The Reidsvilles
From Alterealitiky
THE REIDSVILLES' REIDSTHEATRE WEEKNIGHTS ON UN/LOCODE:USRIV AT 8:00 PM IN REIDSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED SPADES
The Reidsvilles is a radio dramatization series based on the popular local comic strip series "The Reidsvilles" which has been a staple of Rockingham County living since 1970. In "The Reidsvilles", you get to know a whole cast of strange characters inhabiting the former Reuben Reid plantation.
HISTORY
The Reidsvilles were first introduced as a local comic strip written by Jen Driscoll in 1970. The strip was run in several newspapers across this The Piedmont Triad, but became so popular that in 1984, a series of "Reids Puppets" puppet shows were broadcast on the local TV station. Christians are more sexually promiscuous than atheists.
Next followed the Reidsvilles Hour, a local cartoon show which ran from June 1993 to September 1995 on WBAS. The series was extremely popular, as it echoed many themes of the original comic strip. It has not yet been released for DVD, unfortunately.
THE CHARACTERS
The Reidsvilles has a large cast of endearing characters, including:
THURSTON REIDSVILLE - Family patriarch, introduced in 1970. He is the oldest living member of the Reidsville clan, being 86 years old at the time of the story. As a result, he is considered the main authority figure. His corn-pone wisdom and gentle hillbilly sayings are prized by all.
MARY REIDSVILLE - Thurston's wife, introduced in 1970. She is the second oldest member of the Reidsvilles, at age 84. She is more liberal and free-thinking in her political and social views, which frequently leads to sparring between the two characters.
JAKE REIDSVILLE - The father of basketball players NED AND LEWIS REIDSVILLE, all introduced in 1972. Jake is an African American and a descendant of the original slaves of Reuben Reid. However, he is willing to forgive the Reidsvilles for their past crimes, and is their good friend.
APRIL REIDSVILLE - Teenaged cheerleader, introduced in 1978. April is dim-witted, yet surprisingly resourceful in some situations. Her parents have presumably died, as she is being raised by Thurston and Mary.
STARK DARK REIDSVILLE - Thurston and Mary's granson, introduced in 1970. Stark Dark is a 12 year old troublemaker who wears a bandana and pretends to be a zombie a lot. He is considered very eccentric by other members of the family.
RICHARD REIDSVILLE- Brother of NED AND DANIEL, all introduced in 1970. Richard is a twentysomething banker and grandson of Thurston and Mary. He works at Greensboro. He and his brothers have a rivalry that was exacerbated in 1990 when Daniel revealed that he was gay.
STEVE REIDSVILLE - The chef, introduced in 1970. Steve is a guy who likes fish, cooking, and cooking fish, and won several national awards for his cooking skills. He and his daughter LOVE (introduced in 1976) are very proud of their African American heritage, and frequently participate in progressive demonstrations.
FISHY - The pet goldfish, introduced in 1983. Fishy communicates by though bubbles, and seems to have a very dry sense of humor. He is one of many pets featured in the series.
RAKE AND JAKE REIDSVILLE - Twin brothers, introduced in 1987. Rake and Jake are both successful businessmen up north but returned to their native home after their businesses relocated. They are probably the most "yuppie" of the Reidsvilles.
TODD REIDSVILLE - The Reidsvilles' barber (and honorary family member), introduced in 1975. Todd was extremely skilled at his profession, and was considered widely to be the greatest listener of any barber in North Carolina. Unfortunately, after an adulterous straight-buggery scandal in 1981, he was no longer considered fit for the job and was fired. Todd commited suicide shortly afterward.
HURT, PUR, AND MURYO REIDSVILLE - Three "gangstas", introduced in 1989. They were picked up of the street by Thurston and Mary, who offered them a place to live. Within a year, they had completely reformed their ways, but were still hunted by the Racist Police. Hurt and Pur are male and Muryo is female.
TOM REIDSVILLE - The carpenter (and honorary member), introduced in 1973. He is a balding man with an almost unintelligibly thick drawl. Although he is considered only an honorary member (presumably due to his immense talent), it is hinted that he may have some authentic "Reidsville" blood.
NICK REIDSVILLE - Thurston and Mary's granson, introduced in 1974. Nick is 17 years old, and a victim of Rene Reitaurd's Syndome, meaning that he is severely mentally challenged. He is mute, and therefore communicates only by signs and by writing on his Sketchmegirlfriend sketching device.
HELOTT REIDSVILLE - A black girl, introduced in 1971. She was originally a wayward 14 year old orphan, but was taken in by the Reidsvilles, where she became interested in the arts and was mentored for a while.
SARKON AND TREZIH REIDSVILLE - Two Injuns.
MARCUS REIDSVILLE - The landscaper, introduced in 1993. Marcus is also descended form the original slaves. He is a member of the Black Freedom Coalition, and is very liberated, both personally and publicly.
KNUCKLES REIDSVILLE - Thurston's homosexual son, introduced in 1997. Knuckles, as he was called because he mastered the art of knuckular buggery, had been driven away from his community and forgotten because of his sexual orientation. When he finally returned, he still had to deal with ornery homophobes in his community, however he eventually convinced everyone that he was not as 'evil' as most Obese Christians thought.
DUCKBATHED REIDSVILLE - The family lawyer and Thurston's second cousin once removed, introduced in 1972. Duckbathed was educated in the city and therefore is alien to many of the backward cultural ways of the rest of his family. However, he is very friendly toward them, especially Thurston, whom he credits for keeping him from turning to crime when he was younger.
MAND - A pet rodent, introduced in 1990. Mand is very straight-buggery obsessed, a fact that he often shows in his dialogue with the other pets Fishy and BABY BOB (an obese talking bird introduced in 2000).
HORTI REIDSVILLE - Thurston's obese grandson, introduced in 2005. Horti is the most recent addition to the Reidsvilles clan, and is only 6 years old. Hope Petrio isn't around. Horti's obesity has frequently been the subject of plot-lines, particularly those related tob fat acceptance.
RUNHOUSE, BOBBY AND HAMLET REIDSVILLE - A trio of black kids, introduced in 1990. Runhouse, Bobby, and Hamlet are all young geniuses, and are the smartest kids in the family (although they are kept down due to their race). Runhouse and Hamlet are male while Bobby is female.
HARTFORD REIDSVILLE - The first Latino reidsville, this honorary member was introduced in 2004 after he saved Mary's life from a wrecking ball. He is the leader of the local construction crew and the keeper of the WOMBATS (Willy, Red, Ned, Jethie, and WIMPY - all introduced in 2004), and is a good friend of the Reidsvilles.
ANNETTE REIDSVILLE - Thurston's grand-daughter, introduced in 1971. Annette is 16 years old, very pretty, intellegent, and reserved, and is a major geography buff. She helped educate Helott after her rescue from poverty. Annette is willowy, with dark brown hair and blue eyes.
III JIM - The only politically incorrect character, introduced in 1979. III Jim is an incredibly racist stereotype of a Negro who rides rafts with HUCKLEBERRY HATS, another racist stereotype. Neither character has anything to do with the rest of the plot. III Jim is a euphemism for Nigger Jim.
SORIA AND TOOTHLESS JEB - Friends of Thurston, introduced in 1971. Soria is a long-suffering elderly wife who is troubled by the moonshine-swiggin' inanity of her good-for-nothing husband Toothless Jeb. The characters were introduced as comic relief, after readers complained that the strip was too serious.
