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The eBullet
An Online Newsletter of “The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
Volume 14, Issue 3
May 2014
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Welcome to our third issue of The eBullet for 2014!  We have lots of recent news and upcoming happenings to report, so just jump in where you can and hang on!

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 Floyd’s Barbershop Bulletin Board
&
Event Calendar

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The Andy Griffith Museum, featuring the late Emmett Forrest’s spectacular collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia (the world’s best!), is open daily in Mount Airy, N.C. For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org/ or call (336) 786-1604.

* May 31: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride kick off their free Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series outside of the Hillbilly Bowl at the Kimberling City Shopping Mall in Kimberling City, Mo.  In true Darlings style, they’ll be performing on the back of their ’41 Chevy flatbed truck. From 7 to 9 p.m. roughly every third Sat. into Sept.  Bring your lawn chairs and whatnot.

* May 31: David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning floats into St. Paul, Va., for the Clinch River Days Festival.

* June 12 and 13: Roland White Band (California Edition: Roland, Diane, Herb Pedersen, Bill Bryson and Blaine Sprouse) at the California Bluegrass Association’s Fathers Day Bluegrass Festival, Grass Valley, Calif.

* June 12-14: Ruta Lee appears at the Memphis Film Festival at the Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Miss.  For info, visit www.memphisfilmfestival.com.

* June 13 and 14: James Best performs his one-man “Best in Hollywood” show at the Globe Theater in Greenville, Ill., at 7 p.m. on Friday.  General admission tickets are $20. He’ll also be greeting fans and signing autographs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greenville Graffiti Car Show on Saturday. And he’s Grand Marshal for the car show parade on Saturday.  For tickets and info call the Greenville Chamber of Commerce at  618-664-9272.

* June 14: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Barney and Thelma Lou, Phfftt” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C.  Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one.  For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* June 20: Betty Lynn greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8?–10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* June 20-22: Julie Adams will be signing her book at the Monster Bash in Mars, Penn.

* June 21: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride continue their free Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series outside of the Hillbilly Bowl at Kimberling City Shopping Mall.  They’ll be performing on the back of their ’41  truck. From 7 to 9 p.m. roughly every third Sat. into Sept.  Bring your lawn chairs.

* June 28: David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning shines bright at the Star City Motor Madness Car Show in Roanoke, Va.  For more info, visit www.starcitymotormadness.com.

* July 3-5: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform at the Starvey Creek Bluegrass Festival in Conway, Mo.

* July 12: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “Back to Nature” episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one.  For info, visit the  website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* July 12: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride continue their free Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series outside of the Hillbilly Bowl at Kimberling City Shopping Mall.  In Darlings style, they’ll be performing on the back of their  ’41 flatbed truck. From 7 to 9 p.m., more or less every third Sat. through Sept.  Bring your own lawn chairs.  Or find on old tree stump.

* July 18: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8?–10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* July 19-20: Barbara Eden and Julie Adams are among the stars appearing at the Hollywood Show celebrity and memorabilia convention in Los Angeles.  For more info, visit www.hollywoodshow.com.

* July 23-27: Ronnie Schell performs at the Improv at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe (Nev.).  For info visit www.harveystahoe.com.

* Aug. 2: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride continue their free Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series outside of the Hillbilly Bowl at Kimberling City Shopping Mall.  Like Mayberry’s Darling boys, they’ll be performing on the back of their  ’41 Chevy truck. From 7 to 9 p.m., more or less every third Sat. through Sept.  Bring your lawn chairs, but no overnight camping.

* Aug. 3: Roland White plays at the Bon Odori Dance Festival, New Paltz, N.Y.

* Aug. 9: Neal Brower, author of Mayberry 101, presents a lecture on the “The Songfesters”episode of TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C.  Admission is included with an Andy Griffith Museum armband ($3 or $5) or is $5 without one.  For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Aug. 13:  Karen Knotts unleashes her one-woman “Tied Up in Knotts” show on Hoover Auditorium at Lakeside Chautauqua in Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio, on the banks of Lake Erie.  Show time is 8:15 p.m. For info, find a web-footed red-crested lake loon to follow, or visit www.lakesideohio.com.

* Aug. 15: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8?–10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Aug. 22 and 23: Rodney Dillard and Maggie Peterson are joined by several of the Mayberry tribute artists (including David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, Phil “Ernest T.” Fox,  and Jeff “Howard” Branch) for a Cruise-In in Oakboro, N.C., on Friday, and then a concert benefiting the Montgomery County DARE program on Saturday at the James H. Garner Center in Troy, N.C. Tickets for the Saturday show are $20 for reserved seats and $15 for general admission.  Tickets for children 6 years-12 years old are $10. For more info, call Jeff Branch at (704) 985-6987, e-mail jbranch205@windstream.net, or visit www.bluegrassintroy.com/.

* Aug. 23: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride continue their free Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series outside of the Hillbilly Bowl at Kimberling City Shopping Mall. They’ll be performing on the back of their flatbed truck from 7 to 9 p.m.

* Sept. 13: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride close out their free Kimberling City Summer Bluegrass Concert Series outside of the Hillbilly Bowl at Kimberling City Shopping Mall.  They’ll be back on the back of their Chevy flatbed truck. From 7 to 9 p.m.  Bring your lawn chairs or whatever you like to sit on while listening to music under the stars.

* Sept. 19: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) greets fans at the Andy Griffith Museum 12:30-1:30 p.m. She will have autographed 8?–10 photos available ($10). For info, visit the website at www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

* Sept. 21-24: Life Lessons From Mayberry: It’s All There in Black and White in Ridgecrest, N.C. (just outside Asheville) is a Bible study event drawing on the biblical truths and life applications found in “The Andy Griffith Show.” The event is $295 per person (based on double occupancy), which includes three nights of on-campus lodging, eight meals, Bible study sessions based on favorite TAGS episodes, dynamic preaching, worship, an orchestra concert of TAGS tunes, and a lunch with favorite Mayberry tribute artists. To register, call Ridgecrest Conference Center at (800) 588-7222 or visit www.lifeway.com/mayberry.com. (And after the event, Mount Airy and Mayberry Days are conveniently just down the road a piece!)

* Sept. 25-28: 25th Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C.   As always, numerous “Andy Griffith Show” stars will be on hand. Stars already confirmed are hometown favorite Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) and Darling Boy Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band, who will perform a matinee show on Friday.  James Best also presents his popular “Best in Hollywood Show” on Friday afternoon, and Karen Knotts returns with her fun, wonderful “Tied Up in Knotts” show, at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

Other guests scheduled to return include Elizabeth MacRae (Lou Ann Poovie on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”); Morgan Brittany (Mary Alice Carter); George Spence (Frank the Boyfriend); and George Lindsey, Jr.  Also, her work schedule permitting, Joy Ellison (Mary Wiggins, Effie, Iris and others) hopes to attend her first Mayberry Days this year!  Other festival favorites include David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning and the merry Mayberry band of tribute artists, the VW Boys and their “Salute to Mayberry,” and Michael Hoover’s “Memories of Elivs.”

Also, there will be a hilarious comedy show on Friday night by the amazing James Gregory, “the Funniest Man in America.” Also, the Embers warm the night with their music on Thursday, while the legendary Tams bring their soulful coastal music to the amphitheater on Friday evening. And much more TBA! There will be something for everybody at this special 25th Mayberry Days. Visit www.surryarts.org for more info.

* Oct. 3: 54th Anniversary of the premiere of “The Andy Griffith Show” on CBS.

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* Oct. 3: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform for the The Old Brush Arbor, at Keystone Baptist Church in Reeds Spring, Mo.

* Oct. 5: Karen Knotts brings her “Tied Up in Knotts” show to the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, Calif., at 2 p.m. For tickets and info, call 209-338-5071 or visit www.galloarts.org.

* Oct. 19: LeRoy “Mack” McNees and wife Jan share their faith and bluegrass gospel music during the 11 a.m. worship service at the New Horizons Baptist Church in Oxford, N.C.

* Oct. 23: “An Evening with Ron Howard” as part of the Bryan Series, hosted by Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. In a moderated conversation, Ron will offer the Bryan Series audience some reflections on his 50 years in the motion picture and television industry.

He will discuss his journey from his role as Opie to his achievements as one of the most accomplished filmmakers of our time. Expect him to talk about the creative process and the significance of his films including Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon. The presentation starts at 7:30 at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Ticket sales for current Bryan Series subscribers and new Series subscriptions (for a total of five lectures) are underway now.  Sales of single event tickets to Ron’s lecture (and the others) start Aug. 15.  Single ticket prices haven’t been announced yet.  For more info, visit www.guilford.edu/bryan-series.

* Nov. 1-6: Cruise to Mayberry 9 stars LeRoy “Mack” McNees, George Lindsey, Jr.  and a passel of Mayberry Tribute Artists for music, sights, sun, fun, and games…and hearty eatin’ aboard Carnival’s Victory cruise ship, departing Miami for Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.  There are several important deadlines coming up for making reservations. For more info, contact Sharon at All About Cruises (336) 538-4926 or by e-mail at pwesje@aol.com or visit the website at www.allaboutcruisesnc.net.

2015

* Mar. 5-7: The 18th Annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, Ala. Details TBA.  For updates go to www.lindseyfilmfest.com.

* May 1 and 2: Fifth Annual Mayberry Comes to Westminster festival in Westminster, S.C.  Details TBA. Photo highlights from 2014 are at www.mayberrywestminster.com.

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 **** News of Cast & Crew ****

“The cage sure looks awful empty.” Ron Howard and his wife, Cheryl, are selling the lakefront estate in Greenwich, Conn., where they have lived for 20 years and raised their four children.  The estate’s 17,200-foot Victorian main house has 23 rooms, including six bedrooms, five full baths and four half baths (“Poor Horatio!”), a two-story library and office, 14-seat movie theater, gym, sauna, yoga studio, solarium, and indoor saltwater pool (similar to the one in Cocoon). The main home also has seven fireplaces and a wine cellar (“Any ol’ tramps down there?”).

The 32-acre property, which is part of the gated 1,500 Conyers Farm development and is also a working farm that spans the Connecticut-New York state line (and the city limits of Greenwich and Armonk), is offered by Sotheby’s and other agents, possibly including Fife Realty, for $27.5 million.

The estate features a two-bedroom, 2,500-foot guest cottage, an indoor sports complex with a full tennis court and half a basketball court (“Poor LeBron!), an observatory silo with a professional Meade telescope, sauna, barns, paddocks, a pond (with ducks and a waterfall), heated outdoor swimming pool, greenhouses, an organic vegetable garden (possibly with spinach?), and formal boxwood and rose gardens (no football allowed!).

There are also riding and walking trails and a horse training area. Lots of the property’s animals, including a 15-year-old tortoise named Ralph, will likely stay with the property when it sells.  Oh, and a bird named Rover.  (The best bird names, such as Dickie and Winken, Blinken and Nod, were already taken.)

Don’t worry, though.  When the house sells, Ron won’t be having to move into the Corner Room at the Y in Raleigh.  He and Cheryl will be keeping their homes in Los Angeles, Manhattan and Paris.  “Don’t the trees seem nice and full.”

Amid his editing on In the Heart of the Sea, Ron recently made time in New York for some sightseeing, including the Statue of Liberty, and a gala fundraiser for the Art Production Fund.  He was also a featured speaker at the Tribeca Film Festival (which brother Clint Howard also attended because a film he’s in was featured at the festival) in New York in April.

Ron was likewise a speaker for the Distinguished Speakers series in Pasadena, Redondo Beach and Thousand Oaks, Calif., in April, and for the IBM Smarter Commerce Global Summit 2014 in Tampa in early May. And see Floyd’s calendar listing for details about a speaking engagement as part of Bryan Series in Greensboro, N.C., in October.

Ron and business partner Brian Grazer have joined forces with Discovery Communications to form New Form, a digital studio that will specialize in creating content for devices and forums other than traditional TV channels and movie theaters.

The duo and their Imagine Entertainment are also set to produce a new adaptation of East of Eden for the big screen.  Jennifer Lawrence has been announced as one of the stars.  Ron is also in talks to direct a film version of Neil Graiman’s best-selling The Graveyard Book and also possibly another best-selling book, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair for Warner Bros. And a couple of other projects, previously announced, are also in the works.

As if he’s not busy enough, Ron has hinted that he’s interested in starting to act again.  And he was on camera during the last couple of weeks supporting the “Got Your Six” veterans assistance program (www.gotyour6.org) in some TV commercials for Macy’s and its promotion  that raised funds through its sales running from Armed Forces Day through Memorial Day (May 17-26).

Clint Howard (generous sandwich-toter Leon) has roles in half a dozen indie films in various stages of production-some about to be released and one filming now.  He was also in an episode of “Hawaii Five-O” that aired in November.  One of the movies, Rick’s Parking, also features Rance Howard.  Rance has a couple of other indie movies expected to be released this year, and he was featured in an episode of Comedy Central’s “Kroll Show” that premiered in March.

Jim Nabors has announced that this past weekend’s Indy 500 was his final time singing “Back Home Again in Indiana,” a cherished tradition at the race for 42 years.  Here’s a link to a video of this 36th and final performance at the race. Jim also got to announce, “Lady and gentlemen, start your engines!”  at the start of the race.

Jim, who turns 84 on June 12, is officially retiring from all performing and plans to enjoy spending even more time relaxing and cultivating a good life on his plantation in Maui.  Here’s a link to a TV interview with Jim last week in Hawaii.

Ronnie Schell (two TAGS episodes and Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C”) completed a stint at Harrah’s Improv Comedy Club in Las Vegas last week.  He’ll be bringing laughs to Harvey’s in Lake Tahoe in July .

Rodney Dillard has been on the go for much of the spring, appearing everywhere from Mayberry Comes to Westminster in South Carolina to the Tri-Cities in Tennessee and from Mayberry in the Midwest in Danville, Ind., with TV sister Maggie Peterson to the Star Theatre on his home stomping grounds of Branson, Mo., last week.

In addition to her performance of Love Letters with Ronnie Schell in Mount Airy on Valentine’s Day and Mayberry in the Midwest with Rodney in May, Maggie was at the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival with Morgan Brittany (Mary Alice Carter) in April.  Their appearances included a panel discussion about their time on TAGS that was moderated by TAGSRWC’s Paul Mulik (“Hear That, Boys?  No Yellin’ at the Table” chapter of Joplin, Mo.).

Morgan is also gearing up for touring and media appearances to promote her new book, titled What Women Really Want, which is being released the week before Mayberry Days in September.

Margaret Kerry (Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey) has been busy as usual with lots of Disney-related appearances.  Keep up with Margaret (if you can!) on her website: www.tinkerbelltalks.com.

Jackie Joseph (Ramona Ankrum) has been active with show business gatherings (she’s very involved with SAG-AFTRA) and also events, fundraisers and advocacy for animals.  She helped her dear friend Doris Day celebrate her 90^th birthday in April.  And she’s currently on a 17-day Doris Day cruise from L.A. to New York in May.  (They passed through the Panama Canal around May 23.) Jackie also continues to write a column once or twice a month for the Tolucan Times.

The 27th Annual Uncle Jesse’s Big Bass Classic, honoring Denver Pyle, was held the first week of May in Paris, Tex. The event is always filled with fish tales about big- and small-mouth bass, but no reports so far about that most elusive creachster of all…Ernest T. Bass, aka, the lovable Loudmouth Bass!

LeRoy “Mack” McNees (Dobro player for Mayberry’s Country Boys) has already had several bluegrass-gospel performances this year, mostly in the Southeast U.S., but also one with Almost Bluegrass at Festival Atitlan, near Santiago Atitlan, in Guatemala.

George Lindsey Jr. was featured as a monk in Incorruptible, “a dark comedy about the Dark Ages” at the LAPC Theatre in Woodland Hills, Calif., in March and April.  And George Jr.’s sister, Camden Gardner, represented the Lindsey family at another successful George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, Ala., in March.

Karen Knotts has had several performances of her “Tied Up in Knotts” stage show so far this year, including at Mayberry Comes to Westminster in early May.  And she has more shows coming up, including Mayberry Days (see Floyd’s bulletin board above).

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We’re sad to note the passing of three people with Mayberry connections since our last issue.

Nancy Malone, who played high-tech matchmaker Edith Gibson in “A Girl for Goober” (Episode 248 and the last episode filmed), died May 8 at City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, Calif., from pneumonia, a complication from a recent battle with leukemia.  She was 79.

Born Ann Maloney on March 19, 1935, on Long Island, N.Y., she began to work as a model at age 7 in ads for companies such as Kellogg’s and Ford Motors.  In 1946, she was selected to represent “the typical American girl” on the cover of Life magazine’s 10th Anniversary issue.

She soon made the transition to acting, first finding success in TV soap operas and then on the stage.  She made her Broadway debut at age 15 as Ginger in Time Out for Ginger, with which she also toured the country for a year.

She continued to work on stage and television.  Her most extended acting role on TV was as Libby Kingston in 51 episodes of the hit series “Naked City,” on ABC, from 1958-63.  She was nominated for an Emmy for the role in 1963.

Other TV work ranged from “Bonanza” and “The Rockford Files” to “The Twilight Zone” and “Hawaii 5-0.”  On the big screen, she appeared in The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing with Burt Reynolds in 1973.  That year, she also founded Women in Film, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping women advance in entertainment and media businesses.

In 1975, Nancy founded her own production company, Lilac Productions, which produced several movies for TV, including 1976’s Sherlock Holmes in New York. During that era she was also hired as director of TV development at 20th Century Fox and then soon after was promoted to vice president for television production.

In 1986, she joined Aaron Spelling Productions as a director.  Among the shows she directed for Spelling were “Dynasty,” “Hotel,” “Melrose Place” and “Beverly Hills 90210.”  She also directed episodes of “Cagney & Lacey,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Touched by an Angel” and “Dawson’s Creek,” among many others. She received Emmy nominations for her directing work on the series “Sisters” and for “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill.”  And she won an Emmy for producing the special “Bob Hope: The First 90 Years” in 1993.

Nancy also continued to direct stage productions.  And she taught at UCLA, and New York University, as well in Ireland.

Nancy Malone’s talents, hard work, and versatility took her to great heights in a fascinating and productive career, on the stage and both in front of and behind the camera.  She was beloved by all who knew her and worked with her.  And though her only appearance on TAGS was the last episode ever filmed, she was clearly a match made for Mayberry.

She is survived by her longtime collaborator and close friend Linda Hope (adopted daughter of Bob and Dolores Hope). Donations in Nancy’s memory may be made to City of Hope, to Directing Workshop for Women or to Performing Animals Welfare Society.

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We normally limit our coverage to only “The Andy Griffith Show” itself, but we want to mention a couple of recent deaths connected to the two TV shows most closely related to TAGS.

Med Flory, who played memorable Monroe Efford, Lou Ann Poovie’s hometown boyfriend, in two episodes of “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” died from a heart condition at his home in North Hollywood, Calif., on March 12.  He was 87.

He was born Meredith Irwin Flory on August 27, 1926, in Logansport, Ind.  He began playing clarinet at age 9, but eventually switched to alto sax, the instrument that would make him a jazz legend.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II and then graduated from Indiana University.  He moved to New York to play jazz, before settling in Los Angeles in the 1950s.  In the early 1960s, he began to take acting roles, in part to support his interest in music.  Many of his roles were uncredited in his early days of acting, but he eventually earned larger parts on his way to appearing in almost 100 TV episodes and a few films, most notably The Nutty Professor with Jerry Lewis.

But Med’s passion was his music.  He played in the big bands of Wood Herman, Ray Anthony and others.  He later formed his own big band, Jazz Wave.  Some members of the Jazz Wave also performed as a nine-piece ensemble called Supersax, which Med formed with Buddy Clark in 1972.  Their album Supersax Plays Bird won a Grammy in 1974.

Med is survived by his son Rex, daughter Ava and two granddaughters.  His wife of 47 years, Joan Barbara Fry, died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2000.

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Hal Cooper, the legendary director-producer who directed 38 episodes (almost half) of “Mayberry R.F.D.” and about 500 installments for TV in a career spanning five decades, died of heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 11.  He was 91.

Born Harold Cooper on February 23, 1923, in Bronx, N.Y., Hal began acting in radio at age 9.  When a director once became ill shortly before a live broadcast, he designated Hal to direct the episode.  He was just 13.

Hal enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1940 and also worked on episodes of “The Lone Ranger” radio show at WXYZ while there. After a three-year hiatus to serve as a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve during World War II, Hal finished his degree in 1946.  He and his first wife, Pat Meikle, worked at the Dock Street Theatre in Charleston, S.C.

The couple then went to New York to be pioneers in the early days of television.  In fact, their first TV venture, a show for y0ung children called “Your Television Babysitter,” aired on the first full day of programming on the DuMont Television Network on Nov. 1, 1947.  So would begin a 49-year career in TV.

After directing daytime TV in New York for much of the 1950s , Hal moved to Los Angeles and to prime-time shows, starting in the top ranks with “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”  He directed drama and comedy, but he became known for his touch with sitcoms.  A list of the shows for which he directed at least 2 dozen episodes each could provide a nice résumé for at least a half dozen directors: “I Dream of Jeannie” (54), “That Girl” (23), “Mayberry R.F.D.” (38), “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” (27), “Maude” (126), “Gimme a Break!” (81) and “Dear John” (67). He was also executive producer for dozens of episodes of “Maude,” “Empty Nest,” “Dear John” and “Gimme a Break!”

And when Season 2 of the “Mayberry R.F.D.” comes out on DVD, watch for Hal in a cameo role as the headwaiter at Morelli’s in “Goober and the Telephone Girl.”  (We believe Hal is the only director of an episode of TAGS or R.F.D. to be seen or heard in that same episode, other than Howard Morris as the voice of Leonard Blush and as George the TV repairman.)

Hal Cooper enjoyed a prolific career as a respected director and producer.  We’re lucky that he was trusted to guide the story of Mayberry in its years after Andy Griffith turned the lead role over to Ken Berry.  Mayberry was left in good hands.

Hal Cooper is survived by a son, two daughters and a grandson.

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**** Chapter Update ****

Just one new chapter has started since the March eBullet.  But it’s loaded with international impact!

Maggie, Kitty-Kittie and Me–Gol-l-l-l-y!   Hessian-Bavarian Border, Germany

That brings us to a new total of 1,420 chapters that have been founded since  TAGSRWC started in 1979.

Starting a chapter of TAGSRWC is really easy to do.  Just pick a name that hasn’t already been chosen (that’s the hardest part!), and submit it with a list of your founding members by e-mail  or by U.S. Mail to TAGSRWC’s HQ in Nashville.  There’s a searchable list of chapter names that are already taken at www.tagsrwc.com. You can submit your chapter name request to Goober@imayberry.com.

You can also 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.)

We always enjoy hearing news (and seeing photos) from existing chapters.  (See the Chapter News section below.) And if HQ can ever be of any service to your chapter, we’re always eager to do whatever we can.

Go ahead.  Take the plunge, and enjoy all the fun of being part of a TAGSRWC chapter!

**** Chapter News ****

Several TAGSRWC chapters and members from at least five states, including “Hearty Eatin’ Men and Beautiful, Delicate Women” (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), “You Better Put a Buckeye in Your Pocket and Do the Incant for a Sore Foot” (Bessemer, Ala.), “Mother Figure” (Huntsville, Ala.), Briscoe of Mayberry (Indianapolis) and “I Ain’t No Rockefeller” (Bristol, Va.) were on hand for the annual Eagles’ Wings fundraiser that drew hundreds of supporters to the golf tournament and banquet/auction in Tuscaloosa in April. Eagles’ Wings of Tuscaloosa provides facilities and other support for adults with disabilities and has been a focus of efforts of several TAGSRWC chapters and our organization as a whole for many years.

The 4th Annual Mayberry Comes to Westminster the first weekend in May was another huge success this year with large crowds coming from seven states or more to see guest stars Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band and Karen Knotts putting on fantastic shows.

The event’s silent auction, which like the festival itself is organized and bolstered by TAGSRWC members, raised $1,050 for local charities.  An outstanding job by auction chair Michelle Bryson and other volunteers!  And hats off to lead organizers Tom and Kathy Rusk and all the folks of Westminster for another superb weekend all the way around! Mark your calendars for May 1 and 2, 2015.

In mid-May, two weeks after Westminster, the Mayberry in the Midwest festival arrived in Danville, Ind.  Once again, large crowds, representing at least 13 states, turned out for a wonderful weekend of Mayberry fun.  Rodney Dillard was on hand with his band, joined this time by Maggie Peterson.  They performed in concert on Saturday, and then Rodney and wife Beverly led a service of prayer and praise on Sunday morning.

A large contingent of the Mayberry Tribute Artists anchored the weekend, and performed their show on both Saturday and Sunday.  Other activities included a Miss Mayberry contest, trivia contest (won by Mike Haviland), parade, tractor exhibit, arts and crafts, pancake breakfast, look-alike contests, checkers tournament, autograph sessions, and the Mayberry Downhill Derby (won by Evan Larkin).

The weekend was capped by the Mayberry Squad Car Nationals, which was being held outside Alabama for the first time in its 13-year history. This year’s edition featured a fleet of eight competitors. The Car Show results of the Nationals were: First Place–Robert and Jill Shelby of Goober’s Auto Dismantling chapter (West Frankfort, Ill.); Second Place–Mark and Reece Morris of Pierceton, Ind.; and Third Place–Christine and Brad Born with the host Mayberry Cafe car of Danville, Ind.

The Obstacle Course results were: First Place–Jeff and Coy Gossett of “Now You’re Gonna Glenn Ford It All Over Town” chapter (Veedersburg, Ind.); Second Place–James Pierce and Mike Haviland of Kalamazoo, Mich./Lowell, Ind.; and Third Place–Loren and Carol Beck of “You’re a Fine Son, Barn” chapter (Greensburg, Ind.).

The Ricky Carnes Memorial Trophy in recognition of Best in Show was presented to Robert and Jill Shelby.  The trophy was given its official name this year to honor the memory of beloved Mayberry squad car owner Ricky Carnes (of Mayberry Squad Car chapter in Canton, Ga.), who died in 2011.

Ricky’s Mayberry squad car won numerous trophies over the years, including several for Best in Show.  His car was widely recognized by his fellow squad car owners as unsurpassed in restoration quality and authenticity.  His is believed to be the only Mayberry squad car replica to have had Andy Griffith himself as a passenger (at the unveiling of TV Land’s first “Andy Griffith Show” Landmark in Raleigh, N.C., in 2003).

Everyone looks forward to official word about another Mayberry in the Midwest for 2015!

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A couple of other chapter briefs:

Mayberry chapter (Knoxville, Tenn.) continues to have chapter activities at least once a month.  Activities this summer include a miniature golf outing and a Fourth of July parade. Photos in our next issue.

Barney chapter (Greensboro, N.C.) held its most recent meeting this past Saturday.  Daisy, their canine host and unofficial chapter mascot, showed off her latest tricks.  Her training far surpasses Barney’s bloodhound, Blue.  She might even be voted Most Likely to Become Charming at her obedience school.

If your chapter has news or photos to share, you can write to us the old-fashioned way at OUR NEW MAILING & SHIPPING ADDRESS: 118 16th Avenue South, PMB 146, Nashville TN  37203-3100, or by e-mail to Goober@imayberry.com.

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

The iMayberry Community
This TAGSRWC online group is organized and overseen by webmaster Allan “Floyd” Newsome.   You can check it out and sign up for free at: http://imayberrycommunity.com/.

The iMayberry Community complements our other online activities, including our main www.imayberry.com page, podcasts, Facebook page, online newsletters (such as The eBullet!), weaversdepartmentstore.com and chat rooms.  Combined with TAGSRWC chapters and the various Mayberry events for all fans (from Mayberry Days to ocean cruises), not to mention enjoying the sites of Mount Airy year-round, the world of Mayberry fun keeps expanding.

And best of all, it’s all rooted in watching the show itself.  Whether through DVDs, streaming video, local stations or TV Land, loving to watch the show continues to be the energy that feeds all the other Mayberry fun and activities that we enjoy.  What a wonderful thing Andy Griffith and his talented team of actors, musicians, writers and crew people created 54 years ago–for us and generations to come!

Two Chairs, No Waiting is our weekly podcast of TAGS news, interviews and pretty much whatever happens to be going on in and around Mayberry. It’s hosted by Allan Newsome. There’s a new episode every Tuesday (and you can watch and listen live during tapings on Monday evenings). Past episodes are in an online Archives in case you want to listen to or view episodes you’ve missed. (There have been 281 episodes since Allan started the podcasts in October 2008.)

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 live or download these podcasts.

Also, check out the podcast area of our www.imayberry.com site for info about a Mayberry Bible Study Podcast, also hosted by Allan, and a “brother figure” podcast called Burke on Mayberry, hosted by Kevin Burke.

TAGSRWC’s official page on Facebook now has more than 53,000 friends! You can find us at www.facebook.com/tagsrwc. There’s a variety of comments about Mayberry, and a lively stream of fans’ favorite TAGS lines and photos. And our Facebook page is also one of the first places we post announcements and breaking news about TAGS. If you haven’t already dropped by the page, we hope you’ll check it out sometime when you have the chance. We invite you to become a TAGSRWC Facebook Friend!

   **** Post Note ****

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 or so of its being distributed to subscribers.

Between issues of The eBullet, keep up with all the happenings 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 eBullet is planned for July, and the next Weaver’s Newsletter will be out in June.

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