An Online newsletter of
“The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
RALEIGH?–Really!
Note: For readers who receive this newsletter by email, the formatting can sometimes be kind of weird, like when you think the gold bricks in an armored car shipment have been switched. If your emailed version looks like a decoy (Shazam!), check out this Web Version for a smoother read.
.Welcome to the August Weaver’s Newsletter!
There has been a lot going on in Mayberry this summer, and plenty more is still ahead, especially Mayberry Days® ,which is coming up next month. See Floyd’s calendar below and check for regular updates on all sorts for Mayberry activities at www.imayberry.com.
First up is merchandise news, because, well, you know Ben Weaver. He insists!
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**** Merchandise Update ****
You’ll find a tremendous selection of Mayberry-related items at your fingertips online at Weaver’s. Here are some of our newest and most popular items:
Becoming Thelma Lou–
My Journey to Hollywood, Mayberry and Beyond
By Betty Lynn
Release Date: August 29
Taking Pre-orders Now!
Long before becoming beloved by generations of us Mayberry fans for her portrayal of Thelma Lou, Betty Lynn lived a life filled with interesting adventures and fascinating people.
In her own words, augmented by 140 rare photos, Betty shares the sometimes bittersweet, often surprising and always inspiring story of her remarkable life. From her wartime service in India and Burma to sharing the spotlight with entertainment royalty from New York to Hollywood, Betty always remained grounded in her Midwestern values and strong faith.
Betty will forever be Thelma Lou to millions of us, but, as you will discover in the 320 pages of this posthumously published autobiography (hardcover: $38; softcover: $28), there is also much more to learn and love about this truly extraordinary woman who was such a great friend to countless Mayberry fans and to many others. Enjoy reading about her incredible journey!
Reserve your copy now HERE!
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Mayberry Tea Towel
SUIT YOURSELF TO A TEA–Towel, that is!
$14.00
New!
This fun, one-of-a-kind design is an exclusive for Weaver’s! It’s sure to make you smile as you’re reminded of some of your favorite episodes and characters. Kerosene Cucumbers? Blooey? Make a big moulage? Boy, giraffes are selfish, Dooley was a good ol’ man, haircuts at the barbershop, Opie the Birdman, Eagle-Eye Annie, Gertrude, the Haunted House and more.
The oversized flour sack towel (27 in. x 27 in.) is made with premium, lint-free cotton and is printed in the USA. It’s machine washable, fade resistant, pre-washed and pre-shrunk. Best of all, it’s useful as well as ornamental!
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Prime Time for T-Shirt Season Is Here!
Barney Squares T-shirt
Weaver’s is pleased to offer more than five dozen designs of Mayberry T-shirts. Some designs are also available as long-sleeved T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies. Most designs are available in Adult sizes Small to 3X-large, but we also offer several designs in toddler sizes and some in 4X.
Find the perfect Mayberry fit for yourself and friends and family!
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The Mayberry Travel Guide
$24.00
The Mayberry Travel Guide, the latest book by Randy Turner, is both an actual travel guide for Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mount Airy, N.C., and a book filled with facts and trivia about TAGS. The guide contains info on the many influences Andy’s hometown had on the beloved series with full explanations of the many references that so often made to the real town of Mount Airy–to its businesses, streets and roads, nearby towns and communities, and real people from back home. The 384-page perfect-bound softcover book contains over 350 photos and 40 sidebars that provide detailed looks at items of interest.
The book was specifically written to be of interest to Mayberry fans, even if you have no intention of ever actually visiting Mount Airy (though you definitely should whenever you have the chance). And there’s no better time to get a copy than just before heading to Mount Airy for Mayberry Days®!
Sneak Peek
ALL DATED UP?–“They’re doin’ it! They’re doin’ it!”
Weaver’s will soon be offering the official 2023 Andy Griffith Show Wall Calendar and 2023 Mayberry Day-By-Day Flip Book Calendar. Both should be available from Weaver’s sometime in September. Here’s a preview:
The 2023 edition of the wall calendar will feature eight characters (Andy, Barney, Opie, Aunt Bee, Gomer, Goober, Helen and Thelma Lou) and will have vibrant color photos for eight of the 12 months.
2023 TAGS Wall Calendar: Front and back covers.
And here’s the familiar cover of the 2023 edition of the Mayberry Day-By-Day Flip Book Calendar:
And there’s much more currently on the shelves at Weaver’s, including more books, caps, Goober beanies, Deputy Patches, DVDs, music, posters and prints, and all kinds of must-have Mayberry doodads and accessories.
Also, remember that your purchases from Weaver’s help support Mayberry events and Mayberry-related charitable causes all year long at locations all around the country. Those sales also help keep our online Mayberry newsletters and communities available to everybody free of charge.
As always, thank you for shopping at Weaver’s!.
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Floyd’s Barbershop Bulletin Board & Event Calendar
There’s always a lot to smile about at Floyd’s!
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.The Andy Griffith Museum features the late Emmett Forrest’s amazing collection of Andy Griffith artifacts. For complete updates on operating hours, pandemic safety procedures or other info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org, or call (336) 786-1604.
The following information is from our “brother figure” publication, The eBullet:
* Aug. 19-21: Clint Howard is among the special guests for Geek’d Con at the Shreveport Convention Center in Shreveport, La. For more info, visit www.geekdcon.com.
* Aug. 20: Mayberry 101 author Neal Brower gives his final “Summer of Opie” lecture about TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. The hour-long lecture will feature an all-time classic episode, “Mr. McBeevee.” 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. 27: Rodney Dillard and The Dillards headline the Bluegrass & Fried Chicken festival at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Ark. The Saturday portion of the two-day festival is from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. with The Dillards as the festival finale, starting at 8:30 p.m. For tickets and more info about all the pickin’ and chicken, visit www.ozarkfolkcenter.com.
* Aug. 29: An celebration of the 96th Birth Anniversary of the late Betty Lynn will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, N.C. Today is also the official publication date of Betty’s posthumous memoir, Becoming Thelma Lou–My Journey to Hollywood, Mayberry, and Beyond. Copies of Betty’s book will be available at the Museum’s gift shop for the first time beginning today. Door prizes and other festivities are planned. More details TBA. Check TAGSRWC’s online Event Calendar or the Andy Griffith Museum’s Facebook page for updates.
* Sept. 10: Keith Thibodeaux will be on the drum stand for a free concert with his Christian rock band David & the Giants at 7 p.m. at the Grace House of Prayer Field, located at 5132 Six Mile Road in Crystal Springs, Miss. For more info, call Daniel at 601-213-6522.
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Rodney Dillard
Photo by Hobart Jones
Ronnie Schell
* Sept. 19-25: 33rd Annual Mayberry Days® festival in Mount Airy, N.C. Tickets are already available HERE for many portions of the festival, including Thursday’s The Emmett Golf Tournament, which includes Mayberry Days® Dinner & Entertainment starring country music star T. Graham Brown (who also has a full concert on Friday) that may also be purchased separately; “Andy, Don, and Jim: My Memories of Three Mayberry Legends” presented by Ronnie Schell; Doug Dillard Tribute Concert by The Dillards featuring Rodney Dillard; and “Tied Up in Knotts–A Book Talk” by Karen Knotts.
Ruta Lee
Just announced: Hollywood legend Ruta Lee (Jean Boswell aka”that college kid” and Darlene Mason) will be making her Mayberry Days® debut this year! It’s also her first-ever Mayberry event of any kind, so it’ll be the first chance for many fans to meet one of the nicest people in all of show business.
SAVVY SALVE SELLERS–Johnny Paul and Howie.
Other Special Guests connected to “The Andy Griffith Show” include Margaret Kerry (Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey), Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul Jason), Dennis Rush (Howie), Bettina Linke (wife of late associate producer/personal manager Richard O. Linke) and Dreama Denver (wife of late actor Bob Denver, the second Dud Wash).
Daniel Roebuck with Andy
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And another Special Guest making his first appearance at Mayberry Days® is actor Daniel Roebuck (Cliff Lewis on “Matlock”).
“GOT TIME TO BREATHE, GOT TIME FOR MUSIC”–Tim White and Troublesome Hollow
Other ticketed highlights during Mayberry Days® include “Memories of Elvis” by Michael Hoover; “A Tribute to Mayberry” by Tim White and Troublesome Hollow; and Katie Deal: Crazy for Patsy Cline (and a second concert covering legendary Women of Country Music); concerts by The Embers, Band of Oz, and Legacy Motown; two concerts with Allen Leath’s Mayberry Melodies (including a Gospel show); three comedy shows by John Floyd (“The Mouth of Mayberry”); Professor Brower’s Lecture (saluting the life and career of Betty Lynn) with Neal Brower (immediately followed by TAGSRWC’s Annual Meeting); gospel music by The Lisembys; multiple screenings of Murder in Coweta County (including Q&A with producer Dick Atkins) and Chris Hudson‘s The Mayberry Effect documentary; and Saturday’s grand finale, “Colonel Tim’s Talent Time.”
This year’s festival will also include a special commemoration: Celebrating the Life of Betty Lynn, which will be held downtown at the Historic Earle Theatre, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., immediately following the Mayor’s Proclamation at the same location on Fri. Sept. 23.
More stars and more ticketed portions of the weekend are TBA, along with the complete schedule of festival events. As always, the vast majority of Mayberry Days® is free, including Saturday’s parade, the Mayberry Days® Trivia Contest (aka the World Championship of Mayberry Trivia), bunches of other Mayberry-inspired contests, and the Mayor’s Proclamation ceremony. For more info, visit www.mayberrydays.com.
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* Sept. 24: The Dillards featuring Rodney Dillard headline the Uncle Pen Fest at the Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground (south of Indianapolis, between Morgantown and Nashville, Ind.). For more info visit: www.billmonroemusicpark.com. (Note: The group’s performance here is the day after their Friday concert at Mayberry Days®.)
* Sept. 30: Rodney Dillard is joined by a star-studded lineup of fellow music legends for Western Edge: Los Angeles Country-Rock in Concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. The concert starts at 7 p.m. For tickets and more info visit: www.countrymusichalloffame.org.
* Oct. 8: The Dillards featuring Rodney Dillard perform at the Franklin Theatre in downtown Franklin, Tenn. (just south of Nashville). Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets prices range from $40 to $55. For tickets and more info, visit www.franklintheatre.com.
* Oct. 22: Karen Knotts brings her “Tied Up in Knotts!” show to the Brownfield Community Center in Dawson, Penn. Showtime is 8 p.m.
* Oct. 23: Karen Knotts heads a couple of hours down the road and across the state line to the Church-McKee Arts Center in Keyser, W.V., with her “Tied Up in Knotts!” show. Showtime is 3 p.m. For more info, visit the Church-McKee website.
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SCUBA-DOO–Clint Howard has always been ready to cruise!
* Oct. 23-29: Clint Howard is the special guest for Mayberry Cruise 15, which was postponed with a few tweaks from its original dates in 2020 and again in 2021 because of the pandemic.
This cruise aboard Carnival’s Horizon will depart from Miami and travel to the Caribbean with ports of call in Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Cozumel. Rates (including all taxes) start at $625 per person.
For info, contact Sharon Euliss of All About Cruises at PWESJE@aol.com or call her at (336) 538-4926.
* Oct. 29: Karen Knotts and comedian/actor/Barney tribute artist Rik Roberts present the world premiere of their family-friendly comedy variety show, “Knotts–So Fast,” at the La Rita Performing Arts Center in Dalhart, Tex. Showtime is 7 p.m. For more info, visit www.larita.org.
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**** News of Cast & Crew ****
Ron Howard has been busy promoting the release of his latest film as director, Thirteen Lives, which was released in theaters for a limited run on July 29, ahead of its debut on Prime Video on Aug. 5.
GOOD TIMES–Earlier this month, Ron Howard made his second visit of the year to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” It was one of numerous appearances and interviews Ron has been doing to promote Thirteen Lives.
Because of the overwhelmingly positive responses from audiences at advance screenings, Thirteen Lives had been moved by MGM from a release in May to November in order to be closer to Academy Awards season. But then Amazon recently bought MGM and decided that it wanted to make Thirteen Lives available on its Prime Video streaming service as soon as possible, which pulled the rug out from under the box-office side of things, but was a nice perk for Prime Video subscribers.
The film has received superb reviews, both from critics and from audiences. You can watch the trailer HERE. (Warning: Even though it doesn’t have any menacing moths, this cave-rescue film is much more intense than “Barney and the Cave Rescue.”) Thirteen Lives seems destined to be nominated for awards in a variety of categories.
And speaking of awards, Ron’s We Feed People documentary, which was released earlier this year, is nominated for two Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Documentary, which includes Ron as one of the producers. (The film is also nominated for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program.)
TEAM SPIRIT–Ron Howard on location with actors playing the stranded soccer team in Thirteen Lives.
Ron’s also currently in post-production for The Shrinking of Treehorn, the first animated film that he has directed.
AHOY, ME HEARTIES!–Clint and Kat Howard celebrated their second wedding anniversary in Las Vegas on July 1. Now, if only Clint’s beloved Pittsburgh Pirates could get their act together, everything would be bliss!
Clint Howard (Leon) has been on the comic convention circuit this summer. He was at the Bell County Comic Con in Belton, Tex., earlier this month. (And the star of Ice Cream Man also got to visit Austin’s Museum of Ice Cream while in the area.)
The next stop for Clint is Geek’d Con in Shreveport, Aug. 19-21.
Rodney Dillard and The Dillards have been on the road steadily this summer and they have several prime dates coming up, including Mayberry Days® and a star-studded concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul Jason) has been touring with his longtime Christian rock band, David and the Giants. The 2022 touring schedule for Ballet Magnificat, the Christian ballet company that Keith’s wife, Kathy, founded and for which Keith is Executive Director, is also fully underway.
OLD FRIENDS, GOOD TIMES–Fellow TAGS alums (and two of the nicest folks on the planet) Jamie Farr (Sylvio in “The Gypsies”) and Jackie Joseph (Ramona Ankrum) were pleased to run into each other at the Hollywood collectors show in Burbank on July 2. Jamie also appeared at the Fanboy Expo in Knoxville in early August.
Ronnie Schell had a successful stop in Fairfield, Ohio, with his “Evening with Ronnie Schell” presentation on June 25. The event was a fundraiser for the local Media Heritage Foundation. Ronnie next brings his show to Mayberry Days® in September.
The team behind last year’s Mayberry Man movie, including Stark Howell and Cort Howell (sons of Hoke Howell, Mayberry’s first Dud Wash) and Greg Schell (son of Ronnie Schell) are gearing up for the new “Mayberry Man” TV series, which is scheduled to begin filming in Danville, Ind., and Mount Airy in mid-September and in Los Angeles in November.
Like the original movie, which now has a deal for distribution in theaters, the series is being funded in large part by offering an array of incentives in exchange for relatively small donations by lots of fans. Significant funding for the series will also be provided by few larger investors.
The number of episodes produced for the first season will depend in part on the amount of money raised, but it’s hoped that there will be at least six episodes. The crowdfunding is being done primarily through Indiegogo. The main fundraising campaign kicked off on June 25 and ran through July 31. A second campaign wrapped up August 15. The combined campaigns raised about $130,000, enough to fund the filming of at least three episodes.
FUNDRAISING FUN!–Otis Campbell tribute artist Kenneth Junkin is flanked by Cort Howell (son of TAGS actor Hoke Howell) and by Dixie Griffith (daughter of Andy) and a troupe of fellow Mayberry tribute artists during a screening of Mayberry Man in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on June 25. The event kicked off fundraising for the upcoming “Mayberry Man” TV series and also raised funds for Eagles’ Wings, an organization that supports adults with disabilities that has long been supported by TAGSRWC members, especially Tuscaloosa’s “Hearty Eatin’ Men and Beautiful, Delicate Women” chapter.
The series will follow the continuing story of Chris Stone (aka the Mayberry Man, played by Brett Varvel) and romantic interest Kate (played by Ashley Elaine). Favorite Mayberry tribute artists and others with Mayberry connections are reprising their movie roles. They’ll be joined by some new, yet also familiar, faces. Stay tuned!
And that’s a wrap on News of Cast & Crew for this issue.
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**** In Memoriam ****
Remembering Pat Rosson
1952-2022
The family of child actor Pat Rosson, who played George “Tex” Foley, the title role, in 1960’s “Runaway Kid” episode of TAGS, announced earlier this month that Pat died of a heart attack in Los Angeles on April 28. He was 69.
SO, WHERE YOU FROM, TEX?–Andy has to navigate a tricky trail to get Pat Rosson‘s Tex back to his family’s corral.
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Pat’s memorable Mayberry performance was just his second film role as a child actor. He had small part a year earlier in “Six Guns of Donegan,” an episode of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.”
Pat continued acting until age 13. He appeared in some of the most iconic TV shows of the time, including “The Untouchables,” “Dennis the Menace,” “The Red Skelton Hour,” “My Three Sons” and “The Twilight Zone.” He finished out his acting career as Jerry Karr, a regular character on “The Young Marrieds,” which was the first sister-figure series for “General Hospital” and which also starred Peggy McCay (Sharon DeSpain in the “Class Reunion” episode of TAGS) as his birth mother, who was in a battle for custody of young Jerry.
THERE’S SNOW PLACE, LIKE HOME–After Pat Rosson finished his trek in Mayberry, he helped Andrea Darvi greet a visitor from the North Pole (Art Carney) in “The Night of the Meek,” a 1960 episode of “The Twilight Zone.”
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Born Patrick Francis (Crellin) Rosson to parents Lili and Edward Rosson in Los Angeles on July 20, 1952, Pat grew up in a family steeped in Hollywood filmmaking. Grandfather Harold Rosson, once married to Hollywood legend Jean Harlow, was a distinguished cinematographer, who was nominated for five Oscars (including for The Wizard of Oz, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and The Asphalt Jungle) and was also cinematographer for such classics as The Red Badge of Courage and Singin’ in the Rain. (He also was cinematographer for the “Burning of Atlanta” scene for Gone With the Wind. Relics of that famous scene are visible in some scenes of TAGS that were filmed at the same Forty Acres lot in Culver City.) In addition, Harold Rosson was cinematographer for two movies starring Andy Griffith: No Time for Sergeants and Onionhead.
SPACE INVADERS–Pat Rosson as Walt (left) with Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster) and fellow Mayberry alum Ronnie Dapo (as Roger) in “If a Martian Calls, Hang Up,” a 1965 episode of “The Munsters.”
Pat’s father likewise was a cinematographer, notably for The Neon Ceiling, a 1971 TV movie that earned him an Emmy nomination, and for Love at First Bite, which was released posthumously in 1979. Mother Lili appeared in movies and on TV, usually in uncredited roles, most notably in Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest.
Pat’s younger brother, Eddie, was also a busy child actor, who landed numerous parts (often uncredited, including in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World) throughout the 1960s. (Eddie died of heart attack in 1994, at age 38.)
A DOOR, ABLE KID–Hazel (Shirley Booth) greets the eager paperboy (Pat Rosson) in “Bonnie Boy,” a 1965 episode of “Hazel.”
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Pat had uncredited roles in two feature films: The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm in 1962 and the spellbinding 1963 mobster movie Johnny Cool, in which brother Eddie also had an uncredited role.
After retiring as a child actor, Pat attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif., and went on to have a successful career in real estate in the Los Angeles area.
Pat’s survivors include wife Ruth, daughter Maria Delilah Rosson, sister Christa, nephews Troy and Tobey and niece Sophie.
While Mayberry mourns the passing of Pat, we can take comfort that, just as Tex returned safely to his home in Eastmont, so has Pat now made it home.
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Remembering Joe Turkel
1927-2022
THE TIED EYED–With Charles Dierkop on point, Joe Turkel looms over a forlorn Andy in “Otis the Deputy.”
Joe Turkel, who played Fred, one of the crooks who take Andy Taylor hostage in 1966’s “Otis the Deputy” episode of TAGS, died of liver failure in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 27. He was 94 and just a few weeks short of his 95th birthday.
Joe was the consummate “character actor’s character actor” in a busy Hollywood career that spanned more than four decades. His portrayals commanded the audience’s attention, even in scenes with some of Hollywood’s most charismatic stars, including Ronald Reagan (Hellcats of the Navy, 1957), Kirk Douglas (Paths of Glory, 1957), Steve McQueen (The Sand Pebbles, 1966), Jack Nicholson (The Shining, 1980) and Harrison Ford (Blade Runner, 1982).
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PRIVATE MOMENT–Joe Turkel as Pvt. Pierre Arnaud in 1957’s Paths of Glory, which Joe said was his favorite of his films.
THER-R-RRE’S LLOYD–Joe with Jack Nicholson in a classic scene from 1982’s The Shining.
Legendary director Stanley Kubrick took a shining to Joe, who appeared in three Kubrick films:The Killing (1956), Paths of Glory and The Shining, which produced Joe’s most iconic role as Lloyd, the purposely inscrutable bartender.
A COUPLE OF BIG SHOTS–Joe (right) with Vince Edwards in The Killing.
Two of Joe’s films were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: Friendly Persuasion (1956) and The Sand Pebbles a decade later. Other notable movies included Sammy Fuller’s Verboten! in 1959 (starring James Best and featuring a cameo by the future Mayberry Courthouse) and The Hindenburg (1975).
A CREW IN SHIPSHAPE–Joe (far left) with Gavin MacLeod, Candice Bergen and Steve McQueen in The Sand Pebbles.
A list of just the names of the colorful characters Joe played provides insight into his varied and interesting career. Here’s a sampling: Shimmy, Stinky, Sneeze, Benny the Blood, Pinky, Dusty, Curly, Tiny, Striker, Henchman Monte, Abu the Genie, Fargo and Dropper. Among his five roles on “The Untouchables” alone he played Deuces, Gobo and Birdie.
And that’s just in his first 15 years in Hollywood. Later roles are no less interesting: Klimmer, Dino, Alf, Jake “Greasy Thumb” Guzik, Peyote, Lupe, Swampgas and Kharma. And of course, Fred to fellow character-actor legend Charles Dierkop’s Larry as the pair of kidnapping bank robbers on the lam at the old Carson shack on TAGS.
While his role as Lloyd the bartender in The Shining remains probably Joe’s most recognized role, a close second likely would be his role as Dr. Eldon Tyrell in Blade Runner.
LOOKING SHARP, BUT A BIT ON EDGE–Joe with Harrison Ford in Blade Runner.
Joe rarely played a leading role. Most of his roles would be considered small. But the old adage of there being no small parts, just small actors was never more true than with Joe. He could make even the smallest part be memorable and meaningful, often pivotal. In Joe’s book, anything worth doing was worth doing the best he could. (Speaking of books, Joe wrote a memoir titled The Miseries of Success, which might be published posthumously.)
Joe was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 15, 1927, to Polish-Jewish immigrants Benjamin, a tailor, and Gazella, an opera singer. Joe grew up loving baseball, a passion that continued for his whole life.
HAT’S OFF FOR JOE–As the Sergeant in an episode of “Land of the Giants.”
Joe joined the U.S. Merchant Marines at age 17, and served in Europe during World War II. He transferred to the Army after the war. When his military stint was up, Joe studied acting in New York for a short time before deciding he wanted to give Hollywood a try in 1947. (Fortunately, his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles a few years after Joe did.) His first credited film role was as the aforementioned Shimmy in 1949’s City Across the River, which also provided Tony Curtis with his first credited film role.
Though Joe’s career was peppered with standout roles in movies, his work for TV series was his bread and butter with more than 100 roles, ranging from the pantheon of 1950s Westerns and detective shows to “Land of the Giants” in 1969 to “Fantasy Island” and “Miami Vice” in the 1980s.
FAREWELL, JOE TURKEL–The coast is clear.
.After his official retirement in 1989, Joe became a popular guest for Hollywood autograph shows, often on the same slate of stars as his Mayberry partner in crime, Charles Dierkop. Amazingly, the two prolific character actors worked together on film only one other time besides TAGS–The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre for director Roger Corman in 1967 .
Even though Joe played a criminal on the run on TAGS, Mayberry fans are glad he chose to pass through Mayberry. Joe’s crooked Fred has the distinction of being the only known person ever knocked out by a blow to the head with a liquor bottle wielded by Otis Campbell, in what would be Hal Smith’s final TAGS episode.
Joe was predeceased by his wife, Anita, and brother Howard. He is survived by sons Craig and Robert, brother David, and two grandchildren.
PARTING SHOT–If looks could kill, well, then take that, Jack!
(The Shining, 1982)
**** Mayberry on the Web ****
The iMayberry Community
This TAGSRWC online group is organized and overseen by webmaster Allan “Floyd” Newsome with spirited 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 happens to be going on in and around Mayberry. It’s hosted by Allan Newsome.
There’s a new episode every Tuesday (and you can watch and listen live during tapings on Monday evenings). As of this week, there have been 698 episodes since Allan started doing the podcast in 2008. Past episodes are in an online Archives in case you want to listen to or view classic installments you’ve missed.
THE GANG’S (ALMOST) ALL HERE–This group shot includes about half of the 150 or so attendees from 16 states and two countries for July’s 10th Annual Mayberry Meetup, sponsored by the “Two Chairs, No Waiting” podcast, in Mount Airy, N.C. (Fun Game: Find “Sean of the South.”)
Photo by Codie Sloan.
And scroll to the bottom of the main Mayberry Podcasts web page for assorted links, including one for another outstanding Mayberry-related podcast: “Burke on Mayberry“ (hosted by TAGSRWC’s Kevin Burke). 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 currently has more than a quarter-million 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!
In the “Liked by this Page” section of our Facebook page, we also have links to the pages of several TAGSRWC chapters on Facebook (including the Gomer and Goober Pyle Comic Book Literary Guild), as well as to Facebook pages of Mayberry Days®, the Andy Griffith Museum, TAGS actors and others.
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 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 close order by Allan Newsome and the “Two Chairs, No Waiting” Podcast and “The Andy Griffith Show–Big,” administered by Myron Clark and an able crew.
In case you’re not familiar with MeWe, it’s similar to Facebook. It’s just smaller and a bit calmer. It has no ads. If you’re looking to “relax, slow down, take it easy,” check out some of the TAGSRWC groups on MeWe.
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**** Post Note ****
Between issues of our Weaver’s Newsletter, keep up with the happenings in Mayberry with the daily “Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board?” (aka “WBMUTBB?”) Digest. It’s a free subscriber list that consists entirely of comments, news flashes, and questions and answers from subscribers. You can sign up for that list by going to the “Mailing Lists” link at www.tagsrwc.com.
TAGSRWC also publishes The eBullet in alternate months to Weaver’s Newsletter. The eBullet is the online successor to our longtime printed newsletter, The Bullet. Like Weaver’s Newsletter, The eBullet is free. It includes some of the same news as Weaver’s Newsletter, but generally with more features and depth and a little less emphasis on merchandise news. To sign up, go to: www.tagsrwc.com/ebullet.
TAGSRWC’s other main vehicle for Mayberry information is simply our website at www.tagsrwc.com (and its “brother figure” site www.iMayberry.com). Both sites have extensive content and links for just about everything a Mayberry fan might be looking for.
The next issue of Weaver’s Newsletter is slated for October, and the pre-Mayberry Days issue of The eBullet is scheduled for mid-September.
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IN A GALAXIE FAR, FAR AWAY–Ted Koppel revs up for a tour of Mount Airy. A slightly edited version of last September’s segment about Mayberry and Mount Airy on “CBS News Sunday Morning” was rerun on Aug. 14. For many fans, this additional airing no doubt got the veins popping out of necks and jaw muscles working all over again. If the initial airing was like the original Star Wars in the way it bent a few Mayberry badges, then this latest airing might be considered as similar to The Empire Strikes Back. Controversial the story is.
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