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Liberty Grove Press LLC

We are an independent publisher of books, calendars, magazines, and gift items related to "The Andy Griffith Show." We are determined to change that.

We have long felt there are not enough books written on the classic series.

02/12/2026

We have just learned that we have lost another Mayberry family member. Yvonne Lime passed away on January 23. Yvonne played a flight attendant—or as they were called back in the day, a stewardess—on the Taylors’ flight to Hollywood. Yvonne acted for a dozen years. During the 1960-1961 season, she notably appeared in two lesser-known series: “Bringing Up Buddy,” on which she played a recurring character, and “Happy,” in which she co-starred. Yvonne is probably best remembered as the recurring character Dotty Snow in the popular series “Father Knows Best” (1956-1959). The character Dotty was a friend of Betty Anderson, who was played by Elinor Donahue. Yvonne’s best remembered film role is likely as Arlene Logan, the girlfriend of Michael Landon’s title character in “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” (1957). She also appeared in the Elvis film “Loving You” (1957) and in “High School Hellcats” (1958). After marrying “My Three Sons” producer Don Fedderson, Yvonne left acting and devoted herself to philanthropy for children, establishing orphanages internationally and advocating on behalf of abused and neglected children in the U.S.

01/22/2026

We have lost another member of our Mayberry family. Bruce Bilson passed away on January 16 at the age of 97. Bruce served as the Assistant Director for the first two seasons of “The Andy Griffith Show” (1960-1962). He was there early to help shape the series we love so much and has been very supportive of Mayberry events, even attending Mayberry Days on a couple of occasions. Bruce began as an AD on “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp” (1957-1958). He moved into the director’s position beginning with eleven episodes of “The Patty Duke Show” (1965-1966). He directed 22 episodes of “Get Smart” (1965-1968), winning an Emmy in 1968 for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy for one of the episodes. He was also nominated for a Director’s Guild of America Award in 1972 for an episode of “The Odd Couple,” a series on which he directed half a dozen episodes. A proficient and in-demand director, he worked on more than 100 series and projects, with the most episodes directed being on the series “Hogan’s Heroes” (25 episodes, 1967-1971), “Love, American Style” (21 episodes, 1969-1971), “Hotel” (17 episodes, 1983-1987), and “Dinosaurs” (17 episodes, 1991-1993). He also directed several films, including “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” (1984) starring Barbara Eden.

Bruce is part of a long Hollywood family tradition. His father was a producer/writer/director (including producing 36 episodes of “Captain Midnight” in the mid-50s) and his mother a screenwriter (including several of the RKO “Pal” shorts). Bruce is married to the retired television actress Renee Jarrett, who was the lead character, Nancy Smith Hudson, in the series “Nancy” (1970-1971) and appeared in numerous series and TV movies. His children are also involved in the industry, with his son being the creator of the fondly remembered original live-action series “The Flash” (1990-1991) and the screenwriter of “The Rocketeer” (1991), and his daughter the producer of the Oscar-winning documentary, “The Fog of War” (2003). His granddaughter is Rachel Bilson, the beautiful actress who played Summer Roberts on “The O.C.” (2003-2007) and Dr. Zoe Hart on “The Hart of Dixie” (2011-2015).

On a personal note, I spoke with Bruce just two weeks ago to confirm something for an upcoming article in my fanzine, “The Andy Griffith Show Ambassadors Magazine.” He still sounded as sharp as ever.

He will definitely be missed.

12/15/2025

Sadly, we have lost another member of our Mayberry family. Rob Reiner passed away yesterday. Rob appeared in the last episode of Season 7 as Joe, an apprentice printer who printed slips of paper with prize amounts or the phrase “Better luck next time” for a contest Goober held to try to drum up business for the filling station. Rob also appeared on three episodes of “Gomer Pyle, USMC” (1967 and ’69). The son of the legendary Carl Reiner, Rob was, of course, an acclaimed actor, writer, producer, and director. As an actor, he is best known for playing Archie Bunker’s son-in-law Michael “Meathead” Stivick on “All in the Family” (1971-1978), for which he won two Emmy Awards. He wrote for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” (1967-1968), co-wrote the first episode of “Happy Days” (1974), and co-wrote “This Is Spinal Tap” (1984), which was also his feature-film directorial debut. He has directed more than two dozen films, including “The Princess Bride” (1987), “When Harry Met Sally…” (1989), and “The American President” (1995), all of which are ranked in the American Film Institute’s list of the top 100 love stories in film history. He directed many other well-received films, including “Stand by Me” (1986), “Misery” (1990), and “Ghosts of Mississippi” (1996). Rob credited Carroll O’Connor and Jim Nabors as his best acting mentors and friends

03/26/2025

Today in Mayberry History - March 27. Mary Treen was born on this date in 1907. She was in the first scene of “The Andy Griffith Show” as Rose, Andy and Opie’s previous housekeeper, who was leaving to marry, resulting in Aunt Bee coming to live with them. Mary played another character in Mayberry later in the same season. She was Clara Lindsey, a supporter of Ellie Walker when Ellie ran for council and the woman who started the gossip chain that led to people thinking Barney had accidentally shot himself in the chest and died. Mary began her performing career as a vaudeville dancer, teaming up with a shorter partner in an act billed as “Treen and Barnett: Two Unsophisticated Vassar Co-eds.” She began acting in films in 1930. While she appeared in more than 40 movies, she may be best remembered as Tilly, the cousin of Jimmy Stewart’s character in “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946). On television, Mary is probably best known on TV as Hilda, the maid and baby caregiver in “The Joey Bishop Show” (1962-1965). She married late in life and, after her husband died, eventually moved in with her former vaudeville dancing partner, who was also widowed. Mary passed away in 1989.

03/25/2025

Today in Mayberry History - March 25. Malcolm Merriweather first appeared in Mayberry on this date in 1963 in “Andy’s English Valet.”

03/24/2025

Today in Mayberry History - March 24. Gene Nelson was born on this date in 1920. Gene directed two Mayberry episodes in a row during the fifth season: “Goodbye, Sheriff Taylor” and “The Pageant.” Early in his entertainment career, Gene was a dancer, receiving a Theater World Award for his first Broadway role in “Lend an Ear.” He played Will Parker in the film musical “Oklahoma!” (1955), the acting role for which he is best known. After his dancing career ended he turned to directing. In addition to his directorial work on “The Andy Griffith Show,” Gene directed many other TV episodes, including 21 of “The Donna Reed Show” (1962-1965) and 18 of “The Mod Squad” (1968-1971). He directed episodes of “The Rifleman” (1961-1962), “I Dream of Jeannie” (1965), and “Star Trek” (1968). Gene directed the Elvis films “Kissin’ Cousins” (1964) and “Harum Scarum” (1965) and also wrote the screenplay for “Kissin’ Cousins” for which he was nominated for a Writer’s Guild of America Award. Gene passed away in 1996.

03/23/2025

Today in Mayberry History - March 23. Lillian Culver was born on the date in 1896. Lillian appeared only once in “The Andy Griffith Show” in a brief but important appearance. She played Barney’s mother, whom Barney insisted on frisking at a roadblock. She does not fit the description of having a slight build that Barney always gave of her in later episodes. After giving up an unsuccessful career as an aspiring silent film actress for marriage, Lillian returned to acting and found success with dozens of appearances in films and TV episodes over a 13-year career she did not begin until the age of 56. She appeared most often in “The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna” (5 episodes between 1956 and ’60); in the role for which she is probably best-remembered, the recurring character Mrs. Schooner in “Dennis the Menace” (7 episodes, 1959-1963); and in “My Favorite Martian” (3 episodes, 1964-1965). Her last episode of “My Favorite Martian” was also her last role. Lillian was married to real-estate developer Harry Culver, for whom Culver City is named and which was home to the 40 Acres backlot where Mayberry exteriors were filmed. Lillian passed away in 1999.

03/22/2025

Today in Mayberry History - March 22. James Westerfield was born on this date in 1913. James played the know-it-all Uncle Ollie, married to Aunt Bee’s younger sister, Nora. James was heavily involved in theater both on and off Broadway, winning two Drama Desk Awards for his acting. He directed numerous theater productions, many produced outdoors. Usually playing tough, blue collar characters, he is best remembered as an actor as “Big Mac” with Marlon Brando in the classic “On the Waterfront” (1954). He played similar, dumbstruck characters who witnessed the incredible incidents in a string of Disney comedy films: “The Shaggy Dog” (1959), “The Absent Minded Professor” (1961) and “Son of Flubber” (1963). James died of a heart attack in 1971 at the age of 58.

03/21/2025

Today in Mayberry History - March 21. Happy National Flower Day! While there are lots of examples, a favorite has to be when, after everyone else had left for the dance, Gomer returned with a “cor-sage” for Mary Grace. “It wouldn’t be right for you, Mary Grace, to go to the dance unadorned.”

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