*********************************************
The eBullet
An Online newsletter of
“The Andy Griffith Show” Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC)
Volume 11, Issue 2
May 2011
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Floyd’s Barbershop
Bulletin Board & Event Calendar

 

 

 

 

* May 13: Maggie Peterson greets fans in the Eagles’ Wings booth from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Coker County Fair in Coker, Ala. (near Tuscaloosa).

* May 14: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride kick of their summer-long gig at 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.)

* May 14: Maggie Peterson greets fans and performs at Altoona Day in Altoona, Ala. (near Gadsden), from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Maggie and Donna Douglas (Elly May Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies”) will officially welcome folks from the stage at 10 a.m. and then greet fans and sign autographs throughout the day. Maggie will also sing on the main stage at 2 p.m.

Organized by TAGSRWC’s Robert E. Lee Natural Bridge Residents chapter, the festival will feature music, vendors, arts and crafts, replica cars (Mayberry squad cars, KITT from “Knight Rider,” General Lee from “The Dukes of Hazzard” and a Back to the Future DeLorean) and Mayberry tribute artists (Allan “Floyd” Newsome and Kenneth “Otis” Junkin).

* May 14: David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning is loaded for the Kentucky Black Bear Festival in Cumberland, Ky.

* May 20: Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) will be at the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, N.C. She will have autographed 8×10 photos available ($10). She will be inside the museum from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
* May 20: James Best greets fans at Greg’s Core Supply in Woodlawn, Va., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more info, call Greg’s at (276) 238-0779.

* May 20: Mayberry “Country Boy” Roland White and his bluegrass band perform at the Station Inn in Nashville, Tenn. Show time is 9:00 p.m. Admission is $12.

* May 18-22: Ronnie Schell entertains in the Comedy Room at Harvey’s Hotel and Casino in Lake Tahoe. For more info, visit http://www.harveystahoe.com/.

* May 27 and 28: Darling Boy Dean Webb and his Missouri Boatride bluegrass band perform at the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo. Later in the day, catch Dean and the boys at the 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.)

* May 28: David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning looks for pinch hits at the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs game in Waldorf, Md.

* May 29: Jim Nabors sings “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the Indy 500 in Indianapolis, Ind.

 

 

* June 1: David Browning is on duty for the DARE Graduation in Rocky Mount, Va.

* June 2 and 3: Darling Boy Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform at the John Hartford Memorial Festival at 11:45 a.m. on June 2, and Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band perform at 2:40 p.m. on June 3. The festival is being held at the Bill Monroe Music Park in Bean Blossom, Ind. For more info visit www.johnhartfordmemfest.com, or call (812) 988 6422.

* June 3 and 4: Mule Days in Gordo, Ala., featuring Mayberry tribute artists, music, and more TBA.
* June 4: David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning rolls into St. Paul, Va., for the Clinch River Festival.

* June 11: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform in the 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.) Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride

* June 11: David Browning is on call for the Haleyville 911 Festival in Haleyville, Ala.

* June 19: LeRoy “Mack” McNees and wife Janice host the non-denominational chapel service at California Bluegrass Association Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival at 9:00 a.m. in Grass Valley, Calif. For more info about the festival, visit www.cbaontheweb.org.
* June 25: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform in the 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.)

 

* July 9: Rodney and Beverly Dillard are special guests and performers for the 11th Annual Mayberry Squad Car Nationals and 7th Annual Mayberry Comes to Graysville” Festival in Graysville, Ala. (near Birmingham). The event also features many Mayberry tribute artists. There’s a morning parade, the Mayberry Squad Car Nationals (with Mayberry Squad Car replicas racing on an obstacle course) around Noon, and then trivia and other contests and vendors throughout the afternoon, followed by a barbecue dinner and the evening concert. Exact times and other details TBA.

* July 10: Rodney and Beverly Dillard present their Mayberry Values program at Graysville United Methodist Church in Graysville, Ala. at 11:00 a.m.

* July 11: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform in the 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.)

* July 23: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform in the 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.)

 

* Aug. 6 and 23: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform in the 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.)

* Aug. 12: Mayberry Country Boy LeRoy “Mack” McNees performs three concerts in conjunction with the New Day Community Church in Boulder, Colo. Details TBA.

* Aug. 20 and 21: Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band perform at a Mayberry Festival at St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church in Cullman, Ala., on the 20th, and Rodney and Beverly Dillard present their Mayberry Values program at the church on the 21st. Details TBA.

* Aug. 27: Rodney Dillard and Maggie Peterson are joined by several of the Mayberry tribute artists (including David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, and Jeff “Howard” Branch) for a concert benefiting the Montgomery County DARE program. The evening concert will be at the James H. Garner Center in Troy, N.C. Details TBA. For more info, visit www.bluegrassintroy.com.

 

* Sept. 3 and 17: Dean Webb and Missouri Boatride perform in the 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.)

* Sept. 12-14: The Doug Dillard Band is featured at the all-star 100th Birthday Celebration of Bill Monroe in Owensboro, Ky. Details TBA.

* Sept. 20-22: Life Lessons From Mayberry: It’s All There in Black and White in Ridgecrest, N.C. (outside Asheville), is a celebration of “The Andy Griffith Show” and the biblical truths and life applications found in the show. The 3-day event includes fun-filled Bible study based on favorite TAGS episodes, 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, N.C., so start a week of Mayberry fun and inspiration here! The price is $189 (based on double occupancy of a hotel room for two nights). The price includes five meals and the conference fee. For more info, visit at www.lifeway.com/mayberry.

* Sept. 23-25: 22nd Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C. Shows already confirmed include two concerts by The Doug Dillard Band, a new one-man show with Ronnie 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, Professor Brower’s Lecture with Neal Brower (featuring assistant director Bruce Bilson for his first Mayberry Days), the Mayberry Days Golf Tournament and Banquet, and Colonel Tim’s Talent Time. For info and tickets, go to http://www.mayberrydays.org. More stars and activities TBA.

* Sept. 24: George Lindsey is being inducted into the University of North Alabama Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony on campus in Florence, Ala. Details TBA.

 

* 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. 7-9: Darling Boy Dean Webb and his Missouri Boatride band perform at the Wooley Creek Bluegrass Festival in Cape Fair, Mo.

* Nov 12-17: A Cruise to Mayberry 6: A 5-day Western Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas. Leaves 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 website. (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.)

 

 

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

 

Andy Griffith says that he’s doing O.K. this spring on the North Carolina coast. The brunt of the April storms missed him. But there was some sad family news. His first cousin Lorraine Gilley of Pilot Mountain, N.C., passed away on May 2, at age 85. She and late husband Earlie were great friends of Mayberry and supporters of efforts, such as Mayberry Days.

 

 

Earlie Gilley is mentioned several times on TAGS. Andy also gave a wink to both Lo and Earlie in “Opie’s Fortune,” when the Mayberry Gazette states that Virginia Beasley and Earlie Gilley announce their engagement. (Her full maiden name was Virginia Lorraine Beasley.) Our prayers and love are with Lo’s family as we remember this joyful person and wonderful friend. Here’s a link to the obituary in the Mount Airy News: www.mtairynews.com/LorraineGilley

Ron Howard‘s productions of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower (in three movies and two TV miniseries) are having some hiccups as potential movie studios try to digest the giant budgets involved. Stay tuned for updates. Meanwhile, Ron has a couple of movies already in the can as producer (including this summer’s Cowboys & Aliens, starring Harrison Ford), and several in the pipeline, including an Arrested Development feature.

Ron’s son, Reed, is working hard on becoming a professional golfer. He’s on the eGolf Tour now and hoping to get his PGA Tour card. Here’s a recent story: ReedHowardEsquireClub.

 

George Lindsey continues his recovery from a burst appendix and surgery in February. He was pleased to be able to attend a very special “Salute to George Lindsey” at the University of North Alabama (his alma mater) on April 30 in Florence. The Salute, in conjunction with the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, was held just three days after the terrible tornadoes that tore through much of Alabama and other states. Even so, a capacity crowd turned out for the gala event.

 

 

 

And one more nut from the Mayberry family tree…David Morris, son of Howard Morris, has been working on alternative rock project titled Picture an Accident. You can learn more about it and hear a track here: www.pictureanaccident.com.

We’re happy to report that Darling boy Doug Dillard has recovered well from a collapsed lung he suffered in February.

 

Betty Lynn was interviewed by CNN’s Tom Foreman for a story about how TAGS and Mayberry tourism have helped stabilize the Mount Airy economy during the recession and after many areas factories and mills closed. (Andy Griffith’s childhood friend Emmett Forrest was also interviewed for the story.) CNN broadcast live from Mount Airy during its “American Morning” show on May 11^th. You missed the story, you can still see it on www.cnn.com.

Betty also continues to greet fans and sign autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum once a month. (See Floyd’s event calendar above.)

Maggie Peterson was a featured speaker for the Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Mo., in late April. She’s in Alabama this month for a couple of appearances.

James Best is hard at work on pre-production of Return of the Killer Shrews, a sequel to Attack of the Killer Shrews, the cult classic in which he starred in the 1950s.

This time Jimmie is shrewdly producing and acting.  Others in the cast include John Schneider and Jennifer Lyons.  Filming is set to begin in L.A. in June.  To stay current on the latest Shrews news, visit www.killershrewsmovie.com.  Be very afraid!

 

 

 

 

**** Chapter Update ****

 

We’re pleased to welcome seven new chapters since our last eBullet:

 

The Darling Dillards Back Porch Charlotte, N.C.
Descendants of Nathan Tibbs Gulf Breeze, Fla.
The Gomer and Goober Pyle Comic Book Literary Guild Greater Cincinnati, Ohio
Floyd Lawson Enterprises Centerville, Ohio
“She’s Usually Good for 11 Hatfuls” Summerville, S.C.
Dr. Pendyke Frankfort, Ind.
“Just a Fat Woman with Orange Hair” Fayetteville, N.C.

 

We now have had 1,373 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!

**** Merchandise Update ****

 

 

 

Ol’ Ben Weaver has loaded his shelves for summer. In addition to some brand new items, we’ve also recently restocked several out-of-production and otherwise rare items that we haven’t carried for a while, sometimes even for years. We have only a small handful of some of these items (as few as just one or two), so browse our online shelves soon! Here are some merchandise highlights:

 

 

Dance ‘Til Your Stockings Are Hot and Ravelin’
A Tribute to the Music of “The Andy Griffith Show”
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Available for Pre-Order Now*
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=330

As part of the continuing celebration of 50 Years of Mayberry, this exciting new Mayberry-inspired bluegrass CD from the mega-award-winning Grascals features 5 favorite tunes from TAGS–

• “Dooley,”
• “Boil Them Cabbage Down,”
• “Ol’ Joe Clark,”
• “Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)”
• “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”

And there’s more.

Also included is “Mayberry’s Finest Theme” (watch out, Martha White…there’s a new chef in town and her name is Aunt Bee). Plus, there’s a bonus song written just for this CD, “Boy, Giraffes Are Selfish.”
This CD is truly a hooty-hoot! And great music to boot.  You can tell that The Grascals are not only super-talented, but also huge fans of Mayberry.  (The boys–and girl–are all keyed up!)

* Other items in the same order with this CD will be shipped with this CD when it’s available on June 7.

NOTE: Though we have our everyday low, flat rate of $5 shipping and handling for all orders (regardless of size), even crusty ol’ Ben Weaver knows that $5 S&H on a $6 item can be a bit hard to swallow.  So, he recommends ordering this CD with something else you want, such as another CD or DVD, or maybe a T-shirt or a Mitch Jayne book for summer reading.

But for those who want this item and nothing else right now–and that’s for this item only AND only when just one copy is ordered by itself, the shipping charge is being reduced to $3.  The Shipping charge will still show up as $5 on the online order form at checkout, but we’ll reduce it to $3 manually before processing your credit card.

 

Attaboy Don Knotts Comic Legends/Tied up with Laughter DVD
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=322

$15.00
Released in April

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 sketches in rare performances from the 1960s and ’70s.

In this special hour-long comedy collection, 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 sure to be 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
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?category=2
$17.00

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. Adjustable for just the right fit for any occasion.

The Goober Beanie is Back!
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?category=2

$9.00

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.

 

“The Andy Griffith Show 50th Anniversary-The Best of Mayberry” DVD
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=304
$25.00
$22.00

This is a really exciting item that was released last December. 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 for Mayberry fans everywhere.

 

Limited Edition “Together Forever” 50th Anniversary Color Lithograph
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=298
by Dave Barnhouse $130.00
$100.00

This spectacular print is titled “Together Forever” and was released just in time for the 50^th Anniversary of “The Andy Griffith Show.” It’s another beautiful rendering by renowned Americana artist Dave Barnhouse.

The image size of the full-color lithograph measures a generous 17.75 in. x 28 in. and includes 21 favorite Mayberry characters.

The Edition is limited to a total of 5,900 pieces, all signed by the artist. What a marvelous commemoration for the 50th and beyond that Dave Barnhouse has created for Mayberry fans!

And even better for Weaver’s customers… we’ve now got this beautiful print for a whopping $55 off the suggested price. That’s right, we’ve reduced it from $130 to $75 as a way to celebrate the 50^th and make it a little kinder to everybody’s budgets in this recovering economy.

NOTE: We also have two other Mayberry prints by Dave Barnhouse…and they’re on sale, too!

 

I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry CD
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=301
by Rodney Dillard $16.00

This CD, released in Fall 2010, features Rodney Dillard singing lots of favorite Darlings tunes from “The Andy Griffith Show,” along with other popular Dillards tunes and some later songs about the Darlings. These are some classic bluegrass and Mayberry songs for any fan of, well, bluegrass and Mayberry.

Features 19 tracks and some bonus material. Ol’ Ben Weaver knows a toe-tappin’ good deal when he sees one!

TRACKS:
1. MAYBERRY MOMENT 2. THE DARLIN’ BOYS 3. THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD 4. THERE IS A TIME 5. WICKER ROCKING CHAIR 6. DOOLEY 7. DOUG’S TUNE (Instrumental) 8. SALTY DOG 9. EBO WALKER 10. THE MAYBERRY HAT	11. BANJO IN THE HOLLOW (Instrumental) 12. LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS 13. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW 14. WET SHOES IN THE SUNSET SUITE 15. LEAKY BOAT 16. G-MAN BARNEY 17. PICTURES 18. GOOBER AND ROY 19. PARENTING

Bonus Material: A Tribute to Mayberry Values
From the archives of the popular radio show “Mayberry Minute,” hosted by Rodney. The radio show ran nationally for three years as Rodney took a look back at “Andy Griffith Show” episodes and the life lessons they taught.

 

What Would Andy Do? T-Shirt
$18.00
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=302

This design on a preshrunk 100% cotton T-shirt in Carolina Blue poses the question whose answer will always get our attention. (Of course, we all already know the answer…”the right thing.”)

Sort of like a rebus puzzle or the old “Concentration” TV game show, this shirt might give passersby a slight pause before they break into a knowing grin and nods of agreement.

This is a shirt that makes a statement without ever saying (or even spelling!) a word.

 

50th Anniversary T-Shirt
$18.00
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=290

Can it really be 50 years? Shazam! This shirt has a classic image of Andy, Barney, Opie and Gomer on a heavyweight 100% preshrunk cotton shirt. The color of the shirt? Courthouse
Coffee, of course!

 

 

Limited Edition “The Andy Griffith Show” 50th Anniversary Portrait
$60.00 $40.00
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/catalog.php?item=259

What a beautiful way to remember the 50^th Anniversary of TAGS!  It has been hugely popular in the year since it was issued.  This beautiful print is sure to be a cherished lifetime keepsake marking this special time in the history of TAGS.  But more than a keepsake, it’s a superb work of art whose many smiling faces will bring an instant grin to the face of everyone who sees it.

Printed with premium inks on archival paper, this outstanding 12 in. x 16 in. collage pencil portrait is signed and numbered by talented Wilmington (N.C.) artist George Murray and officially licensed by CBS Consumer Products.  It’s limited to a maximum of 10,000 prints.

The suggested gallery price for this commemorative print is $60, but we’ve got it for just $40.

And More…

We have the first six seasons of “Matlock“ (the Sixth Season was released in January) along with all seasons of TAGS (including a Box Set with all eight seasons, the “Danny Thomas” pilot and the Return to Mayberry movie) and all five seasons of “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”

And we have a nice assortment of the best movies starring Andy Griffith and Don Knotts. They’re in the DVDs Section at Weaver’s.

Also, be sure to check out our Collectibles & Special Items at Weaver’s. There are some unique and rare items there that could make really special gifts or additions to your own collection. And we have a wide assortment of great licensed Mayberry products in the Cool Gifts section and throughout the Weaver’s shopping area at http://www.iMayberry.com.

 

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 to go fishin’ for carp and pike a lot, 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 online and by mail, respectively.

 

**** “Mayberry’s Finest” Update! ****

 

Mayberry’s Finest Brand Foods, the official food licensee of “The Andy Griffith Show,” has been busy with corporate dealings that will make the brand all the stronger going forward. But all those Man in a Hurry-types of efforts have caused a production delay in the much-anticipated Commemorative Gift Tin.

Still scheduled to be popping out of the oven sometime in the next few months, this gift tin will contain four of the most popular varieties of Mayberry’s Finest baking mixes, such as Peach Cobbler and Cinnamon Toast muffins. As a treat for fans of the show, the collectible tin will feature images of some of Mayberry’s most representative memorabilia.

And as a special feast for the ears, the gift tin will include the brand new CD of Mayberry tunes by the award-winning bluegrass band The Grascals (see description at the top of Merchandise Update above). Among the songs that will make you laugh is a tune they worked up just for this CD. It’s called “Boy, Giraffes Are Selfish.”

There’s still no definite production date yet for this special gift tin. If you’re among those who pre-ordered, we still have your orders ready to go (at your original pre-order price) just as soon as the tins become available. We think they’ll be worth the wait. Meanwhile, continue to ask for Mayberry’s Finest baking mixes wherever you shop for groceries.

.

**** Chapter News ****

 

Many of our chapters, especially in the Midwest and South, have simply been dodging storms and rising waters for most of the last month or so. Among the hardest hit areas was Tuscaloosa, Ala., home of our “Hearty Eatin’ Men and Beautiful, Delicate Women” chapter. As one Hearty Eatin’ member quipped, his house was damaged, but he wasn’t complaining because his kitchen was O.K.

The April tornadoes did cause the cancelation of the Eagles’ Wings banquet and auction, which many of our members and chapters support. There is no word yet about rescheduling the annual event.

Several chapters and members from five states were able to make it in the storm aftermath to the Salute to George at the University of North Alabama. Among those in attendance were members of that same “Hearty Eatin’ Men and Beautiful, Delicate Women,” “Mother Figure” (Huntsville, Ala.), “You Better Put a Buckeye in Your Pocket and Do the Incant for a Sore Foot” (Bessemer, Ala.), Mayberry Minutemen (Graysville, Ala.), Andy chapter (Nashville, Tenn.), “I Ain’t No Rockefeller” (Big Stone Gap, Va.) and Briscoe of Mayberry (Indianapolis, Ind.).

Earlier in the month, the first annual Mayberry Comes to Westminster event in Westminster, S.C., dealt with inclement weather of its own, but the sun and winds cooperated enough for a crowd of at least a couple of thousand to come out and enjoy the parade, assorted vendors, numerous tribute artists, the VW Boys and headliner Rodney Dillard. Lots of members and chapters from at least 10 states attended, including one of our newest chapters, “She’s Usually Good for 11 Hatfuls” (Summerville, S.C.) and chapters from as far away as Florida (Opie chapter in Orlando and “There He Goes!” from Cocoa) and Indiana (Briscoe of Mayberry in Indianapolis).

 

 

 

Mayberry chapter (Knoxville, Tenn.) continues to meet monthly and also publish Mayberry Minutes, its giant, color chapter newsletter, three times a year. Many of the chapter’s members were able to see Karen Knotts’ show in nearby Spring City in April.

Barney chapter (Greensboro, N.C.) is also continuing its monthly meetings. The chapter, TAGSRWC’s second oldest (after HQ’s Andy chapter in Nashville), was founded in 1982.

They began having regular monthly meetings after Neal Brower and students from his first Mayberry class joined the chapter in May 1991. They’re celebrating the 20^th Anniversary of that milestone in the chapter’s history at their meeting this month. They’ve been a powerhouse chapter for 20 years as they have hosted and organized large cast reunions and participated substantially in every Mayberry Days each September. They’ve done Barney proud.

 

It is with the greatest sadness that we report the passing of Ricky Carnes, one of our most active and popular members and chapter leaders. He passed away on April 13. He was 61.

Ricky and wife Jeffrey were founders of the Mayberry Squad Car chapter of Canton, Ga. A beloved couple among fellow Mayberry fans, Ricky and Jeffrey have attended most Mayberry events in the Southeast and Midwest during the last 15 years or so. Ricky’s replica of the Mayberry squad car was often judged by other squad car owners as Best of Show. His car had signatures of most TAGS stars who had participated in events during the late 1990s and beyond. And his squad car is the only one known to have a signature of Andy Griffith, whom Ricky also drove in his car at the 2003 dedication of the TV Land Landmark statue in Raleigh.

 

 

 

But enough about Ricky’s great car (he also owned a General Lee from “The Dukes of Hazzard”). Ricky was simply a tremendous friend with a huge heart and a true gusto for life. He lived wide open. He loved his family and doted on his six grandchildren.

Ricky’s favorite movie was the Wyatt Earp movie Tombstone, especially Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday character. He loved Doc’s famous line from the film: “I’m your Huckleberry.” And that Ricky surely was to so many of us.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with Jeffrey and all of the Carnes family.

 

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

 

Two Chairs, No Waiting Internet Radio Show http://www.iMayberry.com/podcasts is TAGSRWC’s weekly podcast hosted by Allan Newsome, our webmaster.

Two Chairs, No Waiting has TAGS news, interviews and pretty much whatever happens to be going on in and around Mayberry. There’s a new episode every Tuesday and also an Archives in case you want to listen to episodes you’ve missed. (There have been more than 11 dozen episodes so far!) We think you’ll find these podcasts creative, fun and informative. 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.

 

And there’s also 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 recently celebrated its first year! So far, more than 7,000 friends have joined our Facebook group, which you can find at www.facebook.com/tagsrwc. We hope you’ll check out our Facebook page and be a part of helping it grow and spreading the word about Mayberry news and activities by becoming a fan with TAGSRWC. Drop by when you have a chance and say, “Hey!”

 

**** Answers to Miss Crump’s Mayberry Quiz #80 ****

Miss Crump got a good effort from most of her pupils on this quiz (can’t you see how pleased she is above?!). But when the dust settled, only two pupils got all of the answers right. And they were two of her star pupils, both from Tennessee. Chris Ingle of Tazewell and Dennis “King of Mayberry” Beal of Mayberry chapter in Knoxville.

Rather than draw a name from a hat to select just one winner (we hate to see Dennis pout like Opie when he doesn’t get his medal!), Miss Crump is awarding a prize for learning to both Chris and Dennis. Congratulations, boys! Each gets his choice of an item at Weaver’s priced at $25 or less (Miss Crump is on a teacher’s salary, after all). Here are the questions and the answers we were looking for. (Dennis typed up his answers so nicely that we’re using his responses.)

 

1. Using visual detective methods employed by someone as keen as Barney Fife, what are two topics most likely discussed on page 79 of one of the textbooks used in Miss Crump’s classroom?

Addition and Subtraction (the answer is visible on the blackboard when “Andy Discovers America”…and in the photo above, which also was the photo that accompanied the quiz questions in the last issue!)

2. Name two principals at a school where Miss Crump is a teacher.

Mr. Hampton (“The Senior Play”) and John Tracy (“Big Brother”)

3. Name a head of the school board in Mayberry.

Mr. Lockridge (“Helen’s Past”)

4. Who once “got a rude” in Miss Crump’s classroom?

Ernest T. Bass (“The Education of Ernest T Bass”)

5. What does Goober say makes more noise than Mr. Wilson’s fan belt?

Ice crusher that Aunt Bee won on “Win or Lose” game show (“Aunt Bee on TV”)

BONUS: Name four distinct occurrences of the number 44 in Mayberry, or distinct references to the number 44 by or to Mayberry residents. (In other words, not the same basic reference to 44 being mentioned several times.)

1. Opie’s scout troop number (“Dinner at Eight”)
2. The winning number everyone except Henry Bennett pulled out of the bowl to win the TV at the church social (“The Jinx”)
3. Television game show “Win or Lose” host Jack Smith’s age (“Aunt Bee on TV”)
4. Newton Monroe told Andy he looked like he was 44 years old (“The Luck of Newton Monroe”)

 

After only one quiz since returning from her loooong sabbatical, Miss Crump is skipping out on us again. Well, maybe not skipping. We doubt Old Lady Crump ever skips! But she is taking an early summer break. How long she’s gone this time is anybody’s guess. Until she returns, happy studying (that is, watching TAGS episodes!).

 

**** 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 has its own 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: Weaver’s Newsletter Sign-Up

TAGSRWC’s other main vehicle for Mayberry information is simply our Web site 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 early July, with the next Weaver’s Newsletter planned for early June.

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