The eBullet: Volume 11, Issue 4 September 2011
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The eBullet
An Online Newsletter of “The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
Volume 11, Issue 4
September 2011
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Welcome to our fourth issue of the year! With Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C., during the next week, September is always one of the busiest and most fun months of the year for TAGSRWC and all fans of Mayberry. Here’s what’s coming up:
The Andy Griffith Museum, featuring Emmett Forrest’s amazing collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia, is open daily in Mount Airy, N.C. You’ll usually find Emmett himself there on Thursdays (and often other times), and Betty Lynn generally greets fans there during the afternoon of the third Friday each month. And of course, there’s no better time to be in Mount Airy than for Mayberry Days, coming up Sept. 22-25! For info, visit the website at http://www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.
* Sept. 20-22: LeRoy McNees makes three presentations at the Life Lessons From Mayberry: It’s All There in Black and White conference in Ridgecrest, N.C. (outside Asheville). This conference is a celebration of “The Andy Griffith Show” and the biblical truths and life applications found in the show. The three-day event includes fun-filled Bible study based on some of your favorite episodes, great preaching and worship, bluegrass bands, country cooking, and lodging nestled in the North Carolina mountains. Life Lessons From Mayberry immediately precedes Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, so start a week of Mayberry fun and inspiration here! For more info, visit at www.lifeway.com/mayberry.
* Sept. 22: Rodney Dillard and The Dillard Band perform at 8:00 p.m. at Moon,1105 East Lafayette St., Tallahassee, Fla. For more info, visit https://www.moonevents.com.
* Sept 23: Rodney Dillard and The Dillard Band perform at 8:00 p.m. at the Gram Parsons Annual Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival at Okefenokee Fairgrounds in Waycross, Ga. Festival tickets are $35.00. For more info, call (912) 288-3712.
* Sept. 22-25: 22nd ANNUAL MAYBERRY DAYS in Mount Airy, N.C. Shows include two concerts by The Doug Dillard Band, a new one-man show with Ronnie Schell (two TAGS episodes and Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”) and a screening of a Mayberry Days documentary by son Greg Schell, “An Afternoon with James Best,” “Tied Up in Knotts” starring Karen Knotts, “Memories of Elvis” with Michael Hoover, the “Salute to Mayberry” with the VW Boys, and “Professor Brower’s Lecture” with Neal Brower (featuring TAGS assistant director/future Emmy-winning director Bruce Bilson for his first Mayberry Days).
Other highlights are the Mayberry Days Golf Tournament & Banquet and Colonel Tim’s Talent Time.
Other confirmed Mayberry stars include Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou), Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling), Elizabeth MacRae (one TAGS episode and Lou Ann Poovie on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.), LeRoy McNees (of Mayberry’s Country Boys), George Spence (Frank the Boyfriend), and Margaret Kerry(Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey).
And just announced on Sept. 1…Morgan Brittany (Mary Alice Carter in “Opie’s First Love”) is confirmed to attend. It’s her first public Mayberry fan/reunion event ever!
And just added on Sept. 11, George Lindsey, Jr. (son of George “Goober” Lindsey) for his first Mayberry Days.
For info and tickets, go to http://www.mayberrydays.org. It’s still not too late to get tickets for most parts of the weekend that require tickets, but many sell out. Ditto for hotel rooms. (There’s a link to info about area accommodations on the Mayberry Days website.)
* Sept. 24: George Lindsey is being inducted into the University of North Alabama Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony on the campus in Florence, Ala.
* Sept. 25: Rodney & Beverly Dillard present their Mayberry Values program at Frederica Baptist Church, 1700 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, Ga. For more visit http://www.fredericabaptist.com/.
* Sept 27 and 28: The Roland White Band is interviewed and performs with host WAMU’s Katy Daley at the IBMA World of Bluegrass, Nashville Convention Center Room 107, at 3:30 p.m. on the 27th. On the 28th, Roland is a featured performer in an all-star “Centennial Celebration” of Bill Monroe at 7:00 p.m. in Ingram Hall on the Vanderbilt University campus in Nashville. Admission to the Vanderbilt show is free.
* Oct. 1: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride close out the 2011 Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. outside at the Kimberling City Shopping Mall. (Bring your own lawn chair.)
* Oct. 2: LeRoy “Mack” McNees and wife Janice lead the Chapel service at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass at 9 a.m.
* Oct. 3: 51st Anniversary of the broadcast of the first episode of “The Andy Griffith Show.”
* Oct. 7-9: Darling Boy Dean Webb and his Missouri Boatride band perform at the Wooley Creek Bluegrass Festival in Cape Fair, Mo.
* Oct. 21: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at visit the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, N.C., from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. She’ll have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10).
* Oct. 22: The Roland White Band plays at Fiddle and Pick, Pegram, Tenn.
* Nov. 6: Rodney Dillard and The Dillard Band perform at 3:00 p.m. at the Sheldon Theater in St. Louis, Mo. Tickets are $20 to $25. For more info, call (314) 533-9900.
* Nov. 10: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, makes the first of two special appearances at the Andy Griffith Museum this fall. Each session will feature an episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” followed by a detailed lecture and Q&A. Lectures will take place in the lower level of the Museum at 2 p.m. Admission is $10. The episode featured for this first lecture is “Andy and Opie, Housekeepers.” Learning stuff was never so much fun!
* Nov 12-17: A Cruise to Mayberry 6: A 5-day Western Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas. Leaving from Tampa, Fla., with ports-of-call in Cozumel and Costa Maya, and 2 days at sea. For more details, contact Sharon at All About Cruises by phone (10 a.m.-5 p.m. ET) at 1-800-832-7993. For more details, visit the Mayberry Cruise section of the All About Cruises web site. (Note: You must have booked through All About Cruises and be part of the “Mayberry Cruise” in order to attend Mayberry portions of the cruise.)
* Nov. 5: Roland White plays in a Monroe Centennial Tribute band on A Prairie Home Companion, in Murray, Ky.
* Nov. 17: Roland White and wife Diane play the Coffee Gallery, Altadena, Calif., with Bill Bryson and Herb Pedersen.
* Nov. 18: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at visit the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, N.C., from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. She’ll have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10).
* Nov. 18: Roland White and wife Diane play Grange Hall in Los Olivos, Calif., (filming location of Return to Mayberry in 1986) with Bill Bryson and Herb Pedersen.
* Nov. 19: Roland White and wife Diane play McCabe’s in Santa Monica, Calif., with Bill Bryson, Herb Pedersen and Blaine Sprouse.
* Nov. 20: Roland White and wife Diane play AMSD Concerts in San Diego, Calif., with Bill Bryson, Herb Pedersen and Blaine Sprouse.
* Nov. 25 :The Roland White Band performs at The Station Inn, Nashville, Tenn., at 9 p.m.
* Dec 3: Roland White and The Station Inn present the 15th Annual Bill Monroe Appreciation Night at The Station Inn in Nashville, Tenn., at 8 p.m.
* Dec. 8: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, makes the second of two special appearances at the Andy Griffith Museum this fall. This installment features the classic “Christmas Story” episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” followed by a detailed lecture and Q&A. The lecture starts in the lower level of the Museum at 2 p.m. Admission is $10. It’s a great way to get in the holiday spirit!
2012
*Mar. 1-3: 15th Annual George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival in Florence, Ala. Details TBA. For updates visit http://lindseyfilmfest.com.
* Apr. 20 and 21: Second Annual Mayberry Comes Westminster in Westminster, S.C. Details TBA.
**** News of Cast & Crew ****
Andy Griffith has so far dodged major damage to his home on the North Carolina coast this hurricane season. Every time a big storm heads toward the Outer Banks, fans get concerned about Mayberry’s Main Man.
TAGS guest actor George Spence (“Guest in the House”), who’s also a perennial Mayberry Days favorite, lives near Andy and Cindi Griffith. He says he had only a few limbs down and a little bit of trim torn from his home by Hurricane Irene. George and wife Stephanie are looking forward to seeing friends and fans in M0unt Airy.
The Don Knotts Legacy Fund is about halfway to its fundraising goal for creating a Memorial Park (including a statue) in Don’s hometown of Morgantown. Here’s a website (not fully up to date, but still with some good info) where you can learn more: http://www.donknottsstatuefund.org/donations.php. A supplemental fundraiser for the Legacy Fund is being offered by Don’s friend John Pyles. For a donation of $25 (plus $3 shipping), you can get a CD of 1958 recordings of Mr. Pyles singing 24 Songs You Love (plus four bonus songs). Make checks payable to Don Knotts Legacy Fund c/o John W. Pyles, 2201 Surrey Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Ron Howard and daughter Bryce Dallas Howard (villainess in this summer’s box-office hit The Help are working as a producer-director-writer team (Bryce is both director and writer!) on an ambitious short film called Imagin8ion.
The film will tell a story using images selected from a worldwide photo contest (sponsored by Canon USA) that had nearly 100,000 entries. Ron was the judge who picked the eight winners from the finalists.
Jim Nabors was hospitalized briefly in Honolulu in July with a severe sore throat, a situation he treats with extreme care because of the immunosuppressive medications he has continued to take since his 1994 liver transplant. He had been scheduled to sing the national anthem for a special ceremony aboard the USS Arizona Memorial, but he had to cancel the engagement. He’s back home and doing fine.
George Lindsey is enjoying official retirement, but keeps a full schedule. An honor coming up for him this fall (the same weekend as Mayberry Days) is induction into the Sports Hall of Fame at the University of North Alabama in Florence, where he was quarterback “a few years back.”
Betty Lynn was under the weather a bit in July, but is feeling chipper again and ready for Mayberry Days. She continues to really enjoy life in Mount Airy, where she often greets fans, including a regular monthly gig at the Andy Griffith Museum (see Floyd’s calendar above).
Doug Dillard is worked his way through the summer’s heat as he continues to build his strength back after his recovery from a collapsed lung in February. And wife Vikki is back home after recent major surgery as well. In mid-September, both Doug and brother Rodney Dillard performed with their respective bands at a big celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, at the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame in Owensboro, Ky.
Rodney and his Dillard Band also have a new gospel CD out (see Merchandise Update below), and the band has a new fan site called DillardGrass at this link: http://rodneydillard.tv/?tcp_product=join-the-fan-club
All of The Original Dillards (Doug Dillard, Rodney Dillard, Dean Webb and the late Mitch Jayne) are being inducted into the Missouri Music Association’s Hall of Fame. They’ll be joined by their late pal John Hartford and by Charles Wolfe as the first members of the bluegrass genre in the initial class of Hall inductees.
Maggie Peterson has teamed up with TV brother Rodney Dillard for several appearances at Mayberry-themed events so far this year, including the Mayberry Squad Car Nationals in Graysville, Ala., in July and Jeff Branch’s DARE fundraiser in Troy, N.C., in August.
James Best is now busy editing Return of the Killer Shrews, a sequel to Attack of the Killer Shrews, the cult classic in which he starred in the 1950s. The film, shot in California this summer, stars John Schneider and also features fellow “Dukes of Hazzard” actor Rick Hurst, as well as Jennifer Lyons, Bruce Davison, Patty Browning and David Browning (not as the “Mayberry Deputy”).
James is shrewdly both producing and acting in Shrews this time around. To stay current on the latest Shrews news (including sneak peeks from the set), visit www.killershrewsmovie.com.
James is also just back from a successful “Dukes of Hazzard” event in Virginia in August.
Roland White (one of Mayberry’s Country Boys in the “Mayberry on Record” episode) is a recipient of a 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association. Keep tabs on Roland at www.rolandwhitemusic.com.
Margaret Kerry (two TAGS episodes) had an appearance at a Disneyana event in Dayton, Ohio, earlier this summer. And she was in British Columbia for another one in August. Next stop is Mayberry Days in Mount Airy. She’s also hard at work on her autobiography.
Richard O. “Dick” Linke (longtime for personal manager for Andy Griffith and others and also TAGS associate producer) sends his greetings (Aloha!) from his home in Hawaii to Mayberry friends, especially in Mount Airy and at Mayberry Days.
**** Mayberry on the Web ****
Two Chairs, No Waiting is our weekly podcast of TAGS has news, interviews and pretty much whatever happens to be going on in and around Mayberry. It’s hosted by our webmaster, Allan Newsome (aka Floyd). There’s a new episode every Tuesday (and you can watch and listen live during tapings on Monday evenings). Past episodes are in an online Archives in case you want to listen to episodes you’ve missed. (There are over 150 episodes so far!)
There’s a lot of info and discussions that you simply won’t find anywhere else, including rare interviews (vintage and new) with cast and crew members of TAGS. If you’ve got sound on your computer or have an iPod or similar device, you can easily tune in 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 great 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 7,500 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!
**** Chapter Update ****
We’re pleased to welcome three new chapters since our last eBullet:
Drennon’s Deputies | Drennon Springs, Ky. |
“Chewin’ Tar Is Good for Your Teeth” | Varysburg, N.Y. |
“Hey Ms. Tarbox” | Xenia, Ohio |
We now have had 1,378 chapters founded since TAGSRWC started in 1979. 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 to TAGSRWC’s HQ in Nashville (see addresses below). The hardest part is simply finding a name that hasn’t already been chosen. There’s a searchable list of chapter names at www.tagsrwc.com.
Once you successfully choose a name that’s “all yours and nobody else’s,” you’ll receive your Official Chapter Charter, fancily inscribed (and “suitable for framing”) by Sherry Hyatt, one of our “Compelsion Nuts” in East Tennessee.
What you do as a chapter is entirely up to you. Your group can do as much or as little as you like. The idea is simply to have lots of Mayberry fun with whatever you do.
Or if you’re feeling more like a joiner than a starter, you can write to us about how to contact a chapter near you. Our mailing address is TAGSRWC, 9 Music Square South, PMB 146, Nashville TN 37203-3211. Our e-mail address is Goober@iMayberry.com.
Or you can join our online “Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board?” chapter. (It’s really quick and easy to do. Info is at tagsrwc.com.)
Either way, we hope you can enjoy the fun of being part of a TAGSRWC chapter!
**** Chapter News ****
Many chapters have been super busy this summer. Here’s sample of what folks have been up to:
Remembering Mayberry chapter (Chillicothe, Ohio) took their Mayberry squad car replica to the parade for 175th Anniversary celebration for nearby West Alexandria. They say they had a ball and are now gearing up for Mayberry Days.
Bruce Fisher of The Single Bullet Society (Randleman, N.C.) proudly reports that he was not only able to have two pork chop sandwiches at the Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy on his way up to Ohio this summer (for a reunion meeting with chapter members in their original home base), but then managed to have two more of the delicious sammiches on his way home. He paused between bites to notice that an original (or very close to it) Snappy Lunch menu sign was now on display at the cafe. (It was recently discovered in the basement of the former home of an original owner’s family.)
It was a close shave one Friday back in August for Randy Mercer, leader of “Ain’t We Lucky to Be Livin’ in Such a Friendly Town” (Burlington. N.C.). When an official of our HQ Andy chapter (Nashville, Tenn.) dropped by Russell Hiatt’s Floyd’s City Barber Shop in Mount Airy, Randy was in the process of getting a shave from Russell. Randy was all “dated up” for Friday night and wanted the works from Russell–haircut, shave and plenty of witch hazel. All that was left for Randy to do was to put a Windsor knot in the ol’ striped tie and turn on a little Cole Porter music.
In July, Mayberry Minutemen chapter (Graysville, Ala.) hosted their Mayberry Comes to Graysville festival in conjunction with the Mayberry Squad Car Nationals, organized by “Hearty Eatin’ Men and Beautiful, Delicate Women” chapter (Tuscaloosa, Ala.). It was another big success with a parade, squad cars racing an obstacle course, contests, good food, and a concert starring Rodney Dillard and Maggie Peterson.
The venerable “Don’t Do That, Ollie. Don’t Do That.” (Wynne, Ark.) was in Nashville in August and was able to gather for a meal with Andy chapter. (Got time to breathe, got time to eat. Or something like that.)
Mayberry chapter (Knoxville, Tenn.) continues to meet at least monthly and put out a darn cute (and outstanding!) and big chapter newsletter three times a year. They’ve big back-to-back events in September when they add a touch of Mayberry to the big TVA Fair in Knoxville and then send a contingent, including defending Mayberry Days Trivia champ Dennis Beal, to Mayberry Days the next week. Check them out at www.mayberrychapter.com.
“Shakedown! Shakedown!” (Laurinburg, N.C.) met in July. They report that “attendance was down due to summer vacation, but we still had18 attend. We had ‘dogs and ‘burgers and all the trimmings, plus two gallons of churned ice cream.” (They once again neglected to report the flavor of ice cream. Just whoosh…and it was gone!)
The chapter donated auction items the big Mayberry-themed DARE fundraiser in Troy in August. A large group from the chapter also attended. A bunch of chapter members also participate in Mayberry Days every year–helping out with the silent auction and the pie-eating contest and anything else that needs doing.
“Al’s Fine Too” chapter (Des Moines, Iowa) keeps in touch regularly with correspondence about their travels and Mayberry references that they come across. Their latest communication involved Henry “Shopping Bag” Leonetti. That sounds dangerous. (We think he’s from “somewhere’s else.”)And with that, we’ll wrap up Chapter News for this time. We expect there will be lots more news from chapters for the next eBullet, as generally many dozens of chapters are spotted among the thousands of fans at Mayberry Days. We hope to see you there and to be able to say, “Hey!”
**** Merchandise Update ****
With the world economy seeming shaky and the stock market being so volatile these days (Say, how’s U.S. Steel doing?), wily folks turn to simple, safe and enjoyable places to invest their hard-earned funds. And where better to get value for your dollar than Mayberry! That’s what Ben Weaver thinks, anyway. But even ol’ Ben has gone soft and made lots of already great deals at Weaver’s Dept. Store even better.
For example, the prices of Mayberry artworks in his Art Gallery section are making heads turn with delight.
Same goes for prices in the DVDs section:
All 249 TAGS episodes on DVD, plus the “Danny Thomas” pilot, Return to Mayberry movie, bunches of original commercials and more-all for only $172!
Here are some other merchandise highlights:
**** Weaver’s Fundraisers for Charities ****
With so many dire situations going on in the world, from natural disasters in the U.S., Japan and Haiti to famine in Africa and hard economic times everywhere, TAGSRWC and our Weaver’s Dept. Store are trying to do find ways we can relieve some of the suffering and offer a helping hand. We understand that so often life isn’t always as serene and happy as Mayberry, but if, through Mayberry, we can help bring a little joy and hope and a little less suffering for those in need, then that’s really the Mayberry Way.
Listed below are three of the most recent fundraisers TAGSRWC and Weaver’s have established. There are many more online at Weaver’s in the Fundraisers for Charities section.
The Bullet & The Pocket Back Issues Fundraiser for The Contributor newspaper
$60.00 $30.00
Back Issues Set of at least 30 issues of The Bullet and at least 10 issues of The Pocket. These were the official printed newsletters of “The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club from 1982 through 2004.
The issues of The Bullet that are still available are mainly from the 1990s through March 2001, and The Pocket covers from 2001 through 2004, when our current printed flier, The Button, began.
Issues of The Bullet in particular feature interviews with the cast and crew from the show, plus Professor Brower’s Class columns by Neal Brower, lots of trivia, many rare photos, coverage of events, news, and trivia. With this set of back issues, you get well over 400 pages of reading and rare photos. (It’s probably over 500 pages worth, but Ernest T.’s feet got tired doing all that counting.)
These vintage Mayberry newsletters are a fun way to discover (or relive!) some great moments in recent Mayberry history!
As a bonus, we’ll also include some issues of The Button (our current printed newsletter) and some issues of The Mayberry Confidential, the official newspaper for Mayberry Days, as part of the same great $30 deal.
And that’s not all. All proceeds from the sale of these back issues go toward TAGSRWC’s support of The Contributor, a newspaper in Nashville that’s largely produced and exclusively sold by homeless and formerly homeless folks.
While our Mayberry newsletter staff cannot claim to comprehend the full scope of the struggles and difficulties of homelessness, we have witnessed enough and want to give these neighbors and friends a leg up and create awareness for the hard work they’re doing to help their lives and contribute to the community through their journalism and sales.
We appreciate the work involved in publishing and distributing a newspaper, so we especially applaud and support The Contributor‘s efforts. What they’re doing is certainly going way beyond Mayberry to help those in need. We hope that these sales of our Mayberry newspapers can assist their enterprise and success.
Trading Card Series 2 Complete Set for Joplin Relief
$20.00 $12.00
This Series 2 Set of “The Andy Griffith Show” Trading Cards (#111-220) consists entirely of black-and-white photos, but the photos used depict scenes from all eight seasons of the show. All proceeds (not just the profits, but all funds) from our sales of these Sets go toward ongoing relief efforts for victims of the Joplin Tornado Disaster.
We acquired these from Mayberry fan and collector Paul Mulik, who sadly lost his home in the tornado, for the sole purpose of raising funds to help Paul help other victims of the disaster. Much of Paul’s Mayberry collection, including these sets of cards, was stored safely away from his home and was undamaged.
Series 2 cards were manufactured in the early 1990s, and have long been out of print and are now scarce. We think our price for this collectible is still so good that it might even make sense for many collectors to buy two sets-one set to open and enjoy and one Set to set back for posterity, when a Set likely will be even more rare and potentially valuable. Sort of like Barney’s nest egg he that used to buy his car from Mrs. Lesch, who happens to be among those pictured on a card in this set. This Set of cards is full of wonderful Mayberry memories in a nostalgic format…and helping a good cause at the same time.
Goober’s Grab-Bag for African Famine Disaster Relief
$120.00 $60.00
This Grab-Bag supports the urgent relief efforts for victims and refugees of the ongoing drought and famine in Somalia and Sudan. We encourage everyone who can do so to give directly to the Disaster Relief effort of their choice. This Grab-Bag is just an additional way to support the Relief efforts. All proceeds (not just the profits, but all funds) from our sales of this Grab-Bag are going to two relief organizations: CARE, the well-known international group that is on the ground doing relief work in East Africa; and the lesser known AFRECS (more info at www.afrecs.org), which has TAGSRWC members among its relief workers in Sudan. Both groups have a very high percentage of their donated funds going directly to actual relief work.
These Grab-Bags often are purchased by customers with the idea of using the items for another fundraiser of their own (raffles and door prizes, etc.) for churches, schools and other charities, so, in the end, the original purchase of these items often helps more than one worthy cause. Here’s the scoop on this Grab-Bag, which is identical to one we currently have for the Japan Disaster. We think we’ve come up with a fun Grab-Bag of interesting Mayberry items. Most of the items are no longer in production and are therefore now in the category of “collectible.” At a minimum, each Grab-Bag has the following items:
* 1 Officially Licensed T-Shirt with Barney Fife on it (The shirt design included is our choice according to availability, but you’ll need to specify in the Comments section of the online order form whether you want Small, Medium, or Large. (Sorry, but larger sizes not available for this offer, though we do have a 2X Mayberry shirt available without Barney on it, so you can request that instead.) The default choice if you don’t indicate a size is Medium.
* 1 Mayberry-related book with an original retail price of at least $10
* 1 “Andy Griffith Show” logo ornament
* 1 Newspaper with coverage of a major Mayberry event
* 1 Officially-licensed Mayberry license plate
* 1 Vintage Mayberry wall calendar (still in its original shrink wrap)
* 3 Different wooden Mayberry building fronts (Bluebird Diner, All Souls Church, and Mrs. Mendelbright’s Boarding House)
* 2 Mayberry bumper stickers
* 1 Mayberry-related audio or video tape (still sealed)
* 1 Pre-owned and very used Jim Nabors album (the vinyl LP variety). Most will date from the 1970s or ’80s.
* 3 Different Mayberry photos (8?–10)
* 2 Different over-sized Mayberry posters
* 1 Barney Sipping Soda Lithograph
* 2 different Mayberry birthday balloons
* 1 10-card wax pack of “Andy Griffith Show” Trading Cards
* Assorted Mayberry event and news publications and materials (fliers, newsletters, fans, magnets, buttons, etc.)
If the items were sold separately, their suggested retail prices would easily total over $120. But Goober is not the best at arithmetic and Ernest T. wasn’t around to help us count by stomping his feet, so our price is only $60 for the whole Grab-Bag. We have only a handful to offer with this configuration of items because most of the items are in extremely short supply. Get ’em while you can.
All proceeds (not just the profits, but 100% of the $60 price) are going toward our support of CARE and AFRECS. So with a Grab-Bag purchase, you get a good deal while also helping folks in desperate need!
Special Offer: When George “Goober” Lindsey heard we were doing these special Grab-Bags for Disaster Relief, he wanted to participate. So, he signed a few photos that can be added to this Grab-Bag. You can add one of these autographed photos to your Grab-Bag for an extra $20 (a total of $80). Just select the option below to Goober-Size your purchase. We truly appreciate George for giving his support to our efforts to help the disaster victims. And we thank all Weaver’s visitors for considering a purchase of this Grab-Bag.
Beloved Novel Now Available on CD!
$25.00
Dillards/Darlings bass player Mitch Jayne’s Old Fish Hawk is a 4 1/2-hour novel on CD. This engaging novel written and narrated by Mitch (with musical accompaniment), tells the story and adventures of an Osage Indian and the young boy he befriends and shares his wisdom with. The book is so compelling that the folks in Hollywood even made a movie of it. But hearing Mitch tell the story is even better because nobody can paint a better picture with words than Mitch.
We sadly lost Mitch Jayne August 2, 2010, at he age of 82. But he left a tremendous legacy. To still be able to hear his wonderful storytelling is just one of many blessings he left us.
Don’t Wait for the Hearse to Take You to Church CD
by Rodney Dillard
$14.00 NEW ITEM!!!
This CD is brand new in August from Rodney Dillard & The Dillard Band (featuring Beverly Dillard) singing Gospel favorites and some newer songs that are sure to become favorites.
The CD includes 10 tracks and four Bonus tracks from Rodney’s “Mayberry Values” radio show.
TRACKS:
1. The Devil Just Can’t Knock Me off My Knees
2. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
3. River of Jordan
4. Somebody Touched Me
5. Gospel Ship
6. Hear Them Thunders Roaring
7. Heaven
8. Softly and Tenderly
9. When My Time Comes to Go
10. Don’t Wait for the Hearse to Take You to Church
BONUS MATERIAL
1. New Minister
2. Church Inheritance
3. Man in a Hurry
4. Choirboy Barney
Uplifting music and inspirational words-all for a great price of only $14.00…giving everybody a little extra in their pockets when that offering plate comes around on Sunday!
Dance ‘Til Your Stockings Are Hot and Ravelin’ CD
by the Grascals
$6.00
This exciting new Mayberry-inspired bluegrass CD from the mega-award-winning Grascals features 7 tunes, including 5 from TAGS–“Dooley,” “Boil Them Cabbage Down,” “Ol’ Joe Clark,” “Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)” and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”–plus the “Mayberry’s Finest Theme” and a song written just for this CD, “Boy, Giraffes Are Selfish.”
You can tell The Grascals are not only world-class musicians and performers, but also true Mayberry fans. This CD is truly a hoot! And great music to boot.
Attaboy Don Knotts Comic Legends/Tied up with Laughter DVD
$15.00
Available Now!
Beyond Mayberry’s beloved Barney Fife, this Don Knotts: Tied up with Laughter!DVD shows Don in a series of wonderful, hilarious stand-up routines and skits in rare performances from the 1960s and ’70s.
In this special hour-long comedy collection released this year, Don is joined by singer-actress Joey Heatherton, actress Jane Powell, former Dallas Cowboys player Lance Rentzel, comic (and Mayberry deputy) Jack Burns, Don’s Love God movie co-star Maureen Arthur (also wife of “Andy Griffith Show” producer Aaron Ruben), and the legendary Jimmy Durante.
Bonus material includes Don with Lucille Ball and an early look at Don’s comedy career and some “never before seen” special features.
This DVD is a great treat for all fans of our favorite deputy-one of the true, cherished comedy legends of our time…and of all time. And at a great price.
**** Cool Mayberry Caps for Hip Mayberry Cats ****
Embroidered Show Logo and Security by Fife Caps
$17.00 each
These officially licensed, cool canvas hats (in Mayberry Sheriff Dept. tan!) are finely embroidered with a choice of the official “Andy Griffith Show” logo or Security by Fife. Or why not get both? That way you’re covered for all occasions, except when you want to be just a Goober! Adjustable for just the right fit for any occasion.
The Goober Beanie is Back!
$9.00
So…you say you wanna be a Goober? This genuine Goober-Style Beanie Hat fashioned from brown felt has the look any Goober will love. Best of all, you get to cut your own holes in the top, just as Goober himself would do. Get your beanie, baby, and say “Yo!” One size fits most.
T-Shirts Galore!!!
$18.00 each
Weaver’s has more than two dozen officially licensed Mayberry T-shirt designs. Some are vintage designs that are no longer in production and hard to find anywhere else. We also have a handful of shirts of other TV classics and some vintage embroidered Mayberry logo sport shirts and even a few Snappy Lunch sport shirts.
Despite this year’s spike in cotton prices, we’re holding the line on our T-shirt prices. All of our heavyweight cotton T-shirts are still just $18.00. And the sport shirts are nicely priced, too. Most of the T-shirts are available in Sizes Medium, Large, XL and 2X. Several also come in small. (The size selection is not as large for the out-of-production vintage shirts.)
Have fun showing your Mayberry spirit with one of these fun-tastic shirts today!
Just a few of our many Mayberry T-shirt designs.
Miss Crump’s Mayberry Book Mobile
And T-shirts aren’t the only thing that we have dozens of! We carry most of the Mayberry and Mayberry-related books that have been published. Some have been out of print for years, but we still have some copies. Whether your interest is history or trivia, biography or cooking, we’ve got the Mayberry book for you or a friend. Here’s a sampling of what we have:
In the mood to watch Mayberry instead of read about it? Then we’ve got your covered there, too!
“The Andy Griffith Show 50th Anniversary–The Best of Mayberry” DVD
This is a really exciting item that was released at the end of last year. It’s an item that we had long been hoping for. In addition to a bunch of the very best episodes, this 3-disc set includes uncut versions of the “Danny Thomas” pilot for “The Andy Griffith Show” and the 1986 Return to Mayberry movie. And all at a phenomenally low price, even before Ben Weaver’s additional discount. Here are some of the highlights of what’s on it:
* 17 Favorite Episodes:
“Christmas Story” “The Pickle Story” “Barney and the Choir” “Mr. McBeevee” “Convicts-at-Large” “Man in a Hurry” “Class Reunion” “The Darlings Are Coming” “Barney’s First Car” |
“Dogs, Dogs, Dogs” “Mountain Wedding” “Opie the Birdman” “The Sermon for Today” “Citizen’s Arrest” “Fun Girls” “Barney’s Sidecar” “Goober and the Art of Love” |
* “Danny Meets Andy Griffith” (the “Danny Thomas” pilot for TAGS)
* Clips from Season Premiere nights for the 1962-63 and 1963-64 seasons
* The 1986 Return to Mayberry reunion movie
* Original sponsor commercials featuring cast members
This collection is chockfull of great Mayberry moments. And the price makes for a truly unbeatable combination of quantity, quality and value. We think it’s a dream come true.
**** 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. (They sneak out a lot to go fishin’ for carp and pike and such, so if you miss them during business hours, just leave a message with a number where they can call you back.)
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 by e-mail to weavershop@aol.com.
**** Miss Crump’s Mayberry Quiz ****
Miss Crump is using the excuse of giving her pupils time to prepare for the Mayberry Days Trivia Contest as a reason for not offering a trivia quiz in this issue. What will Old Lady Crump’s excuse be next time? Wait and see. (Maybe we ought to have a contest to guess what her next excuse will be!) In any case, she surely does look happy about not having any quizzes to grade.
**** 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 to subscribers.
Between issues of The eBullet, keep up with the goings-on in Mayberry with the daily “Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board?” (aka WBMUTBB) 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 tagsrwc.com. WBMUTBB also has its own Archives where you can follow the ongoing stream of messages.
And TAGSRWC 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: Weaver’s Newsletter Sign-Up.
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 The eBullet is scheduled for November with the next Weaver’s Newsletter planned for October.
10-4 and out for now!