Weaver’s Newsletter June 2023
An Online newsletter of
“The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
Welcome to the June Weaver’s Newsletter
Thank you for joining us for the third Weaver’s Newsletter of 2023. We’ve been working hard here at Weaver’s even though the first half of the year has been a little slow. Mr. Weaver has been kept busy keeping Asa awake during the night shift and organizing the shelves.
Summer is here and Floyd provided a report saying it’s “hot….92.” He’s no weatherman but I’m sure it’s warm where you are so try and stay in the shade and stay cool. Maybe head inside and watch The Andy Griffith Show in the air conditioning with friends and family or head up to the mountains where it’s cool up there while it’s hot down here.
Better yet, there is a “big” Mayberry event coming in June and a slower paced one in July. That’s not even mentioning the fall events that are scheduled so be sure to check out the Event Calendar to see which one(s) you might like to attend. With that said, let’s move along and see what’s happening in and around Mayberry.
For event information between issues of the Weaver’s Newsletter, visit the Event Calendar located at iMayberry.com for updates (iMayberry.com).
Floyd’s Barbershop Bulletin Board & Event Calendar
The Andy Griffith Museum, featuring the late Emmett Forrest’s amazing collection of Andy Griffith artifacts, is operating on its full, normal schedule. For complete updates on operating hours and other info, visit the website at AndyGriffithMuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
Here are upcoming events that folks have posted on Floyd’s bulletin board:
2023
* June 23-25: Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg festival in Scottsburg, Ind. Ever since the town of Danville, Ind., chose to close out their version of the Mayberry in the Midwest event in 2019 after six successful years, Mayberry fans throughout the Midwest and beyond have been hungry to have a major Mayberry event return to Indiana.
Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg is the answer to that desire. Special guests confirmed so far include Rodney Dillard (the guitar-playing Darling boy) and his Dillard Band, Ronnie Schell (two TAGS episodes and Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”), Margaret Kerry (Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey on TAGS), Dennis Rush (Opie pal Howie on TAGS), Dixie Griffith (daughter of Andy), Karen Knotts (daughter of Don), and Dreama Denver (wife of Bob Denver, who played Dud Wash in the “Divorce, Mountain Style” episode and Gilligan on “Gilligan’s Island”).
In addition, Mayberry tribute artists and other special guests will also be providing entertainment throughout the weekend, and there will be a free screenings of Murder in Coweta County (starring Andy Griffith), 2021’s documentary The Mayberry Effect, and 2021’s Mayberry Man movie. Special guest Dick Atkins, a producer of Murder in Coweta County, will be on hand for a Q&A session as part of the m0vie’s screening on Saturday,
Much of the festival is free, including a parade, tribute artist performances, a car show, and performances by local musicians. There were also be lots of food and crafts vendors and variety of games and activities for all ages. Ticketed portions include a Mayberry Celebrity Meet & Greet Dinner on Friday; separate shows by Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band, Ronnie Schell, and Karen Knotts; and a Q&A presentation with Dixie Griffith and Karen Knotts. For full details or to order tickets, check out the festival’s website at www.mayberrycomestoscottsburg.com.
* July 21 & 22: 11th Annual Mayberry Meetup, sponsored by TAGSRWC’s “Two Chairs, No Waiting” podcast, gathers in Mount Airy, N.C. For more info/schedule, visit this link: 11th Annual Mayberry Meetup. Also, please Register so we’ll know who’s attending the event. You can register by visiting this link: Mayberry Meetup 2023 Registration Note: There’s also a Mayberry Bible Study on Sunday morning, the 23rd.
* July 22: Timed to coincide with the Mayberry Meetup, Mayberry 101 author Neal Brower presents the second installment of his summer lecture series about TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. All three monthly, hour-long lectures this summer are about an episode featuring a key supporting character.
Today’s lecture features “Floyd the Gay Deceiver.” Lecture admission is included with Andy Griffith Museum admission ($8 for adults, $6 for ages 12 and under). Visit www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Aug. 19: Mayberry 101 author Neal Brower concludes his summer lecture series about TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C.
Today’s lecture features Jim Nabors in “Gomer the House Guest.” Lecture admission is included with Andy Griffith Museum admission ($8 for adults, $6 for ages 12 and under). Visit www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Sept. 19-24: 34th Annual Mayberry Days® in Mount Airy, N.C. TAGS cast members confirmed so far include Rodney Dillard, who will be performing with his Dillards band; Ronnie Schell (two TAGS roles and Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.”); Dennis Rush (Opie pal Howie); and Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul Jason), who will be performing with his Christian Rock band, David and the Giants.
A TAGS cast member making her first appearance at any Mayberry event is Margaret Teele, who played Agnes Jean Parker in “A Visit to Barney Fife” and also appeared in two episodes of “Gomer Pyle, U.S.MC.”
The Surry Arts Council is also pleased to announce that returning for his second Mayberry Days® is actor-producer-director Dan Roebuck (Cliff Lewis on “Matlock”).
Other ticketed parts of the festival that are confirmed include: Comedy by John Floyd (aka “the Mouth of Mayberry”), concert by The Embers, Mayberry Days® Golf Tournament (aka The Emmett), Mayberry Days® Dinner & Entertainment, concert by Band of Oz, Michael Hoover’s “Memories of Elvis” with Denise Glass as Patsy Cline, Tim White and Troublesome Hollow’s “Tribute to Mayberry,” concert by The Bellamy Brothers, Professor Brower’s Lecture, and Colonel Tim’s Talent Time.
More special guests and festival events are TBA. For more info, visit www.mayberrydays.org. Tickets for some portions of the weekend are already available HERE.
* Oct. 28-Nov. 2: Cruise to Mayberry 16 sets sail for five days from Charleston, S.C., with ports of call at Half Moon Cay and Nassau, Bahamas, aboard Carnival’s Sunshine. The cruise’s Special Guest will be Joy Ellison (Mary Wiggins and others). “All sail with thee, Miss Mayberry!”
Also on board will be a full crew of Mayberry tribute artists, including Dixie Griffith (Andy’s daughter) as Mt. Pilot Fun Girl Skippy. For more info and to book call All About Cruises (336)538-4926.
2024
* May 8-10, 2024: The Mayberry Retreat is an event featuring Mayberry author Randy Turner and held at the beautiful Sauder Heritage Inn in Archbold, Ohio. Last years inaugural Mayberry Retreat was a real treat and this year is expected to be a good time for all. Randy will be presenting How Andy Griffith Became Andy Taylor examining Griffith’s early career and the origin of The Andy Griffith Show. Mayberry Days regular Tim White will be providing entertainment filled with bluegrass, humor, and a tune or two Mayberry fans will recognize. The event will be a relaxing all-Mayberry, all-the-time experience so if this sounds good to you, visit the website for details mayberrybooks.com/mayberryretreat/
Complete Series DVD Set of Mayberry R.F.D. ($48)
Mayberry fans have been waiting for years to get the complete series of Mayberry R.F.D. on DVD and our wish has finally come true.
We can all spend even more time in Mayberry with this wonderful addition to the town we all came to love on The Andy Griffith Show. We get to see more of Goober, Howard, Emmett, Sam Jones and so many more friends who make our hometown such a wonderful place to visit.
The set contains 12 DVDs with all 78 episodes and 33 3/4 hours of Mayberry memories to enjoy.
Gilligan, Maynard and Me – Book or Audiobook ($15 – $20)
In 1993 Bob Denver wrote this career memoir, which encompasses stories from Dobie Gillis, Gilligan’s Island, The Good Guys, Dusty’s Trail, Far Out Space Nuts and all three Gilligan movies filmed in the late 70s and early 80s.
Every word in this book was written by Bob himself, which means his wonderful story telling talent shines through on every page. His attention to detail regarding stunts from Gilligan’s Island is not only astounding, but informative.
Also in 1993 , Bob Denver recorded an audio of his book. This was long before audio books became a “thing,” but now they are a “thing” and Mr. Denver’s wife, Dreama, has made Bob’s book to be available to his fans. After having the original cassette recording digitized, you can now hear Bob’s book read by Bob himself!
Choose the physical book, the audiobook, or BOTH!
****News of Cast & Crew ****
Ron Howard (Opie) and his wife Cheryl celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on June 7th. They were married June, 7 1975 having gone on their fist date November 1, 1970. Weaver’s isn’t sure how they celebrated their wedding anniversary but we do know that on that first date, Ron took Cheryl to see a movie, It’s a Mad Mad Mad World, and for pizza at Barnone’s in Toluca Lake. Barnone’s is no longer in business but reports are the Howard’s still celebrate that first date by watching a movie and having pizza. Rather than going out, they pick a movie on Netflix and order take-out pizza. Ron says of Cheryl, “I met her, and there was never anybody else.”
Imagine Entertainment, founded by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, recently closed an exclusive multiyear first-look film deal with Amazon Studios. In making Amazon its new movie home, Imagine will give Amazon “first look” on narrative features and documentaries Imagine intends to produce. Jennifer Salke, the head of Amazon and MGM Studios said, “Whether it’s a captivating drama like Thirteen Lives or a poignant documentary like Lucy and Desi, the team at Imagine Entertainment has an incredible gift for storytelling,”
There is more going on with Imagine Entertainment than Weaver’s feels qualified to report but rest assured that Ron Howard remains a creative and driving force in the industry. We continue to celebrate his success.
Clint Howard (Leon) has been busy creating fun memes on Instagram and sharing his travels with fans. He’s been staying busy and just recently confirmed he has written a script for the sequel to his 1995 horror comedy Ice Cream Man. The original Ice Cream Man, not really Mayberry-ish, has developed a strong cult following over the years since its release and Clint plans to bring that audience more killer ice cream man action. No word if he has plans to dress in a cowboy hat or to sell peanut butter and jelly sandwich ice cream.
In the mean time, Clint continues to appear around the country at pop-culture events where he signs autographs and meets fans. Be on watch to see if he’ll be in your area.
Margaret Kerry (Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey), the original Tinker Bell live action model, was seen in Disneyland on May 11th being escorted by none other than Peter Pan. Margaret was celebrating her 94th birthday at Disneyland. What an awesome gift for fans to see her reunited with Peter Pan and celebrating yet another milestone in her amazing life. Margaret also attended the Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Mo. the end of April and will be at the Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg Ind. event coming the end of June. To follow her busy schedule visit her website, Tinker Bell Talks.
Rodney Dillard (guitar playing Darling boy) has news and, well, BIG ain’t the word for it. On May 19th, Rodney became Dr. Dillard when he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Public Affairs from Missouri State University. Dr. Dillard was recognized during the Missouri State commencement in Springfield, MO. Afterward, he presented the keynote address for the graduation exercises. At-a-boy Rodney!
Dr. Dillard and The Dillards will be performing at the Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg Ind. event coming the end of June. Check their official website for tour dates as they are confirmed and for The DIllards CDs and videos.
Dennis Rush (Howie) is gearing up for Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg in Scottsburg, Ind. coming up 23- 25 June 2023. He has also been taking photos of celebrating the beautiful sunsets in his hometown San Diego, Calif. and sharing them online. June 10th marked his birthday so Weaver’s would like to take a moment to wish him the best in the coming year. You can wish him well in person if you are attending the Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg Ind. event coming the end of June as Dennis will be greeting fans during the weekend.
Ronnie Schell (two episodes and Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”) continues to spend time online interacting with fans. He answers questions, posts photos, and gives information about appearances on his personal Facebook page. He’s recently posted images and video from his amazing career with commentary and insights. He will be coming to the Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg Ind. event as well so come out and see him in person. To keep up with Ronnie, visit his website (RonnieSchell.com) to find out more.
Weaver’s is so happy to be in contact the Peter Ackerman, the son of Mayberry’s own Miss Ellie – Elinor Donahue, and received this kind note from him. “I speak to my mother by phone on Sundays and frequently share the messages I receive from fans of The Andy Griffith Show. She is always both surprised and delighted! I will invite her to pass along a message for me to share with everyone!” Thank you to Peter for letting his mom know that she is on the minds of Mayberry folks. It’s wonderful to hear that she may pass along a message to us in the future but should that not occur, we appreciate Peter keeping her aware of our love for what she did to make our hometown such a friendly place.
Stark Howell and Cort Howell (sons of Hoke Howell, Mayberry’s first Dud Wash) have finished a “rough cut” of the Mayberry Man TV series. The series takes place about a year after the final scene of the Mayberry Man movie and follows the daily lives of the movie characters. MANY fans of The Andy Griffith Show helped make both the movie and the series a reality and also make appearances.
The Mayberry Man movie was a finalist for Best Comedy at the 50th Annual International Christian Visual Media (ICVM) Crown Awards but didn’t walk away from the awards as the winner. If you get a chance to watch the award show, you will be able to see Barney (Rik Roberts) and Floyd (Allan Newsome) presenting an award. Let us know if you see them as the air date hasn’t been announced as of yet. If you haven’t yet seen the movie , you can pick up a DVD or other related items at Weaver’s Department Store. The series is planed to be released in the fall of 2023. We are still unsure exactly what network will air the series so stay tuned for more information.
Mayberry Man DVD – Special SALE Price! – ($15)
Mayberry Man is about an arrogant movie star who is busted for speeding in a small southern town and sentenced to attend Mayberry Fest: a weeklong festival celebrating The Andy Griffith Show. Immersed in a modern-day Mayberry, he’s given a chance to discover the true meaning of friendship and family.
If you would like to have “Floyd” (Allan Newsome) autograph your DVD, just let Mr. Weaver know. Like water and air, there’s no charge for the autograph. (NOTE: To autograph the DVD will require the factory packaging to be opened.)
****Chapter News ****
Mayberry chapter (Knoxville, Tenn.) members gathered and phoned in to have a birthday party for Elinor Donahue on April 22, 2023. They phoned Elinor and talked with her for half an hour while they watched the “Ellie Saves a Female” episode in the background. Elinor told the chapter members things she remembered from that episode one of which was that is was a lot of working with Frankie Flint (Edris March). She also talked about other parts of her career like when she was star struck meeting Ray Bolger (Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz) when she was young. She dared asked him for an autograph. It was BIG!
Don’t forget that the Mayberry chapter produces a paper newsletter with the latest edition publishing this very month. The Mayberry Minutes is available for $20 for two or three 16 page issues per year or $10 for a pdf version. If you like your Mayberry news on paper, or as a pdf, Mayberry Minutes is a great option. For more info, contact editor Dennis Beal at KingOfMayberry@comcast.net.
Trivial Trivialities chapter (Pawleys Island, S.C.) had a BIG Mayberry party at their home base in late May. Two very special guests were in attendance, Tim White of the “Troublesome Hollow” bluegrass band (formerly of The VW Boys) and Dixie Griffith, Andy Griffith‘s daughter, were on hand for the fun. This event was so big, the local newspaper, Costal Observer, did a full page story about the goings-on with pictures and everything. What a special evening it was.
Blood Brothers (Macon, Mo.) chapter attended the Mayberry Retreat in Berea, Kentucky in early May. The event was hosted by Randy Turner, Mayberry enthusiast and expert. There were three days of presentations, musical concerts, and regional treats for all to enjoy. Special guests were Leroy Mack McNees and his wife Janice. A very special experience for the attendees was when Leroy played THE dobro that he played on TAGS.
Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board (Internet.) chapter member Christie McLendon (you’ve seen her at events as Charlene Darling) was recently visiting national parks with her family and traveled to see the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. While visiting the museums, she was shocked to see a face that seemed familiar. The painting (seen below) sure looks like Col. Harvey and might prove he DID live among the Shawnee after all. While it did turn out not to be the Col. but instead the sculptor responsible for the Crazy Horse Memorial, it makes one wonder if writers from The Andy Griffith Show might have see this painting and loosely based Col. Harvey on him.
That’s all the Chapter News for this issue. Weaver’s would LOVE to hear the news from your chapter so we can all celebrate what you are up to. Please keep those chapter reports and photos coming to Floyd@imayberry.com and we’ll try and spread the word right here in Weaver’s Newsletter about what’s happening where you are.
The Mayberry Puzzle Book – Season 1 –
($15)
The Mayberry Puzzle Book – Season 1 contains Crossword and Word Search puzzles for each episode. However, the book is much more than puzzles. For each episode, there is a summary and a playbill. The puzzles contain questions with a variety of difficulty. In most cases, you will need to watch the episode to complete the puzzle. That is why we consider this book to be a watching companion. The perfect excuse to watch your favorite show and increase your trivia knowledge.
265 pages
****Chapter Update ****
TAGSRWC has no new chapters that started since the April issue of The Weaver’s Newsletter. That could be because Mr. Weaver missed it or it could be because there really haven’t been any new ones in a while. Either way, here’s the latest chapter info:
Our total number of chapters that have started since TAGSRWC was founded in 1979 is 1,485.
Starting a chapter of TAGSRWC is still just as easy as it was four decades ago. You simply pick a name that hasn’t previously been selected by another group. (You can check the searchable list of chapter names already taken at www.tagsrwc.com.) Then submit your chapter’s name with your location and a list of your founding members by e-mail (to Goober@imayberry.com) or by U.S. Mail to TAGSRWC’s HQ (118 16th Avenue South, Suite 4, PMB 146, Nashville, TN 37203-3100). That’s all it takes!
Whether or not you start or join a local chapter, you can always join our online “Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board?” chapter or any of several exclusively online chapters on Facebook and MeWe (see Mayberry on the Web below)..
Tied Up in Knotts Me & My Dad Paperback ($19 or $29)
Much has been written about Don Knotts’s career, especially about his iconic role as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, but personal views into the man himself are few and far between.
In Tied Up in Knotts, a loving daughter provides a full-life narrative of her father: Don’s difficult childhood in an abusive home, his escape into comedic performance, becoming a household name, his growth as a feature film actor, his failing health, and his family life throughout, leading to touching and hilarious moments that will make the reader laugh and cry.
Those looking for a behind-the-scenes peek at the show, from the nuts and bolts of production to the hilarious pranks and heartfelt moments between the cast and crew, will see it all through the eyes of the little girl who grew up on the set. Knotts will delight readers with the memories of celebrities touched by Don’s life, including Ron Howard, Tim Conway, Andy Griffith, Maggie Peterson, John Waters, Barbara Eden, and Jim Carrey. Tied Up In Knotts delves beyond Barney Fife nostalgia to tell the life story of a man and father.
Weaver’s offers autographed books by Karen, they come with an autographed bookplate. Sorry, but the autographs can’t be personalized.
This paperback book is a wonderful read at 288 pages. Your Choice:
unautographed $19.00
autographed $29.00
Mayberry T-shirts (prices vary)
Head over to Weaver’s and choose from 84+ different designs, styles, long & short sleeve, and colors.
Weaver’s was just able to get back in stock the royal blue version of Mayberry Union High tees and sweatshirts. Head over to Weaver’s Department Store and find a shirt you would love to wear and share your Mayberry spirit.
**** TAGSRWC Reruns****
Over the years, there have been many reports about the things that happen in and around Mayberry. Weaver’s wanted to re-highlight some of these past events so fans could travel back in time to experience them once again. The following comes from the Mother Figure Chapters one-time newsletter called “My Sen-Tence” published on November 30, 1995. The newsletter, and article, was written by Allan Newsome so…just don’t over expect.
35th Anniversary Celebration: A Mayberry Reunion
On September 30 and October 1, 1995 a very special celebration was held at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Twenty cast members from “our hometown” gathered together to pay tribute to “The Andy Griffith Show” and share their experiences in Mayberry.
Neal Brower, member of the Barney Chapter and known as Professor Brower to readers of “The Bullet”, took the stage to open the event. Neal was instrumental in the planning and was a driving force behind the event and we, the members of TAGSRWC, are grateful for his effort. Thanks Neal.
Following Neal’s introduction, the Darling Boys (Doug Dillard, Rodney Dillard, Mitch Jayne, and Dean Webb) took the stage and honored TAGS faithful with more than a couple of our favorite Darling tunes. They had the Stevens Center audience tapping toes and clapping hands in no time flat.
Richard O. Linke, TAGS Associate Producer and long time personal manager to Andy Griffith, graced us all with his recollections of time spent working on “The Andy Griffith Show” and with Andy in general. He walked on stage wearing a brown corduroy baseball cap with the word Mayberry embroidered on it in yellow. That cap was one of the original cast caps given to all the folks that worked on TAGS. He said that he had not worn the hat for years but wanted to wear it to Winston-Salem so people would know who he was.
James Best, guitar player Jim Lindsey, walked onto the stage with a guitar slung over his shoulder proclaiming that he was always asked if he really played the guitar on the show. He was going to prove he could play and was just about to start strumming when he ran out of time for his part of the program and had to give up the stage. He did have time to mention that he enjoyed his time on the TAGS episodes he was on and told us about some of the other projects that he has worked on like the “Twilight Zone”, “The Dukes of Hazzard” and several westerns he appeared in.
Amzie Strickland, Miss Rosemary , treated the audience by reading entries from her day planner that she had written back when she landed her first role on TAGS. The entries were things like, “Got part on Andy Griffith Show…buy new hose.” It was an interesting insight to the things.
she was thinking about and I for one enjoyed every minute.Joanna Moore, Nurse Peggy, came on stage and spoke about her time on “The Andy Griffith Show” and sang “Down in the Valley” making us all feel like we were sitting on Andy’s front porch.
Jean Carson came out for two appearances on stage. The first time dressed as Daphene the fun girl and the second as Naomi the escaped convict. Her “Hello Doll” thrilled the hearts of all the fans. “If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself” was also a big hit.
Bernard Fox, Malcom Merriweather, was wonderful with his performance of British pub songs. He had the crowd laughing and singing along. His first words following the “spontaneous ovation” were, “Aren’t ya’ kind. Aren’t ya’ kind.”
Keith Thibodeaux, Opie’s pal Johnny Paul Jason, came out and said a few words about his time on TAGS and how it compared to his work on “I Love Lucy” where he played “Little Ricky”. He said that he enjoyed TAGS much more, mainly because there were other kids on the set that he could play with. Then he showed us why he had earned the role of Little Ricky by performing on his drums.
George Lindsey, Goober (like you didn’t know that already), kept the house in tears with his stand-up comedy routine. He was a big hit, as he always is. He ended his performance with the great poem, he wrote, called, “What Mayberry Means to Me.” If you’ve never heard this poem, check out his autobiographical book, “Goober in a Nutshell”, and you’ll see why it cracks folks up.
Maggie Peterson, Charlene Darling, charmed the fans with song. She brought out her “brothers” and the Darlings sang, “Salty Dog” and other songs that make you cry. The only thing bad about the singing was when it ended.
Hoke Howell, Charlene’s husband Dud Wash, shared memories of the time he spend on the set and explained to us why Bob Denver was used as Dud in the final appearance of Mr. Wash. He said the truth of the matter is Bob was about to start some new show called, “Gilligan’s Island”and CBS wanted him to be on TV all he could be to promote the new show. Bob Denver was a great Gilligan, but there’s really only one Dud.
Jackie Joseph, Ramona Ancrum, told about the fun she had on the TAGS set. She also spoke of her ex-husband, Ken Berry, and the time he spent on “Mayberry, RFD”. She was just as sweet as could be and was bubbling over with emotion from all the love the fans were showing her. I even got to dance with “my darling Romeena” for a picture at the reception following the show.
Howard Morris, Ernest T. Bass, made his entrance in typical Ernest T. style by running down the aisle of Steven Center throwing rocks, laughing, and hugging all the pretty girls he could find. And of course he sang “Old Aunt Maria” for us playing along with his gas can all tuned up.
Elinor Donahue, Ellie Walker, told us about how nervous she was when they were suppose to record the song for the Christmas episode. Andy asked her to sit down on the floor of the recording studio because he could see she was nervous. They both sat right down in the middle of the studio and Andy would play his guitar and hum along saying she should start singing whenever she felt ready. So, whenever you’re watching the Christmas episode remember that Andy and Ellie were really sitting on the floor of a recording studio when they were singing “Away in a Manger.”
Arlene Golonka, Millie, spoke about TAGS but also about her time on “Mayberry, RFD” where she played Ken Berry’s love interest. She also revealed that George Lindsey was the one who introduced her to her ex-husband and said with a twinkle in her eye that she’d never forgive him for that. At the reception, I told Arlene that the guys I work with call Jan, Millie so she made sure Jan got a picture of the “2 Millie’s”.
Betty Lynn, Thelma Lou, was very appreciative of the standing ovation she received when she took the stage. Betty is one of the most caring people I have ever met. She really does appreciate the fans and is thankful for the love they show her.
While Betty was on stage, they brought a telephone on stage and called Aneta Corsaut, Helen. Aneta had planned to attend the event, but was unable, due to her health. The audience gave her a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes. Betty was in tears and by the sound of her voice you could tell that Aneta was touched by the sentiment. She told us all that she wished she could have been there with us and was thankful to visit by phone. This was truly a moment that all those present in Stevens Center will remember for a lifetime.
To close the evening, Don Knotts came out and performed several skits and a scene from “No Time for Sergeants”. It was a fitting ending to a BIG evening.
To sum it all up, Jim Clark (our Presiding Goober) said, “This was better than Disney World for TAGS fans.”
Barbershop Hair Styles Print
($12)
Mr. Weaver has been working with Floyd to bring you a recreation of the “Official Hair Styles for MEN and BOYS” print that hangs in Floyd’s Barber Shop.
The print is 16″x 20″ on heavy weight stock. The print will be shipped in an art tube to protect it during shipment.
he print includes a recreation of the sample hair styles offered at Floyd’s Barber Shop and a scene representative of a certain man and his son walking home from the fishin’ hole in the top left corner. Get yourself a copy for your barber shop or Mayberry room.
NOTE: There is a slight fuzziness to the depicted “heads” if viewed within 10 inches of the print. Mr. Weaver thinks that’s “art” but wanted to make customers aware.
The Mayberry Effect is a humorous and inspiring film exploring how The Andy Griffith Show has influenced individuals and audiences over many generations. This film follows David Browning, the nation’s number one Barney Fife tribute artist, Allan Newsome, the Floyd The Barber tribute artist, and many other tribute artists as they entertain crowds all over the nation at various Mayberry festivals helping new and old Andy Griffith Show audiences laugh and stay connected to one of America’s favorite television sitcoms of all time.
The Mayberry Effect also explores how fans today continue to celebrate the sitcom through festivals like Mayberry Days, decorating their own homes and businesses in all things Mayberry, through participating in Bible studies based on the lessons taught in the show and by dressing up as their favorite characters.
The question is, “How long will The Mayberry Effect last?”
The Andy Griffith Show has never been off the air since its last season in 1968. Will people continue to flock to Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mt. Airy, North Carolina to experience that Mayberry feeling or will the sitcom fade away into past like so many other television shows have done over the past 60 years?
**** Mayberry on the Web ****
The iMayberry Community
This TAGSRWC online group is organized and overseen by webmaster Allan “Floyd” Newsome with big help from Keith “Col. Harvey” Brown. You can check out the fun of this online community 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 pages, online newsletters (such as The eBullet), weaversdepartmentstore.com and chat rooms.
“Two Chairs, No Waiting” is our weekly podcast of TAGS news, interviews and pretty much whatever’s happening 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). As of this week, there have been a mind-boggling 740 episodes since Allan launched the podcast in October 2008. Past episodes are in an online Archives in case you want to listen to or view classic installments you’ve missed.
And look around the main Mayberry Podcasts web page for various other links, including one for another outstanding Mayberry-related podcast: “Burke on Mayberry“ (hosted by TAGSRWC’s Kevin Burke since 2008). There are also links for the Mayberry Devotional hosted by Brian Rose and for the Mayberry Bible Study Podcast.
TAGSRWC’s official page on Facebook has over 250,000 Followers. You can find us at www.facebook.com/tagsrwc. 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!
We also have links in our “Liked by this Page” section to the pages (in the “About” section) of several TAGSRWC chapters on Facebook, as well as to Facebook pages for Mayberry Days,® the Andy Griffith Museum, TAGS actors and others. Click “See All” to check out all the links.
Even Ben Weaver has his own Facebook page at www.facebook.com/weaversdepartmentstore. It features all the latest in Mayberry items and merchandise news.
And TAGSRWC also has a growing presence on www.MeWe.com. Mayberry’s pioneering outpost on MeWe is “Sittin’ on a Velvet Pillow” chapter, headed up by Lynn Thomas. That group was followed in short order by Allan Newsome and the “Two Chairs, No Waiting” Podcast and by “Only One Word I Can Think of…Big!” (a TAGSRWC group that’s also on Facebook), administered by Myron Clark and Tommy Rainwater and an able crew.
In case you’re not familiar with MeWe, it’s similar to Facebook a lot smaller and a bit more calm. It has no ads so it’s more along the lines of a quiet street like Willow or Woods Way as compared to the hustle and bustle of Main Street in downtown Mayberry. (“You’re on my foot! You’re on my foot!”) If you’re looking to “relax, slow down, take it easy,” then you might want to check out some of the TAGSRWC groups on MeWe.
**** Customer Testimony ****
I am a “careful buyer” and I always enjoy shopping online at Weaver’s. You can tell Mrs. Weaver really enjoys her job, unlike my father, because she always takes the time to include a personal handwritten note. I guess your ordinary person would characterize that as excellent customer service, but I just don’t like to chit chat.
Mrs. Weaver often includes a free token of appreciation such as a sticker or a collector card. As long as she doesn’t start including a playing card, I’m fine with that, as I don’t gamble. Weaver’s has the best selection of T-shirts, including long sleeves, which are perfect for sunny days.
Their stylish selections help prevent me from getting the herpes from being out in the sun too long. Their shirts are also soft and don’t tickle the back of your neck, like when you just had a haircut and those little hairs are between your skin and shirt collar.
I like to keep my shopping dollars in Mayberry, not in the big cities like Raleigh or Mt. Pilot and in turn, a portion of Weaver’s proceeds helps support Mayberry events. I highly recommend shopping with Weaver’s. It won’t lay on your chest.
My only negative comment is that they don’t carry hair ribbons.
L. Crosswaithe
**** Post Note ****
Another issue of Weaver’s Newsletter comes to a close and I want to thank you for making it this far. Thanks to everyone who sent in updates about your chapters and to all of you who dropped by WeaversDepartmentStore.com to browse and buy. Your support means more to Jan and to me thank we can express.
Remember that between issues of the Weaver’s Newsletter you can keep up with all the happenings in Mayberry with the daily Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board? (aka “WBMUTBB?”) Digest. You can sign up for that list by going to WBMUTBB.com and choosing the “Join/Subscribe/Unsubscribe” link. NEW is the WBMUTBB Facebook GROUP and a link to it is also found at WBMUTBB.com. It’s a private group administered by…well, me. It’s made up of TAGS fans only and I do my best to make sure things are fun for all…both on the WBMUTBB Digest emails and the Facebook group.
Finally, the next issue of our Weaver’s Newsletter will be published in August so make sure you’re subscribed.
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