Weaver’s Newsletter
An Online newsletter of
“The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)

Welcome to our second Weaver’s Newsletter of 2012!  Our merchandise features are up first, then our calendar of events and then some news updates from the cast and crew, and concluding with some info about our Mayberry communities on the Web.

**** Merchandise Update ****

Check out all the "different things" Bert has stocked at Weaver's.

Browse the full selection of books, apparel (get that cool new T-shirt for spring and summer!), DVDs, artwork, collectibles and much more online at  Weaver’s (www.weaversdepartmentstore.com).  There are lots of great vintage and rare things, too.  First one thing and then another.  Plus bunches (“bunches, bunches”) of things on sale or at permanently lower prices.

We appreciate your shopping at Weaver’s, especially because Weaver’s sales are what helps TAGSRWC be able to support Mayberry Days and other Mayberry-connected events and charitable efforts throughout the year.

Are you “the Esquire type”?  Well, then, just in time for the summer golf season, here’s a special group of items we’re featuring as a fundraiser for the Annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival:

Here’s what this special set includes:

*Matzie Velvet Touch Putter with George Lindsey Celebrity Golf Tournament logo

* A sleeve of 3 brand new (or rather, unused) golf balls with the George Lindsey logo. (They’re from the 1980s, so we wouldn’t recommend playing golf with them unless you don’t care about distance or breaking your hands.  Ernest T. might like ’em for throwin’, though!)

* A T-shirt with the logo of the 13th edition of the tournament.  The shirt is size XL, but it’s from the 1980s, so that’ more like a size Large with today’s sizing.

* Color photo of Goober autographed by George

All proceeds–the full $195– go toward our support of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival.

Along with restocking our shelves with most of our usual items, we have added several brand new items, and also have new offerings of some rare vintage merchandise and memorabilia.

New at Weaver’s:
Here are three new officially licensed T-shirts that have come out this spring.  These are the newest of more than 30 T-shirt designs you can find online at Weaver’s.

And here’s a couple of vintage (20+ years old) items we’ve added this month:

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Left is an Ernst & Co. ceramic mug from 1990 and on the right is a Limited Edition print from the Mayberry Cast Reunion at Opryland in 1991.  They’re both in the Collectibles & Special Items section of Weaver’s.

Find these and much more at www.weaversdepartmentstore.com, or just click on the Weaver’s button at the top of the page whenever you’re visiting www.imayberry.com.

"Whoo-eee! You're right, Floyd. There is a lot goin' on in Mayberry!

The Andy Griffith Museum, featuring Emmett Forrest’s amazing collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia, is open daily in Mount Airy, N.C. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org/ or call (336) 786-1604.

Here are some upcoming events in Mayberry that folks have thumbtacked to Floyd’s bulletin board from the most recent issue of The eBullet:

Ronnie Schell

There’s a golf tourney on Thursday the 3rd at the Indian Hills Country Club.   The Silent Auction and Banquet (including The Ronnie Schell Show) are on Fri. the 4th at the Bryant Conference Center.  (Doors open for the Auction preview at 5 p.m.)  Reserved tables and individual tickets will be available soon; prices and Banquet time TBA.  Mayberry Tribute Artists David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, Tim “Goober” Pettigrew, Phil “Ernest T.” Fox, Jeff “Howard” Branch, Bob “Briscoe” Mundy, and Eric “Mayor Pike” Lowry will also entertain.  For more info, visit http//:eagleswingsoftuscaloosa.org.

* May 5: 25th Annual Uncle Jesse’s Memorial Big Bass Classic in Paris, Tex.  This tournament was founded by and continues to honor Denver Pyle.  For more info, visit www.unclejessefishing.com.

* May 9: David Browning has fun in store for the Small Business Expo in Sanford, N.C.  (He’s no dummy!)

* May 12: Using their  ’41 Chevy flatbed truck as Darlings-style stage, Dean Webb (far left) and Missouri Boatride kick off the Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series Kimberling City Shopping Mall, outside of Hillbilly Bowl, from 7 to 9 p.m.  The music is free, but bring your own lawn chair.

* May 12: David Browning gives the crowd pause at the Kentucky Black Bear Festival in Cumberland, Ky.

LeRoy Mack

* May 13: LeRoy “Mack” McNees conducts the Sunday Morning Chapel service at the Mother’s Day Bluegrass Festival in Parkfield, Calif.

Betty Lynn at the Andy Griffith Museum. Photo by Hobart Jones.

 

* May 15: Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in Renfro Valley, Ky., at 1:00 p.m.

* May 18:  Betty Lynn greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10) and would love to visit with you! For more info, visit www.andygriffithmuseum.org.

* May 26: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform at the Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series Kimberling City Shopping Mall, outside of Hillbilly Bowl, from 7 to 9 p.m. The music is free, but bring your lawn chair.

* June 1 and 2: 25th Annual Mule Days in Gordo, Ala. (near Tuscaloosa).  Mayberry Tribute Artists David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, and Kenneth “Otis” Junkin will be among the entertainers.  The headline guest star this year is Donna Douglas (Elly May Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies.)  More details TBA.

James Best

* June 2: James Best greets fans and shows his artwork at the Greg’s Core Supply event in Felts Park in Galax, Va.

* June 9 : Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform at the Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series Kimberling City Shopping Mall, outside of Hillbilly Bowl, from 7 to 9 p.m.  Admission is free but bring something to sit on (or else some Miracle Salve for the next day).

* June 17: LeRoy McNees conducts the Sunday Morning Chapel at the Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley, Calif. For more info visit the California Bluegrass Association site.

* June 23: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform at the Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series Kimberling City Shopping Mall, outside of Hillbilly Bowl, from 7 to 9 p.m.  Admission is free but bring something to sit on (or else some Miracle Salve for the next day).

MSCN puttin' on "square wheels" until 2013.

* June 30: POSTPONED UNTIL SPRING 2013. The 12th (Almost) Annual Mayberry Squad Car Nationals is relocating to Pelham, Ala.  Officials with MASCAR (Mayberry Authentic Squad Cars and Racing) apparently received pressure from a worried NASCAR that Talladega Superspeedway felt threatened by the new closer location of the prestigious Mayberry Squad Car Nationals and therefore pleaded for more time to brace for the competition from the vintage patrol car crowd-pleasers.  At least that’s the rumor we’re trying to get started (just like Joel Laird’s squad car).  Stay tuned for details about exactly when and where the Nationals will roar next spring.

* July 7: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform at the Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series Kimberling City Shopping Mall, outside of Hillbilly Bowl, from 7 to 9 p.m. The music is free, but bring your lawn chair.

New memoir by Julie Adams.

* July 11-14: Julie Adams appears at the Western Film Fair in Winston-Salem, N.C.  (Nancy Stafford of “Matlock” is also among the stars with an Andy Griffith connection attending.)  For more info, visit http://westernfilmfair.tripod.com.

* July 21: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform at the Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series Kimberling City Shopping Mall, outside of Hillbilly Bowl, from 7 to 9 p.m. Got time to breathe, got time to music.

* July 25-29: Ronnie Schell performs at The Improv at Harvey’s in Lake Tahoe.

*Aug. 4: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform at the Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series Kimberling City Shopping Mall, outside of Hillbilly Bowl, from 7 to 9 p.m. Got time to breathe, got time to music.

* Aug. 11 and 12: James Best appears at the Hazzard Homecoming in Sperryville, Va. For tickets and info visit http://www.cootersplace.com/hazzard-homecoming/.

* Aug. 18: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride–See and ditto Aug. 4.

Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band perform during a March taping of an episode of "Song of the Mountains," which is scheduled to air on PBS stations nationwide in 2013. Photo by Tim White.

* Aug. 24 and 25: Rodney Dillard and Maggie Peterson are joined by several of the Mayberry tribute artists (including David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin and Jeff “Howard” Branch) for a Cruise-In on Fri. and then concert benefiting the Montgomery County DARE program on Sat. The evening concert will be at the James H. Garner Center in Troy, N.C. Details TBA. For more info, visit www.bluegrassintroy.com/.

* Sept. 1 and 15: “Surprise, surprise, I can see it in your eyes.” Dean Webb and  Missouri Boatride perform at the Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series Kimberling City Shopping Mall, outside of Hillbilly Bowl, from 7 to 9 p.m. The music is still free, but bring your chair, blanket, cushion, bench, or tree stump to sit on.

* Sept. 27-30: 23rd Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C.  Stars confirmed so far are Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou), Doug Dillard (Darling banjo player), James Best (Jim Lindsey) for Thurs. and Fri. only, LeRoy McNees (of the Country Boys), and Karen Knotts (daughter of Don Knotts). Further details and more stars TBA.  Tickets are now available to order for several parts of the festival.  (And it’s already not too early to book a hotel room.)  For updates, visit www.mayberrydays.org.  It’s big!!!

* Sept. 29: James Best zooms from Mount Airy to be at an event with Henderson Auctions on Hwy 190 West of Livingston, La., from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (If you can’t find it, the gators might find you.)

* Oct. 1: James Best is featured at an All-Star Concert at the Marriott Baton Rouge Hotel in Baton Rouge, La., with country stars Clay Walker and Tracy Lawrence. Sonny Shroyer from “The Dukes of Hazzard” will also appear.

* Oct. 3: 52nd Anniversary of the airing of the first episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” on CBS.  Just think on this here day in 1960…Shazam!

* Oct. 6: A Mayberry Afternoon in Salisbury, N.C., featuring Mayberry music and Mayberry tribute artists, including David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Jeff “Howard” Branch, Tim “Goober” Pettigrew and  Phil “Ernest T.” Fox. Details TBA.

* Oct. 12-14:  Darlings boy Dean Webb and his Missouri Boatride band perform at the Wooley Creek Bluegrass Festival in Cape Fair, Mo.

* Oct. 29-Nov. 3: Halloween Cruise to Mayberry 7.  Five Days aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Destiny, leaving from Miami with ports of call in Nassau, Half Moon Cay, and Grand Turk, plus a fun day at sea. Seven Mayberry tribute artists, an Elvis tribute artist, and the VW Boys are among the entertainment provided exclusive to Mayberry Cruise participants. For more info, visit the All About Cruises website at www.allaboutcruisesnc.net/.

 **** News of Cast & Crew ****

Andy Griffith is happy to see spring blooming out around his coastal home in his beloved North Carolina.

Here’s a link to a March 23 TV news interview/story with Karen Knotts talking about her stage show, which she performed as a fundraiser that night in Morgantown, W.V., hometown of her father, Don Knotts:  Karen Knotts–Tied Up in Knotts.

Ron Howard on the set of Rush.

Ron Howard is now in England filming Rush, his film about 1970s Formula 1 rivals Niki Lauda and James Hunt.  It’s expected for release in 2013.

This is a photo of Ron and wife Cheryl that he Tweeted from a roller derby match in March while filming Rush. You can follow Ron on Twitter @RealRonHoward.

Things are also reportedly looking promising for a deal with Warner Bros. for Ron’s dream project of producing and directing  film and TV adaptations of Stephen King’s The Dark Towers. And plans by Ron’s Imagine Entertainment for bringing an Arrested Development feature film to Netflix and maybe theaters are also progressing well.  Imagine is also developing an adaption or George Orwell’s 1984.

Betty Lynn is among the guests at the Triad Tribute to the Troops, a USO fundraiser in Greensboro, N.C., this month. (Betty traveled with the USO to some of the most dangerous and far-reaching combat zones during WWII.)

James Best will be in Romania in May to film a movie for Hallmark.  It’s being produced by his daughter Janeen and her husband, Michael Damian.

Meanwhile, look for James in Return of the Killer Shrews in theaters this summer.  You can scream, but you can’t  hide!  Cringe for more info soon.

CLASS REUNION--Peggy McCay was all class and graciousness, even as she was surrounded by a delighted pack of Goobers at a March fundraiser in Nashville. Photo by Marsha Farley.

Here’s a link to a story and video of actress Peggy McCay rapping at an animal rescue fundraiser in Nashville in early March. Peggy (Andy’s high school sweetheart Sharon DeSpain in the “Class Reunion” episode) does a rap about Caroline Brady (her “Days of Our Lives” character for the last three decades). Ernest T. Bass ain’t got nuthin’ on the rhymin’ of this lady who left Mayberry to be a “big fish in a big pond.”

Tribute artist Christie "Andelina" McLendon poses with authentic "Darlings" Rodney Dillard and Maggie Peterson while preparing for the parade at the Mayberry Comes to Westminster festival. Photo courtesy of Christie McLendon.

Maggie Peterson, Rodney Dillard and LeRoy “Mack” McNees headlined the Mayberry Comes to Westminster festival in Westminster, S.C., Apr. 20 and 21.  Big crowds once again turned out for this second annual festival, which also featured a full slate of the popular Mayberry tribute artists.

 **** Mayberry on the Web ****

New iMayberry Community
We’re really excited to announce the launch this year of a wonderful Web activity hosted by TAGSRWC and organized and overseen by webmaster Allan “Floyd” Newsome.  It’s called iMayberry Community.  You can check it out and sign up for free at: http://imayberrycommunity.com/.

The hope is that the iMayberry Community will complement our other online activities, including our main www.imayberry.com page, podcasts, Facebook page, online newsletters (such as The eBullet!), weaversdepartmentstore.com and chat rooms.  Combined with TAGSRWC chapters and the various Mayberry events for all fans (from Mayberry Days to ocean cruises), not to mention enjoying the sites of Mount Airy year-round, the world of Mayberry fun keeps expanding.

And best of all, it’s all rooted in watching the show itself.  Whether through DVDs, local stations or TV Land, loving to watch the show continues to be the energy that feeds all the other Mayberry fun and activities that we enjoy.  What a wonderful thing Andy Griffith and his talented team of actors, musicians, writers and crew people created 52 years ago–for us and generations to come!

Two Chairs, No Waiting is our weekly podcast of TAGS has news, interviews and pretty much whatever happens to be going on in and around Mayberry. It’s hosted by our Allan Newsome. There’s a new episode every Tuesday (and you can watch and listen live during tapings on Monday evenings). Past episodes are in an online Archives in case you want to listen to episodes you’ve missed. (There have been about 185 episodes since 2008!)

There’s a lot of info and discussions that you simply won’t find anywhere else, including rare interviews (vintage and new) with cast and crew members of TAGS. If you’ve got sound on your computer or have an iPod or similar device, you can easily tune in or download these podcasts.

Also, check out the podcast area of our www.imayberry.com site for info about a Mayberry Bible Study Podcast, also hosted by Allan.

And there’a Brother Figure podcast to Two Chairs, No Waiting. It’s hosted by longtime TAGSRWC member Kevin Burke, who does a great job of describing and discussing individual episodes. It’s called Burke on Mayberry. Check it out.

TAGSRWC’s official page on Facebook now has over 10,000 friends!  (Shazam!) You can find us at www.facebook.com/tagsrwc. There’s a variety of comments about Mayberry, and a lively stream of fans’ favorite TAGS lines. And our Facebook page is also one of the first places we post announcements and breaking news about TAGS. If you haven’t already dropped by the page, we hope you’ll check it out sometime when you have the chance. We invite you to become a TAGSRWC Facebook Friend!

**** POST NOTE ****

Between issues of Weaver’s Newsletter, keep up with the happenings in Mayberry with the daily “Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board?” Digest. It’s a free subscriber list that consists entirely of comments, news flashes, and questions and answers from subscribers. You can sign up for that list by going to the “Mailing Lists” link at www.tagsrwc.com.

TAGSRWC also publishes The eBullet in more or less alternate months to Weaver’s Newsletter. The eBullet is the online successor to our longtime printed newsletter, The Bullet. Like Weaver’s Newsletter, The eBullet is free. It includes some of the same news as Weaver’s Newsletter, but with more features and depth and a little less emphasis on merchandise news. To sign up, go to: http://www.tagsrwc.com/ebullet/joinebullet.htm.

TAGSRWC’s other main vehicle for Mayberry information is simply our website at www.tagsrwc.com (and its sister site www.iMayberry.com). Both sites have extensive content and links for just about everything a Mayberry fan might be looking for.

The next issue of Weaver’s Newsletter is scheduled for June, with the next eBullet planned for May.

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