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

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Floyd’s Barbershop
Bulletin Board & Event Calendar

The following information is from The eBullet, Official E-mail Newsletter of TAGSRWC.

The Andy Griffith Museum, featuring the late 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.

* Dec. 7: Rodney Dillard and The Dillard Band and Maggie Peterson perform their Mayberry Christmas show featuring David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning at Long Branch Baptist Church in Autryville, N.C.  Shows are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. with a meet-and-greet with the stars at 6 p.m.  For more info, call 910-531-3765.

* Dec. 7.: Roland White presents the 16th Annual Bill Monroe Appreciation Night at The Station Inn in Nashville, Tenn.  Show time is 8 p.m.  Admission is $15.  Additional performers TBA.

* Dec. 8: David “Ebenezer” Browning performs his one-man A Christmas Carol at Long Branch Baptist Church in Autryville, N.C.

* Dec. 10: David “Scrooge” Browning performs A Christmas Carol at Montgomery Community College in Troy, N.C.

* Dec. 14: Rodney Dillard and The Dillard Band and Maggie Peterson bring a sleigh full of music and fun to East Tennessee with their Mayberry Christmas show featuring David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning.  The show is at 8 p.m. at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tenn.  Tickets are $25.  For more info, call (423) 354-5173.

* Dec. 15:   Rodney, Dillard and the Dillard Band, Maggie Peterson and David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning move on to Middle Tennessee with their popular Mayberry Christmas show, where they perform today at Mt. Juliet Middle School in Mt. Juliet at 6:30 p.m., presented by Abundant Life Church of Mt Juliet. The evening will begin with a showing of the “Christmas Story” episode. The show will be followed by a meet-and-greet with the performers.  For tickets ($20 for General Admission in first five rows; $15 General Admission in all other seats) or more info, call 615-754-7035.  Or tickets may be purchased online at Christmas in Mayberry.

* Dec. 18: It’s back to East Tennessee for Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band, Maggie Peterson and David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning and their Mayberry Christmas show.  They perform today at Freedom Hall Auditorium in Johnson City, Tenn.  Details TBA.

* Dec. 20: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

2014

* Jan. 3-5: Clint Howard greets fans and signs autographs at the Hollywood Show memorabilia convention at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, Calif.  For info, visit www.hollywoodshow.com.

* Jan. 11: James Best performs “Best in Hollywood” at the Green Room Community Theater in Newton, N.C. For more info, contact the box office at 828-464-6583 or visit www.the-green-room.org.

* Jan. 11: Ronnie Schell performs at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.  More info at www.fantasyspringsresort.com

* Jan. 17: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Jan. 28: 90th Birthday of Russell Hiatt of Floyd’s City Barber Shop in M0unt Airy, N.C.

* Feb. 12 and 13: Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling) and Ronnie Schell (two episodes of TAGS and Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”) greet fans and sign autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, N.C., from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. both days.

* Feb. 14: Maggie Peterson and Ronnie Schell perform Love Letters during a dinner show at Cross Creek Country Club in Mount Airy, N.C.  All tickets are $55, which includes dinner.  (No tickets will be available without dinner.)  Dinner is at 6:30 p.m., followed by the show.  Tickets should be available fairly soon from the Surry Arts Council and its website www.surryarts.org.

* Feb. 21: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Feb. 28-Mar. 16: James Best stars with wife Dorothy Best and Norma Frank in On Golden Pond at the Hickory Community Theatre in Hickory, N.C.  For info, visit http://hickorytheatre.org.

* Mar. 6-8: 17th Annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, Ala.  For info, visit www.lindseyfilmfest.com.

* Mar. 8: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Opie’s Hobo Friend” episode of TAGS, the first one written by Harvey Bullock, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C.  Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one.  For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Mar. 21: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Mar. 21-23: Karen Knotts has four performances of “Tied Up in Knotts” in Folsom, Calif.  Details TBA.

* Mar. 22: James Best presents “Best in Hollywood” at the Camden Fine Arts Center in Camden, S.C.  For more info, call the box office at 803-425-7676 or visit www.fineartscenter.org.

* Apr. 12: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “The Education of Ernest T. Bass” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C.  Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Apr. 18: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Apr. 24 and 25: Eagles’ Wings fundraiser event in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The golf tourney is on Thurs., and the dinner, silent auction, and entertainment are on Fri. night at the Bryant Conference Center.  Guests and more details TBA.  For now, just mark your calendar for this annual event that support Eagles’ Wings efforts to assist adults with disabilities.  More info at www.eagleswingsoftuscaloosa.org.

* Apr. 25-27: Maggie Peterson is a special guest for the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Mo.  More details TBA.  For info, visit www.cherryblossomfest.com.

* Apr. 26: James Best brings his “Best in Hollywood” show to the Newberry Opera House in Newberry, S.C.  For more info, call the box office at 803-276-6264 or visit www.newberryoperahouse.com.

* May 2 and 3: 4th Annual Mayberry Comes to Westminster Festival in Westminster, S.C.  Details TBA. For updates, visit: www.westminstersc.com/mayberry.

* May 10: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Rafe Hollister Sings” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C.  Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one.  For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* May 16: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* May 17 and 18: Mayberry in the Midwest in Danville, Ind.  Stars confirmed so far include Maggie Peterson, Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band, and a full slate of Mayberry Tribute Artists.  Many more details TBA, but for now, just mark your calendar. Updates at www.visitdowntowndanville.com.

* May 20-25: Ronnie Schell performs at the Improv Comedy Club at Harrah’s Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. For more info, visit www.harrahslasvegas.com.

* June 12-14: Ruta Lee appears at the Memphis Film Festival at the Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Miss.  For more info, visit, www.memphisfilmfestival.com.

* June 14: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Barney and Thelma Lou, Phfft” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C.  Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one.  For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* June 20: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* July 12: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Back to Nature” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one.  For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* July 18: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* July 23-27: Ronnie Schell performs at the Improv at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe (Nev.).  For info visit, www.harveystahoe.com.

* Aug. 9: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “The Songfesters” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C.  Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one.  For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Aug. 15: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Sept. 19: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Sept. 21-24: Life Lessons From Mayberry: It’s All There in Black and White in Ridgecrest, N.C. (outside Asheville), is a celebration of “The Andy Griffith Show” and the biblical truths and life applications found in the show. The three-night/four-day event is $295 per person (based on double occupancy). This price includes on-campus lodging, Bible study sessions based on favorite TAGS episodes, worship, an orchestra concert of TAGS tunes, and more. To register, call Ridgecrest Conference Center at (800) 588-7222 or visit www.lifeway.com/mayberry.com.

* Sept. 25-28: 25th Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C.   As always, numerous “Andy Griffith Show” stars will on hand. Stars already confirmed are hometown favorite Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) and Darling Boy Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band, who will perform a matinee show on Fri. Other festival favorites include David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning and the Mayberry band of tribute artists, the VW Boys, and Michael Hoover’s Elvis.

Also, there will be a special show on Fri. night by James Gregory, “the Funniest Man in America,” and the legendary Tams bring their soulful coastal music to the amphitheater on Fri. evening. And much more! There will be something for everybody at this special 25th Mayberry Days. Visit www.surryarts.org for more info.

**** News of Cast & Crew ****

Ron Howard’s Rush, this fall’s film about a legendary saga in Formula One racing, received very good reviews and has had solid box office sales (and now awards recognition, including some Oscar buzz), especially overseas, where Formula One is wildly popular.  It has grossed over $90 million worldwide since its release in September.

Jay-Z: Made in America, Ron’s documentary about hip-hop star Jay-Z’s music festival in Philadelphia, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September, and made its debut on Showtime in October.  The documentary has also been picked up for distribution to theaters next summer.

Meanwhile, Ron is now filming In the Heart of the Sea, a tragic story of the Essex, a whaling ship destroyed by a whale in 1820.  He has been filming in Great Britain and, most recently, the Canary Islands, where in early December the production company had to take shelter from devastating storms of near-typhoon strength.

And Ron and his Imagine Entertainment studio are producing a revival of the popular “24” TV series called “24: Live Another Day,” which is set to begin airing sometime in 2014.

Ron and Imagine partner Brian Grazer are also trying to bring the “Friday Night Lights” TV series to the big screen (where filmed versions of FNL, based on the FNL book, started in 2004). The interesting twist is that Imagine likely will use crowdfunding (that is, money from fans and others through Kickstarter or a similar program) as part of the financial backing for the new movie.

Maggie Peterson and Rodney Dillard  recently performed in Minnesota.  Rodney and wife Beverly also were able to visit the Taylor Home Inn (a B&B that’s a remarkable replica of the Taylor house on TAGS) in nearby Clear Lake, Wis.

Maggie and Ronnie Schell will be appearing at the Andy Griffith Museum (Feb. 12 and 13) and doing a performance of Love Letters for one night only (Feb. 14.) in Mount Airy, N.C. (See Floyd’s bulletin board above.)

James Best has had a full schedule with personal appearances and exhibitions of his original art. In October, he was in Ennis, Tex. for a big “Dukes of Hazzard” reunion. Many of his personal appearances are “Dukes” related, but he’s often joined for comedy sketches onstage by David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning.

And look for James (and David Browning, along with John Schneider, Bruce Davison and an attractive cast) in Return of the Killer Shrews. (Weaver’s has it on DVD.  )

On a tamer note, James is also set to star in a production of On Golden Pond at the Hickory (N.C.) Community Theatre starting February 28 next year.

The Surry Arts Council/Mayberry Days has an outstanding and extensive festival gallery of photos by Hobart Jones at www.surryarts.org/mayberrydays.

By the way, the TAGS stars at this year’s Mayberry Days festival were Betty Lynn, Maggie Peterson, James Best, Elizabeth MacRae, George Spence, Morgan Brittany, Peggy McCay, LeRoy McNees, Roland White (making his festival debut), and Margaret Kerry, along with Karen Knotts and George Lindsey Jr., plus other favorite entertainers such as the VW Boys, Michael Hoover, Ginger Boatwright and all the Mayberry tribute artists.

A month after Mayberry Days, it was all aboard for a floating Mrs. Wiley’s Tea Party when Jackie Joseph (Ernest T.’s Sweet Romeena) set sail in October with the Halloween Cruise to Mayberry 8 with fellow cast member LeRoy “Mack” McNees and a full deck of Mayberry frolickers.

And then about a week after returning from the Mayberry Cruise, Jackie Joseph celebrated her milestone 80th birthday with family and friends back home in Toluca Lake, Calif.

Richard O. (Dick) Linke, TAGS associate producer and longtime manager of Andy Griffith, Jim Nabors, Ken Berry, Maggie Peterson, Ronnie Schell and others, reports that he’s doing well. He celebrated his 96th birthday with a gathering of family and friends at his home in Hawaii on October 23rd.

Margaret Kerry  has been collaborating with George Lindsey Jr. on some comedy performances. And she did some interviews with George about show business and his memories of his dad. Those are expected to be on her website (www.tinkerbelltalks.com) at some point.

George Jr. also was a contestant on an episode of “Shop ’til You Drop” (Ben Weaver likes the sound of that!) airing on the Game Show Network in early December.  George won a trip to the Bahamas!

Karen Knotts’s performance of “Tied Up in Knotts” in Corydon, Ind., in October also helped raise $4,000 for the town’s public library.  Attagirl, Karen!  She also had recent engagements in Louisiana, Ohio and Kansas. Book her HERE to perform in your area!

A final note: We were late in hearing the news that actor Arthur Malet died on May 18. He was 85.

Born Vivian R. Malet in Lee-on-Solent, England, on September 24, 1927, he appeared in two episodes of TAGS, both in the Sixth Season.  First he was the Vagrant in “Lost and Found” (Episode #178) and then he played Purvis in “The Battle of Mayberry” (Episode #188).

That wide range of roles was typical for Arthur Malet, who changed his name for acting and played everything from a judge on “Bewitched” and a professor on “Wild, Wild West” to Graveyard Keeper in Halloween and a bum on “Bosom Buddies.”

He won a Special Award from the Drama Desk Awards in 1957 for his contributions to the Broadway revival of Volpone/The Misanthrope that was performed in French. He was also in three Broadway productions in the late 1950s before concentrating on film work.

Among his hundreds of film roles was also Mr. Dawes Jr. in Disney’s Mary Poppins. He was especially visible on TV shows from the 1960s through the 1980s, ranging from “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Monkees” to “Columbo” and “Charlie’s Angels” to “MacGyver” and “Dallas.”

Arthur Malet had a gloriously varied and full career playing interesting parts, large and small. We’re lucky that he made a couple of stops in Mayberry.

Special thanks to our unofficial stringer, eagle-eyed Brent Seguine, for bringing Arthur Malet’s passing to our attention.

**** Mayberry on the Web ****

The iMayberry Community
This TAGSRWC online group is organized and overseen by webmaster Allan “Floyd” Newsome.   You can check it out and sign up for free at: http://imayberrycommunity.com/.

The iMayberry Community complements 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, streaming video, 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 53 years ago–for us and generations to come!

Two Chairs, No Waiting is our weekly podcast of TAGS news, interviews and pretty much whatever happens to be going on in and around Mayberry. It’s hosted by 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 or view episodes you’ve missed. (There have been 259 episodes since the podcasts began five years ago, including a fascinating recent pair of episodes featuring an interview with Betty Lynn!)

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 live 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 a “brother figure” podcast called Burke on Mayberry, hosted by Kevin Burke.

TAGSRWC’s official page on Facebook now has more than 42,000 friends! 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 photos. 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 February, with the next eBullet planned for January.

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

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