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12/17/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 17. George Lindsey, everyone’s favorite Goober, was born on this date in 1929. George will, of course, always be remembered as playing Goober Pyle in “The Andy Griffith Show” and its spinoff “Mayberry R.F.D.” George continued to play, in essence, the same character for years on “Hee Haw” and brought laughter to so many. Originally, George was cast as the character of Gomer Pyle until Andy Griffith discovered Jim Nabors performing at a nightclub. Shortly thereafter, he was offered the part of Dud Wash but turned it down, hoping for something better, a move that definitely paid off. George passed away in 2012.

12/16/2024

This is a nice promo by the Fitton Center about my next speaking appearance.

West Chester, Ohio - When little Opie Taylor chucked a rock toward the pond on his way to the fishing hole with his Pa, few could have imagined the ripples continuing 65 years later.The fact 6-year-old Ronny Howard’s toss never actually reached the water in the opening credits of “The Andy Griff...

12/16/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 16. Seeing Gomer actually get angry was not exactly a common sight in Mayberry—but see it we did in “Citizen’s Arrest,” which first aired on this date in 1963. “You just go up an alley and holler, ‘Fish!’”

12/15/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 15. Michael Ross was born on this date in 1911. Michael played Al, “Fun Girl” Daphne’s boyfriend, who they ran into at the Tip Top Cafe, thanks to Barney tricking Andy into going. Michael made his debut in both films and television in 1949 with uncredited roles in three movies and an appearance in “The Lone Ranger. ” He made the most appearances in “The Red Skelton Hour,” where he was seen 13 times between 1952 and 1971. Michael died in 1993.

12/14/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 14. Bernard Fox passed away on this date in 2016. Bernard played Malcolm Merriweather, an Englishman touring America by bicycle. A gentleman’s gentleman by training, he helped out the Taylor household while in town, though not always to everyone’s satisfaction. Over a 46-year career, Bernard amassed well over 100 appearances in film and television. He appeared in both “Titanic” (1997) and an earlier film about the sinking, “A Night to Remember” (1958). He played recurring characters on “The Danny Thomas Show” and “Hogan’s Heroes” but was likely best known as Dr. Bombay on “Bewitched.”

12/13/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 13. Happy World Violin Day! A violin was first seen in “The Andy Griffith Show” in the episode “Mayberry on Record,” when Mr. Maxwell came through Mayberry to record regional music for a proposed album. One of the townsmen played a fiddle for the album that was later released as “Music from Mayberry.”

12/12/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 12. “Ellie for Council” first aired on this date in 1960. At first, Andy, along with all the men, was against Ellie Walker running for town council. That is, until he heard Opie parroting his chauvinistic comments and realized he was wrong.

12/07/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 7. “The Darling Baby” first aired on this date in 1964. The episode marked the fifth appearance of the Darling family but only the fourth of Charlene since she did not come down out of the hills and wasn’t at the cabin when Briscoe declared for Aunt Bee.

12/06/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 6. Frances Bavier passed away on this date in 1989 just over a week before her 87th birthday and just a few years after the TV movie “Return to Mayberry” aired without her involvement. Frances passed away in Siler City, North Carolina, a town often mentioned on “The Andy Griffith Show.” She moved there when she retired after buying a large house sight unseen. Fans often leave jars of pickles on her grave which is also in Siler City.

12/05/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 5. “A Feud Is a Feud” first aired on this date in 1960. The same cabin was used for both the feuding families, filming both the front and back so it would appear to be different cabins. The structure was built near the reservoir in Franklin Canyon where Andy and Opie were filmed walking in the series’ opening credits.

12/04/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 4. Isabel Randolph was born on this date in 1889. Isabel played both Mrs. Bixby of the Women’s Historical Society who came to Mayberry to give a plaque to the descendant of Nathan Tibbs (aka Otis) and Mrs. Jeffries who was concerned that Rafe Hollister look presentable when performing at the Ladies League musicale. Isabel played Mrs. Abigail Uppington on the “Fibber McGee and Molly” radio series during the 1930s and ’40s and eventually specialized in similar snooty roles. One of her most remembered roles was the recurring character of Rob Petrie’s mother, Clara, on “The Dick Van D**e Show.” Isabel passed away in 1973.

12/03/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 3. Sally Mansfield was born on this date in 1923. Sally played Miss Fenwick, the receptionist of J. Howard Jackson, the unscrupulous newspaper publisher who became bent on revenge against Andy. In a color episode, Sally played Stella, a female criminal who, along with an accomplice, attempted to steal items from the traveling State Mobile Museum. Sally occasionally played small or bit parts in films, including as Miss Herok, the script supervisor, in the Jerry Lewis hit “The Errand Boy” (1961). She was busier in the television realm and is best remembered as Vena Ray, the female lead in the 1954 children’s TV show “Rocky Jones, Space Ranger.” Sally passed away in 2001.

12/02/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 2. Bill Erwin was born on this date in 1914. Billed as William Erwin in “The Andy Griffith Show,” Bill played George Sapperly, who agreed to discuss selling his gas station in town to Ed Sawyer. A few episodes later, he was an investor in a possible record being recorded in Mayberry. Bill had a long career as a character actor with over 250 television and film credits. On television, he is probably best known for a role later in his life. He played the embittered retiree Sid Fields paired with Jerry through the “Foster-a-Grandpa” program in an episode of “Seinfeld” for which he received an Emmy nomination in 1993. His best-known film role is likely that of Arthur, a bellhop in the Christopher Reeves film “Somewhere in Time” (1980). In addition to his extensive character acting, Bill was a lauded self-taught cartoonist who had cartoons published in “The New Yorker” and “Playboy.” Bill passed away at the age of 96 in 2010.

12/02/2024

Today in Mayberry History - December 1. Happy Birthday to Keith Thibodeaux, the actor born on this date in 1950 and whom we in Mayberry remember as Johnny Paul Jason. Keith was billed as Richard Keith as a child and actually played a different character in his initial appearance in “The Andy Griffith Show.” In that first episode, he was Carter French, one of Opie’s friends who fell under the bad influence of the new kid in town, Steve Quincy. But with his next appearance in Mayberry and from then on, he was Johnny Paul. In addition to this memorable role, Keith was little Ricky Ricardo on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” In fact, he was given the stage name “Richard Keith” by Desi Arnez. Keith had begun playing drums when only two years old and auditioned for the role of little Ricky the next year. He did do some other acting as a child but he is best known for the Lucy shows and “The Andy Griffith Show.”

11/30/2024

Today in Mayberry History - November 30. The Emmy-winning actor Richard “Dick” Crenna was born on this date in 1926. While more widely known for his acting, Dick directed eight episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show,” including the classics “A Date for Gomer” and “Citizen’s Arrest.” He also directed “Opie the Birdman,” an episode that consistently ranks at or near the top of fan’s favorite episodes. Dick got his start in radio when he was only 11 years old and continued playing squeaky-voiced teenagers until he was nearly 30! His best-known role in radio was as Walter Jenkins in the radio series “Our Miss Brooks,” a role he also played in a movie version and a television version. His best-remembered work in a comedy was as Luke McCoy in “The Real McCoys,” the series on which he also first directed. He is probably best remembered as Colonel Sam Trautman, a grizzled Army officer called in to sooth the title character in the Rambo movies. Dick passed away in 2004 while still an active actor.

11/29/2024

Today in Mayberry History - November 29. Happy National Square Dance Day! Little Leon (though he wasn’t named Leon yet) was first seen in the series at a square dance in “The Jinx” on January 29, 1962.

11/29/2024

11/28/2024

Today in Mayberry History - November 28. Don Knotts always found it draining to act as high-strung and manic as Barney often was and so had in his contract that he would get the occasional episode off. “Opie’s Charity,” which first aired on this date in 1960, was the first episode in which Barney did not appear.