, to the press, and to WB Licensing to let them know how we felt.

Two days ago, this was a done deal. Yesterday, a WB spokesman talking to NBC/Today.com said that this was a “maybe we will”, “maybe we won’t” situation. This afternoon, The Associated Press reported that WB is now saying that all these reports are “inaccurate” and that there are no plans to remove the flag.

In a poll on today.com this afternoon, over 12,000 people had voted for the flag to stay, and less than one/tenth that many voted to remove it. That, plus the positive support we directed by e-mail to WB licensing obviously changed some minds.

This is not only a victory for those who love the show, but a victory for the voice of the people, and in my opinion, a victory for mutual respect among people of different ethnicities and backgrounds. We should now be gracious and thank the folks at Warner Bros. for changing this misguided policy. Perhaps they will listen to the fans when they produce “Dukes, The Next Generation”! Wouldn’t that be great?

Anyhow, somewhere up above, Denver Pyle and Sorrell Booke are sharing a big smile.

Thanks, y’all. This was big. We won!

Ben Jones

aka “Cooter”

We Won! The flag stays on the General Lee

Wow!  That didn't take long.  After Ben's interview was seen on MSN's front page and all over the internet, the AP is now reporting that Warner Brothers says the reports are "inaccurate."  Looks like we, Dukes of Hazzard fans as a whole, did it.  Thanks for voting, signing the petetion, and emailing.  We really can change things. 

Man do I love this hobby. 

Another article about the flag on the General Lee

We got a fight on our hands.  Good thing we have Ben Jones in our corner.  Let's let Warner Brothers know that messing with the General Lee is not a good idea.  Email them here: wbcpinquiries@warnerbros.com

Ben was interviewed by the Today show.  Check out the article below, and vote "NO" to the question " Should the Confederate flag be taken off the General Lee?"
http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/08/30/13568283-report-confederate-flag-may-be-removed-from-dukes-of-hazzard-general-lee-toys?lite

And be sure to sign the petition to keep the flag on top tof the General Lee:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/keep-the-dixie-flag-on-the-general-lee/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=system&utm_campaign=Send%2Bto%2BFriend

DUKES OF HAZZARD’S “COOTER” BLASTS “P.C. IDIOCY” AT WARNER BROS.

Since 1978, when filming started for “The Dukes of Hazzard” television series, Warner Bros. Television and its licensees have earned hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, of dollars from the ongoing success and enduring popularity of this old fashioned family show. The show’s timeless look and charm continues to find a new audience as youngsters discover the show’s good clean fun and their parents appreciate the wholesome values the show espouses. The good guys win, the bad guys get their comeuppance, nobody gets hurt, and a good time is had by all. And by “all”, I mean “all”, regardless of race, color, religion, or ethnicity. Hazzard County is a “hate-free” zone.

Now, over 33 years since the show premiered on CBS-TV on Friday nights, Warner Bros. has issued a new and terribly insulting attack on the South, a region and a culture which Hollywood has trashed for decades.

“With stupidity,” said Friedrich Schiller, “the Gods themselves struggle in vain.” He must have been talking about the decision makers at WB. In a fit of political correctness, the company has dictated that no longer will the “General Lee” have a Confederate Flag on its roof. (For the culturally deprived, the “General Lee” is a 1969 Dodge Charger, perhaps the most popular car in the history of entertainment.) Some unnamed genius at the company feels that the flag is “offensive to some” and therefore it has no business on a classic t.v. comedy about a bunch of good ol’ boys and girls in the Southern mountains. This is a new level of “P.C.” idiocy. I don’t know about you, but I am tired of being insulted by morons.

Now, here is “the flaw in that slaw”, as Rosco P. Coltrane used to say. First of all, because of seven seasons on prime-time and through countless reruns, syndication, hit cable runs, VHS sets, video games, reunion movies, a feature film, tivo, international viewings, youtube, websites, and a very popular DVD series, the General is always going to have a flag on its top. Tens of millions of earthlings have seen it repeatedly for decades. And when it isn’t there, the obvious question will be “where is it?”, followed by, “that’s not the General!”

Secondly, the presumption that the show’s millions of minority viewers are put off by the flag belies the fact that African Americans, especially in the South, watched (and still watch) the show faithfully. As a producer of Dukes fan events, I can assure you that this is so.

Thirdly, the timing of this announcement is mind boggling. We are now in the Sesquicentennial Commemoration of the American Civil War. It is a time for reflection and reassessment, and I have seen descendants of both sides of that struggle reverently honor the effort and sacrifice of both armies. To insult the lasting symbol of the Southern soldier is itself a divisive and, well, bigoted act. This is not “offensive to some”. It is “offensive to many”, myself included.

I made a decision when I was a kid that I “would live and die in Dixie” and do what I could to end segregation, discrimination, and “white supremacy”. In that effort, I was shot at, sucker punched, threatened repeatedly, and jailed several times. But, just like in the “Dukes of Hazzard”, the good guys won. Dr. King was a proud Southerner, and he believed that the most important bridge to be built was between working black folks and the working white folks who opposed them. That South is slowly evolving, but it won’t fully become reality as long as corporate types, caving to political pressure, gratuitously insult the descendants of the Confederacy, who are as patriotic as Americans can be.

Symbols have different meanings for different people at different times. Whenever a group of organized bigots get together, mostly up North, they always seem to desecrate the Confederate St. Andrews Cross, the Christian Cross, and Old Glory. They are a pitiful handful of life’s losers, who seem, however, to attract every network camera within miles. Those creeps even give bed sheets a bad name. And as a proud Member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, I am not going to let their actions destroy the reputation of my ancestors. And for the record, I am also an Honorary Life Member of the N.A.A.C.P.

Ben Jones

Washington, VA



LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL (NICELY)

The only way that Warner Bros. can know the depth and breadth of our displeasure with this insult to our sensibilities is to let them know through e-mail directly to their licensing department. Please be thoughtful and respectful and please refrain from profanity. Let them know that you will not be buying or supporting any further “Dukes” projects that deface the General Lee, and let them know that only a few bigots give the Confederate Battle Flag a bad name, whereas millions have watched and loved the Dukes of Hazzard. And spread the word as much as you can!

Thanks,

Ben aka “Cooter”

The e-mail address For Warner Bros. is: wbcpinquiries@warnerbros.com

Random notes - items for sale, bicycles, and Sam's new patrol car

Hazzard Homecoming was such a great event.  I made several new friends both online and in the real world. Tim, Gloria, Ken, Gary, Gary, Ken, Donald, Steve, Randall, Tony and everyone who has checked in and shared some nice words, I appreciate it.  I really love meeting so many Dukes fans through this blog.

Collector Gary Repcik asked me to share some Dukes items he has for sale.  A lot of his items are autographed and look to be in great condition.  I am putting up a few pictures, but he has a lot more items.  He can be reached at grepcik@gmail.com

Our friend from across the pond, James Fisher, shared this cool birthday card he recently picked up.  It's a mix between the General Lee and the Starsky and Hutch Torino.  Love when companies show love for the Dukes.  Thanks for sending it James.

Thanks to my post about the new DK General Lee BMX bicycle, I had a cool conversation with Jesse who works at DK.  He told me that he liked the post and gave me a little history about the Bike.  The original was released over ten years ago and was built for jumping.  They wanted to associate it with the best known jump vehicle, so they named it General Lee.  Good choice.  He said they have released several variations of the General Lee including this 12" bike from a few years ago.  I'll have to start searching for one of these.  Thanks Jesse.

Our pal Sam aka Driftlee has been busy lately.  He recently started a blog about collecting 1/64 cars.  Check out 64 Wheels to see his nearly overwhelming amount of Hot Wheels, Matchbox, and Ertls.  And he recently bought this bad boy:

That ain't no 1/64.  Sam is now a Hazzard car owner.  You punk, you did it before me.  I can't wait to see this car for myself.  

The car looks to be in great condition, and comes from a well known Dukes car builder.

I couldn't be happier for you Sam.  I know you love those Monacos.  Now you have to go to some Dukes events with me.

Collection Intervention on SyFy - hits close to home

What started with Antiques Roadshow and lead to American Pickers has now taken TV straight to Pop Cultures Collectibles and Collectors with two new cable shows.  Toy Hunters on The Travel Channel was first, but Collection Intervention on Syfy is the one to watch.

The show is about collectors whose collections have gotten out of control.  It's similar to the hoarder shows, but they respect the collectors and their items.  I know I have a room filled with bins full of Dukes of Hazzard stuff, so I know what the people on the show are all about.  Some of these collectors have their things overtaking their lives, thankfully I am not to that point.  (Am I?)  The show is fun to watch, and I've already spotted a few Dukes things in different episodes. 

The host, Elyse Luray, does a nice job on the show.  She is an appraiser (like me!) and an auctioneer.  She seems to know her way around the pop culture collectible world.  And she doesn't wear a goofy flashlight on her head like the host of the other show.  Toy Hunters tries to be about the toys, but the host would rather it be about him.  Collection Intervention is about the collectors.  I could totally understand needing help if this stuff got out of hand.  It would be hard to let some of this stuff go.  Not all collectors have the means and talent to display their collections as nice as Dave DeWitt does.  And I really appreciate the fact that the show doesn't treat the collector like a hoarder, when it would be pretty easy to do so. 

As a collector, you should check out the show.  I enjoy it.  The next episode is about a comics collector who has tons of long white boxes filled with comics.  Looks familiar *cough*Jeff.

Dave and Melissia DeWitt's awesome mobile Dukes museum - Hazzard Homecoming 2012

If I had a time machine, I would go back to 1981.  I would go to Toy City in Roscoe, PA and buy everything Dukes I could find.  What does that say about me?  I would probably go check out a dinosaur or chat up President Lincoln eventually, but the first thing I would do is buy every last Dukes piece of candy, underoo, and big wheel in town.  I have really thought about this--- it's who I am.  And I am convinced Dave DeWitt and his wife Melissia own a time machine.

At Hazzard Homecoming, Dave and Melissia had their mobile museum set up for all to see.  Within the General Lee inspired trailer was a collection of Dukes of Hazzard memorabilia that overwhelmed even me.  I am sure glad collecting Dukes is not a competition, because Dave would beat me hands down.

Let's take a look at some of the impressive items inside this rolling orange wonderland.

Each one of the pieces goes for a good bit on eBay.  To see them all together like this was awesome.

Did you know there was a Dukes harmonica?  I didn't.

Look how many different '81 1/64 four packs there were.  That blew my mind.

This one had a blue van in it.  Dave thought it might have been episode specific, but I think it was a filler like the white corvette.  I believe they just needed a car to throw in.  But I could be wrong.

All the fuss I made about my Dukes of Hazzard swimming trunks, and Dave has a Coy and Vance version.  My jaw dropped.  Sorry Rush, we got trumped.  He also had the Bo and Luke version on display.

One thing you notice about Dave's collection is that not only does he have super rare items, but he has them in nearly perfect condition.  Most items are in a mint box.  He is a collector that really cares about his items, and that is easy to see.

I don't think I knew there was a Daisy's jeep yo-yo either.  The "Action Sets" displayed are the standard American version and the French Canadian version.

The 1/18s look great all together.  He didn't have any movie items displayed, but he told me he has them.  I wonder if he has a "shiny" 1/18 chrome General Lee.  Probably.

I gotta get my hands on a Gumball Bank.

Here are the Bo and the Coy versions of the Mego Bo Duke figure.

There are two different sizes of the Flash plush.  Dukes trivia:  Do you know why Dave has Bugs Bunny in there?

These might be the only party supplies I don't have.  Dukes of Hazzard blowouts.

These two wind up watches are incredibly rare.

But then you see items that are so rare, you've never seen them before---like these Dukes flip flops. And they look mint.  Great job Dave.

Dave has all the "big boys" covered like the Power Cycles.  The Daisy version might be the number one thing on my wish list.  

This Rough Riders General Lee is super rare.  To my knowledge, it is the only item that was produced in conjunction with the cartoon "The Dukes" as opposed to being released for the show.

Dave and Melissia's collection is truly special.  Its presence at Homecoming made the show that much better.  Fortunately, Dave lives less than a hour drive from me, so our paths will cross again, soon.  The thing I love most about having this website is meeting others who share my love for the Dukes and my love for little orange cars.  I am very glad that this site has led me to meet Dave DeWitt. 

More photos from Hazzard Homecoming 2012 - from fan Gloria Kellogg

I had a very cool moment while passing out my business cards at Hazzard Homecoming.  Somebody recognized me!  Gloria Kellogg said she knew my name and was already a follower of the blog.  It was awesome.  We talked for a while.  I said it would be cool to get her take on the event.  She put together a great post about her experience at Homecoming.  She also took some great pictures.  I didn't get to see the stage show while I was backstage.  Gloria's pictures are exactly what my posts are missing.  Here is Hazzard Homecoming 2012 from Gloria Kellogg:

Hello everyone. I am Gloria Kellogg. Long time Dukes Fan from a young age (yes I am at the age a woman does not like to say how old she is). Let’s say I did not have television until I was about 12 years old so I missed the first two years of Dukes. I found out about Dukes from the kids at school who were talking about the car “General Lee."

The weekend provided very little sleep on Friday and Saturday night. I had a plan put into action – Saturday was John’s & Sonny’s line – Sunday was Tom’s line. I had just seen Ben & Cathy up at the MOPAR show in Carlisle, PA in early July. I attended the Dukes event down in Galax, Virginia in June so I had just about everyone’s autograph with the exception of John, Tom, and Sonny. 

I was very fortunate. John started signing autographs around 9:40 am so I was done by 10:15. I was stunned about how long the line was all day. Then next one up was Sonny. I only waited about 30 minutes. I enjoyed walking the grounds, looking at all the General Lees, and enjoying fabulous bluegrass music under the big tent. The best part was Saturday night and getting the cast up onstage. It was a great concert / splendid time. First Ben was the official announcer of all the great talent including the lovely, talented Stella Parton & Dr. Ralph Stanley.

Ben took the time to tell how Alma plans everything. I loved the part when he said they got married and she makes all the little decisions while he makes all the big decisions except in all their years together he has yet to make a big decision. I had the great pleasure of meeting Ben & Alma several times. In fact, living so close to the venue – there is many county fairs and that is how I met them years ago when Ben left Congress. I follow Ben & his garage band all over our area. If you ever get to Harrisonsburg, Virginia – please check out the Virginia Dreams Center Stage band (aka the Garage Band when they play with Ben). They are wonderful, talented, & superb people to listen to. If you are a bluegrass fan, another talented group is Shenandoah Drive.

About 7 PM was one of many amazing moments of the weekend. Ben & his garage band got things warmed up with some tremendous music. If you ever been to a Dukes event with Ben before – you know that special look he gets. Talking about how blessed his life had become in the fall of 1978, something changed his life forever. I don’t know if it was planned or not, but there was a siren that went off. Sonny Shroyer & Rick Hurst are on stage.

 After the deputies were introduced, the sheriff was called.

Jimmy was abundant in humor. It was hilarious! Next comes barging on stage The Mayberry Deputy (David Browning). There was a lengthy discussion about who was the best lawman. The audience chose and of course, Sheriff Rosco won.

The first family of Hazzard now comes! Tom & John sang for 40 minutes Saturday night!

A good time had by all on stage & in the audience! A late night – with only about 4 to 5 hours of sleep, Sunday came fast.

Sunday was more emotional for me. Realizing that it was the last day of something very amazing; I had become friends with some great folks. I was in Tom’s line early. The wait was longer Sunday than on Saturday for John. I waited in Tom’s line for about 2 hours. This is when I hooked up with Larry. He was passing out business cards and I recognized the name. I started talking to him about the blog he put out on Thursday & like the saying goes – the rest is history. Thank you Alma! Here is my version from being in the audience. Sunday’s concert / getting everyone on stage was not as long as Saturday night because Ben said folks had planes to catch that night, places to be Monday so the cast reunion were on stage for about 30 minutes. 

After the cast leaving the stage – I feel was the best part of any Dukes fan. The car jump! It was a Dukes fan dream come true – right there in the mountains of central Virginia.

Tom trying to get in!

John driving – Tom riding shotgun!

Tom holding on.

After the jump! They still got it 34 years later!

To the cast (John, Tom, Jimmy, Rick, Sonny, Cathy, Ben, and the stunt guys- Craig & Gary), volunteers, Alma (Ben’s wife), Dorothy (Jimmy’s wife), Polly (Sonny’s wife) everyone involved how can I thank you enough. Thank you for creating some priceless memories that will last a life time. As Ben said – for the show to sustain 34 years after the beginning – gives credit of the family sense of right and wrong the show portrayed. Not only that but what show out there in the past & present has the cast still being friends and family. I hope I speak for everyone attending this year, thank you for a superb, marvelous, & magnificent weekend.