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The eBullet
An Online newsletter of
“The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
Volume 8, Issue 4
July 31, 2008
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Welcome to our fourth issue of The eBullet for 2008!  There’s a lot of news to report, so just jump in where you can and hang on!

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

Now until Aug. 23:  The Missouri Boatride bluegrass group, featuring Darling Boy Dean Webb on mandolin, is performing a "Summer Concert Series" off the back of Larry Sifford's '49 Chevy flatbed truck, every other Saturday night starting May 3rd at 8:00 p.m. in the Kimberling City (Missouri) Shopping Center parking lot in front of the Hillbilly Bowl. These concerts are free and brought to you by the merchants at this location.  If you're in the Branson area, check 'em out. 

* Aug. 1: David Browning’s back to rock the stadium at the Salem (Va.) Avalanche game.

* Aug. 2: David Browning is a sight to see at the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists game.

   * Aug. 9: Doug and Rodney Dillard and their band and their TV sister Maggie Peterson Mancuso perform at the Second Annual Mayberry in Troy, a fundraiser for the Montgomery County DARE program in Troy, N.C.  At least half a dozen popular Mayberry tribute artists (including David "Mayberry Deputy" Browning) will also perform. Show time at the James Garner Center is 7 p.m.  Tickets are $20 for reserved seats, $15 for general admission, and $10 for kids ages 6-12.  To order tickets in advance, call Jeff Branch at (910) 572-1313 or (704) 985-6987.

* Aug. 16: David Browning has the Elizabethton (Tenn.) Twins doubled over with laughter.

* Aug. 21-23: David Browning makes the circuit, first for Food City Family Race Night on Thurs. and then for the NASCAR scene on Fri. and Sat. at the Bristol ( Tenn. ) Motor Speedway.

* Aug. 30: David Browning makes the rounds on the diamond for the Mississippi Braves game in Pearl.

* Sept. 16-21: Ronnie Schell headlines in the Comedy Improv Room at Harrah's in Las Vegas, N.V.

* Sept. 25-28: 19^th Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C.  Stars confirmed so far include Doug Dillard, Rodney Dillard, Betty Lynn, Maggie Peterson Mancuso, James Best, Jackie Joseph, LeRoy McNees and George Spence.  For more info, visit: http://www.surryarts.org.

* Oct. 5: David Browning throws his hat in the ring for the Wise Fall Fling in Wise, Va.

* Oct. 11: David Browning is vintage Mayberry at the Vinton Fall Festival in Vinton, Va.

* Oct. 26: David Browning is on the track to write up any and all speeders at the Atlanta Motor Speedway's NASCAR race in Hampton, Ga. (Better bring an extra ticket book, deputy!)

* Nov. 1-6:   A Cruise to Mayberry (click here for more info and photos of past cruises) to the Bahamas aboard Carnival's Fascination ship. This 5-day cruise departs from Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday, November 1, and cruises to: Nassau, Half Moon Cay, and 2- “Days at Sea” returning back to Jacksonville on Thursday, November 6.  The VW Boys are joining the Mayberry family with their mixture of Music, Magic & Comedy. Tribute artists, Ken “Otis” Junkin, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Bob “Briscoe Darling” Mundy, Jeff “Howard Sprague” Branch, Jamie “Opie” Sullivan, Gary “Gomer” Crain, Tara “Juanita” Spath, and Samantha “The Manicurist” Miles. Others TBA.  Rates start at $259 plus $179.92 Port Tax per person, based on two per cabin.  For more info, call Sharon Euliss at All About Cruises in Burlington, N.C., at 1-800-832-7993. Or e-mail her at PWESJE@aol.com.

* Nov. 20: David Browning is booked for the Friends of Smyth-Bland Regional Library Meeting in Marion, Va.  No word yet on whether he'll be reading from Poems of Romance by T. Jonathan Osgood.

* Dec. 15: David Browning is aboard for the 22nd Second Annual Morgan Shepherd Christmas Charity Trip in Stuart, Va., and through the mountains to nearby communities.  For more info, visit http://www.morganshepherd.com

**** News of Cast & Crew ****

   Andy Griffith recently filmed a music video for the song “Waitin’ on a Woman” for country superstar (and certifiable Mayberry nut) Brad Paisley.  The video was filmed near Andy’s home in Manteo, N.C.  It’s a real hoot (see how Andy gets in touch with his inner Mr. Schwamp in the photo below), so keep an eye out for it on CMT and GAC.  Or check it out online here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvKgnkIN8C8

   By popular demand, a version of the song with Andy’s embellishments is also starting to get airplay on country radio stations across the country, so listen for that…or better yet, call in and request it.

   Brad Paisley says, “One of the greatest moments in my career was getting to shoot this video with Andy Griffith and getting to know him. 

 I’ll cherish this video and opportunity to become friends with this wonderful and influential man for the rest of my life.  ‘Waitin’ on a Woman’ is one of the most important songs I’ve recorded; it’s a masterpiece written by Wynn Varble and Don Sampson, and the video demanded excellence and art to match the composition. 

   Andy was my #1 choice for the video – he is the perfect person that embodies wisdom, years, and personality of the character in the video.” 

   Andy is also featured in a political TV spot for Bev Perdue, a Democratic candidate for governor in North Carolina.  (She won her primary election on May 6.)  Here’s a link to the place on her Web site that has the spot: http://www.bevperdue.com/u2b_gallery.asp?videoID=uGFDrHs6z18

   Andy also called into Illinois radio station Y103.9 and talked with DJ Jim Shea about first one thing and then another, but mostly about the appalling treatment of TAGS closing credits on TVLand (not to mention the regrettable editing out of special moments).  You can hear Andy’s conversation and sign an online petition by going here: http://y1039.com/Andy-Griffith-joins-Jim-Shea-on-the-Morning-Drive-/2187480

   No release date has been announced yet for Play the Game, the movie Andy filmed last fall.  The film also features Rance Howard and Clint Howard.

   Ron Howard has wrapped production of the film version of Frost/Nixon, based on the hit play about David Frost’s interviews with Richard Nixon after he resigned.  It’s currently scheduled for Oscar-qualifying release on Dec. 5.

   Also, Ron is currently directing Angels & Demons, the sequel to The Da Vinci Code that stars Tom Hanks.  The release date for that film, originally set for release this Christmas, has been pushed back until May 2009 because of the writers strike.

   Ron is also producer for several other projects, including an Arrested Development movie, based on the comedy series he produced and narrated, and The Changeling, which is being directed by Clint Eastwood.

   Daughter Bryce is currently filming Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins in Albuquerque and elsewhere in New Mexico.  She plays Kate Connor in this fourth of the Terminator movies.  (The last we heard, Arnold will not be back for this fourth installment in the Terminator series, which is scheduled for release next year.)

   Another interesting Mayberry connection to this Terminator film is that Joy Ellison (Opie’s girlfriend Mary Wiggins and other characters) is the dialect coach on the film.  Joy also ran into Mayberry’s Finest spokes-group The Grascals while working on a film called Peacock in Iowa awhile back.

   Jim Nabors gave his last planned concert of his career at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, Penn., on July 9.  Shazam…what a career!  We’ll still hope that he can be coaxed out of his cozy Hawaiian paradise for an unplanned performance here and there.  Meanwhile, we’re grateful for all the memorable concerts this wonderful entertainer has given us for more than four decades.

COVER BOY—George Lindsey made the cover (twice) of the Summer issue of the alumni magazine of his alma mater, the University of North Alabama. The photo was taken at thededication of the George Lindsey Archives at the University in March. There’s a very nice article about George inside as well.

   George Lindsey has been approached about roles in a TV pilot and a feature film.  Meanwhile, his last feature film, When I Find the Ocean, is being released on DVD on Aug. 5.  Rated PG.

   George also has just gotten back from a trip to California to see family, including a first visit with second grandson Andrew.

   James Best is in an award-winning movie that’s now on DVD: Moondance Alexander.  James also has an entertaining new DVD that he has produced called “James Best: Hazardous Road Trip” that features shots of James visiting original filming locations for the “Dukes of Hazzard,” as well as him painting in his art studio and other activities.  Find out more at http://www.jamesbest.com.  And James been busy with personal appearances this summer, including DukesFest in Atlanta in June and the Western Film Fair with Betty Lynn in Winston-Salem a couple of weeks ago.

   Maggie Peterson Mancuso has mended well from surgery on both knees earlier this year and she’s eagerly back performing and making personal appearances.

   Francey Knotts (Don’s widow), Karen Knotts (Don’s daughter) and Ronnie Schell all participated in the Don Knotts Hometown Celebration in Morgantown, W.V., July 18 and 19.  All were well received by audiences as they paid tribute to Don.  David Browning was also on hand to honor his friend and inspiration and of course to help out with crowd control as necessary.

   We’re very sorry to report the death of writer Seaman (aka Si and Jake) Jacobs in Los Angeles on April 8.  He was 96.  (We thought we had reported his death earlier, but recently realized that we fumbled our coverage when we got out of sync with our newsletter schedule around the time he died).

   Born in Kingston, N.Y., on Feb. 25, 1912, Seaman Jacobs attended Syracuse University.  He was a freshman when Sheldon Leonard was a senior.  He wrote seven episodes of TAGS (six with writer Michael L. Morris) during the last two seasons.  They were: “Goodbye, Dolly,” “Howard the Comedian,” “Opie’s Most Unforgettable Character,” “Goober the Executive,” “Tape Recorder,” “Aunt Bee and the Lecturer” and “Andy’s Investment.”

    He also was a frequent writer for Bob Hope and George Burns, among many other top stars and shows.  Here are excerpts from the obituary released by his family through the Writers Guild of America West:

   “…Creating a career in comedy spanning more than half a century, prolific writer Jacobs penned countless episodes of some of America's favorite TV series.

   In addition to his wife, singer Vicki Benet Jacobs, he leaves behind his son, Tom Jacobs, and four grandchildren, Will, Rebecca, Nathaniel and Stephen.

   A memorial service was held on May 9 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills.  The family has requested that donations in his memory may be made to the Motion Picture & Television Fund or the Writers Guild Foundation.

   We’re also sad to report that actor Henry Beckman died June 17 in Barcelona, Spain.  He was 86.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Nov. 26, 1921, Henry appeared hundreds movies and episodes of TV shows from the 1950s until as late as 2002.  He often played authority figures, including in his one TAGS episode, “Aunt Bee the Juror,” in which he played the prosecutor, Mr. Gilbert.  In real life, he did battle at Normandy in World War II.
   His career is one of those that spanned the history of TV.  His credits run the gamut from westerns, comedies and commercials to cop shows, courtroom dramas and medical shows.  He was also a prolific and highly regarded writer.

   Henry was preceded in death by Cheryl, his wife of 43 years.  He is survived by second wife Hillary and two sons by his first marriage, Brian and Stuart.
   Despite his impressive 50 years of acting credits worldwide, Henry Beckman will always be remembered in Mayberry as the man who almost convicted Jack Nicholson, except Aunt Bee wouldn’t let him.  It’s hard to get more momentous than that!

**** Chapter Update ****

   We have one new chapter since the last eBullet:

Mayberry Post Office                                                            Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

   That brings our total number of chapters founded to 1,328.  If you’re interested in starting a chapter of TAGSRWC, all you need to do is pick a name that has not already been chosen, and submit it with 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  37203-3211.

**** Merchandise Update ****

* 2009 Andy Griffith Show Wall Calendar    $14.00   

http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=44

   After having all color photos in the 2008 calendar, this 2009 edition turns back the clock and has all black-and-white photos, all of which are also from the black-and-white seasons (1960-65).     

   There's a nice variety of Mayberry characters in this calendar.  In addition to Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee, Opie, and Gomer, there are photos of Goober, Floyd, Fun Girl Daphne, and even Mr. McBeevee.  Several of these photos have never before been published.

   Also, if you haven't gotten your 2008 Wall Calendar, we still have some left, including in a special combo offer with this 2009 calendar for only $22.00.

* Otis the Artist's Grab-Bag of Mayberry Art   $30.00

http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?maincat=16

   This special Grab-Bag, inspired by Otis and his artistic efforts with mosaics, pieces together several collectible Mayberry items that will add beauty and grace to any wall in home or office...or courthouse cell!

  Each of Otis's Grab-Bags contains at least the following:

* 1 Officially Licensed Large Limited Edition Lithograph of Barney Sipping Soda by artist Brad Keim

* 1 2008 "Andy Griffith Show" Wall Calendar

* 2 Oversized Mayberry event posters

* 1 Portrait of Otis (8 x 10)

   All proceeds (not just the profits, but 100% of the $30 price) are going toward our annual support of the Surry Arts Council and its Mayberry Days festival in September in Mount Airy, N.C.  So with a Grab-Bag purchase, you get a good deal while also supporting a good Mayberry cause!

Classic Barney Necktie   $25.00

http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=7

   This tie is out of production, so it's now even more of a collectible.  We've unexpectedly received one last small shipment from the licensed manufacturer.  We've got just those few left, and then that'll be it for this popular fashion statement.

   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.

* It’s Me, It’s Me, It’s Ernest T. T-Shirt   $20.00

http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=3

   Now you can dress like a rock star!  This classic T-shirt was produced in limited quantities under the auspices of Howard Morris, Ernest T. Bass himself.  We're proud to be able to offer the last handful of these officially sanctioned shirts honoring this wily and beloved character, a true rocker if there ever was one!

  All proceeds from the sale of this shirt are going toward our support of the Surry Arts Council in its work to put on Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C., in September.

   Rock on!

* Complete First Season of “Matlock” on DVD   $39.00

http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=73

   After years of anticipation, “Matlock” is finally available on DVD!  The first season has 23 episodes plus the movie pilot on seven discs.  “Matlock” always had great guest stars, and the first season certainly set the pace with Dick Van Dyke, Roddy McDowall, Billy Bob Thornton, Pipe Laurie, Desi Arnaz Jr., Norman Fell, Billy Zane, José  Ferrer and lots of other familiar faces.  The list price for this set is $50, but we’ve got it in stock now for just $39.00!

* Barney Fife's Guide to Life Love and Self-Defense   $15.00

http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=28

   This fun 1993 book (hardback, 166 pages) by brothers Len and John Oszustowicz imagines worldly advice coming from the mind of Barney Fife.  Nuff said.

   The popular book has been out of print for over 10 years and is now a sought-after collectible. We have a few copies from the First Printing that are still in brand new condition.  And best of all, we're offering the book for just a few dollars more than the cover price (and less than the annual inflation rate has been.)  Get 'em while you can before we change our minds about the price.

   And we also have several other classic, out-of-print Mayberry books, including Inside Mayberry, Mayberry My Hometown and Aunt Bee’s Mealtime in Mayberry.  (Those last two titles are in especially pristine condition and even still in their original shrink wrap from the publisher!)

Widening Our Scope

   Along with Visa and MasterCard, Weaver’s Dept. Store now is set up to accept DiscoverCard!  Brace yourself…we’re flying head over heels into the 21^st Century!  Unfortunately, we don’t see the American Express Card in our future, so you can still leave that one at home for now.

**** Update on Mayberry’s Finest Line of Packaged Foods ****

   The full line of canned goods and baking mixes is now available in 1,500 to 2,000 stores and also online (with the additional offering of mail-order gift baskets) at the Mayberry’s Finest Web site at http://www.mayberrysfinest.com.  The Web site currently has a partial list of stores and precise locations (organized by state) in its Foley’s Market section.  Look for them in even more stores soon!

   Keep an eye out for Mayberry’s Finest at your favorite store.  If you don’t find the products in the store where you shop, ask the store manager if the store can stock the items for you and others.

   There’s no word at the moment about when the Mayberry’s Finest Recipe Contest will resume, but there will be plenty of notice for everybody to get entered.

**** Chapter News ****

Bunches of chapters (“bunches, bunches!”) turned out along with other Mayberry and race fans for the Eighth Annual Mayberry Squad Car Nationals and Fourth Annual Mayberry Day in Graysville, Ala., on July 13.  Among the chapters represented were the sponsoring Mayberry Minutemen (Graysville) and “Hearty Eatin’ Men and Beautiful, Delicate Women” (Tuscaloosa, Ala.).

   Also represented were Barney chapter (Greensboro, N.C.), Mother Figure (Huntsville, Ala.), “You Better Put a Buckeye in Your Pocket and Do the Incant for a Sore Foot” (Bessemer, Ala.), “I Ain’t No Rockefeller” (Bristol, Va.), “$6 a Week and What Do I Get?  Heartache!  Nothin’ But Heartache!” (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Andy chapter (Nashville, Tenn.).  In all members and chapters from seven states were spotted during the day.

   The Taylor Home Inn, a B&B operated by Mayberry Troop #44 chapter (Clear Lake, Wis.) is being featured in the Fall issue of Out Here, the quarterly magazine of Tractor Supply Co.  The issue will be at store locations nationwide in October, and a version will be online as well.  You can learn more about this amazing B&B at http://www.taylorhomeinn.com.

   Several chapters attended the Don Knotts Hometown Celebration in Morgantown, W.V., a couple of weeks ago.  Among those attending from out of state were Barney chapter (in the person of Neal Brower, who did a book-signing on Sat.), “I Ain’t No Rockefeller,” Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts (Stevensville, Md.) and Foley’s Market (La Salle, Ill.), whose Joyce Kernan won the trivia contest.  Chapters from West Virginia and neighboring states were planning to attend as well, but we haven’t heard for sure yet which ones actually were able to attend, other than “Men and Blabbermouths” (Culloden, W.V.).  We’ll have a more complete report on the event in our September issue.

**** Answers to Miss Crump’s Mayberry Quiz #76 ****

   This quiz is one that we’ve run in the last two issues because of distribution problems with the first of those issues.  We took entries for the original deadline and for the extended deadline, and are going to award two prizes instead of one—that is, one prize per deadline. 

   As luck would have it, we had exactly two entries with all of the answers correct.  It’ll come as a surprise to none of our regular quiz-takers that the two entries with perfect scores are Dennis Beal of Mayberry chapter (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Stan Nicholson of Ash Flat, Ark.  Each receives his choice of any single item offered online at Weaver’s.  (Neither a box set of TAGS DVDs nor a set of Wooden Mayberry Building Fronts is considered a single item.  Neither are sets of tin signs, grab-bags or combos.) 

   Here are the answers Miss Crump was looking for:

1. Any two of these three: Andy is seen in his home repairing a lamp during “Aunt Bee’s Romance” when Roger Hanover visits, also when Clara charges in with her sword to defend her ancestor’s role in “The Battle of Mayberry, and when he’s working on a lamp plug as Opie comes in the door to tell him about getting his drugstore job.

2. “A bolt from the blue” is how Floyd describes the decision of the Robinson family to sell the barbershop building in “Floyd’s Barbershop,” and Aunt Bee says that her winning $5 in “Goober’s Contest” was like “a bolt out of the blue.”  Both winners got both right.

3. At the dinner table during “The Battle of Mayberry,” Opie says that Johnny Paul once dropped his bacon and tomato sandwich on the ground.

4. Mary Scobey once gummed a cookie with Andy Taylor when “Andy Forecloses” on the Scobey family.

5. Two people seen driving the Darling family’s truck are Briscoe Darling and, in “The Darling Fortune,” Charlene Darling Wash.

BONUS: The proposed action that would save Mayberry an estimated $3,628 is Howard Sprague’s idea in “Politics Begins at Home” to build a bridge over Parker Creek at Baker Street instead of at Old Ranch Road.

   Old Lady Crump is going to relax for what’s left of her summer break and not do a quiz this issue.  She might even continue her sabbatical in the September issue to give her pupils a chance to focus on the Mayberry Days Trivia Contest, the Super Bowl of Mayberry trivia.  (And she might need to brace herself for that contest as well.)  But you never know, maybe she’ll throw a quick pop quiz out there in September.  That’s the thing about Miss Crump.  You just never can tell what she’s going to do on a whim.

**** Postnote ****

   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://mail.weaversdepartmentstore.com/mailman/listinfo/newsletter_weaversdepartmentstore.com

   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.