Several “In the Heat of the Night” stars gathered for the 2015 Heat Homecoming in Covington, Ga., sponsored by the Covington/Newton County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. North Georgia's Randall Franks, "Officer Randy Goode," was among the initial cast invited to star at the event alongside fellow police cast Alan Autry and Dee Shaw and other actors who recurred on the series - Maureen Dowdell and Afemo Omilami. Soon the cast ranks grew to include Wilbur Fitzgerald, John Webb and Sharon Pratt.
"It was such an amazing moment for several of us to once again gather on the streets where we filmed," Mr. Franks said. "The memories flowed from each of us yielding laughter, tears and amazing moments of engagement between us and those who have spent years watching us on TV. We were moved by stories of viewers who put off cancer surgery, left behind a house destroyed by flooding to spend some time in person with us. One family even brought a cardboard stand-up of a family member who had planned to come but was in the hospital and couldn't make the trip. That cut out is seen prominently in photos around town and with each of us that day to hopefully bring him some cheer.
"We were all overwhelmed by the outpouring of love shown each of us by those who cared about what we did so many year ago. It is amazing how our work continues to touc hearts long after we are through and move on in life."
Now 20 years after ending primary photography in Covington, the show continues to add to the multi-million dollar film and television tourism economy generated by fans visiting the area. Fans traveled from as far away as Arizona to spend a couple hours listening to stars share memories and answer viewer’s questions about the television drama set in Sparta, Miss. which originally aired on NBC and CBS and in 150 countries from 1988-1995.
Stars then spent another 10 hours visiting one on one with fans signing autographs, posing for photos, and hearing comments from viewers who watch the show regularly now on WGN and This TV. Many visitors took a double take as the late Carroll O'Connor's on screen double Grady Spradley, now 91, was on hand in costume also sharing fond memories.Visitors toured dozens of original show locations.
The evening ended with a concert on "Sparta Square." Show stars provided the finale with Maureen Dowdell singing “I’m Falling in Love” and Randall Franks getting feet to moving with the rhythm of “Blue Suede Shoes” supported by the band Drive Time. Many fans took home music recordings as a keepsake, including the charity "In the Heat of the Night" Christmas Time's A Comin', and Alan Autry and Randall Franks "Mississippi Moon" CDs.
To learn more about Covington, Ga. visit http://gocovington.com/. For more information about Randall Franks, visit http://randallfranks.com/ or for Alan Autry visit http://www.autryentertainmentgroup.com/. Other actors may be Liked on Facebook or followed on Twitter.