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The eBullet
An Online newsletter of
"The Andy Griffith Show" Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
Volume 9, Issue 6
November/December 2009
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Welcome to our final eBullet for 2009.  It has been a fun year for Mayberry.  And what's even better news for all of us who love "The Andy Griffith Show" is that some really exciting and big events are already on the calendar for next year.  There's a lot of energy and anticipation beginning to build for the best year ever for celebrating "The Andy Griffith Show" and all things Mayberry during its 50^th Anniversary year.  Here's what's already on tap in the coming months:

**** Floyd's Barbershop Bulletin Board & Event Calendar ****

* Nov. 27-30: A Merry Christmas with Friends & Nabors starring Jim Nabors at the Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu.  For tickets and more info, go to www.hawaiitheatre.com 

* Dec. 9-12: Ronnie Schell performs in Harvey's Comedy Room at Stateline in the Lake Tahoe area.

* Dec. 14:  All aboard with Mayberry Deputy David Browning and a trainload of celebrities and others filled with goodwill  in Stuart, Va., as they head out to spread holiday cheer to those in need in the Appalachian Mountains with the 23rd Annual Morgan Shepherd Charitable Fund Trip.  For more info, visit www.morganshepherd.com.

**** 2010 ****

* Feb. 26 and 27: Ronnie Schell hosts Veterans of Comedy Wars X at McKenna Theater on the campus of San Francisco State University.  Guests announced so far include Tim Conway, Tommy Smothers, Kevin Pollack and Will Durst.  More details TBA.

* Mar. 4-7: 13th Annual George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival at the University of North Alabama in Florence, Ala.  Special guests announced so far include actress Lea Thompson, actor James Tolkan, actor Marc McClure, and screenwriter, director and producer Bob Gale.  All have extensive credits, but their common bond is that they all worked on Back to the Future.  So, the film festival will in part be a mini-reunion for that movie.  For more info, visit www.lindseyfilmfest.com.

* July 10-11: 10th Annual Mayberry Squad Car Nationals and 6th Annual "Mayberry Comes to Graysville" Festival in Graysville, Ala.  Doug Dillard and Rodney Dillard are the first guests announced.  Other guests and details TBA.

* July 23-24: Mayberry in the Midwest IV in New Castle, Ind.  After an absence of a few years, one of the favorite Mayberry events returns to the lineup to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of "The Andy Griffith Show."  Stars and other details TBA.  A Web site with ongoing updates will be up and running soon.  (And we'll have updates on the Event Calendar at www.iMayberry.com, too.)  For now, just mark the date!

* Sept. 23-26: 20th Anniversary Edition of Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C.  Details TBA. Tickets to some portions of the weekend are already available online at www.surryarts.org.

* Oct. 3: 50th Anniversary of the airing of the first episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" on CBS

  * Oct 16-21: A Cruise to Mayberry 5 to the Bahamas aboard Carnival's Fascination with the VW Boys and Mayberry tribute artists and others TBA.  For more info, call (336) 538-4926 or toll-free (800) 832-7993, or visit www.allaboutcruisesnc.net.

Floyd's T-shirt...available at Weaver's!

 **** News of Cast & Crew ****

Many of the Cast & Crew have been very busy since our last issue.  We'll tell a lot of their stories with photos.

   The 20th Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C., was another huge success.  Guests stars this year were Doug Dillard (for his 20^th appearance!), Rodney Dillard, Maggie Peterson, Betty Lynn, James Best, Elizabeth MacRae, LeRoy McNees, Jackie Joseph, George Spence and Karen Knotts, daughter of Don Knotts, in her Mayberry Days debut.  Karen's one-woman show on Friday and lecture with Neal Brower on Saturday were among the weekend's highlights.

   Perhaps the biggest event of Mayberry Days was the official ribbon-cutting for the new Andy Griffith Museum.  Hooray!  The museum features Emmett Forrest's amazing collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia.  The museum, which was also officially dedicated in November in honor of Surry Arts Council Executive Director Tanya Jones (who led the effort for the huge project...Bravo!), is now open on its regular daily schedule.  For info, visit the Web site at www.surryarts.org/agmuseum or call (336)786-7998.

   See more outstanding photos by Hobart Jones of Mayberry Days (and other Mount Airy arts events) in the Photo Gallery section of the Surry Arts Council Web site at www.surryarts.org.  You'll also find information on the Arts Council site about the Andy Griffith Museum. 

   On the Friday of Mayberry Days, Sept. 25, on an island far, far away, Jim Nabors received the American Patriot Award from the Navy League of Hawaii.  The award, presented in Waikiki, recognizes Jim's support of America's men and women in the military-from his days as TV Marine Gomer Pyle to his more recent support of troops serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.

   On Oct. 1, The Original Dillards (Doug Dillard, Rodney Dillard, Mitch Jayne and Dean Webb) were at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for their induction into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.  Their dear friend John McEuen inducted them for this tremendous honor.  As part of their acceptance remarks, Mitch read a message of congratulations from Andy Griffith.

   In the days and weeks after the IBMA Awards, Rodney and Doug were on the road for performances in South Carolina and Arkansas and beyond.  Rodney and wife Beverly also recently appeared at churches with his Mayberry Values ministry and music.  Rodney's currently recovering from some recent knee surgery.  Mitch is back in Missouri writing such things as "Driftwood," his weekly newspaper column.  And some great news...he's fiddlin' with another book!  Dean is also back home in Missouri, home base for his Missouri Boatride bluegrass band.

   During the weekend after Mayberry Days, Betty Lynn was aboard North Carolina's first Flight of Honor for a daytrip with World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the World War II Memorial.  Betty made the trip to express her gratitude to the surviving veterans and those memorialized.  She was invited to be part of the special flight and visit because she performed in the USO for front-line troops in Burma, India and China during the war.

   George Lindsey was a bit under the weather in October and into November, but he's getting back in "Goob" form.  He was featured in "Larry the Cable Guy's Hula-Palooza Christmas Luau," which was taped in Nashville in August and premiered on Country Music Television on Nov. 20.  A DVD of the 90-minute special will be released on Nov. 24. 

   James Best has had several book signings and lots of media interviews in support of his autobiography, Best in Hollywood, which was published in July (see more about the book in the Merchandise section).  He has been doing interviews with media all over the country and from as far away as Colombia, Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia.  He continues to get extremely positive feedback from readers as well.  And a crew was filming at his home this month for an episode of "CMT Cribs" that is expected to air on Country Music Television early next year.

   Jackie Joseph was busy the last many weeks working on a big fundraiser for her pet charity, Actors and Others for Animals.  This year's fundraiser featured a salute to TV's "Laugh-In" and was held in Universal City, Calif., on Nov. 14. 

   Elizabeth MacRae and husband Charlie have recently moved from North Carolina to Los Angeles.  ("Well, act-ually," West Hollywood.)

   LeRoy McNees and wife Jan have settled into southern Georgia as their base for the next few months.

   On Oct. 30, Rance Howard received a Silver Spur Award from the Reel Cowboys, an organization dedicated to classic Westerns.  Ron Howard was in attendance at the 12^th annual awards show in Universal City, Calif., to enjoy the salute to his father.

   A couple of nights later, the 54^th Annual Thalians Ball was held in Beverly Hills.  Ruta Lee is a founder of the Thalians organization and helps organize the annual fundraiser for the mental health services of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

**** Chapter Update ****

We have three new chapters since the last issue of The eBullet:
 

   As TAGSRWC closes out our 30^th year as an organization, these new chapters bring our total number of chapters founded to 1,348.  If you're interested in starting a chapter of TAGSRWC, all you need to do is choose a name that hasn't already been picked, and submit it with a list of your founding members by U.S. mail to TAGSRWC's HQ in Nashville.

   What you do as a chapter is entirely up to you.  Your group can do as much or as little as you like.  Or write to us also if you would like to contact a chapter near you.  Our address is TAGSRWC, 9 Music Square South, PMB 146, Nashville, TN  37203-3211.

**** Merchandise Update ****

   As we head into the holiday shopping season and then turn the corner into the new year and begin celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of "The Andy Griffith Show" in 2010, ol' Ben Weaver continues to offer a nice mixture of new items and old favorites for sale as just the right items for gifts-for yourself or for friends and family.  It's an exciting time to be a fan of the Greatest TV Show of All-Time!     

   Special Note: We're shipping Christmas orders received as late as Noon CT on Dec. 21 for delivery by Christmas Eve at no extra charge-just our flat rate of $5.00 per order (not per item) for shipping and handling.  (We'll also ship orders received as late as Noon on Dec. 22, but at that point it'll require the extra charge of FedEx to guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve.)

   Here are some current merchandise highlights:

* 2010 Andy Griffith Show Wall Calendar   $15.00 
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?category=28

  Like the 2009 calendar, the 2010 edition has all black-and-white images.  Many will seem very familiar.  It's a super item for marking the show's 50^th year.

   We also have a Special Combo with 2009 and 2010 Wall Calendars for $23.00.  And we still have several calendars from previous years.  (The previous editions have become very popular collectibles!)

* Best in Hollywood-The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful by James Best   $25.00 (autographed!)
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=90

If you know James mostly as Rosco P. Coltrane on "The Dukes of Hazzard" and of course as Jim Lindsey on TAGS, then you'll have an opportunity to learn a lot more about his fascinating life, including the Golden Era of Hollywood.  The 320-page book includes more than 150 photos from James' personal collection.  It's getting a great response from readers all over the country.  (And yes, it does include a chapter on TAGS!)

   We have a limited number of autographed copies (including a custom-made bookplate) of the soft-cover book for the cover price of $25 at Weaver's.

* Forest in the Wind, a novel by Mitch Jayne   $15.00
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=92

Originally published in 1966, when author Mitch Jayne was still making visits to Mayberry as one of the Darling Boys, Forest in the Wind has been revised and was re-released last summer.  It now includes wonderful illustrations by Diana Jayne, Mitch's wife.

   The adventure story is told from the point of view of the animals, primarily a family of foxes in the Ozarks.  This is a book for readers of all ages and for the Ages.  This novel is 150 pages of reading that tells an inspiring story and leads us to a greater understanding of and appreciation for the beauty and power of Nature.  Great wintertime reading!

* "All New" Box Set of All Eight Seasons of "The Andy Griffith Show,"
plus the "Danny Thomas" Pilot and Return to Mayberry   $192.00
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?category=36
   The suggested retail price for this Box Set of every episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" (plus the "Danny Thomas" pilot episode and the 1986 Return to Mayberry movie) is over $240.00.  The previous 8-season box-set release (without the pilot and the movie and now also discontinued) carried a suggested retail price of $320.00.  We think that makes our $192 price a pretty swell deal...about 77 cents an episode, plus the pilot and reunion movie!

   We also sell individual complete seasons of TAGS on DVD at a nice price.  And we have individual seasons and the Complete Series box set of "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." and the first three seasons of "Matlock."

   You won't be bored with this board game.  It's a dream come true for "Barney Fife, Realtor" and anyone who has ever wished to own a little piece of that paradise we know and love as Mayberry! 

   If you enjoy Monopoly and Mayberry or you know somebody who does, then you're sure to love Mayberry-opoly.

   At just $30.00 per game, Mayberry-opoly is worth the price just to have the cool design of the box and the board to look at or display.  We think it's the most fun opoly game ever created.  Makes for great family entertainment during the holidays and all year long.

* The Incredible Mr. Don Knotts   $27.00  $22.00
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=63

   This oversized 320-page hardcover book (coffee-table style) is compiled by Steve Cox and Kevin Marhanka.  The thoroughly researched book has lots of interviews with people who worked with Don Knotts and has more than 200 photos, including a 16-page section of color photos. 

   It's a great gift for any Barney Fife and Don Knotts fan to give or receive.  And best of all, we've got it for $5.00 off!

   As Barney himself said, "Aw, big ain't the word for it!"

   And Weaver's also has nice deals on great DVDs of favorite Don Knotts movies-the ideal accompaniment to this fascinating book about Don's film career:

* Don Knotts 4-Movie Reluctant Hero DVD Pack   $29.00
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=142

    Featuring The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, The Reluctant Astronaut, The Shakiest Gun in the West and The Love God?  This super Hero collection of four classic Don Knotts movies from the 1960s on DVD is hard to beat.  You get all four movies for a nice price that even cost-conscious Barney Fife would jump at.

* Classic Barney Necktie   $25.00
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=3

   This tie was taken out of production awhile back, so it's now even more of a collectible.  This silk necktie features Barney in black and white (it therefore coordinates with any outfit).  Anyone who wears this tie is guaranteed to look suave and worldly.  Wear it with the old salt and pepper, and it'll be just right for the dips.  Made with fine silk from the Orient.

**** First One Thing and Then Another ****

   Whether you're looking for a Mayberry T-shirt, something Mayberry for your car, decorative wooden building fronts (always especially popular during the holidays), Mayberry-related comedy and music CDs, posters, tin signs and artwork (including some autographed pieces), all variety of books and cookbooks, and even a Barney Fife light switch covers and a thermometer, we've got most things Mayberry online at Weaver's at iMayberry.com.  Drop by and have fun looking around. 

Phone Orders

   In addition to accepting orders online or by mail, our Weaver's Dept. Store has a phone number FOR ORDERS ONLY (615) 604-1298.  The phone number is generally in operation from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday. 

   Please call this number only for ordering or for inquiring about orders placed by phone.  All inquiries about online orders and mail orders should be made online and by mail, respectively.

**** Chapter News ****

   The Mayberry Days Silent Auction, sponsored by TAGSRWC's online "Who's Been Messin' Up the Bulletin Board?" chapter raised $1,852.50 for the Surry Arts Council.  (Thanks to Jeff Koontz for organizing the auction each year!)

   TAGSRWC also presented our two major awards at our annual meeting during Mayberry Days.  The Jim Schwenke Memorial Award was presented to Desperate Female Hunters and Pals chapter of West Virginia.  Kim Mounts, Michele Cook and Joyce Maynor were on hand to receive the award, which recognizes TAGSRWC members who exemplify the spirit of Mayberry and the club, as epitomized by the late Jim Schwenke of Houston's Mayberry Texans chapter.

   Our Mayberry Friendship Award was presented to Mike and Kim Johnson of Barney chapter (Greensboro, N.C.).  This award is given by TAGSRWC in recognition and appreciation for outstanding dedication to the fans of "The Andy Griffith Show."

   Our gratitude and congratulations go to the deserving recipients of these two awards.

   "I Didn't Know You Stranged" (Moundville, Ala.) hosted the Mayberry in Moundville family social on Nov. 21.  Allan "Floyd" Newsome and Kenneth "Otis" Junkin were among those on hand to help with the fundraiser for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

   Several chapters and fans are planning to gather at the Mayberry Café in Danville, Ind., at around Noon on Sat., Dec. 5, for hearty eatin' and first one thing and then another.  Bob Mundy of Briscoe of Mayberry chapter (Indianapolis) is spearheading the informal get-together along with Tim "Goober" Pettigrew and all the friendly folks at the Mayberry Café.

   We're not saying it was a slow news week or anything, but "Al's Fine, Too!" chapter (Des Moines, Iowa) stopped and took a photo of Spearfish Canyon Road while on the vacation in the Black Hills.  It turns out that road is also known as 14A, which kept the melody of Good Ol'14A, "Welcome Sweet Springtime," in the heads of the chapter members for the rest of their vacation.

   Several chapters were on hand at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Oct. 1 when The Original Dillards were inducted into the International Bluegrass Museum Hall of Fame.  The long-distance award for that occasion went to "I Was a Pawn in the Hands of a Wily Woman" (Plainview, Nebr.).  They were on their way back from Mayberry Days, for which they probably would have earned the longest-distance-by-car award, too.

   Mayberry chapter (Knoxville, Tenn.) continues to keep a whirlwind schedule of chapter activities.  You'd think they were Mount Pilot chapter or something!  Several members were at Mayberry Days, where chapter leader Dennis Beal again won the Mayberry Days Trivia Contest.  (He's getting to be like Clara Johnson winning those pickle contests.)  Former champ Pat Bullins of Barney chapter gave him a run for the trophy, so Dennis always knows he can't slack off on his contest preparations.  Mayberry chapter also participates in numerous local festivals and parades, including the recent Mayberry Day at the TVA&I Fair and the upcoming Karns Christmas parade on Dec. 5.  They definitely have the Mayberry Squad Car replicas and look-alikes to swing it.  "Nuts!"

**** Mayberry on the Web ****

   For the past year, www.iMayberry.com/podcasts has been the home of the Two Chairs, No Waiting Internet Radio Show (a podcast) hosted by Allan Newsome.  

   As most of our readers likely know, Allan is our Webmaster at iMayberry.com and has been very active in TAGSRWC since 1992.  If you've attended various Mayberry events through the years, you've probably seen Allan as a tribute artist for Floyd the Barber. 

   Two Chairs, No Waiting has TAGS news, interviews and pretty much whatever happens to be going on in and around Mayberry.  Allan is really doing a bang-up job on these podcasts.  There's a new episode every Tuesday and also an Archives in case you want to listen to episodes you've missed.  We think you'll find these podcasts creative, fun and informative. 

   If you've got sound on your computer or have an ipod or similar device, you can easily tune in or download these podcasts.  There are all sorts of ways to interact with the podcasts, including several options for giving your feedback.  And there are other links, including a companion Facebook page, to keep up with all the goin's-on.  And probably the easiest way to make sure you don't miss an episode is to subscribe to the podcasts.  (They're free.)

   So pull up a chair and enjoy the fun of bringing what is basically Radio Free Mayberry to you wherever you are!

   And TAGSRWC now has an official page on Facebook, too!  It's www.facebook.com/tagsrwc.  We've just launched our page during the last few weeks.  Of course, there are several tribute pages to TAGS on Facebook, including some for individual TAGSRWC chapters and members.  There a lot of mighty good folks to have as Facebook Friends.  It's fantastic to see much interest in TAGS and Mayberry bursting out in all corners of the Web.

   The purpose of our official TAGSRWC page (the page called "The Andy Griffith Show" Rerun Watchers Club) is to serve as our Facebook clearinghouse for links to all of the assorted Mayberry fan and TAGS-related pages on Facebook-much as www.iMayberry.com has always been as our go-to place for Mayberry and TAGS info and links to related sites.  We can just direct TAGSRWC members and others to our Facebook page and the iMayberry.com Web site, rather than needing to continually provide a laundry list of links, pages and sites one at a time.  It makes it simpler for us from an administration and communication standpoint, and, we hope, also easier for fans.

   Our Facebook page is just getting underway, so you can be a part of helping it grow and spreading the word about Mayberry news and activities by becoming a fan with TAGSRWC on Facebook.  We hope you'll check in regularly when you have a chance and say, "Hey!"  (And no matter what Barney says, on Facebook, it's always O.K. to write on walls!)

Mayberry Castaways

**** Miss Crump's Mayberry Quiz ****

   Miss Crump had planned to return with a new trivia quiz this issue, but she has instead been inspired to give her pupils a little more time to rest up for a quiz in the next issue.  Why?  Well, it seems she has managed to coax one of the all-time great Mayberry trivia mavens into submitting a quiz for the next issue. 

   So, watch those TAGS episodes with extra keen eyes and listen with ears perked during the next few weeks, because Paul Mulik will be guest quizmaster for what is sure to be an interesting quiz in the January issue.  Paul always has some nice curveballs in his quizzes, so get ready for a fun challenge.

   Meanwhile, relax and enjoy the holiday season!

**** Post Note ****

   If you ever miss receiving an issue of The eBullet, you can always catch up by reading it in the eBullet Archives in the Newsletters section at iMayberry.com.  Each issue is usually placed in the Archives within about a week of its being distributed

   Between issues of The eBullet, keep up with the goings-on 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, newsflashes, and questions and answers from subscribers.  You can sign up for that list by going to the "Mailing Lists" link at http://tagsrwc.com.  It also has its own password-protected Archives where you can follow the ongoing stream of messages.

   TAGSRWC also publishes Weaver's Newsletter in more-or-less alternate months to The eBullet.  Like The eBullet, the Weaver's Newsletter is free.  Its focus is mainly on new Mayberry merchandise and collectibles and quick newsflashes.  To sign up, go to: http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/pages/newsletter.php

   TAGSRWC's other main vehicle for Mayberry information is simply our Web site at http://www.tagsrwc.com (and its sister site http://www.iMayberry.com).  Both sites have extensive content and links for just about everything a Mayberry fan might be looking for.