Weaver’s Newsletter
An Online newsletter of
“The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
**** Merchandise Update ****
Just in time for the upcoming holiday shopping season, ol’ Ben Weaver has several new items that make outstanding gifts for Mayberry fans. Browse the full selection of books, apparel, DVDs, artwork, collectibles, items for your vehicle and much more online at Weaver’s (www.weaversdepartmentstore.com).
We appreciate your shopping at Weaver’s, especially because Weaver’s sales are the main thing that helps TAGSRWC be able to support Mayberry Days and other Mayberry-connected events and charitable efforts throughout the year. We appreciate it!
Featured This Month at Weaver’s:
2014 Andy Griffith Show Wall CalendarAvailable Now!
The official “Andy Griffith Show” Wall Calendar is back for 2014! This calendar contains all black-and-white photos (though some are of color seasons). When hanging up, the calendar measures 12 x 22.
Favorite characters featured in the 2014 edition are Andy, Barney, Opie, Aunt Bee, Gomer, Goober, Weaver’s Mannequins, and a very skinny Santa (ho-ho-ho).
Be sure to make your dates with Mayberry in 2014!
SPECIAL OFFER:
Buy 2, Get 1 Free! That’s right. Ol’ Ben Weaver got into that jug of Christmas spirits a little early this year. When you buy 2 of the 2014 Wall Calendar, we’ll add another one to your order for FREE.
Ernest T. has calculated that that’s like getting the 3 calendars for just $10 each, or 1/3 off! Christmas in October! No trick, just treat. So buy a couple of calendars for friends, and get one for yourself. You deserve it! And it’s the same deal if you buy 4 or 6, etc. For every 2 you buy, you get one free.
The TAGS Wall Calendar is a great way for all your friends and family to celebrate Mayberry every month and every day in 2014.
Songs That Make Me Cry
by Maggie Peterson CD (autographed)
$12.00
Available to Order Now! Shipping in Early November
Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling) sings Songs That Make Me Cry on CD (autographed). This special CD features the original tracks for three songs Maggie sang on “The Andy Griffith Show.”
For 50 years, Maggie carefully preserved the acetate recordings made from the original masters. Now, she is generously sharing with Mayberry fans this CD made from those acetates.
The three songs on this CD are:
* Salty Dog
* Shady Grove
* There Is a Time
This boutique CD is being produced for us in a Mayberry-sized batch. And what’s more…Maggie is also autographing the cover insert of each one for us! So, what is already a truly special collectible becomes even more so.
We’re pleased to offer this wonderful keepsake collection of beautiful recordings, and we thank Maggie for giving Mayberry fans the chance to enjoy them in our personal collections!
NOTE: Other items ordered with this one will be held to ship with this CD when it’s available in early November.
Two New T-Shirt Designs!
As with all of our officially licensed T-shirt designs (more than 2 dozen in all!), these shirts are 100% cotton and only $18 each. (All-American Andy is on a light gray shirt and Newest Nip It is on a sky blue shirt.) Both shirts (and most of our other designs) are available in sizes adult Small to 2X. A few designs are also in 3X.
Return of the Killer Shrews on DVD
Taking Orders Now!
Shipping begins the week of October 22 (so, just in time for Halloween)
List Price: $20.oo Our Price: $18.00
More scary than The Monster from out of Town, more bizarre than Anteaters from Outer Space. Watch out for Return of the Killer Shrews!
Otis, grip a bottle and take cover under your courthouse cot! Aunt Bee, grab your rolling pin! Barney, find your bullet. Opie, test your slingshot. Ernest T. Bass, uh…never mind. He’ll be fine. Even Killer Shrews know to avoid that nut and his sack of rocks!
Yes, the Killer Shrews of legend are back in Return of the Killer Shrews, the long-awaited sequel to the original 1959 cult classic starring James Best as Capt. Thorne Sherman.
In this new cinematic assault, Capt. Sherman (played again by the Best man) is now possibly the lone wrangler who survived the original shrew-vasion. He is hired by a current-day reality TV show crew to return to the island home of the shrews, who are willing to do anything to avoid having a low-life reality show invade their island.
And it turns out that the generations of Killer Shrews that have evolved are more than up to the task of defending their island, because, with the nurturing of an adoring mad doctor (Bruce Davison of X-Men, Willard and Susan’s ruthless estate lawyer on “Seinfeld”), the body count is sure to mount as members of the attractive cast and crew encounter the brutal reality of the flesh-munching mammals.
James Best and his “Dukes of Hazzard” buddies John Schneider and Rick Hurst are joined by not only the talented Mr. Davison, but also Jennifer Lyons (yes, in the required monster movie bikini), Sean Flynn (grandson of Errol Flynn), David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning (as earnest Neavis), plus Patty Browning (David’s wife) as the endearing Intern, and other able and highly watchable actors. As for the shrews, they’re simply, viciously, blood-thirstily horror-able.
Special features: Trailer, “Making of” videos (including commentary by James Best), music video with Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean), plus special bonus: a brand-new 16×9 digital film transfer of a poster for the original 1959 cult classic The Killer Shrews.
We’re not sure what the Motion Picture Association of America’s official Rating is for this 83-minute film, but the amount of blood and gore is probably somewhere between TV’s “Lassie” and “Dexter.” Ditto for the laughs.
Even if you’re not suave and worldly, at least be Shrewd. Order Return of the Killer Shrews today. Then let yourself live…a little…before the Killer Shrews gnaw their way into your subconscious mind…forever! And best of all, the Killer Shrews have already chewed our price down to only $18.00.
“Matlock” Complete Nine Seasons
Now Available on DVD!
Our Price: $249.00
List Price $339.00
NEW in 2013!!!
If you’ve “Ben” waiting all these years for the complete Matlock collection on DVD, your wait is finally over. All 195 episodes on a whopping 52 discs are now available as a Complete Series Set. No special packaging. Just each season in its own case.
The verdict is in. Like those courthouse hotdogs that Ben loves so much, “Matlock” is a guilty pleasure! And best of all, “Matlock” has lots of our beloved Andy Griffith in action…with lots of familiar friends, including many from Mayberry!
Load up on “Matlock,” the next best thing to Mayberry! And at an attractive price that even frugal ol’ Ben himself would like!
Oh, and Weaver’s of course has individual Seasons, The Entire Series (now only $109.00!) and a 50th Anniversary Collection of TAGS on DVD, as well as “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” and favorite movies and other features starring Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, George Lindsey and the Dillards.
Christmas Corner
In addition to our wide variety of Mayberry items that make great gifts year-round, we have several geared especially for Christmas. You’ll find them HERE.
Find all of these items and much, much more at www.weaversdepartmentstore.com, or just click on the Weaver’s button at the top left or top right of the page whenever you’re visiting www.imayberry.com.
Floyd’s Barbershop
Bulletin Board & Event Calendar
Look for our continual calendar updates
online at www.imayberry.com.
The Andy Griffith Museum, featuring the late Emmett Forrest’s amazing collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia, is open daily in Mount Airy, N.C. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
Photo by Hobart Jones.
The following information is from “The eBullet“: Official E-mail Newsletter of “The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC).
* Oct. 23: David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning patrols at the Senior Life Fair at Flint Hill Christian Church in Emporia, Kans.
* Oct. 25 to 27: Julie Adams is a guest star for Spooky Empire: The Ultimate Horror Weekend at the Hilton Doubletree at Universal, 5780 Major Blvd., in Orlando, Fla.
* Oct. 28-Nov. 2: Halloween Cruise to Mayberry 8. Five Days aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Paradise, leaving from Tampa to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and two “Fun Days” at sea. Special Guests for the cruise are Jackie Joseph, best known to Mayberry fans as Ernest T. Bass’s love interest, Ramona Ankrum, and Dobro-playing Country Boys member LeRoy McNees.
They will be joined by several Mayberry tribute artists, an Elvis tribute artist, and the VW Boys for entertainment provided exclusively to Mayberry Cruise participants. It’s too late to book for this year, but keep an on the All About Cruises website at www.allaboutcruisesnc.net for an announcement about Mayberry Cruise 9 next fall.
* Nov. 1: Karen Knotts performs “Tied Up in Knotts” at the Corydon Central High School Auditorium in Corydon, Ind., from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
* Nov. 1-3: Margaret Kerry will appear with other Disney performers and artists in the Gifts by Small Fry booth at the Comikaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Photo by Hobart Jones.
* Nov. 15: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.or or call (336) 786-1604.
* Dec. 5: David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning sleighs the crowd with laughter at the Evening Christmas Parade in downtown Bristol Tenn./Va.
* Dec. 7: Rodney Dillard and The Dillard Band and Maggie Peterson perform their Mayberry Christmas show featuring David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning at Long Branch Baptist Church in Autryville, N.C. Shows are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. with a meet-and-greet with the stars at 6 p.m. For more info, call 910-531-3765.
* Dec. 8: David “Ebenezer” Browning performs his one-man A Christmas Carol at Long Branch Baptist Church in Autryville, N.C.
* Dec. 10: David “Scrooge” Browning performs A Christmas Carol at Montgomery Community College in Troy, N.C.
* Dec. 14: Rodney Dillard and The Dillard Band and Maggie Peterson bring holiday music and fun to East Tennessee with their Mayberry Christmas show featuring David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning. The show is at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tenn. Details TBA.
* Dec. 15: Rodney, Dillard and the Dillard Band, Maggie Peterson and David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning move on to Middle Tennessee with their popular Mayberry Christmas show, where they perform today at Mt. Juliet Middle School in Mt. Juliet at 6:30 p.m., presented by Abundant Life Church of Mt Juliet. The Sunday evening fun will begin with a showing of the “Christmas Story” episode. The show will be followed by a meet-and-greet with the performers. For tickets ($20 for General Admission in first five rows; $15 General Admission in all other seats) or more info, call 615-754-7035. Or tickets may be purchased online at Christmas in Mayberry.
* Dec. 18: It’s back to East Tennessee for Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band, Maggie Peterson and David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning and their Mayberry Christmas show. They perform today at Freedom Hall Auditorium in Johnson City, Tenn. Details TBA.
* Dec. 20: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
2014
* Jan. 11: James Best performs “Best in Hollywood” at the Green Room Community Theater in Newton, N.C. For more info, contact the box office at 828-464-6583 or visit www.the-green-room.org.
Photo by Hobart Jones.
* Jan. 17: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Feb. 12 and 13: Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling) and Ronnie Schell (two episodes of TAGS and Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”) greet fans and sign autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, N.C., from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. both days.
* Feb. 14: Maggie Peterson and Ronnie Schell perform Love Letters during a dinner show at Cross Creek Country Club in Mount Airy, N.C. All tickets are $55, which includes dinner. (No tickets will be available without dinner.) Dinner is at 6:30 p.m., followed by the show. Tickets should be available fairly soon from the Surry Arts Council and its website www.surryarts.org.
* Feb. 21: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Feb. 28-Mar. 16: James Best stars with wife Dorothy Best and Norma Frank in On Golden Pond at the Hickory Community Theatre in Hickory, N.C. For info, visit http://hickorytheatre.org.
* Mar. 6-8: 17th Annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, Ala. For info, visit www.lindseyfilmfest.com.
* Mar. 8: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Opie’s Hobo Friend” episode of TAGS, the first one written by Harvey Bullock, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Mar. 21: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Mar. 21-23: Karen Knotts has four performances of “Tied Up in Knotts” in Folsom, Calif. Details TBA.
* Mar. 22: James Best presents “Best in Hollywood” at the Camden Fine Arts Center in Camden, S.C. For more info, call the box office at 803-425-7676 or visit www.fineartscenter.org.
* Apr. 12: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “The Education of Ernest T. Bass” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Apr. 18: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Apr. 26: James Best brings his “Best in Hollywood” show to the Newberry Opera House in Newberry, S.C. For more info, call the box office at 803-276-6264 or visit www.newberryoperahouse.com.
* May 2 and 3: 4th Annual Mayberry Comes to Westminster Festival in Westminster, S.C. Details TBA.
* May 10: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Rafe Hollister Sings” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* May 16: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* May 17 and 18: Mayberry in the Midwest in Danville, Ind. Stars confirmed so far include Maggie Peterson, Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band, and a full slate of Mayberry Tribute Artists. Many more details TBA, but for now, just mark your calendar.
* June 14: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Barney and Thelma Lou, Phfftt” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* June 20: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* July 12: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Back to Nature” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* July 18: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Aug. 9: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “The Songfesters” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Aug. 15: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Sept. 19: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Sept. 25-28: 25th Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C. Details TBA. Visit www.surryarts.org for more info.
**** News of Cast & Crew ****
Ron Howard’s Rush, the film about a legendary saga in Formula One racing, has been receiving very good reviews and seeing solid sales box office sales, especially overseas, where Formula One is wildly popular. It has grossed over $70 million worldwide in its first month of release.
Jay-Z: Made in America, Ron’s documentary about hip-hop star Jay-Z’s music festival in Philadelphia, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September, and made its debut on Showtime on October 11.
Meanwhile, Ron is now filming In the Heart of the Sea, a tragic story of the Essex, a whaling ship destroyed by a whale in 1820.
And Ron and his Imagine Entertainment studio are producing a revival of the popular “24” TV series called “24: Live Another Day,” which is set to begin airing sometime in 2014.
Ron and Imagine partner Brian Grazer are also trying to bring the “Friday Night Lights” TV series to the big screen (where filmed versions of FNL, based on the FNL book, started in 2004). The interesting twist is that Imagine likely will use crowdfunding (that is, money from fans and others through Kickstarter or a similar program) as part of the financial backing for the new movie.
Betty Lynn had surgery the day before her birthday at the end of August. She is recovering well. Always a trouper, she made appearances for key parts of Mayberry Days and she has kept up her autograph sessions once a month (the third Friday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.) at the Andy Griffith Museum.
Maggie Peterson and Rodney Dillard have done several concert performances together this year, including another highly successful annual August fundraiser in Troy, N.C., for the Montgomery County Sheriff Department’s DARE program. And they’re just back from performances in Minnesota. Rodney and wife Beverly also were able to visit the Taylor Home Inn (a B&B that’s a remarkable replica of the Taylor house on TAGS) in nearby Clear Lake, Wis.
Maggie and Ronnie Schell will be appearing at the Andy Griffith Museum (Feb. 12 and 13) and doing a performance of Love Letters for one night only (Feb. 14.) in Mount Airy, N.C. (See Floyd’s bulletin board above.)
James Best has had a full schedule with personal appearances and exhibitions of his original art. So far this year, he has been to Las Vegas, Nashville, Memphis, Mississippi, Maryland, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana and, just last weekend, Texas for a big “Dukes of Hazzard” reunion. Many of his personal appearances are “Dukes” related, but he’s often joined for comedy sketches onstage by David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning.
And look for James (and David Browning, along with John Schneider, Bruce Davison and an attractive cast) in Return of the Killer Shrews, which will be on DVD, shrewdly timed for release on October. 22, just before Halloween. (Our Weaver’s Dept. Store is stocking the DVD. See the listing above, if you were too scared to do so before!)
On a tamer note, James is also set to star in a production of On Golden Pond at the Hickory (N.C.) Community Theatre starting February 28 next year.
Jackie Joseph (Ernest T.’s Sweet Romeena) has been especially active lately in fundraisers for blindness research and for leukemia and lymphoma assistance. As always, she’s also very involved in Actors & Others for Animals, which has a big fundraiser coming up the same weekend as Mayberry Days (causing Jackie to have to miss this year’s festival). And she still finds time to regularly write a column for the Tolucan Times and to be involved in SAG/AFTRA issues, among many other activities. And she’ll be aboard the Halloween Cruise to Mayberry 8 with fellow cast member LeRoy “Mack” McNees next week.
As for Mayberry’s Country Boys Dobro master LeRoy Mack, he had a mini-tour playing gospel bluegrass in central Colorado in August. And be sure to check out his great new CD, Stories.
Joy Ellison (Mary Wiggins and other Opie-aged characters), one of Hollywood’s most in-demand dialect coaches, had a couple of movie projects pending around Mayberry Days, but is eager to attend the festival in 2014, if filming schedules allow.
Richard O. (Dick) Linke, TAGS associate producer and longtime manager of Andy Griffith, Jim Nabors, Ken Berry, Maggie Peterson, Ronnie Schell and others, reports that he’s doing well as he celebrates his 96th birthday with a gathering of family and friends at his home in Hawaii on October 23rd.
Margaret Kerry (Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey) has been making lots of personal appearances in connection with the 60th Anniversary of Disney’s Peter Pan this year. (She was the live model for Tinker Bell.) And she is finishing up her autobiography.
Margaret also has been collaborating with George Lindsey Jr. on some comedy performances. And she did some interviews with George about show business and his memories of his dad. Those are expected to be on her website (www.tinkerbelltalks.com) at some point.
Meanwhile, George Lindsey Jr. can be heard as several voices in the recently redubbed Starzinger, the classic anime space drama (aka “Spaceketeers” in its original form) released on DVD in August. Attaboy, Goober-son!
Karen Knotts (Don’s daughter) has just completed a highly successful mini-tour of Louisiana with her “Tied Up in Knotts” show. She has a few more dates this year and will soon have some to announce for 2014 as well.
We’re very sad to report the passing on September 16 of Vikki Sallee-Dillard, widow of Doug Dillard, after a short time in hospice in Nashville. Funeral arrangements are pending.
A skilled singer and songwriter, Vikki was one of the kindest people you could ever hope to meet, and she was a good friend to many in our Mayberry community. Though we’ll miss her here, there’s comfort in the faith that she and her beloved Doug are together again and forever.
**** Mayberry Days Photo Gallery ****
Moving even slower than Mayberry, we haven’t yet sorted through all of our own photos from September’s Mayberry Days festival. Fortunately Hobart Jones, the talented official photographer of the Surry Arts Council, has posted some of his in the Mayberry Days Photo Gallery on their website. They’ll have more to come, and we’ll also eventually (by the end of October, we hope!) post ours in a photo gallery on TAGSRWC’s Facebook page.
Here’s a sampling of photos from Hobart. (Click on these photos–as well as most other photos in this issue–to see them bigger.)
Peggy McCay holds the coat she wore as Sharon DeSpain in the “Class Reunion” episode, as Neal Brower looks on during their lecture at Mayberry Days .
Betty Lynn (wearing red hat in car), as Grand Marshal of the Mayberry Days parade.
The Doug Dillard Tribute Concert featuring TAGS cast members Roland White (on mandolin, at his first Mayberry Days) and fellow Country Boys member LeRoy McNees (on dobro). That’s Ginger Boatwright, longtime lead singer for the Doug Dillard Band and a Mayberry Days favorite, on guitar at center. (She also made the quilt backdrop.) And Roland’s wife, Diane Bouska, is playing guitar next to him.
And here’s a photo from TAGSRWC’s Alan Thornton that captures a special moment during the VW Boys concert:
Allan Newsome (right) presents David Browning with the 2013 Jim Schwenke Memorial Award, one of the two big awards given by TAGSRWC. (Briscoe Darling tribute artist Bob Mundy received the other award, the Mayberry Friendship Award, during TAGSRWC’s Annual Meeting at Mayberry Days.)
**** Mayberry on the Web ****
The iMayberry Community
This is the latest Web activity hosted by TAGSRWC and organized and overseen by webmaster Allan “Floyd” Newsome. It’s called iMayberry Community. You can check it out and sign up for free at: http://imayberrycommunity.com/.
The iMayberry Community has been getting a great response. About 600 fans have already signed up (it’s free). It complements our other online activities, including our main www.imayberry.com page, podcasts, Facebook page, online newsletters (such as The eBullet!), weaversdepartmentstore.com and chat rooms. Combined with TAGSRWC chapters and the various Mayberry events for all fans (from Mayberry Days to ocean cruises), not to mention enjoying the sites of Mount Airy year-round, the world of Mayberry fun keeps expanding.
And best of all, it’s all rooted in watching the show itself. Whether through DVDs, local stations or TV Land, loving to watch the show continues to be the energy that feeds all the other Mayberry fun and activities that we enjoy. What a wonderful thing Andy Griffith and his talented team of actors, musicians, writers and crew people created 53 years ago–for us and generations to come!
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 tune in and participate during tapings on Monday evenings). Past episodes are in an online Archives in case you want to listen to or view episodes you’ve missed. (As of this week, there have been 257 episodes during the past five years. And counting!)
There’s a lot of really great info and discussions that you simply won’t find anywhere else, including rare interviews (vintage and new) with cast and crew members of TAGS, and others. If you’ve got sound on your computer or have an iPod or android or similar device, you can easily tune in live or download these podcasts.
Also, check out the podcast area of our www.imayberry.com site for info about a Mayberry Bible Study Podcast, also hosted by Allan.
And there’s a Brother Figure podcast to Two Chairs, No Waiting. It’s hosted by longtime TAGSRWC member Kevin Burke, who does a super job of describing and discussing individual episodes. It’s called Burke on Mayberry. Check it out.
TAGSRWC’s official page on Facebook now has more than 41,000 friends! You can find us at www.facebook.com/tagsrwc. There’s a variety of comments about Mayberry, and a lively stream of fans’ favorite TAGS lines. And our Facebook page is also one of the first places we post announcements and breaking news about TAGS. 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!
**** POST NOTE ****
Between issues of Weaver’s Newsletter, keep up with the happenings in Mayberry with the daily “Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board?” 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 more or less 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 with more features and depth and a little less emphasis on merchandise news. To sign up, go to: http://www.tagsrwc.com/ebullet/joinebullet.htm.
TAGSRWC’s other main vehicle for Mayberry information is simply our website at www.tagsrwc.com (and its sister 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 scheduled for December, with the next eBullet planned for November.