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

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Hey folks, it’s time for another edition of Weaver’s Newsletter! As summer is beginning to wind down, the big event—Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, North Carolina—is just around the corner. We had great events this summer as both Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg and the Mayberry Meetup were successes in their own right. Weaver’s has recaps from both events below.

While not strictly part of The Andy Griffith Show, season 2 of Mayberry Man wrapped up filming at the end of June and is expected to release sometime in the next year (maybe spring/summer 2027). We’ve got updates on that for you as well!

I hope you enjoy this issue because we love sharing neat items available at Weaver’s Department Store and keeping you up to date on news/happenings across the Mayberry fan community. Take a moment to browse through and see what catches your eye. You might even find a fun gift or treat for yourself, your friends, or your family because Mrs. Weaver has been hard at work coming up with new items that are exclusive to Weaver’s.

So, let’s take a stroll down the road to the fishing hole and see what’s happening around Mayberry!

== Mayberry Days 2026 ==

Hopefully most of you know about the biggest Mayberry event of the year but just in case you don’t, here’s an article to make sure you don’t miss out on the fun. – Editor

If you’ve ever wished you could step off the couch, walk right into Mayberry, and spend a few days where the sheriff doesn’t carry a gun and everybody still knows your name, Mount Airy, North Carolina, comes pretty close every September.

That’s the spirit of Mayberry Days. Andy Griffith’s real hometown—the place that inspired the fictional town we all love—turns into a week-long family reunion for fans of The Andy Griffith Show. In 2026 the festival runs September 21–27, marking the 37th annual celebration and adding extra meaning in the year of Andy’s 100th birthday.

It started small in 1990 as a one-day gathering to mark the show’s 30th anniversary. The idea started at Frances Bavier’s (Aunt Bee) estate auction earlier that year, and folks just kept coming back. Now it’s nearly a week of concerts, contests, parades, and that unmistakable Mayberry feeling, organized by the Surry Arts Council. Fans travel from every state and several countries because, for a few days, downtown Mount Airy really does feel like home.

You’ll find most of the action within easy walking distance: the Andy Griffith Playhouse, Historic Earle Theatre, the newer Arts Center, the Andy Griffith Museum, and the Blackmon Amphitheatre. Wear comfortable shoes—you’ll be glad you did.

The week mixes the familiar with new treats. There’s the Saturday morning Mayberry Days Parade down Main Street, the Mayor’s proclamation, guided tours of the Playhouse, and plenty of chances to meet special guests for photos and autographs. Kids have their own activities, and the rest of us can jump into the contests that have become traditions: The Andy Griffith Show trivia (youth and adult), checkers, Mr. Tucker’s apple-peeling contest, pie eating, the “Goober Says Hay” bale toss, and more. Thursday usually brings “The Emmett” golf tournament, and the WBMUTBB auction always turns up unique Mayberry treasures you won’t find anywhere else.

Evenings fill up with live music—beach, country, and the kinds of songs Andy grew up with. This year’s lineup includes names like Too Much Sylvia, The Embers featuring Craig Woolard, Band of Oz, Tim White & Troublesome Hollow and Rodney Dillard & The Dillards, plus tribute shows and presentations (including one celebrating Andy’s life and career). Sunday often wraps things up with a chapel service and sing-along. And yes, you can still grab a pork-chop sandwich while you’re in town.

Tickets for the ticketed concerts and special events are on sale through the Surry Arts Council (online by Eventbrite or in person at the Playhouse). Many outdoor happenings are free. Lodging fills up, so check VisitMayberry.com early. The official site, MayberryDays.org, has maps, the latest schedule, and vendor details.

It’s the kind of week that reminds you why we keep watching those reruns. Life feels a little simpler, the music sounds a little sweeter, and you leave feeling like you’ve spent time with old friends. If you’ve never been, this is a good year to come. If you have, well… you already know. We’ll see you in Mayberry.

Floyd’s Barbershop Bulletin Board & Event Calendar

The Andy Griffith Museum, featuring the late Emmett Forrest’s amazing collection of Andy Griffith artifacts, is a must-see attraction for any visit to Mount Airy, N.C. 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:

* Sept. 21-27: 37th Annual Mayberry Days® in Mount Airy, N.C. Special Guests confirmed so far include The Dillards (featuring Rodney Dillard) in concert, Karen Knotts (daughter of Don) presenting her newest show, “Tied Up in Knotts…Untied,” and Bill Knotts (nephew of Don) with a presentation of his own. Also confirmed to attend are popular TAGS cast alums Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul Jason), Joy Ellison (Effie Muggins, Mary Wiggins, et al), and Margaret Teele (Agnes Jean Parker).

A first-time attendee this year is actress Kathy Garver, best known for playing Cissy on “Family Affair.” She also did the narration for the audio version of Becoming Thelma Lou, Betty Lynn’s posthumous memoir. Kathy is currently seen widely in commercials for ClearCaptions phones. And the festival is pleased to announce that returning this year are special guests Dan Roebuck (Cliff Lewis on “Matlock”), Laura Hagen (widow of Mayberry maestro Earle Hagen), and Dreama Denver (widow of Bob Denver).

Tim White & Troublesome Hollow also returns with their popular mixture of comedy and bluegrass music, and  Michael Hoover reigns with his “Memories of Elvis” show featuring Denise Glass as Patsy Cline. Also scheduled are comedy by John Floyd (The Mouth of Mayberry) and John Riggle and concerts by Mayberry Melodies, Band of Oz, The Embers featuring Craig Woolard, and first-timers The Cleverlys and Too Much Sylvia. 

Neal Brower will be presenting his popular Professor Brower’s Lecture on Saturday (plus he will offer an entirely different, bonus America 250-themed presentation about “Andy Discovers America” on Friday), and Randy Turner will be doing three different presentations during the week. Registration is also still open for the Mayberry Days Golf Tournament  (aka The Emmett). Additional Special Guests and other details TBA. For tickets and complete info as plans develop, visit www.mayberrydays.org.

* Nov 13-14: Mayberry at Bluegrass Museum and Hall of Fame (Owensboro, Ky.) has been confirmed in celebration of Rodney Dillard’s donation of his musical collection to the museum. The stated plan is to have a concert at the Woodward Theatre (part of the museum) on Friday the 13th (band with a Mayberry flavor) but nothing is booked yet. They may be having trouble booking that date due to cautious folks like Barney. On Saturday the 14th (10a – 5p), you would be able to tour the museum and see several Mayberry tribute artists wandering through and visiting with patrons. Rodney’s Concert would likely start at 7p with Mayberry tribute artists Interacting with crowd beforehand and likely interacting with Rodney on stage. The details are still not nailed down and the even is not yet showing on the Bluegrass Museum & Hall of Fame website (bluegrasshall.org) but keep an eye out for it to be added.

2027

* April 9 & 10: The 7th Annual Mayberry-Lucy Festival in Granville, Tenn., known as “Tennessee’s Mayberry Town,” is in the planning stage, but, based on previous years, you can be assured it will be a wonderful event with shows, music, autographs, parade, cruise-in, Mayberry Squad Car Nationals Obstacle Course, and much more. There will be a special time to honor memory of our great friend Dennis Rush (Howie Pruitt) and much more will be announced as the time draws near. For schedule details, updates and other info, visit www.granvilletn.com.

* June 4-6, 2027: Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg returns to Scottsburg, Ind., after a successful 2026 event. (NOTE: The dates for the event have moved forward in the month once again to avoid conflicting with a large festival held in an adjacent county that’s been going on for many years.) This will be the fourth Mayberry comes to Scottsburg and the organizers hope you will make this an annual trip on your Mayberry calendar. Visit the website for more details, including tickets to some portions (but most of the festival is free), at MayberryComesToScottsburg.com.

###

== Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg ==

A wonderful time was had by everyone who attended Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg in Scottsburg, Indiana. At least, that’s what I’ve heard from all the reports! Fans came from more than 13 states to attend the third annual event, and they certainly weren’t disappointed.

Eric Lowry—the event coordinator and Mayberry tribute artist for Mayor Pike—and his team did an amazing job putting together shows, activities, the parade, and even a car show to make the event truly shine.

Cast members from The Andy Griffith Show and their families entertained the crowds throughout the weekend. Rodney Dillard, the guitar-playing Darling boy, and the Dillard Band performed Saturday evening to a full house. As always, they brought smiles and laughs to everyone in attendance. Rodney always puts on a show that fans thoroughly enjoy, and it’s one you really don’t want to miss!

There were special Q&A sessions with Keith Thibodeaux and Joy Ellison, and all the cast members were available for autographs at various times during the weekend. Mayberry daughters Dixie Griffith (Andy’s daughter) and Karen Knotts (Barney’s daughter) are always delightful additions to any event, bringing wonderful memories to share with all of us.

One special presentation over the weekend celebrated Andy’s 100th birthday year. Put together by our friend Randy Turner, the presentation featured MC duties shared by Rik Roberts (Barney tribute artist and actor in the Mayberry Man franchise), Allan Newsome, and Randy. Dixie, Karen, Rodney, Keith, and Joy all joined in to share fond memories of family life and time on the set. It was a wonderful celebration of Andy’s entire career, not just The Andy Griffith Show, and it was definitely a highlight of the weekend.

So much more happened during the weekend, but you get the picture. It was an amazing weekend for Mayberry fans!

If you get the chance, make plans to attend a Mayberry event in your area—the next one up is Mayberry Days in Mount Airy. These events won’t go on forever, so if you’ve been planning to go “someday,” try to make sure someday is now!

== Mayberry Meetup 2026 ==

This year marked the 14th annual Mayberry Meetup at the Mayberry Motor Inn in Mount Airy, North Carolina. In our last issue, we shared a bit about how the Meetup originated as an offshoot of the Two Chairs No Waiting podcast. If you missed that, be sure to go back and give it a read!

This year’s gathering got off to a fine start on Friday night with nearly 70 folks in attendance. We gathered around 6:00 p.m. for a fun evening of trivia, games, and warm fellowship before the dark hours set in. Once night fell, we projected clips on the big screen from The Andy Griffith Show, past Mayberry events, and all kinds of fun Mayberry memories.

Right around dusk, a light drizzle and heavy mist began to fall. That sent a few folks running who had just had their hair done that day and didn’t want to risk getting wet! But plenty stayed right where they were, enjoying the cool evening, watching classic episodes, and catching up with good friends.

On Saturday evening, everyone gathered around 5:00 p.m. for a lovely picnic on the grounds. Everyone brought their own spread, and at 6:00 p.m. we kicked off the annual Amateur Tribute Artist Parade. If you’ve never seen it, attendees dress up as their favorite characters—or just anyone they feel like portraying—and parade around to bring a smile to everyone’s face. We had the Morrison sisters, the cow from “The Cow Thief” and so many other wonderful characters. While those dressing up certainly had a blast, I think those of us watching and cheering them on enjoyed it just as much!

Earlier on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m., Neil Brower presented another installment of his lecture series, focusing on the episode “Andy Discovers America.” He was joined by Cody and Randy Turner. Attendees gathered downstairs in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre to hear Neil’s presentation and watch the full episode together on the big screen.

Following the presentation, everyone enjoyed delicious snacks and desserts provided by Julie Sipe as an “Andy and America:  A Birthday Celebration.” Many in attendance mentioned it was one of the best Professor Brower presentations yet!

The evening continued with more trivia, fun conversations about real-life moments reminiscent of The Andy Griffith Show, and plenty of laughter. The weather turned out absolutely wonderful, with temperatures surprisingly cool for late July in North Carolina.

We wrapped up Sunday morning with the Mayberry Bible Study starting around 10:00 a.m., allowing folks to begin heading home by 11:00 or 11:30 a.m. All in all, it was a fantastic, relaxing weekend in Mount Airy—exactly what you’d hope for when Mayberry fans gather to share stories, laugh together, and enjoy great company.

== Mayberry Man Season 2 Filming ==

Just after the conclusion of Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg, several attendees headed to Danville, Indiana—about two hours north—to film Season 2 of Mayberry Man: The Series. If you haven’t seen Mayberry Man the movie or Season 1 of the series yet, they are available to stream for free on YouTube and other services, you can also purchase the DVD’s at Weaver’s, so you can check them out and see what it’s all about! As a quick reminder, Mayberry Man is not an attempt to recreate The Andy Griffith Show.

Instead, the franchise focuses on a fictional world where a real town called Mayberry exists, where folks live and celebrate all things related to the show. Now, don’t worry—we all know Mount Airy was Andy’s hometown and that Mayberry was inspired by it! But for the Mayberry Man storyline, the concept centers around a town named Mayberry where residents and visitors gather to honor the beloved series.

I won’t spoil the storyline in case you haven’t watched it yet, but to give you a little preview: it revolves around an event called “Mayberry Fest.” Fans dress up as their favorite characters from The Andy Griffith Show, entertain the crowds, put on shows, and meet original cast members and their family members. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a lot like Mayberry Days!

Season 2 is shaping up to be fantastic. The script is full of fun and offers plenty of laughs throughout. There are so many moments reminiscent of classic episodes from The Andy Griffith Show. I challenge you to watch the movie and Season 1 to see how many references from The Andy Griffith Show you can spot—there are tons! The writer and director, Stark Howell, is the son of Hoke Howell (who played Dud Wash on two episodes of The Andy Griffith Show). He is joined by his brother, producer Cort Howell, and together they’ve done an incredible job ensuring the franchise stays true to the heart and spirit of Mayberry.

Many fans who attend the Mayberry events held each year appear as background extras or featured guests! Be sure to give it a watch before heading to Mayberry Days—you’re bound to recognize a few familiar faces from the screen when you get there!

== News of Cast & Crew ==

Ron Howard (Opie) has had a productive stretch these past couple of months. His documentary Avedon, about legendary photographer Richard Avedon, premiered at Cannes earlier this year and was picked up by Netflix in late July for a 2026 streaming release (with an awards push planned).

Howard is also developing a sequel to his 2000 hit How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Jim Carrey is in talks to return as the Grinch, with Howard expected to direct once again and produce alongside longtime partner Brian Grazer.

Meanwhile, his military drama Alone at Dawn—starring Adam Driver and Anne Hathaway and based on the true story of Medal of Honor recipient John Chapman—continues moving forward for Amazon MGM.

On the personal appearance front, the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, New York, is hosting a major Ron Howard Retrospective through early September. Ron is scheduled to appear for Q&As and introductions on August 26 and 28.

Clint Howard (Leon) has stayed active on the convention circuit and with a few film projects. He was part of the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour’s 60th anniversary celebration in late June, and he’s already booked as a guest at Cajun Con in Gonzales, Louisiana, for December 5–6.

On the movie front, Clint continues developing Another Ice Cream Man (a new take on his classic 1995 cult horror role) with his wife Kat and original director Norman Apstein. He’s set to star and co-direct. He’s also appeared in a couple of recent independent features that have been rolling out or heading into post-production.

Rodney Dillard (guitar playing Darling boy) keeps the bluegrass picking. Rodney was featured on a recent PBS America’s Heartland segment (early June) talking about his music career and returning to his farming roots. The episode paints a nice picture of the longtime Mayberry favorite still finding joy in both the stage and the soil.

Looking ahead, Rodney and the Dillards are scheduled to perform during Mayberry Days in Mount Airy on Friday, September 25, at the Andy Griffith Playhouse. Fans can expect the usual mix of Darling family favorites and classic Dillards tunes.

Rodney continues to stay creative with his recent album Songs That Made Charlene Cry and is working on a memoir.

Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul Jason / Little Ricky) stays busy with music and ministry. He and his wife Kathy’s Ballet Magnificat company took part in the Governor’s 250th Anniversary of America celebration at the Coliseum in Jackson in late June. Fans familiar with their work know the Christian ballet troupe keeps a full schedule of performances and outreach.

Around the same time, Keith sat down for a wide-ranging interview looking back on his I Love Lucy and Andy Griffith Show days, his long run with the Christian band David and the Giants (still performing as a trio), and the ongoing work of Ballet Magnificat. The interview is available on YouTube as part of The Jim Masters Show: “Keith Thibodeaux: From Little Ricky to Faith, Music & Life After I Love Lucy.” It was posted around June 24, 2026.

He and Kathy are also approaching their 50th wedding anniversary this fall. Keith continues to share his testimony and music at select events.

Ruta Lee (Jean Boswell/Darlene Mason) keeps the Hollywood sparkle going. Mayberry fans remember Ruta for her guest roles on The Andy Griffith Show, and the glamorous actress (now 91) remains active in her own way. Her official site notes a mid-July gathering where she reconnected with longtime friends and made some new ones, describing it as “a thrilling time.”

While there haven’t been major new project announcements or convention appearances reported in the past couple of months, Ruta continues to be celebrated for her long career on stage and screen. She has previously indicated she is no longer able to handle personal autograph requests due to her age.

That’s the latest Weaver’s has on Ruta. If you hear any additional news about her or the rest of the cast and crew, please share it—we love passing it along to the Mayberry family.

Joy Ellison (Miss Mayberry Junior and other roles) made a Mayberry appearance as a special guest at Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg in mid-June, joining other original cast members and family for the festival’s celebration of Andy Griffith’s 100th birthday. She took part in the weekend events and sat for a ticketed interview session on June 14, sharing stories from her time on The Andy Griffith Show (including roles as Effie Muggins in the Christmas episode and Mary Wiggins in “The Beauty Contest”) and her later career as a dialect coach.

== Ronnie Schell (1931-2026) ==

Ronnie Schell passed away on June 12, 2026, at the age of 94. For those of us who love The Andy Griffith Show and its extended Mayberry family, that news hits close to home. Ronnie wasn’t a Mayberry regular on the original series, but he was family all the same—the loyal, wisecracking Marine buddy who made Gomer’s time at Camp Henderson feel a little less lonely and a lot more fun. And over the years, he became a true friend to the fans who keep that spirit alive.

Born Ronald Ralph Schell on December 23, 1931, in Richmond, California, Ronnie took the long road to Hollywood. He served in the Air Force, studied at San Francisco State, and cut his teeth as a stand-up comic in the Bay Area clubs. He never minded being called “America’s Slowest Rising Comedian.” In fact, he seemed to wear the nickname with a grin—steady work suited him just fine.

In 1964, he landed the role that would define him for so many of us: Private (later Corporal) Duke Slater, Gomer Pyle’s best friend on The Andy Griffith Show spin-off. Across more than 90 episodes, Ronnie brought an easy charm and sharp comic timing that played perfectly opposite Jim Nabors’ wide-eyed innocence. When he briefly left the series for his own short-lived sitcom, Good Morning, World, fans were glad to see Duke return for the final season—promoted and still the same reliable pal. He also popped up twice on The Andy Griffith Show itself, first as the TV commercial director in “The Foster Lady” and later as Bernie the furrier in “Emmett’s Anniversary.”

What many fans will remember most fondly, though, is how generously Ronnie shared his time with the Mayberry community long after the cameras stopped rolling. He became a familiar and welcome face at Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, returning year after year. He rode in the parade (often in a Jeep, playing up that Marine connection), performed comedy sets, shared stories about working with Jim Nabors and the rest of the gang, and simply enjoyed being among people who loved the same shows he did. He was equally at home at other gatherings, including Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg in Indiana, where fans got the chance to meet him, hear him perform, and swap a few laughs.

One of his final onscreen appearances came in the Season 1 finale of Mayberry Man: The Series, the heartfelt continuation of the Mayberry Man movie. In the Christmas episode “A Very Mayberry Christmas,” Ronnie made a special cameo—bringing a little extra warmth and a direct link to the original Mayberry family to a new generation of fans.

Off-camera, he kept working the comedy clubs for decades, did voice work, and remained a familiar, friendly presence. He is survived by his wife of many years, Janet, their sons Gregory and Christian, and a granddaughter.

For Andy Griffith Show fans, Ronnie Schell will always be the guy who had Gomer’s back at Camp Henderson—and who later showed up in person to have ours. He made us laugh, he made the shows feel warmer, and he leaves behind a lot of fond memories from both the screen and the festival grounds. Rest easy, Duke.

== Margaret Kerry (1929-2026) ==

Margaret Kerry was born on May 11, 1929 and left us on June 11, 2026, at her home in Wilmington, North Carolina, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. She was 97. Her three children—Ellen, Christina, and Eric—were with her. Her husband of six years, Robert “Bob” Boeke, had passed just a few weeks earlier on May 24 at age 100. Their late-in-life love story, rekindled after nearly 70 years apart, felt like something straight out of a fairy tale—or a Mayberry episode.

To most of the world, Margaret was the real-life model and pantomime inspiration for Disney’s Tinker Bell in the 1953 classic Peter Pan. For months she danced, posed, and brought heart and mischief to the little fairy who never spoke a word on screen. But to those of us who love The Andy Griffith Show, she was something more personal: the warm, spirited actress who twice visited Mayberry and then returned to its real-life counterpart for decades.

In the first-season Christmas episode “Christmas Story” (1960), she played Beth Muggins, the devoted wife of moonshiner Sam, whose family ends up spending the holiday in the Mayberry jail. The town’s simple kindness melts even the heart of Ben Weaver, and Margaret’s gentle presence helped make that episode one of the most cherished in the series. She returned the following season as Helen Scobey in “Andy Forecloses.” (The writers apparently forgot they’d already given her a name—classic Mayberry.) Those two appearances were enough to plant her firmly in the hearts of fans.

What truly set Margaret apart, though, was how she stayed connected long after the cameras stopped. Year after year she came to Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, North Carolina. She signed autographs, shared stories, waved from convertibles as grand marshal of the parade more than once, and—even into her mid-90s—got up on stage and tapped out a few steps to the show’s theme song. She spoke often about the special warmth she felt on the Andy Griffith set, the easy camaraderie that Andy and Don created, and how different it was from so many other Hollywood experiences. Fans who met her at the festival always came away talking about her kindness, her spark, and that unmistakable pixie energy that never quite left her.

Margaret’s career stretched far beyond Mayberry and Neverland. She started as a child performer in Our Gang shorts and as a fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, doubled for Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet, starred opposite Eddie Cantor, and played Sharon Ruggles on one of television’s earliest sitcoms. She lent her voice to dozens of cartoons and later hosted a long-running Christian radio program. In 2016 she published her memoir, Tinker Bell Talks: Tales of a Pixie Dusted Life. Through it all she remained gracious, funny, and fully present with the people who came to see her.

In the family statement announcing her passing, they invited us to look up on any clear night and find the “Second Star to the Right.” They suggested it might be shining a little brighter now in Margaret’s honor. For those of us who still gather each fall in Mount Airy, or who simply rewatch “Christmas Story” every December, that feels exactly right.

Margaret Kerry brought a little extra sparkle to Mayberry—and to the lives of the fans who were lucky enough to meet her. She will be deeply missed.

== Chapter News ==

The Mayberry Chapter (Knoxville, Tenn.) travelled to the Mayberry Meetup in Mt. Airy, N.C. in July to share in the fun and fellowship with fellow fans of The Andy Griffith Show. They had a swell turnout and attended all the festivities offered during the Meetup. For more details about what happened at the event, see the article earlier in this newsletter.

Codie Sloan of the You Were on a Date – You Weren’t Taking Medicine (Piedmont, S.C.) and Mike McGonigal of the Mayberry Cronies (Lexington, Ky,) traveled to the Los Angeles, CA area back in March. They visited key filming location sites including Franklin Canyon Reservoir, the former 40 Acres backlot, and the former Desilu-Cahuenga Studios (now Red Studios Hollywood). Codie and Mike arranged to tour the soundstage lot and walk the ‘holy ground’ of TAGS, Gomer Pyle, and more classic television history. At the time of their visit, the former Griffith / Mayberry R.F.D. stage was empty, providing a great look at the space to help visualize where the interior sets once stood.

A good portion of their time was spent at Franklin Canyon Reservoir, which was featured many times throughout Gomer and The AndyGriffith Show; most notably for its use in the opening credits of TAGS. Thankfully, there weren’t many people there during their visits which provided plenty of time to carefully explore the areas around the lake. BIG ain’t the word for it!

Among several remote filming locations, Codie and Mike stopped by North Weddington Park, which was the filming location of “The Ball Game.” They proudly donned their Mayberry Giants ball cap and uniform t-shirt (which came at a good time from the 2025 Mayberry Days celebration). There’s a very strong chance this was the first time anyone has worn the team’s gear to the site since its production back in 1966! 

Both Codie and Mike represent several chapters of TAGSRWC and do all of this not for recognition, but sharing the Mayberry Spirit and documenting filming locations of one of television’s greatest shows. As Barney said, “It will be something you can pass along to your children, and your children’s children.”

Members of the Carter French–Mayberry Fire Chief chapter (Manassas, Va.) gathered to celebrate the second printing of Chapter organizer Randy Higgins’ novel, Mayberry on Fire. The chapter is especially proud that their newest member is 24 years old and, before joining our group, had never heard of The Andy Griffith Show. He now watches it daily! Great job spreading the word about TAGS and Mayberry to the younger folks.

The Colorado Fishin’ Hole Whistlers chapter gathered July 26 for a Mayberry picnic near Colorado Springs. Colorado. 25 fans gathered to watch, “Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.” and “Convicts at Large.”. Dixie Griffith joined the and they enjoyed trivia contests, cool door prizes, and great food and fellowship.

 In August the Whistlers took a trip to Salida, Colorado where a dozen chapter members visited a motorcycle museum.  However, this particular museum contains over 100 vintage motorcycles INCLUDING the actual motorcycle and sidecar used in “Barney’s Sidecar” episode 16 of season 4.  What a treat! 

The interesting story about how it ended up in Colorado is detailed by Jim Clark in the September 2013 issue of “The Bullet.”  The museum is temporarily closed to the public because it is preparing to move to a new location in another city.  However, chapter leader Mark Enger contacted the curator, Rusty Graves who graciously gave us a personal tour.  Rusty said the cycle still runs, and if you ride with your mouth open it’s impossible to pronounce a word starting with the letter “S.”  The next day, Rusty texted Mark saying, “I sure enjoyed you guys yesterday.  What a neat group.  You can’t tell me ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ doesn’t produce good folks.  Thank you!” 

Many TAGSRWC chapters were represented at the Mayberry Meetup in July and I’m not going to even try to name them but know that we were glad to see one another and spend time visiting during the event.

Those are all the chapter reports we’ve received since our last issue. We, and all your fellow Mayberry fans, would love to hear reports from your local chapter so we can all share in your fun.

Please submit an official report from your chapter for inclusion in the July/Aug 2026 issue of Weaver’s Newsletter. Weaver’s encourages all TAGSRWC chapters to email in their reports (Please add Subject: Newsletter to your email) so we can share your fun with others .

== Chapter Update ==

Our total number of chapters started since TAGSRWC was founded in 1979 has increased by 1 since our last issue, well….actually since last year, with the total number of chapters now at 1,495! It had been a while since a new chapter had been official formed so we’re happy to welcome our newest chapter:

Chapter Name	Location
“Mornin’, Dear!” “Mornin’, Honey!”	Forest City, N.C.

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.iMayberry.com.) Then submit your chapter’s name with your location and a list of your founding members by e-mail to Goober@imayberry.com. 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 (see Mayberry on the Web below).

== Mayberry Mindbenders ==

How well do you know Mayberry? During Mayberry Days, there is a trivia contest that they call, The World Series of Mayberry Trivia. Many come to the contest thinking they are Mayberry Trivia masters and are quickly humbled. Weaver’s is the sponsor of the Mayberry Days Trivia contest but we wanted to let you have some fun with what we believe are very easy questions. These should be no problem for those that read this newsletter. The answers will be provided at the end of the newsletter.

Questions:

1. What is the name of the town drunk who regularly locks himself in the jail?
2. What does Barney Fife keep in his shirt pocket “just in case”?
3. Who played the role of Aunt Bee?
4. What is the name of the bluegrass-playing mountain family that visits Mayberry?
5. In “Opie the Birdman,” what are the names of the birds Opie raise after accidentally killing the mother bird?
6. What is Gomer Pyle’s famous catchphrase when surprised?
7. Which character is Mayberry’s barber? (Please don’t miss this one. – Allan)
8. What is the name of Andy Taylor’s son with Helen? (This was actually on Mayberry, R.F.D. but it’s still Mayberry.)

== Mayberry on the Web ==

The iMayberry Community

This TAGSRWC online group is organized and overseen by webmaster Allan “Floyd” Newsome with most of the actual work begin done by Keith “Col. Harvey” Brown of the Trivial Trivialities chapter (Pawleys Island, S.C.). 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 Weaver’s Newsletter), weaversdepartmentstore.com and chat rooms.

Mayberry Podcast

“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 during live recording of the show on Monday evenings at 8pm ET @ live.twochairsnowaiting.com ). As of this week, there have been 903 episodes of Two Chairs since Allan launched the podcast over 17 years ago, in October 2008. Past episodes are in an online Archives in case you want to listen to or view the YouTube video installments you’ve missed. We’re sure you can find at least a few episodes you’d enjoy out of all those that are available. OH….they are all FREE!

Take some time to look around the main Mayberry Podcasts (https://iMayberry.com/podcaasts) website 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 the Mayberry Bible Study Podcast that are no longer being produced but the content remains “evergreen.”

Facebook

TAGSRWC’s official page on Facebook  has ~251,000 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!

Two Chairs No Waiting podcast also has a Facebook page and group where you can follow along with the podcast and interact with fans.

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 Weaver’s Department Store Facebook page at www.facebook.com/weaversdepartmentstore. It features all the latest in Mayberry items and merchandise news. Weaver’s is also on X (Twitter) so follow Weaver’s there if you’re on X.

== Mayberry Mindbenders: Answers ==

Answers:

• Otis Campbell
• His one bullet
• Frances Bavier
• The Darlings (played by The Dillards, Denver Pyle & Maggie Peterson)
• Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod
• “Shazam!” or “Golly!” (both acceptable; “Shazam!” is the most iconic)
• Floyd Lawson
• Andy Jr.

== Post Note ==

Weaver’s Department Store hopes you enjoyed this issue of our newsletter. Both of us here at Weaver’s, Jan and Allan, work hard to find or create fun Mayberry products and information to share with fellow fans. Jan’s been working extra hard to think of new items that fans like us would enjoy and that Weaver’s can afford to create.

If you run across something interesting that might fit into our next newsletter, email me at floyd@iMayberry.com with the subject Weaver’s Newsletter Info so I don’t miss your e-mail.

Between issues of the Weaver’s Newsletter, you can keep up with all that’s going on in and around Mayberry by being part of the daily Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board? (aka “WBMUTBB?”) Digest. It’s free and you can sign up for that list by going to WBMUTBB.com and choosing the “Join/Subscribe/Unsubscribe” link.

Consider joining the FREE WBMUTBB Facebook Group with links to more WBMUTBB chapter fun. The Facebook group is private and administered by me (Allan) so I hope that makes you feel better about joining in on the fun. 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 WBMUTBB Facebook group.

The next issue of our Weaver’s Newsletter will be published in Sep/Oct 2026 . Please make sure you’re subscribed to the newsletter so you don’t miss an issue when it publishes. Stay in touch with things going on around Mayberry by listening to/watching the Two Chairs No Waiting podcast. See you next time!

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