Sutton Popcorn Company retains the right to use the name in some capacity. Marvin " Popcorn " Sutton (October 5, 1946 - March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner and bootlegger. When he was sentenced to federal prison for possession of illegal firearms and moonshining, he chose to commit suicide rather than report to prison, at the age of 62. He was well-known in the entertainment industry for his stage name and custom copper stills, and he made a name for himself. The federal govt. His daughter claimed that he had told her in advance that he would kill himself rather than go to jail. Here are six interesting facts about his life that might just surprise you. Long hailed for her beauty and gutsy film roles, Grier is a Hollywood icon. As one legislator put it, The law is not making legal someone who wants to open a distillery in their barn. The Feds killed him. What finally brought him down, however, was a fire at his own home in April 2007 when a still exploded. The couple had been married for 25 years and had three children together. As industrious about marketing his booze as he was about making it, Popcorn spent decades traveling the South, stealthily pawning jars from the back of his vintage rides. Since his death, Popcorn's persona and work have only garnered more attention due to a whiskey company named after him, Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey, and as we said before, his posthumous appearances on Moonshiners. If Suttons prison sentence seems light considering his many crimes, it was in part due to his age. Its a phrase he cut into his headstone when he was still alive. The new law wasnt enacted to honor Popcorns legend, though. Don Sundquist, visiting for an annual homecoming event, Sutton decided to cook up some real sour mash and dispense it to the crowd in little paper cups. View Pam Sutton results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Popcorns remains are still buried in his side yard in Parrotsville, Tennessee, where his widow will ensure no one else tries to harm him in the future. Marvin was a kind of cultural icon and an embodiment of moonshine yore when it comes to producing the liquor. "He couldn't go to prison. Joe and Pam were not present for Kobe's final NBA game, nor were they in attendance for his jersey retirement ceremony in 2017. He was convicted of moonshining and illegal firearms possession as a result of his moonshining conviction. On March 16, 2009, the 48-year-old Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. Back then, he lived on Snowbird Mountain. Popcorn may no longer be around to weigh in, but his final words appear by his new resting place near his cabin in the woods. Pass the Mountain Dew! Born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, [1] [2] he grew up, lived and died in the rural areas around Maggie Valley and nearby Cocke County, Tennessee. This led the firefighters to discover 650 gallons of untaxed alcohol. The fire tipped authorities off that Popcorn was still at it, and wasnt merely producing the occasionall jar here and there but cranking out hundreds of gallons. After her death, Suttons business continued to operate, and he continued to produce moonshine until his own death in 2009. We have a lot of people come to Maggie Valley that want to meet Popcorn.. 4 mos. Showed how to make moonshineHe wrote a paperback called "Me and My Likker" and recorded videos on how to make moonshine. Is Pam St. Clement Dead or Still Alive? Among his many documentaries was one that won an Emmy for its portrayal of his unique personality. Distractify is a registered trademark. Local authorities allegedly looked the other way, chalking it up to Popcorn being a community fixture. Jack Daniels claimed they copied the label and design of their product in violation of its intellectual property. Regina Sutton, his eldest daughter, recalls a time in her youth when her mom opened the cabin door to find a man with a butcher knife sticking out of his neck. Popcorn began making whiskey in his youth near what he called the Bend of the River, a leafy spot where, decades later, his empty grave would sit. While unscrupulous moonshiners distilled their booze through antifreeze-caked radiator pipes (capable of killing a drinker), Popcorn used only new copper tubing. When I heard how Popcorn was treated and that he wanted me to be involved in carrying on his legacy, I was immediately in. Sutton could have gotten as much as 15 years in prison, but got off with a surprisingly light relatively speaking with just 18 months. A popcorn net worth of between one and seven million dollars is estimated for Sutton Popcorn. Is Pam Sutton Still Alive Made a still for a museumJohn Rice Irwin, founder of the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tenn., recalled that Sutton made a still for the museum in the 1990s. R.I.P Popcorn . is pam sutton still alive. Sutton learned to make moonshine at an early age. [12][13]) At around the same time, Sutton produced a home video of the same title and released it on VHS tape. Making moonshine is relatively simple and inexpensive if you have a pot that can hold at least 5 gallons of liquid and enough space to store the finished product. Later, in 1981, Sutton was convicted and sentenced in the Haywood County Superior Court in North Carolina for felony possession of a controlled substance. Fontes arrived to find Popcorn Sutton fanning the flames of a still, which had exploded from a gas leak. My mother-in-law Pam Sutton suffered a massive stroke on 9/15/22. To the fans and celebs who came from around the world to buy his booze, Popcorn was the banjo-picking cracker with the long beard, grimy overalls, and bawdy stories. I picked one up and realized the man sitting in the corner bye himself was the Legend ! A scrawny teen with big ears and droopy eyes, he had just watched the machine eat his quarters without dispensing his popcorn, so he whacked it repeatedly with his pool stick and broke the dang thing. Dean Sutton of 39 years and his wife, Christine Sutton; their son, Ian; mother, Bessie Wimer; and sister,Brenda Oswald, all of whom preceded her in death, are among those who have passed away. There arent any more not in his form or fashion, thats for sure., Julia Merchant contributed to this article. His zodiac sign was Libra, which is distinguished by assertiveness and submissiveness on both sides. His recipe, on the other hand, still lives on and is produced at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Kentucky. Moonshine is romanticized in folklore and in the movies, Cavanaugh declared. I said, Im sorry, Im not going to turn a blind eye like the others. He arrested Popcorn, who got two years probation for possession of untaxed liquor. If you want to find legendary moonshiners, you should look for Popcorn Sutton, also known as Marvin. This led to yet another conviction on a number of charges. Filmed in one week in June, 2002, less than seven years before infamous moonshiner Marvin, People have been making moonshine almost since the day water started running downhill,, Attendees of this years Hillbilly Winter Jam kicked off the annual fest with a special, On a frosty Appalachian mountain morning in 1962, 22-year-old Waynesville man Charles. Paul Stanley (born Stanley Bert Eisen; January 20, 1952) is an American musician who is the co-founder, frontman, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss.He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's most popular songs. "I just hope and pray they don't send me off (to prison).". He committed suicide in 2009 as a result of cancer treatment. P.O. moonshine is still a popular drink in the region, and visitors can still taste it. This is likely the event that spurred the internets 1983 search. Spring 2023 enrollment at Western Carolina Univers Waynesville is Haywood Countys only municipal g Jake Tallent vividly remembers the impact that the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority received a v Book reading, film screening to commemorate Popcorn Sutton, As long as water runs downhill: The story of Popcorn Sutton, Hillbilly Jammers get high on the mountain, Pardon me? Heres What You Should Know, 29 Best Restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Ranked [2023], Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, Smoky Mountains in March: Events in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge [2023], A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward. We were deeply saddened to learn of JB Raders and Bill Owens deaths. Pam Sutton, who became Sutton's fourth wife in 2007, said carbon monoxide may be the method but that's not what killed him. Birthday: May 21, 1942. Editors Note: Many thanks to Sucker Punch Pictures for allowing us to use their incredible photos of Popcorn Sutton and his still for this article. Moreover, she is also not on social media which makes it further difficult to track down her life at present. The most notable thing about the grave? Popcorn Sutton, an American moonshiner and bootlegger, lived in the United States from 1946 to 2009. "I think most people have a warm feeling for him, but he bragged so much about it (moonshining)," Irwin said. June 5, 2022 Posted by: Category: Uncategorized; No Comments . Now known as one of Britain's finest detectives and police officers, Sutton actually comes from a long line of coppers. Authorities began to investigate him without his consent. [18] The judge noted that Sutton was still under probation in Tennessee at the time of the federal raid, and said that putting a man on probation again after being convicted five times of various crimes would not serve the community interest. "The way she's breathing is just freaking me the f-k out, man" Josh said during the scary experience. Per NBC News, the famed moonshiner and bootlegger Popcorn Sutton died by suicide, possibly to avoid serving time in federal prison. Then there was the alleged attack on Willie Ferguson, a local musician who reportedly made the mistake of crossing Popcorn. Seussian contraptions of barrels and metal tubing, Popcorns stills could be set up and dismantled quickly at the riverside, just in case the cops screeched up. He also appeared in the Western 'Ghost Town: The Movie.' I was wondering if it was the last time the still was going to ever be use, why did they take the time, and hard work to break it down? Click here to find personal data about Pamela Sutton including phone numbers, addresses, directorships, electoral roll information, related property prices and other useful information. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton (October 5, 1946 March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner and bootlegger. "He would tell you exactly what he thought, whether you wanted to hear it or not. He was walking down the driveway coming toward me and told me, Hey, hey, hey, dont tell nobody what you seen here, Fontes recalls. He had a wood burning stove inside. It is critical to follow his instructions and recipe in order to produce a moonshine that has the same flavor and characteristics as him. Bill, who played guitar and harmonica on the show, died in early 2019 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Popcorn Sutton was a moonshiner who was born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. This time, the local cops would be of no help. The revised version of the book includes details of his death. It was done so the state could finally cash in (in addition to tax payments, starting a moonshine operation requires a half-million-dollar tax bond). Haywood mans presidential pardon reveals systemic inequities, Town of Waynesville will pursue staggered terms for aldermen, SCC grad inspires latest New Century Scholars. Popcorns nickname dates to a barroom brawl between himself and a popcorn machine. 1. In a cabin Popcorn built in the woods, I swill from an old jar of his cinnamon and cider apple pie moonshine with Ernestine Upchurch, a bawdy older woman in white pants and a polka-dot shirt, who dated Popcorn prior to his marriage and describes herself as the love of his life. Since 2011, the show has followed the lives of individuals who produce moonshine in the Appalachian Mountains. This is one of the internets most popular searches about Sutton. Popcorn grew up in Maggie Valley and called it home for most of his life, but had largely taken up residence in his later years in Parrrotsville, Tenn., the rural and sparsely populated country around Newport. While Popcorn was under house arrest, motocross star Jamey Grosser showed up unannounced at the cabin one day. How Old - Age: 80. While some may question whether or not she is worthy of such a windfall, there is no doubt that Pam Sutton is a hard-working woman who has been through a lot in her life. Every time Sutton finished filling a barrel, he would give Nick a gallon and sell the rest to him. According to the report, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama have the most moonshiners, with a combined total of 1,634 stills seized by law enforcement. Angel Sutton is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Glen Sutton. In 2009, Sutton's estranged daughter Sky published a book titled 'Daddy Moonshine: The Story of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton,' which gave a lot of details about her father's life. All rights reserved. Pam Sutton had that steadfast determination and through her incredible penmanship, we can still see just how fast and who won and who . Stanley established The Starchild character for his Kiss persona. When Popcorn Sutton died in 2009, he left behind a large sum of money. Famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, whose incorrigible bootlegging ways were out of step with modern times, took his own life rather than go to prison, his widow says. In 1974, he was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and charged with multiple violations. But the young cop, whod seen the ravaging effects of drugs and alcohol on the locals, didnt comply. So there my personal opinion. When he took it back home what happen to it?? Her husbands whiskey was produced and sold by Hank Williams Jr. and she began selling it as a stand-alone product in 2010. However, he always received only probation sentences. [36] The lawsuit said that the design "is likely to cause purchasers and prospective purchasers of the product to believe mistakenly that it is a new Tennessee white whiskey product in the Jack Daniel's line." In 2010, Hank Williams, Jr. announced a partnership with J.M. DE, Popcorn Suttons XXX Tennessee White Whiskey can also be purchased in a mason jar. Throughout his life, Sutton proudly held on to his Scotch-Irish American ethnicity and boasted about the fact that he had moonshining in his blood. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. During a fire in one of Suttons properties in 2007, firefighters discovered a large cache of untaxed liquor hidden in the attic. We can conclude from this that moonshine culture is still thriving in the southern United States. The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. After meeting at a New Year's Eve party in 1994 . The grave of the last American outlaw sits off a dirt road in the backwoods of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, the hillbilly haven where Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, the most notorious moonshiner. Thus, it took him forever to clear his debts. and including a lot of other shit came in this country illegal. Either way, months later, his wife Pam held a large public memorial service, which Hank Williams Jr. famously attended. Over the next few weeks, Sutton sold more than 100 additional gallons of moonshine each to two different men and showed another guy the barn where three working stills and 500 gallons of moonshine sat, ready to roll. He was methodical about his brand and making a living, Grosser recalls. Sutton said he considered moonshine production a legitimate part of his heritage, as he was a Scots-Irish American and descended from a long line of moonshiners. Interestingly, just a year after Sutton died, moonshining was legalized in the US. "You might say he embodied a kind of Appalachian archetype, a character trait of fearlessness and fierce loyalty to regional identity even in the face of personal persecution and stereotyping," said Ted Olson, a regional writer and faculty member in East Tennessee State University's Department of Appalachian Studies. [2023], Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? The family descended from the wave of immigrants who brought their whiskey recipes to the area when they arrived in the 1700s. Urban drinks are featured. [41], In December 2016, the Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the Sazerac Company. He was a whole lot smarter than people gave him credit for. Grosser returned on March 16, 2009 to finalize the deal with Popcorn, who was scheduled to go to prison four days later. In 2017, Sutton's Parrottsville estate caught fire. [7] This led to a raid of his property by the ATF, led by Jim Cavanaugh of Waco siege infamy. Sutton was in a live-in relationship with Ernestine Upchurch, who later helped him write his autobiography. And Popcorn, who refused to pay taxes and considered moonshine part of his dont tread on me heritage, wore his rebel badge with pride. But with thousands of people, including then-Gov. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. In Maggie Valley, he opened an antique shop as a front, soon a destination for eager buyers from across the region. Even though technically he wasn't a member of "Moonshiners," his life and work inspired the series, which later kept his memory alive throughout its run. Lunn and Henley and the other employees of the distillery became employees of the Sazerac Company. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months of federal imprisonment. Morgan is the founder Morgan Media LLC, a graphic design agency and the co-founder of TheSmokies.com LLC a media company that specializes in regional travel sites. Pam St. Clement Birthday and Age. Suttons will stated that the money was to be used to support the continuance of my lifes work. This work includes the production of moonshine, which is illegal in the United States. Fermented corn mash is used to make moonshine. Read Also: Legend or lawbreaker: The real story of Popcorn Sutton. Authorities suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. If he liked you he liked you, and if he didnt, you better stay away, recalled Carver. Later he and Sutton even built stills together, and during my visit Moore shows me one of many he recently made. Is Popcorn Sutton still alive? Some view him as a folk hero. Neal Hutcheson, another filmmaker who worked with Sutton, is worth $30 million. Popcorn Suttons moonshine was renowned for its high quality, and he was known for his careful and traditional methods of production. On October 25, 2013, Tennessee whiskey brand Jack Daniel's Properties sued Popcorn Sutton's whiskey brand for copying their newly redesigned bottle. Reports vary on why he was exhumed and reburied. We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. Sutton followed her husband to coaching stops at College of Southern Idaho, Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and . He had pleaded guilty last April. Although he passed away a few years before the show premiered, the series used previous documentary footage shot by director Neal Hutcheson for his own films, allowing fans to see the legendary moonshiner in his natural habitat. He ran a PVC pipe from the exhaust of his Ford Fairlane into his window and sealed it up with duct tape. He was eating a piece of Blueberry pie. He was also known for being convicted of crimes related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. he still left her $10 million in his will . What does this report reveal about the states with the most moonshiners? I met Popcorn in a restaurant in Maggie Valley around 1997. $50. Stills are known to do that, despite Popcorns expert craftsmanship in making them. Aside from his white lightening, Popcorn was known for his crass language and feisty manner. As a result, the judge had reason to show him leniency. Someone of means is going to have to step up. While some revile the folkloric status Popcorn has achieved, denouncing him as a common criminal, few can argue that Popcorn was a bridge to the past, a window on a vanishing part of Appalachian culture. They should have been focused on crimes that out weighed hi. Popcorn Sutton poses with one of his moonshine stills (photo shared with permission from Sucker Punch Pictures). . An incident report filed by the Cocke County Sheriffs Department says that Sutton was discovered dead in his 1982 Ford Fairmont when his wife, Pam Sutton, returned from running errands. In 2007, 'The History Channel' featured Sutton's next documentary, 'Hillbilly: The Real Story.' Damian Sutton, 2, has died at a Detroit hospital after being taken off life support. They should of left him alone he was part of our great history, 2021 The Smoky Mountain News. Sutton was first interred at a family graveyard in Mount Sterling, North Carolina. On November 9, 2010, Hank Williams Jr. partnered with 'J&M Concepts LLC' and Pam Sutton to distill and distribute a whiskey brand titled 'Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey.'. He went to his grave in a pine casket he bought years ago and kept in a bedroom. What did his Mom put in the moonshine to make medicine, that Popcorn got addicted to? [35] According to press reports, Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey would be initially distributed in Tennessee and throughout the southeast. Clearly, the actress is still alive and well today, and she's been in remission for the . Sutton also produced a home video of the same name, which he released on VHS tape. Let us know in the comments. Unfortunately, Sutton was not making enough money back then. After he attacked a popcorn vending machine with a pool cue in the 1960s or 1970s, he was dubbed Popcorn by the media. Several seasons ago, Cutie Pie almost died after getting bit by a snake while exploring a possible still site with Josh, who had to rush her to the nearest veterinarian office. "[3] His daughter said he had told her in advance that he would die by suicide rather than go to jail, adding that he had "the strength to die the way he lived: according to his own wishes and no one else's. [40] The CEO of Popcorn Sutton Distilling is Megan Kvamme. In a final twist, she can now make her papas booze in Tennessee legally if she wantsthe state passed a law shortly after his death authorizing moonshine production. [37] In July 2016, it was announced Allisa Henley, long time employee and Master Distiller at George Dickel, would join John Lunn at Popcorn Sutton Distilling. I can relate to that, as I am the same way. This charge would eventually cause him to fall. I can brag about one thing, Popcorn once said in his thick Southern drawl. My favorite place of hanging out, how not the kitchen! Sky Moonshine, the estranged daughter of Sutton, published Daddy: The Story of Marvin Popcorn Sutton. So he Wooped the hell out of it with a pool stick. It was said he did this to avoid the federal prison term that was supposed to start a few days later. [20] Mrs. Sutton said, "He called it his three-jar car because he gave three jugs of liquor for it. It received a 2009 Southeast Emmy Award. I couldnt understand what he said. His health was failing. I bought a couple items and he talked to me. Fontes has just returned from raiding a local pot farm and is twirling a two-foot-long marijuana stalk in his hand like a billy club. By deadorkicking.com Editorial Team. He seemed kind and good, not perfect but who is? Sutton was convicted multiple times for selling moonshine without a license. Buyers came from miles around to sample his goods, and Popcorns celebrity grew. View the profiles of people named Pamela Sutton. They had two daughters. Popcorn Sutton grew up in the South-Eastern Appalachian region of the United States, and he was born in Scotland. Personally I think they should have left him alone and focus on what there real job is he didn't hurt nobody. Children. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States has released a report ranking the top moonshine states. Living in this area, he made friends with all the sheriffs and local leaders, Fontes, stocky and dark-haired, tells me one afternoon in his wood-paneled office. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Helps Continue Popcorn Sutton's Moonshine Legacy", "Popcorn Sutton's whiskey goes legit with Hank Williams Jr.'s stamp of approval", "Hank Williams, Jr. Gets into the Moonshine Business", "Jack Daniel's in legal fight with small distiller", Dickel master distiller leaving to head Popcorn Sutton, "Sazerac Expanding into Tennessee Whiskey with Distillery Purchase", "Hank Tips a Hat and a Glass To Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey", "Another Dickel Distiller, Alisa Henley, Leaves for Popcorn Sutton", Obituary Of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, A Tennessee Moonshiner, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Popcorn_Sutton&oldid=1131948838, People from Maggie Valley, North Carolina, Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Articles with dead external links from May 2013, Short description is different from Wikidata, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Sutton's long-estranged daughter Sky Sutton wrote a self-published book in 2009 entitled, Some of the prior Hutcheson documentary footage of Sutton was used in the 201112 season of the, A brief photographic book about Sutton was released in 2012 , Another Hutcheson documentary about Sutton was released in 2014 called, This page was last edited on 6 January 2023, at 15:01. i too would have enjoyed meeting old popcorn,he was and will always be the man the myth the legend that is popcorn marvin sutton, Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. Moreover, there were several petitions made to reduce his sentence. Many moonshiners associate Popcorn Sutton with moonshine. Sutton had a long career making moonshine and bootlegging. [7], Sutton died by suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning on March 16, 2009, apparently to avoid a federal prison term due to begin a few days later. On Monday, she came home from running errands and found him dead in his old Ford. In fact, he came from a long line of bootleggers. Pamela Anderson is alive and well. In 2012, Hillbilly Hero and Tom Wilson Jester teamed up to release a photographic book about Sutton, 'The Making and Marketing.'

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