Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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704-484-1047 www.shelbyinfo.com Our 38th Year • Issue No. 24 • June 17, 2021 "Informing Cleveland County" N.C. TRACTOR & FARM SUPPLY 299 Railroad Ave., Rutherfordton • 828-288-0395 Mobile: 828-429-5008 • mf1dpshehan@gmail.com SALES SERVICE PARTS PROUDLY SERVING RUTHERFORD, CLEVELAND, GASTON, LINCOLN, POLK COUNTIES AS THE AREAS HOMETOWN MASSEY FERGUSON DEALER. IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! ASK ABOUT 0% INTEREST by MICHAEL E. POWELL Writer – CF Media michael@cfmedia.info Shelby native Ludy Marvin Wilkie, is – among many other things – an accomplished play- wright. He has penned many plays and had just as many per- formed. To that end, he can now add another play to his ever-growing list: his two-act family comedy "Lum & Abner", based on the lovable radio characters created by the late Chet Lauck and Norris Goff and written as an homage to easier times when life was a little sim- pler and slower. The comedy won first place in the Cherryville Little The- atre's 2021 Playwriting Contest. Sarah Sandoval, of the CLT, said, "While 'Lum and Abner' may be a period play, the story of a community coming to- gether is timeless." She continued, "The goal of Cherryville Little Theatre's playwriting contest (was) to en- gage our community during a time when our doors were shut due to the pandemic," as they search for ways to encourage the arts during a time when it was needed the most, a theme not so different from that in Wilkie's play, as the characters work together to save their town with creative solutions. Sandoval said, "(All) submis- sions were judged based on plot, professionalism, and po- tential audience appeal." Wilkie, a U.S. Army veteran, is a Shelby High School gradu- ate; a Western Carolina Univer- sity and University of Oklahoma graduate (English degree); was a military journalist on Okinawa (winning the Army Commenda- tion Medal); worked several years in broadcasting (news director at WADA/Shelby and WBBO/Forest City); an AP Roy Hardee Award winner (1984); and was a school teacher until he retired. He was named Greater Shelby Community Theatre's 2010 "Volunteer of the Year". For their part, CLT told Mr. Wilkie that at the time of the competition there were no guar- antees on putting the winning show onstage due to COVID restrictions, adding "…that as- pect wasn't a part of the con- test", still they did say they are "…looking to encourage artistic endeavors and maintain en- gagement from the community during lockdown with the hope of future productions." Wilkie's other plays include: "The Ballad of Nancy Hanks"; "The Diary of Faust"; "Three Jolly Coachmen"; "Hello, Johnny Appleseed"; "Wages of Sin" "Golden Days of Yes- teryear"; "Ruth, of Moab"; and "The Son of Man". As for his writing the play, at the end of the day, Wilkie said it was all about his love of radio. "I have always enjoyed old radio shows. Some years back I heard a broadcast of two 15-minute 'Lum and Abner' Christmas programs and be- came very interested in them. That led to research and, even- tually to the script." Wilkie said the script was approved by Chet Lauck Jr., whose father played Lum in the series. "That family holds the rights to the 'Lum and Abner' trade- mark, and I made arrange- ments through them to market the play. "'Lum and Abner' helped America through the Great De- pression and World War Two. Now they stand in the wings waiting to entertain us again. I hope that they get the chance," he said. Shelby man's two-act play wins local playwriting contest Shelby playwright Ludy M. Wilkie with some of his degrees and commendations; most notably his U.S. Army Com- mendation Medal he was awarded for military journalism while stationed on Okinawa. (photos by MEP/CF Media) Playwright, journalist, teacher, and self-confessed "Lum & Abner" aficionado, Ludy Wilkie, with a copy of the "Jot 'Em Down Journal", a newsletter that is put out for the many fans of the old '30s radio program. HORD'S CONTAINER SERVICE (704) 466-6008 Sunday, June 20