Mayberry Memories: The Andy Griffith Show Photo Album

MAYBERRY

MEMORIES

The Andy Griffith Show Photo Album

KEN BECK and JIM CLARK

Dedicated to the cast,

production crew, and

writers of

The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show and all related elements TM & © 2000 by Mayberry Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Additional material and compilation copyright 2000 by Ken Beck and Jim Clark

Photographs from Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. courtesy of Ashford Productions

Photographs from Mayberry, R.F.D. courtesy of RFD Productions

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published by Rutledge Hill Press, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.,

P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, Tennessee 37214.

Rutledge Hill Press books may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email [email protected].

Design by Harriette Bateman, Bateman Design.

Library of Congress-in-Publication Data

Beck, Ken, 1951–

Mayberry memories: the Andy Griffith show photo album /

by Ken Beck and Jim Clark

p. cm.

ISBN 1-55853-830-5 (Hardcover)

ISBN 1-4016-0124-3 (Paperback)

1. Andy Griffith show (Television program)--Pictorial works. I. Clark, Jim, 1960– II. Title.

PN1992.77.A573B43 2000       00-055260

791.45’72--dc21                       CIP

Printed in the United States of America

05 06 07 08 09 10 QW 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

IN THE BEGINNING

The Pilot and Season One (1960–1961)

HITTING FULL STRIDE

Season Two (1961–1962)

NEW FACES IN THE CROWD

Season Three (1962–1963)

STAYING THE COURSE

Season Four (1963–1964)

CAPPING A LANDMARK ERA

Season Five (1964–1965)

COLORFUL TIMES

Season Six (1965–1966)

CONTINUING ADVENTURES

Season Seven (1966–1967)

OVER THE RAINBOW

Season Eight (1967–1968)

MORE MAYBERRY

Other Legacies: Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Mayberry R.F.D., and Return to Mayberry

SERIES GUIDE

Episode Summaries

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The compilation of this book has been a collaborative effort by more than a hundred people who share a particular devotion to The Andy Griffith Show. The comments from more than five dozen members of the cast and production crew and from writers for the show are cited throughout the book and represent one of its two main components. We give our heartfelt thanks to all who took time to share their thoughts and feelings for this book.

The book’s other dominant component is its photographs, most of which have never been published in a book and many of which have been published only once or not at all in any form. Many of the photographs have been shared by the actors, crew, and writers for the show. Their contributions are credited with each photograph.

We give special thanks to several photographic archives, collectors, and fans whose enthusiasm, knowledge, and generosity have allowed this book to present a truly remarkable collection of photographs. We are grateful to Jason Gilmore and Jim Schwenke of the Gilmore-Schwenke Archives for permitting this book to be the first published appearance of several of the spectacular photographs from their exceptional collection. We also thank David Lombard of the CBS Photo Archive for his unsurpassed professionalism and assistance with our use of several exquisite photographs (again, most never before published) from the CBS collection.

Other collectors who have shared some extraordinary photographs from their extensive collections are Phil Bowling (who also helped tremendously with key research), Bart Boatwright, Joel Rasmussen, Steve Cox, and Joshua Kessler at TV Guide.

Further assistance with photographs was offered by Beverly Sweeney, Bridget Sweeney, Earle Hagen, Aaron Ruben, Richard O. Linke, Ronald Jacobs, Mary Dodson, Maydale McQuain, Art Baer, Bill Idelson, Harvey Bullock, LeRoy Mack McNees, Roland White, Jeffrey Hayden, Jean Carson, George Lindsey, Ronnie Schell, Renée Aubry, Joy Ellison, Margaret Kerry-Willcox, Arlene Golonka, Kit McNear, Barbara Stuart, Donald M. Lant, John O’Quinn, Bill Jarnigan and Celia Reynolds at the University of North Alabama, Darrell Perry, Jack Hilliard, Nancy Clark, Blake Clark, Emmett Forrest, and Paul Gilkes.

We also received invaluable assistance with our research and gathering of information from David Fernandes, Dale Robinson, Donny Whitehead, Judy Murata, Sherwin Bash, Randy Bash, Dorothy Best, Mike Cramer at Pacific Trading Cards, Bill and Barbara Hartman, Paul T. Mulik, Neal Brower, Greg Kelley, Lloyd Wells, Peggy Myres, Steve Weatherby, and Drew White.

This book also never would have come to be without the licensing provided by Mayberry Enterprises and Viacom, licenser for The Andy Griffith Show. We are especially grateful for the support of Ressa Kessler and Phyllis Ungerleider throughout the process of compiling the book.

We also thank Larry Stone at Rutledge Hill Press for his continuing belief in Mayberry and his faith in our exuberance for the show. We’re also grateful for the talents and superb efforts made by editor Geoff Stone and designer Harriette Bateman. Others at Rutledge Hill assisting with this book have been Bryan Curtis, Tracey Menges, Anne Gillem, Nicki Pendleton, Denver Sherry, and Bob Pardue.

Ken wishes to express his thanks to wife Wendy, daughter Kylie, and son Cole for their patience and support. Jim thanks his wife, Mary, for her steadfast understanding and help with all aspects of the book.

And, as someone once said, "They call it The Andy Griffith Show for a reason. Without the Man Himself," Mayberry would never have existed at all and there certainly would be nothing to write about forty years after nothing in particular had happened.

As much as anything, this book is a loving tribute to Andy Griffith by all of the people listed above and by all of the people who speak, are written about, and are pictured in the book.

We thank each of you for your part in making this book possible and special.

INTRODUCTION

This book has been compiled on the occasion of the Fortieth Anniversary of the first broadcast of The Andy Griffith Show, the television series that many people regard as simply the best television show ever produced. We hope that the comments and images within this book will be more than just a nostalgic look at a great television series. Rather, we have tried to capture glimpses of the timeless storytelling and production of the show itself.

To accomplish that effect, we have done several things in our approach to this book. First, the photographs in the book are arranged largely in the order that the show itself was originally broadcast. Whenever possible and in order to provide the best possible sense of historical perspective, we have indicated the dates that many of the photographs were taken.

Second, whenever possible, we have used photographs depicting either recognizable scenes from within episodes or rare, behind-the-scenes moments from the production of those episodes. We have made an effort to keep familiar, posed publicity shots to a minimum, except in cases where they are especially striking or show characters or expressions that are not otherwise available.

Though the vast majority of the comments in the book were made expressly for this book by the actors, crew, and writers, we have worked to carefully place those comments throughout the book in a way that, combined with the photographs, will provide the reader with a sense of almost being there for special moments of the show’s production.

Most of all, this book is a celebration of an extraordinary television series and the people who were a part of its production. The Andy Griffith Show has touched the hearts of countless millions of viewers for four decades. Our goal in writing this book is to give as much of a sense as possible of the passion and professional pride felt, then and to this day, by the people who worked on the show. That feeling is, of course, mirrored by those of us who have enjoyed Mayberry exclusively from the viewing side of our TV sets.

As much entertainment and pleasure as The Andy Griffith Show has given us, it is only right that this book should try to give a little back. As we have with previous books about The Andy Griffith Show, we have designated that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book be donated to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), an organization that identifies children in the judicial system who need the involvement and support from specially trained and dedicated advocates for their best interests. Andy Griffith Show producer Aaron Ruben is deeply involved in this worthwhile program. He is affiliated with the Los Angeles chapter, which will benefit directly from proceeds from this book. (For more information about CASA or to become involved in your local chapter, contact National CASA at 1-800-628-3233.)

Enjoy wandering through these pages as we salute four decades of outstanding entertainment and a world of good that continues to come from this marvelous TV show and the little town called Mayberry.

—K.B. and J.C.

CALLS FOR LAUGHTER—Danny and Andy anchored the CBS Monday prime-time lineup back to back for four seasons in the early 1960s.

IN THE BEGINNING

The Pilot and Season One

1960-1961

The CBS Television Network officially gave birth to The Andy Griffith Show on October 3, 1960. But many viewers were given a sneak preview of Mayberry on February 15 of that year on The Danny Thomas Show in an episode titled Danny Meets Andy Griffith. The episode was written by Arthur Stander and directed by Danny Thomas Show producer Sheldon Leonard.

Within a short time, Leonard, Danny Thomas, Andy Griffith, and Andy’s personal manager Richard O. Linke were joined by producer/writer Aaron Ruben. Characters and story lines were developed. A strong cadre of writers, principally Stander, the team of Charles Stewart and Jack Elinson, and Frank Tarloff (writing under the name David Adler), began tapping their imaginations and their typewriters to cut an entertaining world out of the fabric of a small southern town.

On that first Monday in October 1960, American television viewers saw for the first time a boy and his father walking down a dirt road with fishing poles in hand and heard for the first time the finger-snapping, whistled theme that would become an anthem for simple living and great storytelling. The Andy Griffith Show quickly found a place in the hearts of millions of fans all across America.

The first line of the show is spoken by its star and the man who held everything together: Anybody here know why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace. Viewers may have been quiet for that one moment, but they were soon laughing and crying and thinking out loud about all of the activities in Mayberry (Such goings-on, such goings-on!).

That first episode, The New Housekeeper, introduces us to Sheriff Andy Taylor, his son Opie, his Aunt Bee, and his unforgettable deputy, Barney Fife. We also soon come to know Ellie Walker, Otis Campbell, Emma Brand, Mayor Pike, Floyd the Barber, Thelma Lou, and two citizens often mentioned but never seen, Sarah and Juanita. While some of the characters might be considered comic stereotypes of sorts, all have individual traits and reveal emotions that to this day give them a sincere believability not found in most situation comedies.

For the next eight years, millions of viewers paid a visit every Monday night to their favorite television town. In the following decades, courtesy of reruns and videotape, viewers have continued to visit again and again. Mayberry lives.

Several production milestones occurred in the first year of the show. First, Bob Sweeney took over directing chores after the first ten episodes and would continue in that role for three seasons and eighty episodes, about a third of the entire series. Second, the writing team of Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum turned in their first script, Quiet Sam, near the end of the season. While the two did not return to Mayberry with a script until the third season, they would prove to be the show’s most prolific pair of writers, along with the duo of Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart. (Elinson’s solo efforts and other collaborations gave him the most episodes written by any one Griffith writer).

At the end of its premiere season, The Andy Griffith Show ranked as the fourth most popular show in America according to the Nielsen ratings. Capping off the season, Don Knotts won his first Emmy Award for an actor in a supporting role in a series. The following are some of the memorable images and recollections from Mayberry’s first year that gave the show such a spectacular launch.

Sheldon Leonard’s recollection of the beginning: "It all began back when I was doing The Danny Thomas Show. An agent at William Morris said they had just acquired a brand new client, Andy Griffith. They asked me to design something for him. The show was an excerpt from The Danny Thomas Show.

"Andy came to Hollywood and he sat down with us at a table. It was with me, Danny Thomas, and writer Artie Stander. They worked at a very high level of noise. At the end of the day, Andy said ‘I’m gonna do your show for you, but I don’t think I want to do a television show.’

"‘Why not?’

"‘I can’t yell like you people do.’

‘Don’t worry about that. When we make your show, we’ll do it with quiet people and we’ll go on with a peaceful atmosphere.’ And they lived happily ever after. The success was due largely to Andy’s personal charisma and appeal; and although not recognized by the cultural elite, rural subjects are very popular with the American people.

A FINE TIME—Woo-eee! That’s quite a roll you got there. Big spender Danny is about to be spending more time in Mayberry than he had planned, but like most visitors, he’ll be all the richer for having done so.

Sheldon Leonard

Andy Griffith remembers how he first met Sheldon Leonard and how Don Knotts happened to join the show: "In 1959 I was on Broadway in a half a hit, a musical called Destry. By half a hit I mean we were on ‘twofers’ (two tickets for the price of one and at Thanksgiving and Christmas they put a sign on the sidewalk saying ‘Matinee Today’). At some point during the run of that show I went to see my agent Abe Lastfogel, then head of the William Morris Agency, and I told him I had struck out in movies and on Broadway, and I didn’t want to go back to nightclubs. I asked him, ‘What do you think of my trying television?’ A few weeks later, I got word that Sheldon Leonard was coming to New York to see me. Well, one Saturday night after the show we were all running to our dressing rooms, and I saw a man at the stage door I kind of recognized. When I got to my dressing room I went down the hall and asked Art Lund (also in the show) who that man was at the stage door. He said, ‘Sheldon Leonard.’Well, it didn’t take me a second to get back to that stage door!

Sheldon and I visited in my dressing room, then went to a restaurant there in New York for him to tell me his idea for a spin-off pilot on Danny’s show. There was something about the idea I did not like, but I liked Sheldon. Some weeks after that I asked him to come to New York to see me again. He did. Something still bothered me about the idea, but I really liked Sheldon, so I agreed to do it.

When the show aired, Don Knotts, a friend of mine from No Time For Sergeants, called me and said, ‘Don’t you need a deputy?’ I said, ‘Lord, call Sheldon Leonard!’ He did and I did.

Sheldon met with Don and hired him.

It soon became obvious to me the part of Sheldon’s idea that I had not liked. My character, Andy Taylor, was not only sheriff, but editor of the paper and justice of the peace and ‘funny man.’ With Don, I became the straight man, and my only official job was sheriff of the town of Mayberry."

WELCOME TO MAYBERRY—Danny Williams (Danny Thomas) and wife Kathy (Marjorie Lord) and an entire nation are introduced to Mayberry and Sheriff Andy Taylor in the Danny Meets Andy Griffithepisode of The Danny Thomas Show. Ronny Howard also appears as Opie. Frances Bavier portrays Henrietta Perkins, not Aunt Bee. Will Wright (later Ben Weaver in Mayberry) and Rance Howard (Ronny’s father) also appear in this episode. The name of the hardware store seen here was Danny Thomas’s name before he derived his stage name from the first names of his two brothers, younger brother Daniel and older brother Thomas.

Andy Griffith reflects on Mayberry’s beginnings: "One day Aaron Ruben came to see me at my house in Rye, New York.We sat in two lawn chairs and talked. Aaron became our producer. Aaron ran our show and was head writer. Aaron and Sheldon allowed me to learn to write…and Don Knotts was a key to our success and longevity.

"By the second episode we knew that Don should be funny and I should be the straight man.We added other comedy character actors.We had the best ones in town.

These ingredients and good comedy…we never deserted the integrity of the characters. Our primary backbone was the love that we had for one another as characters and as people, and that is, I think, why we were so successful. All of us knew what was funny.We had some shows that were a little sweeter and sadder than others, but some of those were really funny.

Mayberry came from the very fertile imaginations of these people (Sheldon Leonard, Aaron Ruben, Don Knotts, Earle Hagen), and many others.We had the best comedy writers in town.We created in our imaginations this wonderful little town that people still want to go to—with all of the characters that lived there: Aunt Bee, Opie, Barney, Gomer, Goober, Howard, Floyd the Barber. Those eight years of my life are very precious to me.

Ronald Jacobs, assistant to the producer (and nephew of Danny Thomas), offers his perspective: When we did the pilot, as a spin-off on The Danny Thomas Show, everyone knew we had something special. Any series that starts with Andy Griffith has a big advantage. Then as all the other elements were put together, both in front of and behind the camera, it carried out its promise and went on to eight wonderful years on television. And then, please let’s not forget Mayberry R.F.D.

Early observations by director Jay Sandrich: "As assistant director on the pilot, how interesting it was to see Andy Griffith try to fit his style into The Danny Thomas Show style. Andy had come from Broadway and worked very quietly, but with such authority. I remember that you just knew this man was so talented and had so much authority, but nobody dreamed it would go on to become such a classic. My other memory is the casting of this little cute face, Ronny Howard. (Don Knotts was not on the pilot and Frances Bavier just played a townsperson.)

"Later, I was the associate producer and sort of involved in the post-production. At the time, I had two sons, who were older than Opie.