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The West Virginia Encyclopedia
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The West Virginia Encyclopedia
Location/County: Summersville, Nicholas
July 07, 2015
Sarah Colley studied theater while in college during the Great Depression intending to be a serious actress. While touring with a theater company she created the down home character of Minnie Pearl to help promote performances. Her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 1940 was a success and eased fears that her satire of rural ways might not be appreciated by country audiences. People instead embraced Minnie as one of their own for more than 50 years.
Minnie Pearl, History Alive!, Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park, 7pm July 7
History Alive! is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council.