An Online newsletter of
“The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
Welcome to the April Weaver’s Newsletter
Thank you for joining us for this month’s issue of our newsletter. It’s spring time and Mr. Weaver is doing his best to bring a little sunshine every day for everyone visiting the store or reading the newsletter. We would greet you with song but…..we will not sing, we will not sing. We will, however share Mayberry fun and give you the opportunity to join in on that fun! Keep reading to see what you might like to partake of, or maybe even cook up something for yourself.
There are several “big” Mayberry events occurring this spring and flowing sweetly into summer. Some events have more “Mayberry” (featuring tribute artist, cast and/or cast family members) than others but so look through our event calendar and mark the ones you would like to attend.
“How do I find out what Mayberry events are coming up?” Visit the Event Calendar located at iMayberry.com for regular updates on upcoming events (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
* Apr. 14 & 15: Mayberry & I Love Lucy Day in Historic Granville, Tenn. (aka the Mayberry of Tennessee). On Saturday, Granville will be hosting the 2023 Mayberry Squad Car Nationals as part of the event. Special Guest: Dixie Griffith (Andy’s daughter and tribute artist for Fun Girl Skippy). Dixie will do a presentation about her legendary father.
Other highlights include Mayberry and Lucy tribute artists (Barney, Floyd, Otis, Goober, Gomer, Briscoe, Charlene, “Fun girls” Skippy & Daphne), Mayberry Dinner Theater, Mayberry-Lucy parade, Mayberry trivia contest, Mayberry look-alike contest, Mayberry Museum exhibits. Darlings-style music, and screenings of the Mayberry Man movie. Admission is $5 each day (and $5 parking). For additional details and event schedule check the GranvilleTN.com website for the event. (And check out Historic Granville on Facebook.)
* Apr. 22: Karen Knotts presents her one-woman “Tied Up in Knotts” show at the Fine Arts Theatre Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif. Show time is 8 p.m. and tickets are $30. The theater is also showing a double feature of The Reluctant Astronaut and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, starting at 1:30 that afternoon. For tickets and more info, visit https://fineartstheatrebh.com.
Photo by Codie Sloan.
* Apr. 27-30: Margaret Kerry (Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey) is among the many special guests for the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Mo.or more info, visit the festival’s page on Facebook or their web page at: www.cherryblossomfest.com.
* Apr. 29: Karen Knotts performs her “Tied Up in Knotts” show at the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove, Ill. Show time is 1o a.m. and tickets are $27. For more info, visit www.artsdupage.org.
* May 3-5: The Mayberry Retreat in Berea, Ky., will be a gathering of discerning fans of The Andy Griffith Show with special guest LeRoy “Mack” McNees. The retreat will be held at the beautiful and historic Boone Tavern Hotel and is hosted by Randy Turner who is the author of Mayberry Firsts, 60 Years of Mayberry, and others. For details check The Mayberry Retreat website.
* May 6: The 35th Annual Uncle Jesse’s Big Bass Classic, the legendary fishing tournament founded by Denver Pyle as a fundraiser for Denver Pyle’s Children’s Charities, will be held at Pat Mayse Lake in Texas. For more info, visit the tourney’s Facebook page or email organizers at unclejessesbassclassic@yahoo.com.
* May 6: Memories of Mayberry festival cranks up in Valley Head, Ala. Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Andy “Barney” Woods and Kenneth “Otis” Junkin are among the entertainers for the full day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) of fun for the whole family.
There will be a cruise-in, food vendors, live entertainment, door prizes, and more. Characters, decor, and themes from Mayberry will be featured. All proceeds benefit the Valley Head Volunteer Fire Department. The festival takes place in the downtown square of Valley Head. For more info, visit www.visitlookoutmountain.com/events/memories-of-mayberry-day.
* May 26: Karen Knotts performs her “Tied Up in Knotts” show at the Blue Gate Music Hall in Shipshewana, Ind. Show time is 7 p.m. and tickets are $24.95. For more info, visit www:the bluegate.com.
* June 17: Mayberry 101 author Neal Brower kicks off 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 will be about an episode featuring a key supporting character.
Today’s lecture features “Hot Rod Otis,” the episode with the fewest characters of any episode in the entire 249 episodes. Lecture admission is included with Museum admission ($8 for adults, $6 for ages 12 and under). Visit www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* June 23 and 24: 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. The event is rapidly taking shape. Special guests confirmed so far include 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), Karen Knotts (daughter of Don), Dixie Griffith (Andy’s daughter and tribute artist for Fun Girl Skippy), 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, the festival will include an official edition of the Mayberry Squad Car Nationals with replicas of Mayberry squad cars. Mayberry tribute artists and other special guests will also be providing entertainment throughout the weekend, and there will be a free screening of the Mayberry Man movie. Full details TBA, but mark your calendar for what is sure to be a great new Mayberry event this summer! For more info, check out the festival’s page on Facebook or email mayberrycomestoscottsburg@gmail.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, and Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul Jason), who will be performing with his Christian Rock band, David and the Giants.
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,” Tim White and Troublesome Hollow’s “Tribute to Mayberry,” concert by The Bellamy Brothers, Professor Brower’s Lecture, and Colonel Tim’s Talent Time.
For more info, visit www.mayberrydays.org. And 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 visit the cruise’s webpage at: AllAboutCruisesNC.net.
Kerosene Cucumbers T-shirt ($9)
Put a fire in your belly and show it off by wearing this Aunt Bee’s Kerosene Cucumbers t-shirt. This light gray t-shirt is sure to mean a great dill to you and yours so take this sage advice and get yours today.
The design features a “mason” jar with fire coming off the “kerosene cucumber.”
Barney Fife Says….
Shoo fly!…….He’s dead?
Aunt Bee’s Mayberry Cookbook Hardcover Edition (hardback) ($19)
By Ken Beck & Jim Clark
As part of the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of TAGS in 2020, publisher Thomas Nelson has released this hardcover edition of Aunt Bee’s Mayberry Cookbook.
The cookbook has all of the same content as the original spiral-bound 1991 edition–including more than 300 recipes (many of which are from the cast and crew of The Andy Griffith Show, as well as from TAGSRWC members and other Mayberry fans), bits of trivia, dialogue passages, and dozens of photographs. It’s all been freshened up with a new design and a sturdy hardcover that also lies flat for easy use while cooking.
This classic cookbook makes a great gift for birthdays, Mother’s Day, graduations, and weddings–not to mention National Pickle Month. (Yes, it does include a recipe for Kerosene Cucumbers!)
A special note to TAGSRWC members: If your chapter of the fan club was started after the original edition was published in 1991 and also has a food-related name, your chapter name has been added to the list of food-related chapters in the back of this new edition. And there’s a bunch of them–proof that Mayberry fans like to eat what they watch!
****News of Cast & Crew ****
Ron Howard (Opie) continues to be active as an Executive Producer, Producer and as a first time director. I know that last statement is hard to believe but according to IMDb the film called The Shrinking of Treehorn releasing in the fall of 2023 will be Ron’s first time directing an animated film. Ron is also producing and is his second Netflix movie. following Hillbilly Elegy (2020). Treehorn follows a young man who begins shrinking in size, which goes largely unnoticed by his parents, after playing a strange board game.
Imagine Entertainment, founded by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, continues to develop feature films and television series that are too numerous to list. Many of them are in talks and haven’t made it to the production stage. Weaver’s will do our best to keep you informed as the projects come to life.
The Ron Howard family always has a BIG several months of birthday celebrations starting in February and running through April. Ron and Cheryl’s twin girls Paige and Jocelyn start the parties on February 5th followed by Ron (Mar 1st) and daughter Bryce (Mar 2nd) back-to-back. Son Reed comes along on April 12th and, extending just a bit, brother/uncle Clint wraps things up on 20 April. Some how Ron’s wife Cheryl missed hitting a January birthday by just a few days (Dec 23rd). All of us in TAGSRWC wish all the Howard family members well on their birthdays and pray for many more to come from this amazing group of people.
Clint Howard (Leon) and his family volunteered at the Los Angeles Mission Annual Christmas Feed-the-Homeless Event helping serve meals on December 23rd. We mentioned this in our last issue but since we have a nice photo and because it was so kind of the Howard family to serve others upon the occasion of Christmas, we wanted to mention it again. Clint is keeping busy doing everything from splitting wood for the fireplace to attending fan conventions. As already mentioned, his birthday is coming up on April 20th so Happy Birthday month to you.
Margaret Kerry (Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey) continues to travel from one coast to the other doing personal appearances. Most are Disney/Tinker Bell related but she, and Mayberry, are coming to Scottsburg, IN in June. To follow her busy schedule visit her website, Tinker Bell Talks.
Rodney Dillard (guitar playing Darling boy) and his bride Beverly celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in March as well as the 60th Anniversary of The Darlings first appearance on The Andy Griffith Show. The Dillards single “Earthman” also hit the #1 spot on the bluegrass song charts in March so their music is still keeping folks toes a-tapping. Check their official website for tour dates as they are confirmed.
Dennis Rush (Howie) has been having fun during March Madness watching the San Diego State Aztecs play their way to the Final Four and to the championship game. Fans have also been spotting Dennis on classic TV shows like Perry Mason. Be watching for him when you’re enjoying your favorite. Dennis was quick to say “nothing compared to The Andy Griffith Show! ”
Ronnie Schell (two episodes and Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”) continues to interact with fans, answering questions, and posting photos on his personal Facebook page. He recently caught up with the Kingston Trio. Ronnie traveled with the original members and opened for them in 1958. To keep up with Ronnie, visit his website (RonnieSchell.com) to find out more.
Stark Howell and Cort Howell (sons of Hoke Howell, Mayberry’s first Dud Wash) are still working to complete the Mayberry Man TV series with one scene left to film this the spring. Set to take place about a year after the final scene of the Mayberry Man movie, the series follows the daily lives of the characters we met in the movie.
Speaking of the movie, Mayberry Man is nominated and is a finalist for Best Comedy at the 50th Annual International Christian Visual Media (ICVM) Crown Awards to be presented on May 23rd in Orlando, FL. If you haven’t yet seen the movie pick up a DVD and other related items at Weaver’s Department Store. The series should be released in the fall of 2023. We are still unsure exactly what network it will be show on so stay tuned.
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 for a Joy Ellison birthday party in early March. They had some issues with the electronial marvels they were using to connect a video call with Joy but after running some bigger wires got things working. The chapter reported it was great seeing Joy as she was in New Zealand working on a big movie project. She demonstrated an example of New Zealand dialect used in the movie and talked about what she remembered from the “Andy Forecloses” episode playing on the TV while they were talking with her. In Joy’s honor, they had carrot cake, her favorite. Joy was able to see the cake but was sadly too far away to have a sample.
Remember that the Mayberry chapter produces a paper newsletter. 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.
Colorado Fish’in Hole Whistler’s chapter (Colorado Springs, Colo. reported that a first-time attendee to their fall gathering had such a great time, he asked if we could host a “Mayberry Night” at the 13-story apartment building where he lives. The end of February, 45 people from the complex joined chapter members as they watched and discussed episodes, “Man in a Hurry” and “The Big House.” It was a special time of Mayberry outreach to the community!
Blood Brothers (Macon, Mo.) chapter has a “sub-chapter” called The Mayberry Card Guild that met on March 13 to make greeting cards and complete a service project. In less than 90 minutes, the group had folded, stuffed with candy, and closed over 200 treat boxes with greetings of thanks and appreciation. The boxes were then delivered to caregivers at four local nursing homes. If that isn’t sharing the Mayberry spirit, I don’t know what is. Thank you to the Guild and the Bothers for making Mayberry proud.
That’s all the Chapter News for this issue. We’d 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.
Any Old Tramps Down There Print –
($35)
Weaver’s is fortunate to get this great piece of artwork from illustrator Jeff Preston. Feels like a cross between the Remshaw place and Mr. Chicken and will look great framed on the wall.
He originally created this piece for the Society of Illustrators yearly “Member’s Only” show, The theme that year was fear. We feel this image summed up the emotion perfectly.
13 x 19 inches beautifully printed on 100lb Acid Free gloss enamel card stock
****Chapter Update ****
TAGSRWC has a new chapter that started since the February issue of The Weaver’s Newsletter! It’s always great to see our family grow. Here’s the latest:
| Kerosene Pickle Appreciation Society | Ellsinore, Mo. |
Our total number of chapters that have started since TAGSRWC was founded in 1979 is now 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)..
Mayberry Caps ($17 to $20)
Baseball season is on it’s way so now is the time to check out Weaver’s assortment of Mayberry related caps. As we go to press, Weaver’s has two style caps in stock (seen on the left). There’s a third style of cap but it’s currently out of stock .
If you plan on working on cars this summer, we also have a Goober beanie for you that will protect your hair from the motor oil when under the hood. Check them all out and buy yourself one or two.
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****
For 40 years fans of The Andy Griffith Show were provided news, updates, and information about everything going on in Mayberry by way of the official newsletter of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC). The format of the newsletter, and the name, changed over those years but whether from The Bullet, The eBullet, The Pocket, or The Button the information provided was timeless. Because of that timelessness and because so many of you likely never saw the stories published in the early days of TAGSRWC, Weaver’s Newsletter asked if we could re-publish articles fans may have missed or forgotten. Permission was granted so here’s our first “rerun.”
Mayberry Mountain People
by Ken Beck
(Featured in The Bullet: Volume 1, Issue 2 – Published March 18, 1983)
Remember the hillbilly folks of Mayberry? Sure you do.
Who could ever forget mountain patriarch Briscoe Darling; his four handsome, musically inclined sons; sweet-smiling daughter, Charlene and. that wild man of the hills, brick-throwing Ernest T. Bass.
Well, where are they now? Whatever happened to the Mayberry mountaineers? Here’s a little follow-up.
Briscoe Darling, alias Denver Pyle, has left the mountains of North Carolina for the flat- lands of Hazzard County. And now, instead of four sons, he’s got himself a peck of trouble with four nephews and a niece. That’s right. He’s Uncle Jesse on “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
Of course, between Sheriff Andy Taylor and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane, Denver Pyle passed through a whole passel of TV series. Among his TV credits are “Tommy, “The Doris Day Show,” and “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.” (Roscoe P. Coltrane, by the way, is played by James Best who also portrayed Andy’s guitar-playing buddy, Jim Lindsey, on TAGS.)
Pyle, though, is really from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. He was wounded in World War II off Guadalcanal. He then returned stateside to study drama. His early roles were with Roy Rogers and Gene Autry in their TV series. Top film credits of Pyle include “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Five Card Stud;” “Bandolero,” “Shenandoah,” and “The Man who Shot Liberty Valance.”
Now for “the boys,” as Mr. Darling often referred to his four “fun-loving, warm, and amusing sons.” The Darling boys were in real life The Dillards. A bluegrass band fresh out of the Ozark mountains, the quartet left their hometown of Salem, Missouri, and headed across the country to Hollywood. There were numerous breakdowns on the way, though, and The Dillards had to make a few stops to earn a little traveling money before they reached their destination.
Eventually, they hit The Ash Grove, an L.A. bluegrass-club, where the four played while an Electra Records executive sat in the audience. He liked what he heard and soon offered The Dillards a recording contract.
At about the same time, “The Andy Griffith Show” was looking for a bluegrass group to play the Darling boys. The Dillards auditioned and got the role on the spot.
The original Dillards were made up of brothers Doug and Rodney Dillard and their friends Dean Webb and Mitchell Jayne.
Doug now has his own bluegrass group, The Doug Dillard Band, while Rodney still leads The Dillards. Dean Webb is still in the group with Rodney, while Mitchell Jayne returned to Salen to become a writer (a quite successful one according to Doug). In fact, one story, “Old Fish Hawk,” has been made into a movie.
Doug, meanwhile, has recorded quite a few albums and has a new one coming out this spring. Rodney has just come out with Earl Scruggs on a single, “Sitting on Top of the World.” The brothers still jam together occasionally, and they are close friends with John Hartford, another Missouri native, and with ex-Byrd member Gene Clark.
Doug Dillard has also been featured in a couple of films lately. He appeared in Bette Midler’s “The Rose” and in “Popeye” as (what else?) the banjo player. He also did most of the banjo music for “Bonnie and Clyde.”
The Dillards and Doug’s band both work out of Nashville, but both also return frequently to Salem.
Doug has fond memories of TAGS and says “being on that show was probably the highlight of my career.” He can only recall one line that the brothers ever spoke on the show, and that was “great beans, Aunt Bee,” after Aunt Bee had fed the boys at the jail on one occasion.
Margaret “Maggie” Ann Peterson played The Darlings’ sister, Charlene. After TAGS, she did a few feature films, but most were small roles. We don’t know just quite what she’s doing these days.
And as for Ernest T. Bass, he was played by Howard Morris. He was a regular on Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows,” and he has portrayed all sorts of characters other than the cantankerous yet hilarious Ernest T.
Most recently, he was on Mary Tyler Moore’s variety show as a regular performer. He is now in New York where he is quite successful as a producer and director of commercials.
His most recent film role was in Mel Brooks’ “History of the World, Part I.” His feature film directing credits include: “Who’s Minding the Mint,” “With Six You Get Eggroll,” and “Don’t Drink the Water.”
As writer, director, actor, and comedian, Morris has received plaudits for his work in all fields. Nowadays, he is specializing in directing TV commercials where he has won Cleo and Andy awards for his excellence from various advertising councils. You may have seen his handiwork in commercials for such giants as McDonald’s hamburgers, Jif peanut butter, K-Mart, and Kellogg’s Rice Krispies.
And finally, we have Bob Denver (well known as Maynard G. Krebs on “Dobie Gillis” and as the star of “Gilligan’s Island”) who once appeared as Charlene’s husband, Dud. He’s still acting and just recently starred as a chemist in NBC’s “The Invisible Woman.” (And, by the way, Alan Hale, who played the Skipper on “Gilligan’s” also played Mayberry farmer Jeff Pruitt in one TAGS episode. Hale can still be seen playing occasional guest spots on television)
Mayberry’s mountain folks keep on climbing.
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 722 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 scroll to the bottom of 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.
Does your eligible young daughter still have her baby fat? If so, contact Miss Wellington’s School for Girls in Raleigh and start your young lady on the road to refinement! We GUARANTEE our services can turn her in to a lady that is certainly most likely to become charming! Not to mention our money back guarantee on the removal of baby fat around her knees.
Miss Wellington’s School for Girls is now accepting candidates for the next school year. Candidates that look like Benjamin Franklin or have long teeth like a beaver are kindly invited not to apply. (Miss Wellington’s is proudly endorsed by Henrietta Swanson and her award winning daughter Darlene)
**** Post Note ****
As another issue of Weaver’s Newsletter comes to a close, I wanted all of you for the kind words you provided following our last issue. 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 me thank I 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 June so make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.
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