Newsletter February/March. 2009|
Newsletter February/March. 2009 |
****
Merchandise Update ****
Ol’ Ben Weaver is doing his
best to get the American economy humming again, and to keep folks
employed by keeping his store stocked with all the best of Mayberry.
The way Ben figures it, if everybody bought just
one of his products, the economy would be just fine.
Well, at least for ol’ Ben, that is.
But he does have some nice things, his orneriness not
withstanding.
For example, this month Ben has a stimulus
package of four super new T-shirt designs that are sure to spruce up
any Mayberry wardrobe. Summer
will be here before you know it, and you know you’re going to want a
cool new Mayberry T-shirt or two for those hot summer days.
And browse the complete lineup of items at Weaver’s
Dept. Store at http://www.mayberry.com.
* Four New T-shirt
Designs for 2009!
https://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=3
We have four brand new T-shirt designs in the
Apparel Section of Weaver’s. All
are available in adult sizes Small to 2X-Large.
They’re $17 each and made of sturdy 100% preshrunk cotton. We think they add good fun
to our lineup of licensed Mayberry T-shirts!
Here’s a quick look at the four new designs:
Floyd’s Barbershop
Re-Elect Deputy Barney Fife
Mayberry Trio
Mayberry Whistlers
And the Apparel Section
of Weaver’s has sweatshirts, Goober beanies, and more than 20 designs
of T-shirts (most available in
Adult sizes Medium through 2X, and several also available in Small).
* The
Incredible Mr. Don Knotts $27.00
$22.00
Available at a
Really Nice Discount!
https://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=26
This oversized 320-page hardcover book
(coffee-table style) is compiled by Steve Cox and Kevin
Marhanka. The thoroughly researched book has lots of
interviews with people who worked with Don Knotts and has more than 200
photos, including a 16-page section of color photos.
It’s a great gift for any
Barney Fife and Don Knotts fan to give or receive. And best
of all, we’ve got it for $5.00 off the cover price right out of the
gate!
As Barney himself said, “Aw, big ain’t the word for
it!”
* And Weaver’s also has nice deals on these great DVDs of favorite Don Knotts movies—the ideal accompaniment to this fascinating book about Don’s film career:
*
Don Knotts 4-Movie Reluctant Hero DVD Pack $29.00
https://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=73
Featuring The Ghost
and Mr. Chicken, The Reluctant Astronaut, The
Shakiest Gun in the West and The Love God?
This super Hero collection of four classic Don Knotts movies
from the 1960s on DVD is hard to beat. You get all four
movies for a nice price that even cost-conscious Barney Fife
would jump at.
* The Incredible Mr. Limpet
DVD $16.00
https://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=73
This classic film starring Don
Knotts and featuring the voice of Elizabeth MacRae
is a wonderfully entertaining and innovative use of animation and live
action. Includes introduction by Don Knotts and other special
features.
* “Gomer Pyle
U.S.M.C.” DVDs
https://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=91*
The final season (the fifth) of “Gomer
Pyle, U.S.M.C.” is now available. We also
carry the other four seasons. And we have a brand new Box
Set of All Five Seasons of “Gomer Pyle,” too.
Individual seasons are $32.00 each (vs. a list price of
$40.00). The Five-Season Box set is just $145.00 (vs. a list
price of $190.00). Shazam indeed!
* 2009
Andy Griffith Show Wall
Calendar $14.00
https://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=44
This 2009 edition of “The Andy Griffith Show”
Wall Calendar turns back the clock and has all
black-and-white photos, all of which are also from the black-and-white
seasons (1960-65).
There’s a nice variety of
Mayberry characters in this calendar. In addition to Andy,
Barney, Aunt Bee, Opie, and Gomer, there are photos of Goober, Floyd,
Fun Girl Daphne, and even Mr. McBeevee. Several of these
photos have never before been published.
We have just a few left this year.
Also, if you haven’t
gotten your “highly collectible” 2008 Wall Calendar, we still have some
left, including in a special combo offer with this
2009 calendar for only $22.00.
* Otis
the Artist’s Grab-Bag of Mayberry Art $25.00
https://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?maincat=16
This special Grab-Bag,
inspired by Otis and his artistic efforts with mosaics, pieces together
several collectible Mayberry items that will add beauty and
grace to any wall in home or office...or courthouse cell!
Each of Otis’s Grab-Bags contains at
least the following:
* 1 Officially Licensed Large Limited Edition
Lithograph of Barney Sipping Soda by artist Brad Keim
* 1 2008 “Andy Griffith Show” Wall Calendar (now a
collectible)
* 2 Oversized Mayberry event posters
* 1 Portrait of Otis (8 x 10)
All proceeds (not just the
profits, but 100% of the $25 price) are going toward our annual support
of the Surry Arts Council and its Mayberry Days festival in September
in
https://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?category=7
This tie is out of production,
so it’s now even more of a collectible. We unexpectedly
received one last small shipment from the licensed
manufacturer. We’ve got just those few left, and
then that’ll be it for this popular fashion statement.
This silk necktie features
Barney in black and white (it therefore coordinates with any
outfit). Anyone who wears this tie is guaranteed to look
suave and worldly. Wear it with the old salt and pepper and
it’ll be just right for the dips. Made with fine
silk from the Orient.
And
we also have several classic, out-of-print Mayberry books, including Inside
Mayberry, The Official Andy Griffith Show
Scrapbook, Mayberry My Hometown, and
Aunt Bee’s Mealtime in Mayberry.
(Those last two titles are in especially pristine condition and even
still in their original shrink wrap from their publishers!)
**** First One
Thing and Then Another ****
Whether you’re looking for a
Mayberry T-shirt
(or for winter, maybe a sweatshirt), a felt Goober
beanie for your noggin, something Mayberry
for your car, decorative wooden building
fronts, Mayberry-related DVDs and CDs,
artwork
(including some autographed pieces), books,
board
games and even Barney Fife thermometers
and light
switch covers, we’ve got most things Mayberry online at
Weaver’s. Drop by and have a look around. (We
probably even have that special Mayberry item that Santa might not have
remembered to put on his sleigh this year.)
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.
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.
NOTE: This order number does
not ring to TAGSRWC HQ, so you shouldn’t call this number
with questions about general fan club operations, trivia or various
events, etc., but only to place an order by phone or
inquire about orders placed by phone.
A
Sad Loss for Weaver’s and Mayberry
Ruth
Spencer 1930-2009
Weaver’s and the Mayberry community at large lost
one of our most beloved, nicest, and most talented friends on February
19. That’s the day
that Ruth Spencer died at the age
of 78.
Many Mayberry fans got to know Ruth through her
attending many events that were reasonably reachable by car from her
home in
Ruth (or ‘Aunt R” as she didn’t seem to mind our
taking the liberty to call her) also had a special connection to
Weaver’s. She is
the person who lovingly made hundreds of the felt Goober beanies that
we’ve sold over the years. One
of our all-time most popular items at Weaver’s, these beanies have
found a home on happy heads from
Ruth was one of those people who made you feel
instantly at ease with her happy demeanor.
You could tell that she genuinely enjoyed life, was
grateful for her blessings, and was secure in her faith and the love
she shared with family and friends.
Ruth
Spencer with Howard Morris at Mayberry in
the
Midwest in
What some of us didn’t know until after she passed
away was that she was an instructor for airborne radar repairmen at
Keesler Air Force Base in
Ruth has left a permanent hug in the memories of
all who knew her. And
recipients of Goober beanies from Weaver’s also now know that they have
much more than a Goober-style cover for their heads.
They have a heartfelt piece of craftsmanship made by a
very special person.
In addition to son Gary, Ruth Spencer is survived
by another son, their wives, four grandchildren, a brother, three
sisters, and many nieces and nephews.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
2009
*
Mar. 5-8: 12th Annual George
Lindsey UNA Film Festival in
* Mar. 7: Mayberry Comes to
Grace Fellowship 2, featuring David "Mayberry
Deputy" Browning, Allan "Floyd" Newsome, and other Mayberry
tribute artists and entertainment, from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. For more info, call 561-333-4222, ext.
232.
* Apr. 25: David Browning entertains at
the Talent
Show fundraiser at
*Apr. 30 and May
1: Mayberry-Themed Fundraiser for Eagles'
Wings featuring a golf tournament including
celebrities on Thurs. and a Dinner, Auction, and Mayberry Show in the
Zone at Bryant-Denny Stadium in
* May 13: It's going to be BIG
when David Browning patrols the Small Business Expo
in
* May 29: Get ready to rumble
when David Browning rolls into the Salem Avalanche
baseball game in
* May 30: Relax and enjoy yourself while
David Browning is on patrol at the Clinch River Festival
in
*June 3: Don't dare miss David Browning
at the DARE
Graduation in
* June 6: Yoo-hoo! Do you know
who should see David Browning at the Jane Lew Celebration
in Jane Lew, W.V. ? You, that's who!
* June 25: We don't know whether he'll be
a pinch hitter or whether he'll be crawling the bases, but David
Browning will be at the Blue Crabs
baseball game today in Waldorf, Md.
*
July
11: 9th Annual Mayberry Squad Car Nationals
and 5th
Annual "Mayberry Comes to Graysville"
festival in
*
July
18 and 19: Smoky Mountain Fan Fest featuring James Best and other
members of the “Dukes of Hazzard” cast, at Smokies Stadium in
*
Aug. 8: Maggie Peterson Mancuso joins two of her TV brothers, Doug Dillard
and Rodney
Dillard, and their band for a performance
at the Third
Annual Mayberry in Troy, a fundraiser for
the Montgomery County DARE program in 
* Sept. 24-27: 20th Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C. Details TBA, but tickets are available online now for certain parts of the festival at http://www.surryarts.org.
* Oct. 12-17:
A
Cruise to Mayberry 4 This year's
cruise is a 5-day version and it's a relaxing, fun time for
all. Being on the cruise is a bit like sitting on Andy's
front porch and watching the traffic on the road--only there's no road
and no traffic, just the waves and a breeze Visit the website
for information and links
to photos from previous Mayberry cruises.
****
News of Cast & Crew ****
Andy Griffith
read a poem written by his wife Cindi for the inauguration of North
Carolina Governor Bev Perdue on Jan. 10. It was a big hit
with the thousands gathered for the occasion. 
Frost / Nixon, the latest film directed by Ron Howard, has been receiving great reviews, has many award nominations and several wins and is doing well at the box office. Among the award nominations were ones for Best Director and Best Picture Oscars.
Look quick in Frost/Nixon
and you can spot Rance Howard as Ollie, a
photographer at the White House. And Clint Howard
has a nice part as the Lloyd, the floor director for David
Frost’s interviews with Richard Nixon.
Also, Ron’s Angels
& Demons, the sequel to The Da Vinci Code
that stars Tom Hanks, has a release date set for May 15. And
Ron is producing a planned Arrested Development
movie, which he might also direct. (Yeah, but he might not.)
 Ron and Cheryl Howard on Oscars weekend |
 Ron
Howard on the set with Angels & Demons stars Ayelet Zurer and
Tom Hanks.
|
George
Lindsey has been in the
studio for some voiceover dubbing for a TV pilot he shot with Ray
Stevens. There’s no word yet on when the pilot might be made
available for viewing.
Betty Lynn reports that
she’s doing fine and is wintering well in
TAGS associate producer and
personal manager Richard O. “Dick” Linke and wife
Bettina became proud grandparents for the third time with the arrival
of Elle Marie, daughter of their daughter Bettina Marie and her husband
earlier this month.
We’re sad to report the
passing of legendary actor Pat Hingle, who died
Jan.3, at his home in 
Though he was a star of
Broadway, more than 50 movies (including four as Commissioner Gordon in
Batman movies, three with Clint Eastwood, and several Oscar nominees
and winners), and about 200 hundred TV segments, Mayberry fans remember
his colorful portrayal of Fred Gibson in “Wyatt Earp Rides Again”
(Episode #179).
His refrain of, “The man who can fight
is the man who is right” still echoes through Mayberry.” Pat
Hingle himself was a fighter, in both World II and the Korean War.
Martin Patterson Hingle was born in
Pat Hingle is survived by his
wife Julia, three children from his first marriage, two stepchildren,
and two sisters.
****
POST NOTE ****
Between issues of the Weaver’s
Newsletter, keep up with the goin’s-on in Mayberry with the
more-or-less daily “Who’s Been Messin’ Up the Bulletin Board?”
Digest. It’s a free subscriber list that
consists entirely of comments, news flashes, and questions and answers
from subscribers. You can sign up for that list by going to
the “Mailing Lists” link at https://www.tagsrwc.com/.
TAGSRWC also publishes The
eBullet in more or less alternate months to the Weaver’s
Newsletter. The eBullet is the
online successor to our longtime printed newsletter, The
Bullet. Like the Weaver’s Newsletter,
The eBullet is free.
It includes some of the same news as the Weaver’s Newsletter,
but with more features and depth and a little less emphasis on
merchandise news. To sign up, go to https://www.tagsrwc.com/ebullet/joinebullet.htm.
TAGSRWC’s other main vehicle for Mayberry
information is simply our Web site at http://www.tagsrwc.com.
It has extensive content and links for just about everything a Mayberry
fan might be looking for.
The next issue of Weaver’s
Newsletter is scheduled for late April (with an eBullet
coming out in late March or early April).
That’s all for now.
We hope you have fun browsing at Weaver’s and visiting http://www.mayberry.com.
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