What a blessing it is for Mayberry fans to see–within less than a month of each other–the publication of both The Boys and this immensely enjoyable book from Karen Knotts!

Not only does Karen share her own memories of her famous and beloved father, but she also talked to dozens of people from all stages of her father’s life and gleaned their firsthand accounts of events involving her dad. Fans are sure to learn new and perhaps surprising things about Don Knotts and about Karen and others in the Knotts family.

Karen’s storytelling comes from a place of great love, but she doesn’t flinch at sharing very personal and sometimes painful parts of her father’s life, as well as her own–all of which will deepen any reader’s appreciation for Don Knotts as a person in full and not just as a treasured actor.

Maggie Peterson Mancuso Items

Maggie Peterson Mancuso, best known as “Charlene Darling” on TAGS, loved being part of our favorite show and getting to know so many fans at Mayberry events through the years.

Weaver’s Department Store is teaming with Maggie and her family to bring you photographs and other items from her career. We are hopeful that you find a treasure that brings you the same joy that Maggie received being on TAGS. Maggie wants to share this collection rather that having the items just sitting in her closet or on her shelves not being used and fully appreciated. Maggie is no longer able to perform in person, so this is a way that you can stay connected with her.

Maggie is residing in a senior assisted living facility. Since moving there, she has required additional care due to her ongoing health conditions, limited mobility and restricted use of her arms. These conditions make it impossible for her to live independently. This level of care increases the costs for Maggie.

You might wonder about residuals from TAGS and where they might be. TAGS ended in the late Sixties before residuals for actors became what they are now. Residuals were paid for only the first few reruns of episodes in which actors appeared. Maggie has not received residuals for her work on TAGS in more than 50 years.

Please look through the Maggie Peterson Collection of photographs, scripts and other items. The photos are 8 in. x 10 in. and most include Maggie’s autograph. Many are limited editions. Note: Some additional items were recently added!

All proceeds will go directly to helping Maggie. We encourage you to check back from time to time because we expect to add more items as we receive them from Maggie and her family.

If you would rather donate directly or provide additional funds to Maggie, please consider going to the GoFundMe Page for Maggie operated by her family.

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T-Shirts &  Sweatshirts

Mayberry 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 the just recently added 4X size.

Find the perfect Mayberry fit for you and friends and family!

Celebrate Six Decades of Mayberry with three 60th Anniversary T-shirt designs (with two also available as sweatshirts).

 

You’ll look dynamite in this TNT Tee!

And we’re proud to be the exclusive online seller of long-sleeved Loaded Goat T-shirts (in gray or “blooey” heather or the newly added ruby red) for The Loaded Goat restaurant in Mount Airy, N.C. (They’re definitely a blast from the past…and present!)

P.S. Recent Addition: Loaded Goat shirts with short sleeves!)

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GET FLEECED–Fall is here and, more and more, there’s a little nip in the air. It’s wise to keep a sweatshirt handy. You can’t go wrong with this cool Mayberry Friends design!

 

Most of our adult-sized licensed T-shirts are just $20. A few designs are $18, and the Lawmen, Sheriff all-over designs and the long-sleeved Loaded Goat are $25. (The long-sleeved Sheriff shirt is $40.)

Six designs of T-shirts are available in Toddler sizes for $16.) Several designs are offered in sweatshirts (and some also as hoodies) as well.

With so many fun fashion options, we hope you’ll find the perfect styls, designs and sizes for sharing your love of Mayberry!

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THE BOYS–Ready to share stories about their careers, their families, and their lives growing up in Hollywood.

* Oct. 12, 13, and 15: Ron Howard and Clint Howard make joint presentations in support of their new memoir The Boys at three book events including a ticketed presentation by The Town Hall at Strand Books in New York City at 7 p.m. on October 12, the Chicago Humanities Festival at 7 p.m. on October 13, and an L.A. Times Book Club presentation on the rooftop of the Grammy Museum in L.A. at 7 p.m. on October 15.  (You can also “attend” that last one virtually for $45.)

* Oct. 17: The Dillards featuring Rodney Dillard perform at First Baptist Church of Friendsville, 403 N. Farnum St., Friendsville, Tenn., at 9:40 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.  For more info, contact the church at 865-995-2130.

* Oct. 22: The Dillards featuring Rodney Dillard perform at 6 p.m. as part of the Bluegrass Island Festival in Manteo, N.C. For more info, visit www.bluegrassisland.com.

* Oct. 29-31: Margaret Kerry is a special guest for the Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, Tenn. For more info, visit www.fanboyexpo.com.

* Oct. 30: 33rd Annual Uncle Jesse Big Bass Classic (founded by Denver Pyle) at Pat Mayse Lake in Paris, Tex.  The event helps raise funds for Denver Pyle’s Children’s Charities, which remains very active in the Paris community. For info, visit the event’s page on Facebook.

* Oct. 31-Nov. 6: POSTPONED by pandemic (again) until 2022.  See new listing below.  Clint Howard is the special guest for Mayberry Cruise 15, which was postponed with a few tweaks from its original dates in 2020.

REMAIN CALM–Our ship will sail in 2022!

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 just recently 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.

Betty Lynn celebrated her recent 95^th birthday a little more quietly than originally planned. She wasn’t feeling at full strength in the weeks leading up to her August 29^th birthday, so plans for a big party at Mount Airy’s Cross Creek Country Club were replaced by lots of birthday cards received at home.

STILL THE CAT’S–Betty Lynn is delighted as she holds one of scores of cards she received wishing her a Happy 95th Birthday. Betty also expressed her gratitude for the well wishes in a video that was posted on Facebook on her behalf. Photo by Hobart Jones.

 

Betty moved into a new apartment the week of Mayberry Days^®, which limited her availability to participate in the festival. However, she did thrill the large crowds lining Mount Airy’s North Main Street when she once again served as grand marshal for the festival’s big parade on Saturday.

LEADING LADY OF MAYBERRY–Betty Lynn leads the Mayberry Days^® parade in Mount Airy. (At lower left, the arm of Wilbur Finch tribute artist Ben Currin is at hand with any shoes Betty and others might need.)

 

TAGSRWC’s Weaver’s Department Store is honored to be partnering with Maggie Peterson Mancuso and her family for a fundraiser involving some of Maggie’s memorabilia. (See the Maggie Peterson Collection described in our Merchandise Update section above.)

THAT ONE MAKES US SMILE–During the Mayor’s Proclamation at Mayberry Days^®, Terri Forrest Champney of the Surry Arts Council proudly displays the signature dress and sweater worn by Maggie Peterson Mancuso in countless performances as Charlene Darling during the last three decades. Maggie made the dress available to a group of Surry Arts benefactors (including the seven standing here with Terri) who then officially donated the dress to the Andy Griffith Museum, where several items previously donated by Maggie are already on display.

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ISLE BE THERE–This is another excellent memoir with Mayberry connections that has set sail this year. Autographed copies by author Dreama Denver are now available in the Books aisle online at Weaver’s!

Several TAGS actors and their families were able to attend Mayberry Days^® this year. For the record, here’s the complete list of TAGS stars (or family representative) who attended this year: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou), Rodney Dillard (Darling boy), Dennis Rush (Howie), Joy Ellison (Effie Muggins, Mary Wiggins and three others), Clint Howard (Leon), Ronnie Schell (two episodes and also Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”), Margaret Kerry (Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey), LeRoy Mack McNees (Dobro-playing member of The Country Boys in two episodes), Dreama Denver (widow of Bob Denver, who played Dud Wash in one episode) and Karen Knotts (daughter of Don). Another family member of the TAGS cast attended but remained incognito as Mount Pilot Fun Girl Skippy.

Calvin Peeler (Martin in an episode of “Mayberry R.F.D.”), Laura Hagen (widow of Earle Hagen) and Bettina Linke (widow of associate producer Richard O. Linke, who was also personal manager of several TAGS stars) had planned to attend but unfortunately all three had to cancel because of schedule conflicts or pandemic-related concerns.

Adopted Mayberry star Dick Atkins (producer of Murder in Coweta County starring Andy Griffith) was also a special guest again this year.

Stark Howell and Cort Howell (sons of Hoke Howell, who played Dud Wash in two episodes) were also in Mount Airy during Mayberry Days^®, as was Greg Schell (son of Ronnie), but they were kept busy with a full slate of separate activities centered around the Mount Airy premiere of their Mayberry Man movie.

See the Mayberry Days^® Mini-Gallery below for additional coverage about cast members and their families at Mayberry Days^®.

That’s a wrap for News of Cast & Crew for this issue.

**** In Memoriam ****

Remembering Jay Sandrich

Jay Sandrich
1932-2021

 

With the passing of Jay Sandrich in Los Angeles on September 22, Mayberry and the entertainment world mourns the loss of a true Hollywood legend. Jay died of complications of dementia. He was 89.

Jay’s involvement was somewhat below the radar on TAGS. He served as associate producer for the entire fifth season (1964-65), taking over (along with Bob Ross) some of the day-to-day duties of Aaron Ruben, who, while still working as a producer for TAGS, was more focused that season on his new duties as creator, head writer and sometimes director of “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”

But it was his work as a director after his time on TAGS that earned Jay the most renown. He directed 119 of the 168 episodes of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (winning two Emmy Awards in the process) and directed more than half of the 197 episodes of “The Cosby Show” (earning two more Emmys).

GOLDEN MOMENT–Jay Sandrich (far right) with fellow Emmy recipients Ted Knight, Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper at the Emmy Awards Show on May 20, 1973, at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles.

 

Jay is officially credited with directing four score and seven different series and movies during his career. All of the movies, except Neil Simon’s Seems Like Old Times in 1980, were productions made for TV. He had begun work on a second feature film, Sweet Deception, which was being written by John Belushi, who died before the project could be completed. In any case, Jay found that he preferred the faster pace and quicker turn-around time of TV shows.

SIMON SAYS, RAISE YOUR ARMS?–Jay (far right) working on Seems Like Old Times with Neil Simon (far left).

The TV shows he directed read like a Hall of Fame roster of TV comedy, including multiple episodes of “Get Smart,” “Here’s Lucy,” “The Odd Couple,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “WKRP in Cincinnati,” “Soap,” “Night Court,” “The Golden Girls” (for which he also had a pivotal role in casting) and “Two and a Half Men,” which was his final directing assignment for TV in 2003. In his retirement years, Jay directed a few plays that were produced in Aspen, Colo., where he often spent his summers.

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A NEW STAGE IN LIFE–Jay gives notes to actor James Ludwig in a 2010 Theatre Aspen production of Same Time, Next Year.

 

Early in his career, Jay was fortunate to be a protégé of Sheldon Leonard. Working closely with Sheldon, Jay learned all aspects of the TV and movie business. He served as assistant director for 161 episodes of “The Danny Thomas Show” (including the episode “Danny Meets Andy Griffith,” the pilot for TAGS), for which Sheldon served as executive producer and often directed. As he would do for many others, including Howard Morris, Sheldon Leonard offered Jay his first chance to take the helm as director with a 1963 episode of “The Danny Thomas Show.”

BEFORE MAYBERRY’S BIG BANG–Jay (far right) cranes for a better look while working with Sheldon Leonard (foreground) on an episode of “The Danny Thomas Show.”

 

Prior to his work with Sheldon Leonard, Jay had the chance to work as an assistant director for other top shows, including for 15 episodes during the sixth season of “I Love Lucy” in 1956-57. He was able to spend a lot of time working with and learning from the best in the business.

Jay Henry Sandrich was born the second of two sons (after Mark Jr., who also became a respected assistant director and director) to parents Mark and Freda on February 24, 1932. In many ways, Jay was born on a path destined to lead to success in Hollywood. His father was an accomplished director, who was best known for his work on musicals with Fred Astaire, including classics such as The Gay Divorcee, Shall We Dance, Top Hat (all three also starring Ginger Rogers) and Holiday Inn (with Bing Crosby).

FOOTSTEPS TO FOLLOW– Jay’s father, acclaimed director Mark Sandrich (left), does The Continental with Fred Astaire as the two work on a scene in 1934’s The Gay Divorcee. Mark Sandrich died of heart attack 11 years later at age 44, shortly after Jay had turned 13.

 

Jay graduated from Beverly Hills High School and then, in 1953, from UCLA with a BA in film and theater arts. During the summer after graduating, he took a non-paying job as second assistant director on “The Lone Ranger” TV series. He then joined the Army and made training films and documentaries for the Signal Corps.

After his three-year hitch in the Army, Jay was hired as a second assistant director for Desilu Productions. (His boss was Argyle Nelson, Desilu’s head of production, a position for Nelson that would eventually include production supervisor duties for the first two seasons of TAGS.)

Through a steady process of working and observing, Jay developed the skills that would make him a legend in the industry. His basic philosophy of directing was to focus on the writing and the casting, with the idea that, if a production got those two things right, then proficient directing could help optimize both.

Jay credited Sheldon Leonard with teaching him that camera positions and other technical details were there to serve the actors and the story, and not the other way around–and that he should move the cameras, not the actors, to get the desired shot. Trying to be an auteur with dazzling camera angles and effects was not Jay’s style. He was first and foremost a storyteller.

THE MASTER SPEAKS–Jay sharing some of his wisdom from five decades in the film industry.

Jay once said that his season working with Don Knotts on TAGS taught him that the laughs need to come from a character’s humanity, not the laugh track. He famously quipped that his duties on TAGS were basically just to handle the laugh track, but that was typical modesty.

In addition to his four Primetime Emmys, Jay was nominated six additional times, and he also won a Daytime Emmy. He was also nominated nine times for the Directors Guild of America’s award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement and won three times: 1975’s “The Lily Tomlin Special,” 1984’s pilot episode for “The Cosby Show” and a 1985 episode of “The Golden Girls.” Jay was inducted in the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2020.

Jay was the one who suggested that “Golden Girls” characters played by Betty White and Rue McClanahan be reversed, with White playing the more reserved Rose Nyland and McClanahan playing the friskier Blanche Devereaux.

HEY DAY–Jay with the “Cosby Show” cast (and guest star Lena Horne, second from right in the front row) on the set during filming of an episode at the end of he hit show’s first season in 1985.

Upon learning of Jay’s passing, Ron Howard tweeted, I knew Jay when he was an associate producer on “The Andy Griffith Show,” before he became one of the greatest and most prolific TV comedy directors. Talent, taste, hard work and a great team spirit defined his stellar reputation.”

HAPPY COUPLE–Jay and Linda.

And so it was that Mayberry once again had been touched by greatness and kindness when Jay Sandrich spent that 1964-65 TV season working on TAGS.

Jay married Nina Kramer in 1953, the same year he graduated from college. The couple had three children, Wendy, Eric, and Tony. Jay and Nina divorced in 1976, and, in 1984, Jay married Linda Silverstein, who survives him, as do his children and four grandchildren.

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Reel News: A Double Feature!

After a highly successful tour of film festivals far and wide, The Mayberry Effect, director Chris Hudson‘s documentary about the influences of Mayberry on our lives, was released to streaming services on August 31. (It’s now available to order on DVD at Weaver’s.)

While much of the emphasis of the movie is on Mayberry tribute artists, especially David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning (the longtime leader the principal troupe), Allan “Floyd” Newsome and Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, watch for that scene-stealing Opie, too!

The Mayberry Effect was a labor of love of many years for Chris, and it shows. It’s a fun, moving and observant film that makes for a compelling examination not only of how Mayberry has affected many of our lives, but also of how people today can shape Mayberry and its impact. It’s a great way to spend an hour and a half immersed in Mayberry!

But wait–there’s more!

BACK HOME AGAIN–Some of the members of the cast and crew of Mayberry Man gathered in Mount Airy in September to celebrate good times and promote their new movie.
Photo by Shannon Beal.

The Mayberry Man movie, written and directed by Stark Howell and produced by Cort Howell (both sons of Hoke Howell, aka Mayberry’s Dud Wash) and co-produced by Greg Schell (son of Ronnie Schell) recently completed its three red-carpet premieres before its wider release (including now being available on DVD at Weaver’s, in case you missed the listing above) as of October 1.

The first premiere was held in Danville, Ind., where much of the movie was filmed, during Labor Day weekend. The West Coast premiere took place in Newhall, Calif. The third and East Coast premiere was in Mount Airy during the week of Mayberry Days^®, though the film goings-on weren’t an official part of the festival. Several additional screenings were held in Mount Airy that week, and there are additional select screenings this month in locations ranging from Tennessee and Indiana to West Virginia, Ohio and Michigan. (They’re “makin’ for Canada!”).

BIG NIGHT–Posing on the red carpet for the West Coast premiere of Mayberry Man in Newhall, Calif., on September 13 are (l-r) Joel Alvarado (Goober), Rik Roberts (Barney), Ashley Elaine (Kate), Greg Schell (Greg) and Allan Newsome (Floyd).

 

Cast and crew and backers and other friends and supporters of the movie attended the gala premieres.

Reviews of the movie, which features many familiar faces, especially Mayberry tribute artists, have also been positive and have stressed that Mayberry Man is a good, wholesome movie that families can enjoy together. Here’s a LINK to a nice plug for the movie from Clint Howard (a lifelong friend of Stark and Cort Howell). Clint has nothing but high praise for the film and singles out Allan Newsome’s role in particular. (Big shots in Hollywood might be saying that Allan’s performance gives every indication that “a star is born,” but tell us something we didn’t already know. Allan has been a star for TAGSRWC and Mayberry in general for decades!)

All in all, The Mayberry Effect and Mayberry Man make this is a grand time to invest in movie popcorn. (You just know Barney would take the plunge!)

IN A GALAXIE NOT SO FAR, FAR AWAY–Ted Koppel revs up for a tour of Mount Airy.

 

Speaking of videos about Mayberry…For anyone who missed correspondent Ted Koppel’s story about Mayberry for “Sunday Morning” on CBS (September 19). Here’s the LINK. The story has been “somewhat” controversial among Mayberry fans and has gotten more than a few jaw muscles working. But it’s a noteworthy piece of reporting about Mayberry and Mount Airy.

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**** Mayberry Days^® Mini-Gallery ****

Here are few photos from the September’s 32nd Annual Mayberry Days^® in Mount Airy, N.C. We’ll have additional coverage in the November edition of our Brother Figure publication, The eBullet.

There’s also a giant Mayberry Days^® Photo Gallery on the official Mayberry Days^® website. (Most of the photos in this issue are borrowed from that gallery.) Here’s the GALLERY LINK to those images provided by photographers Hobart Jones, Kenny Hooker and Robbie Curlee. And thanks to Surry Arts Council webmaster Jeff Koontz for once again organizing the annual gallery of Mayberry Days^® memories.

SUITS HIM TO A T.!–All decked out in his Mayberry Union High letter jacket (and with Fun Girls lipstick on his cheek), singer T. Graham Brown (founder of Bullet Maintenance chapter in Nashville, Tenn.) proudly raises his Key to the City of Mount Airy at the Mayor’s Proclamation during Mayberry Days^®. (The fact that his key wasn’t also a bottle-opener, as some earlier keys have been, didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of “His Tness.”)
Photo by Robbie Curlee.

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A DARLING BOY MAKES HIS POINTS–Ever the appealing showman, Rodney Dillard entertains with his band at the Andy Griffith Playhouse.
Photo by Hobart Jones.

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GRAND FINALE–Michael Hoover (TCB in gold lamé) leads the cast of “Colonel Tim’s Talent Time” (including original TAGS cast members and family members and Mayberry tribute artists) at the Andy Griffith Playhouse.
Photo by Hobart Jones.

 

Again, for many more photos from Mayberry Days^®, check the festival’s GALLERY LINK.

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