Press Room:

'Booger Holler Opry' Romps
Thru A Southern State of Mind


“If you liked Li’l Abner, you’re gonna love the Booger Holler Opry,” says Cousin Lester, a lifelong resident of Booger Holler and a member of the Booger Holler jug band. “It’s a madcap stroll through the Southern way of life—the way life used to be, before political correctness buried this great country that we love.”

Tater Patch Players is presenting the Booger Holler Opry as the next production in its Bistro Theater “dinner plus theater” series. It will be staged October 17 and 18 at the community center of the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce, catered by Fireside Café, and October 24 and 25 at Club Tamarack in Bent Tree, catered by the 19th Hole.

The menus in both locations will be high-end Southern, to match the entertainment. Drinks will be available at both locations.

There are Booger Hollers all over the South--dank, swampy places rumored to be the homes of trolls and bogey men, or booger men, as they were known in the hills. Our ancestors told their children that they had to stay out of such place, lest a booger man would get them. They called the places “booger hollers,” because they were homes to “booger men.”

Years ago, there were dozens of small towns throughout the South named “Booger Holler.” But they have gradually disappeared, giving way to urbanization. There was a town called Booger Holler just south of Rome, Georgia.

But even though towns named Booger Holler have been slowly disappearing, they still live on in the memories of most Georgians. Booger Holler has become a Southern state of mind—a state of mind that does not take life as seriously as some folks do. Like Yankees.

To commemorate this fine Southern tradition, Tater Patch Players has assembled a jug band composed of talented folks who live in the Booger Holler of the Mind. They will perform 8 jug band favorites in the show, tunes such as “Crazy Words, Crazy Tune” and “Beedle um Bum.” They will also perform 8 parody songs written by Tater Patcher Carl Japikse, songs such as “That’s Stupore” and “I am Monkey.”

Jug band music is a purely Southern art form, superbly reproduced by the Opry’s jug band.

The band was assembled by guitar-picking Mike Robertson. It includes Stan and Jan O’Kelly, Jan Davis, Washtub John Kedrick, Tia Robertson, and Laurelei McCarver.

The songs have been arranged for this performance by Mike and Jan. In between the songs, Tater Patch actors will crisscross the stage with comic sketches, rapid-fire jokes, and some of the finest puns human beings have ever had the pleasure to groan at.

The purpose of the show is Southern comfort—to lead the audience into the “Booger Holler of Yer Mind.” The show is nothing less than the quest for the meaning of life—which turns out to be something of a cross between monkeyshines and total misunderstanding. Indeed, the logo for the show is three monkeys wide-eyed with surprise.

The comedy sketches revolve around one man’s quest for the meaning of life, that takes him to the top of a mountain in Tibet and then into the depths of Booger Holler. In addition, there are two zany conversations with a Talking Rock, a visit with Cousin Lester, a sampling of monkey justice, a trip to the Booger Holler diner, and frequent reports from the town crier.

The show also features the wit and wisdom of Prunella Baggs, who shows up with umbrella in hand to bash anyone or anything that comes close to violating her definition of decency and good taste. All shows are opened to the general public.

Each evening begins at 7 p.m. with dinner. The shows start at 8. Tickets cost $33 per person and include dinner and the show. A ticket is good only for the specific night printed on it, and seating is limited to 96 people a night. They are sold strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Individual seats are not reserved.

Tickets can be purchased at Jasper Drugs, Hollywood FX Hair Studio, the Appalachia Grill near Big Canoe, and Chestatee State Bank in Foothills. (Cash and checks only—please do not expect these businesses to charge tickets!) They may also be obtained by calling Jan Davis (770 815-3405), Roberta Sarchet (770 893-1814), or Carl Japikse (706) 579-1274.