A Special Edition ~~ Nostalgic Tuesday
Actor Andy Griffith dead at 86
I grew up in the 1950s & 60s, and spent some time watching TV. The folks of Mayberry were like my own family and I grew up right along with Opie. Below is part of the post I wrote for my very first Nostalgic Sunday on June 26, 2011:
I'm a nostalgic gal. I love old TV shows like The Andy Griffith Show (only the B&W episodes, ya know!) I'm particularly drawn to the lovely citizens of Mayberry because this fictional town reminds me so much of the real-life hometown of my parents and grandparents: Greenfield, Iowa.
When I was a little girl we went to Greenfield every summer for vacation. It was a magical time. The late 1950s, life was slow and easy, we young kids could walk or ride bikes all over town. I have such fabulous memories of those days, some of which will be included in my memoir.
My grandpa was deputy of Greenfield for a few years, either before I was born or too young to remember. I always thought he'd been the sheriff, so I'd compare him to Andy Griffith when I told stories about him. Imagine my surprise when I realized he was the Barney of the police department, not the Andy! (But grandpa was really nothing like Barney, in his appearance or behavior!)
Thank you Andy, for who you were as a man, and who you were as Andy Taylor. I loved you both.
** July 4th Note: TV Land is having an Andy Griffith marathon today, tomorrow, and Friday. And also this weekend, I think. I came across it accidentally when I turned on the TV this morning, went to TV Land hoping to see something about it. The TV schedule still showed I Love Lucy and Bonanza, etc., but Andy was being shown. Here is the link for the schedule: http://www.tvland.com/tv-schedule/andy-griffith-show
"When a man carries a gun all the time, the respect he thinks he's getting might really be fear. So I don't carry a gun because I don't want the people of Mayberry to fear a gun. I'd rather they respect me." -- Andy Griffith
I didn't know he died. How sad. I used to watch a lot of his shows too. Mainly Matlock.
ReplyDeleteHiYa, BECKY ~
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes! I was born in 1959, and my brother, Doug, came along about 15 months later. The first episode of 'The Andy Griffith Show'(TAGS) aired in Oct. 1960, and Doug and I literally grew up with the show because it was our Pa's favorite, so it was always on the tube.
Note that I referred to my Dad as "Pa" - I always have, and undoubtedly it's because Opie called Andy Taylor "Pa" as well.
Then, now, and forever, TAGS was, is, and will be the #1 favorite TV series for Doug and me. We own every single black & white episode on DVD.
When Doug came home for lunch today, the first thing he said to me was, "Did you hear Andy Griffith died?" I said, "Yes! I was going to tell YOU that."
Those times, that era, represented in TAGS, will never come our way again; it's an innocence gone for good. But I thank God I can revisit it with modern technology.
I told Doug earlier, before he went back to work, that we should watch some favorite TAGS episodes tonight before he goes to bed, and he said, "Yeah, that's a good idea!"
Doug should be home from work in about an hour from now and we'll get started.
Becky, do you have any particular favorite episodes you could name off the top of your head?
There were so many truly GREAT episodes, but I think if I had to list the first 4 that come to mind for me, they would be:
#1: 'The Case Of The Punch In The Nose' - When Barney dredges up an old pre-Andy Taylor case in which Floyd and Charlie Foley had a row, and pretty soon Barney's got all of Mayberry choosing sides and slugging it out. Too funny! Has to be my all-time favorite episode.
#2: 'The Pickle Story' - I doubt there is even one true TAGS fan who doesn't LOVE that episode about Aunt Bee's "kerosene cucumbers".
#3: 'Floyd, The Gay Deceiver' - (Back to a more innocent era, when the word "gay" meant something else entirely.) This is the one where Floyd acquires a pen pal from a 'Lonely Hearts Club' and she comes to Mayberry to take advantage of the "wealthy" Floyd who has utterly misrepresented himself. This episode cracks me up; and despite the fact that Barney Fife was truly the most indispensable "character" on the show (as was proven when Don Knotts left and the show lost most of its appeal), Floyd Lawson was actually my favorite. Any episode featuring lots of Floyd was sure to be a hit with me.
#4: 'Convicts-At-Large' - When the escaped female prison inmates hold Barney and Floyd hostage in a cabin in the hills. I can't even think about this episode without laughing!
But, of course, there were just so many other truly great episodes: 'Barney's First Car' (on second thought, this one should be on my Top Four list, probably at #2!), 'Mayberry Goes Bankrupt', 'Mr. McBeevee', 'The Manicurist', 'Stranger In Town', 'The Jinx', 'Aunt Bee The Warden', 'Man In A Hurry', 'Barney And Thelma Lou, Phfftt!' and just way too many more to mention.
Becky, I will leave you with two great TAGS quotes, which you will undoubtedly recognize...
"How do you do, Mrs. Wiley?"
...and...
"Citizen's Arrest! Citizen's Arrest!"
I'm already laughing and Doug hasn't even gotten home from work yet to watch the episodes.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Isn't it nice to see a man be successful and yet still live a principled life!
ReplyDeleteOur town had a Barney Fife officer...it was a town with no stoplights...only couple blocks long.
I loved so many of the characters Andy Griffith starred in. Thank goodness for re-runs! Hugs, Linda
ReplyDeleteI loved that man - he was a good man. sandie
ReplyDeleteI love his comedy routine about "What it was was football."
ReplyDeleteMy mom loved Andy in Matlock.
ReplyDeleteHe will be missed by many generations of TV fans.
donna
My brother was best friends with Earl Dillard, who was nephew to the Dillards (they played "The Darlings"). I heard some funny stories, mostly about "Aunt Bea."
ReplyDeleteAndy Griffith touched a lot of people and several generations, that's for sure...
Lovely post in tribute to Andy Griffith my friend. Like you, I love watching TV programmes that relate to earlier, more peaceful and less stressful times. I'm a sucker for Miss Marple and the lovely English villages and old-fashioned manners. We were brought up in the same times!
ReplyDeleteI can't stop whistling the tune from his show. Andy and his show are part of my childhood! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. I just found out this morning, July 4th that TV Land is having an Andy Griffith Show marathon today, tomorrow, and Friday. Although the schedule on my TV shows I Love Lucy right now...it's Andy and Barney! **And, Stephen, it looks like they'll be showing all your (and my) favorites!)
ReplyDeleteP.S. Here's the link for the TV Land schedule: http://www.tvland.com/tv-schedule/andy-griffith-show
ReplyDeleteVery sad news, indeed. The Andy Griffith series remains among my all time favs. So reminiscent of the way things used to be!
ReplyDeletePat
Critter Alley
We were saddened to hear of his passing when we got up this morning. He sure will be missed. Such wonderful memories of a simpler time. I'm so glad you put up a special edition! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in N.Y. I couldn't really relate to life in Mayberry. Still, I watched Andy Griffith religiously.
ReplyDeleteYou pay a nice tribute to him Becky.
A good man with many talents. He will be missed.
ReplyDeleteLoved this man and his show. A true gentleman. Thanks for sharing your post about him.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Oh how I loved this show. It's sad that he is gone, but he left a wonderful legacy behind. Happy 4th to you, Becky!
ReplyDeleteHello and thanks to Pat, Diane, Myrna, Carol, Patricia, and Daisy! I doubt if Andy ever had any enemies. What a guy....
ReplyDeleteI watched that show all the time when I was little. I love the quote you posted of his.
ReplyDeleteYep, he gave us all some good memories and will be missed by many.
ReplyDelete=)
Hi Lynn and Sue! Thank you for stopping by! I almost feel like I've lost a family member.
ReplyDeleteI liked Mayberry with Aunt Bea and Andy. I wanted an Aunt Bea in our house. We had a Mom, but Aunt Bea baked more cookies.
ReplyDeleteMy other favorite was Walton's Moutain. I loved the close family life. Terry and I even now, will watch an old rerun once in a while.