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"The eBullet"
An Online newsletter of
"The Andy Griffith Show" Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
Volume 5, Issue 1
January 11, 2005
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Welcome to our 18th issue of "The eBullet"! This was supposed to be our December issue, but we apparently still haven't learned that December just isn't a realistic month for scheduling a newsletter—what with all the Goober-like elves that Ol' Ben Weaver has running around our Mayberry workshop during that month.  Anyway, Happy New Year!

  The biggest recent news in Mayberry is still the November release of the Complete First Season on DVD.  If you didn't get a set for Christmas, Mr. Weaver still has some on hand. (Not long till Valentine's Day, don't you know!) The quality is outstanding, and the set's a super deal for only $32.00, which comes out to $1 per episode. And even more super is Ben Weaver's Mayberry Celebration Combo (formerly known as his Holiday Combo). It includes the Complete First Season DVD Set, a Complete 110-Card Set of TAGS Trading Cards (Series 2) and a plastic TAGS logo year-round ornament, all for only $40.00  

Paramount has unofficially said that they expect to release the second through fourth seasons during 2005, but those seasons are not among the Paramount's DVD releases announced through March. You can be sure we'll offer them as soon as they are available.


**** EVENT CALENDAR ****

* Now through May 29: Ronnie Schell and Ruta Lee perform in Senior Class: A Revue of the Golden Years at the Palme d'Or Theatre in Palm Desert, Calif. For more info, visit http://www.seniorclassrevue.com or call 1-888-240-3003.

* Feb. 18 and 19: Hollywood Collectors Show at the Hilton Burbank Airport and Convention Center in Burbank, Calif. As of now, stars with TAGS connections who are scheduled to attend are James Best and Clint Howard. Find complete information online at http://www.hollywoodcollectorshow.com.

* Apr. 8 and 9: Mayberry Comes to Cocoa Festival in historic downtown Cocoa, Fla. George Lindsey, Betty Lynn and James Best will be joined by the VW Boys and a host of Mayberry "tribute artists" (including David "Mayberry Deputy" Browning, Allan "Floyd" Newsome, Kenneth "Otis" Junkin, Tim "Goober" Pettigrew, Jeff "Howard Sprague" Branch, and Jamie "Opie" Sullivan. Organized by TAGSRWC's "There He Goes!" chapter, the festival will include autograph sessions, music, a parade, Mayberry memorabilia exhibits, an antique car and tractor show, and a Mayberry trivia contest. For more info, call organizer Patrick Clendenning at (321) 633-0806.

* Apr. 9: The Roland White Band performs at the Cross Country Trail Ride Bluegrass Festival in Eminence, Mo.

* Apr. 22-24: The 8th Annual George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival on the campus of the University of North Alabama in Florence. Visit http://www.lindseyfilmfest.com.

* June 3: Tentative release date for Ron Howard's "Cinderella Man."

* June 17-19: Gaylord Opryland Resort hosts a Mayberry Cast Reunion. Don Knotts, Betty Lynn and Maggie Peterson Mancuso are the first stars to be confirmed. Other participating TAGS stars and the exact schedule are still to be announced, but here's what we do know so far. The weekend package includes:

* 2-night room accommodations at either Gaylord Opryland Resort or the Radisson Hotel at Opryland
        * Ticket to the Grand Ole Opry
        * Ticket to Mayberry Mystery Dinner Theater
        * Ticket to Mayberry Panel Discussion featuring TAGS actors and a special guest host
* Autograph session with TAGS actors (Photographs and/or autographs will be available for sale. The stars may choose not to sign personal memorabilia, and the stars may sign for a limited period only.)
        * Breakfast buffet one morning
        * Mayberry Bible Study on Sunday morning
        * Special theme contests

  The price per person for the Mayberry Vacation Package is $284 for a room at Gaylord Opryland Resort or $238 for a room at the Radisson. These prices are based on two people per room and do not include applicable sales tax.

  The Mayberry Vacation Package at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Resort is expected to be available for purchase by early January. The number to call after that date is 1-888-OPRY-872.
* Sept. 22-24, 2005: 16th Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C. Tickets are available at http://www.surryarts.org or by calling 1-800-286-6193. It's not at all too early to be making ticket and hotel reservations.

  Several other Mayberry events, including the Mayberry Squad Car Nationals and happenings in West Virginia and North Carolina, are in the process of getting organized and picking dates. Plus other appearances by cast members are being scheduled. We suggest that you regularly check the Events Calendar at http://www.tagsrwc.com for more information and updates about these events and others that might be added between now and the next issue of "The eBullet" in late February.


**** NEWS OF CAST & CREW ****

  ANDY GRIFFITH has announced that he has purchased a home in the Los Angeles area. We can speculate that this move is a sign that he wants to make himself readily available for potential acting work. Hooray!

  DON KNOTTS' hometown of Morgantown, W.V., is planning to host a film festival featuring Don's work, probably in early August. There's no word yet about whether Don himself will be participating in the festival.

  CLINT HOWARD has recently completed work on two more films scheduled for release in 2005, Molding Clay (directed by "Greatest American Hero" William Katt) and Planet Ibsen in which Clint plays Henrik Ibsen.

  Ron and Clint's father, RANCE HOWARD, had a central role in an October episode of "Cold Case Files" on CBS-TV. Rance also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asheville (N.C.) Film Festival in November. Ron Howard was on hand for the presentation.


**** MERCHANDISE UPDATE ****

All of our Mayberry items can be viewed and ordered at our Web site at http://www.tagsrwc.com/weavers. Our phone order line is generally answered between 5 and 9 p.m., Mon. to Sat. You can also leave a message 24 hours a day and someone will return your call and take your order. The number for the Weaver's Phone Order Line is (615) 604-1298.

  Here are descriptions of some of the newest items (besides the Complete First Season on DVD).

* FOUR NEW T-SHIRTS
http://www.WeaversDepartmentStore.com/tshirts.htm

We have four brand new T-shirts designs in stock just in time for Christmas. All are in sizes M, L, XL and 2XL. The shirts are:

*MAYBERRY CHOPPERS T-SHIRT    $16.00
This black T-shirt features Barney in his helmet, goggles, and leather jacket—ready to patrol Checkpoint Chickie and the streets of Mayberry on his motorcycle. The nickname "Mad Dog" would fit the Phantom Deputy to a T.!

* BARNEY'S SIDECAR COMPANY T-SHIRT    $15.00
This khaki T-shirt features a slightly softer (but no less loony) side of Barney and his motorcycle. But make no mistake, he's still fearless. One word of advice, though: Don't try to wear his helmet. He doesn't like for you to wear his helmet. (His mother was the same way.)

* WALLY'S SERVICE STATION T-SHIRT    $15.00
Gomer gives a Mayberry grin as he mans the gas pump at Wally's, where water and air are free, but this T-shirt is not.  (Do you know how long we'd be in business if we gave T-shirts away? Not very long.)

* NEW NIP IT T-SHIRT    $15.00
We've had several "nip it" related T-shirt designs over the years. This is the latest one, so we're calling it "New Nip It." Barney's face and the words "Nip It" say it all. So rather than rattling on and on about this terrific shirt, we'll just...nip it!

(We also have four brand new computer Mouse Pads that have the same design as the above four T-shirts.)


* SEARCHING THE MAP FOR MAYBERRY CD
http://www.WeaversDepartmentStore.com/music/music.htm

Doug Reeves and the Carolina Eagles have produced this toe-tapping CD of music inspired by Mayberry. A native of Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, N.C., the talented Doug enjoyed a career in country music in Nashville before returning to his hometown and performing regularly throughout the region. You'll find 10 great tunes about Mayberry on this CD. All for just $12.00. The cuts are:

1. Prologue
2. Life Is as Simple as the Games We Would Play
3. It's Sunday--Fry that Chicken
4. Searching the Map for Mayberry
5. One Bullet Man
6. Growing Up for Mayberry
7. Ernest T., Don't Throw that Rock at Me
8. The Mountains When It Snows
9. Mayberry Blues
10. Bury Me in Mayberry
11. Won't You Come to See Us in Mayberry?


*ORIGINAL HAWTHORNE MAYBERRY VILLAGE BUILDINGS & FIGURINES
http://www.WeaversDepartmentStore.com/special/

Mr. Weaver has decided to sell some of his prized ceramic Mayberry buildings and accessories (including painted pewter figurines) from the Hawthorne Collection of the mid- to late 1990s. All proceeds (not just the profits) will be part of the contributions that Weaver's Dept. Store and TAGSRWC provide to the Surry Arts Council and Mayberry Days 2005 in Mount Airy, N.C.
All of the buildings and accessories come with their original packaging. (Some have never been removed from their boxes other than for inspection.)

  Check the Special Items section of Weaver's online for the complete run-down on which Hawthorne items are available and their pricing.


* WISHIN' I WAS FISHIN' T-SHIRT   $15.00
http://www.WeaversDepartmentStore.com/tshirts.htm

We think this nostalgic T-shirt really captures the easy-going, relaxed feeling of Mayberry with three of our favorite characters smiling and doing what they like best—hanging out at the fishin' hole. Available in adult sizes Small, Medium, Large, X-large, and 2X-large. It's available in a shirt color of white or olive.


* MORE THAN OTIS—NO BULL!: A SALUTE TO HOLLYWOOD'S HAL J. SMITH   $10.00
By John D. Michaud III
http://www.WeaversDepartmentStore.com/weaversnew1.htm#otisbook

If you're a fan of Mayberry's lovable town drunk Otis Campbell and actor Hal Smith who played him, then this book is a must for you. More Than Otis is a fact-filled and loving tribute to Hal's entire life and career. It is truly the definitive resource for information about the fascinating world of this wonderful and talented friend of Mayberry. The 72-page, oversized book has over 130 photos, many shared by Hal's family and never before published.

  As a special bonus for Weaver's customers, we will also include a copy of the 4-page March 1994 Special Edition of TAGSRWC's "Bullet" newsletter, which was devoted entirely to Hal after his death in January of that year.

  But the book itself is treasure enough. It is chock-full of information and insights that essentially trace the history of 20th century radio, television, and animation. Among the Mayberry stars interviewed for the book were Hal Smith himself, Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Howard Morris, Bernard Fox, Janet Waldo, Richard O. Linke, Frank Cady, Rance Howard, Sam Edwards, and Margaret Kerry-Wilcox.

  Our copies of the book are autographed by author John. D. Michaud III. For just $10, you simply can't beat the value of this special look at the life and times of Hal Smith.

* BARNEY "MASTER OF THE BIG HOUSE" TIN SIGN   $13.
http://www.WeaversDepartmentStore.com/collection/artgallery.htm#master

This newest of the Mayberry tin signs measures 12.5 x 16 inches and takes no prisoners as it captures every inch of Barney's jailhouse bravado. There are now 6 of these Mayberry tin signs. You can get the set of all 6 at Weaver's for just $66.00.

* THE BANJO ALBUM by Doug Dillard   $15.00
http://www.WeaversDepartmentStore.com/music/dillards.htm

This album is one of the most-admired bluegrass-flavored instrumental albums of all time. The 2004 version of the album (originally released in 1969), has 5 additional cuts that were not on the original release, for a total of 16 truly fantastic tunes. If you enjoy banjo music and the Doug Dillard style, it simply doesn't get any better than this. And with a supporting cast including Byrds member Gene Clark and Eagles member Bernie Leadon, plus John Hartford, Byron Berline, and Vassar Clements, the album soars to toe-tapping heights. (And "Andy Griffith Show" fans will want to know that Mayberry's Country Boys members Roger Bush and Billy Ray Lathum also play on three tracks.

Here are the songs on the album:
1. Runaway Country
2. Turkey Knob
3. Home Sweet Home
4. Foggy Mountain Breakdown
5. Jamboree
6. Cumberland Gap
7. Clinch Mountain Backstep
8. Bully of the Town
9. Dear Old Dixie
10. Bells of St. Mary
11. Banjolina
12. Back Up and Push
13. Dixie Breakdown
14. Hard Times
15. Old Joe Clark
16. Train

As someone once said, if you're counting off the world's greatest banjo players on one hand, Earl Scruggs is surely the thumb, but Doug Dillard is likely the next digit over. And so it is that we raise our index finger high when counting Doug Dillard!


* 16 MOST REQUESTED SONGS BY JIM NABORS   $13.00
http://www.WeaversDepartmentStore.com/jimnabors/index.htm#sixteen

This CD is essentially a Greatest Hits collection of popular releases and songs of faith by Jim Nabors, including his signature version of "The Impossible Dream."

1. Impossible Dream
2. Time for Us
3. Try to Remember
4. Love Is Blue
5. Love Me With All Your Heart
6. Somewhere, My Love
7. What Now, My Love?
8. My Cup Runneth Over
9. Lord's Prayer
10. Just a Closer Walk with Thee
11. You'll Never Walk Alone
12. More
13. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
14. Jean
15. Sunrise, Sunset
16. And This Is My Beloved

* THE MISSOURI BOAT RIDE CD ($15.00)
http://www.WeaversDepartmentStore.com/music/dillards.htm#dean

Dillards founding member and mandolin player Dean Webb is picking bluegrass a lot these days aboard the American Star cruise boat on Table Rock Lake, near Branson. The group is called The Missouri Boat Ride and their self-titled CD has some great picking and singing. We're pleased to offer it. Here are the 14 cuts included by Dean and the boys:

1. Old Train
2. Some Old Day
3. Old and in the Way
4. Sled Ridin'
5. Vincent Black Lightning 1952
6. Man of Constant Sorrow
7. How Mountain Girls Can Love
8. Rebel Soldier
9. Old Blue
10. Old Home Place
11. Foggy Mountain Special
12. Steam Powered Airplane
13. Back to the Old Home
14. Circle Be Unbroken

  It's a terrific CD to listen to while cruising around on a boat or on the road. Or even while just sitting at home on the couch!


**** CHAPTER UPDATE ****

We're pleased to welcome five new chapters since the last "eBullet." They are:

The Jackknife Club    St. Petersburg, Fla.
"Running Around…Getting Hit by Lightning Asheville, N.C.
The Big House     Ames, Iowa
Horsehair and Stagnation   Edgewood, Md.
Burt and Squirt     Sanford, Fla.


  That brings our total number of chapters founded since 1979 to 1,270.

  If you are interested in starting a chapter of TAGSRWC, all you have to do is pick a name that has not already been chosen and submit a list of your founding members by postal mail. 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  37203-3286.


**** CHAPTER NEWS ****

Dennis Beal of MAYBERRY chapter (Knoxville, Tenn.) was crowned the 2004 King of Mayberry Trivia on the radio's "Big Show" with John Boy and Billy. (Dennis was also second in the Mayberry Days Trivia Contest, aka the Super Bowl of Mayberry Trivia, last September.) The Charlotte, N.C.-based "Big Show" reaches about 90 markets nationwide, so maybe you heard Dennis win. All hail!

Many of our chapters had meetings around the holidays. We're now entering the traditionally quiet time for chapter activity. But at least we have our new DVDs to enjoy and to get us through the winter until activities and events with cast members start up again in the spring and then kick into high gear with the summer.

In lieu of reporting additional chapter news during this slow news time, we'll use this space to address a more immediate question that some members have been wondering about. Several people have asked whether TAGSRWC plans to do any organized fund-raising for tsunami disaster relief, similar to what we did for Hurricane Andrew (TAGS writer Harvey Bullock built Opie the Birdman birdhouses for us to raffle for the American Red Cross) and for September 11 (we created Mayberry for America T-shirts to raise money for the fund for victims and their families).

While TAGSRWC is donating to disaster relief for the tsunami victims (we've chosen to support Americares with our initial donation), we aren't organizing a formal fund-raiser. We're simply encouraging TAGSRWC members to give individually to the relief organizations of their choice.

Our thinking is that giving individually and directly to the charities will be just as quick and effective as our September 11 effort was (TAGSRWC made its donation even before we sold the shirts intended to raise the money) and even faster than our Hurricane Andrew effort, which had a little lag time for the birdhouses to be built and for the raffle to be conducted). There's such an overwhelming urgency to this tragedy that we don't want to add any more steps than necessary between givers and the actual relief efforts. So if you desire to give to the tsunami relief work, please give directly to your favorite disaster-relief charity.

Our other reason for not conducting a formal fund-raiser is that, even as we offer our financial support to the tsunami victims, we want to fully maintain TAGSRWC's ongoing charitable commitments to organizations such as Mount Airy's Surry Arts Council. We also regularly donate to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), which has drawn our support because of its good works with children involved with the court system and because of TAGS producer Aaron Ruben's longtime work with them as a volunteer. A portion of all sales at our online Weaver's Dept. Store goes to the Surry Arts Council, and some items that we sell are designated to have their total sale prices donated to SAC.

We don't spend much time talking about the charity aspect of TAGSRWC because the club's founding purpose was and remains primarily to get people together who like to watch TAGS. But as the fan club has matured and grown in size during its 25 years, supporting charities has become a natural part of what we do because it's a natural part of Mayberry


**** MISS CRUMP'S MAYBERRY QUIZZES ****

Answers to Miss Crump's Mayberry Quiz #60
For this quiz, we asked readers to "name 12 distinct instances of specific unseen motorized vehicles that are mentioned or noted by Mayberrians." We received one of our biggest responses ever. Everybody who entered qualified for the drawing for the prize. The winner of the drawing is RICHARD HEWITT of "Shoot…My Mama and Daddy Just Shook Hands on Their Deal" chapter of Augusta, Ga. Richard received his choice or any single item at Weaver's online, except for the Collectibles and Special Items sections. We've also awarded the same prize in special recognition "For Learning" to PAUL MULIK of "Hear That Boys? No Yellin' at the Table" chapter in Joplin, Mo. Paul submitted over 60 instances, most just from the first five seasons.

  Here are examples (all from Paul's quiz answers) of what we were looking for:

Barney's uncle's Hudson Terraplane,
another Hudson Terraplane smashed by 30-ton semi-trailer,
Andy's old Model A that broke down around DeQueen Junction,
Mr. Schlummer's old rattletrap car,
the broken-down car owned by a stranger who stayed at the hotel,
the car Otis drove through the Harper's rose bushes,
Baby Face Nelson's getaway truck,
the train that injured Weary Willy's petula obondala,
"That New River Train,"
the Old Essex with "Hey Toots" written on the side,
Purcell Branch's REO Flying Cloud,
The Spirit of St. Louis (in the Smith Brothers Institution),
Mrs. Lesch's sedan,
the car Barney tried to sell (white roof and huckleberry body),
the three-year-old bakery truck "with the o-riginal paint,"
Nazi motorcycles in old war movie,
teens in leather jackets zooming around on motorcycles,
the bus Gomer was supposed to take to the Marine base,
the steam-powered train Andy told Dave Browne to catch,
big black limousine that brought Mr. Harrington to Ron Bailey's rescue,
Pete Dooley's truck,
Mr. Wilson's vehicle with noisy fan belt,
Jim's truck with the lift,
"We don't even have a helio-copter,"
the bus that Andy and Barney took to the Big City,
Talbot's mail truck,
garbage truck that collided with a hook and ladder at 4th and Main,
the ambulance,
mail truck and police car all coming together at same,
intersection,
driver examiner's car,
old jalopy presumably driven by Madeline Grayson,
a taxi all the way to Mt. Pilot (do you know what that would cost?),
Ben Weaver's car parked by a fireplug,
Gomer's tow truck,
Rose Temple's car,
Goober's V-8-powered rowboat,
the Jeep from World War II on display at armory,
the 2-ton trailer that collided with a small pickup truck on Route 31,
the bus that brought Mrs. Mendelbright's mother's dresser from Ft. Lauderdale,
the fastback wire-wheeled coupe,
trash truck that picked up unsold copies of the Mayberry Sun,
the "real" gold truck,
the imaginary salt truck Ron Bailey didn't sideswipe,
"Well,there's Wally's personal car, but he don't let nobody drive that,"
the second car stolen by Eddie Brooke,
Dr. Benson's car,
the Midnight Special,
the prison van with the Hubachers waving goodbye,
Mr. Carter's truck,
the truck used by The Sultan's Favorite,
cars parked in front of Weaver's store and given a break by Andy,
the car that Bunny Caldwell illegally parks in front of Mr. Martinelli's Meat Market,
Lydia's car,
Miss Beggs' car,
the southbound train hopped by Avery Noonan,
the truck Wally Crenshaw backed into the vegetable stand,
the little red sports car driven by a big man with a mask and shotgun,
the little red sports car that allegedly killed a chicken,
and the 10:18 train from Raleigh.

Well,  you get the idea.

Miss Crump's Mayberry Quiz #61

1. Who in Mayberry owned a "sozzled" rooster?  (Hint: The actor or actress playing this character celebrates birthday No. 100 this month.)
2. Name seven people in Mayberry who are seen eating spaghetti dinners.
3. Name a person in the history of Mayberry who is known to have made paper dolls.
4. Identify the owners and locations of six moonshine stills in Mayberry. (Don't bother asking Otis. He won't tell!)
5. Name different six babies (not yet old enough to walk) that are known by your eyes and ears to have been seen by people in Mayberry. (A photo of a baby seen by somebody in Mayberry can count.)

BONUS: Which star doesn't fit into this group and why: star on Barney's shoulder patch, star on the squad car door, the star shape of Andy's sheriff's badge, the star on Barney's motorcycle sidecar, any star on the flag in the courthouse.
  The deadline for entries to be post-marked is February 15, 2005. Answers will be published in the February "eBullet." In the event of a tie for the highest score, we'll draw a name from Henry Bennett's hat to select the winner. Same prize as the previous quiz. Good luck!


**** POSTNOTE ****

Between issues of "The eBullet," keep up with the goings-on in Mayberry with the more-or-less 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 http://tagsrwc.com.

  TAGSRWC also publishes the "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 news flashes. To sign up, go to http://www.tagsrwc.com/ebullet/joinebullet.htm.

  TAGSRWC's other main vehicle for Mayberry information is simply our Web site at http://www.tagsrwc.com. It has extensive content and links for just about everything a Mayberry fan might be looking for.

  The next issue of "The eBullet" is scheduled for late February.

**** 10-4 and out ****