Otis Campbell
I realize I post some rather length writings, and I apologize for doing one so soon after saying I wouldn't. But I want to share something with you, my Mayberry family, that I have shared with few others. The movie Return to Mayberry was a greatly anticipated movie for Mayberry fans everywhere. When it was first released it was wonderful to see our friends in Mayberry albeit they had aged. But I had aged along with them so it only seemed natural to see Andy's gray hair and a grown up Opie who was about to become a father. Everyone in Mayberry had changed and that is how life is meant to be. Only when one fails to change do they fail to grow and experience all that life has to offer. There was one person in Return to Mayberry who had perhaps changed the most. That was Otis Campbell. Yet his appearance in the movie was only for one brief scene. For many years we laughed at Otis as he staggered into the courthouse with a snootful and locked himself in his cell. Everyone in Mayberry accepted Otis' weakness and his humorous antics brought us all years of enjoyment. I was so pleased to see a sober and reformed Otis Campbell in Return to Mayberry. Although Otis was a loveable happy person in Mayberry, his portrayal as the town drunk was not at all accurate. While we enjoyed laughing at Otis riding a cow or talking to an invisible dog, we never saw the effects his drinking had on the other people in his life. We never saw Mrs. Campbell sitting up late at night wondering if Otis was coming home or if he were lying injured in an alley somewhere. We did not see her embarrassment when she heard the people of Mayberry laughing at her husband's actions. We never knew what Mrs. Campbell had to go without because Otis spent money on his spirits rather than on things needed by his family. These things were always in the back of my mind when I watched Otis. For you see, I came from a family with a father who was like Otis. My father was a hard working man who never missed a day of work because of his drinking. But he missed many nights at home with his family. I remember the nights I lay awake wondering if and when he would be coming home. I remember my embarrassment when my friends would tell me in school that they saw my father come staggering out of a bar the night before. I remember the holidays that were not like my friends' because my father was out celebrating with his friends rather than being home with his family. But most of all I remember the pain and hurt that I saw in my mother's eyes as she wondered where the money was going to come from to buy food for her four children. Otis was a laughable character in Mayberry, but his problem was not laughable. But back in the 60's that was how it was treated. Our small town policeman would follow my father home from the bars to make sure he made it home. He never once received a ticket or was arrested. There were times when I wish he would have been. Because so many people enabled him to continue drinking, he never had the incentive to stop. Maybe they could have made a difference, but no one bothered to try. It took me a long time to understand that my father had an illness. He was an alcoholic. But when I was young, that word was never used. Then in 1960 my father died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 54. I was just 13 at the time. His life was cut short dramatically because of alcohol. The anger that I once had is now long gone. Yet I have to admit when I see a father come into church with children I still experience envy, for that was something I never experienced. With my wife and me not being able to have children, I will never know the joy of a father and son sitting together worshipping God. By the time Return to Mayberry debuted, attitudes towards alcohol abuse were changing. It was no longer funny to see a grown man stagger and unable to speak clearly. Thankfully the producers of Return to Mayberry realized Otis needed to change. I only wish they would have done it much sooner. Kenneth G. Anderson 2906 May Street Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 715-839-8470 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
The Snappy Lunch
I just returned from a quick trip to North Carolina. On the way home I stopped by the Snappy Lunch. It was my first opportunity to visit since the renovations were done. I'm glad to report that the Snappy Lunch is as wonderful as ever. The atmosphere is still fantastic, Mr. Dowell and the gals are charming and friendly, and the food is still out of this world. I know we all know about the famous pork chop sandwich, but I'm also especially fond of the pork chop breakfast. That's right, for those of you who haven't had the grilled tenderloin, eggs, gravy and one of the best biscuits to ever cross your lips, you've got to try the Snappy Lunch for breakfast. I also waved at Mr. Hiatt at Floyd's. I was gonna get a haircut, getting' a little shaggy in the back ya know. But I had over 8 hours of traveling left to get home, and you know how those little hairs will tickle your neck after a haircut! Indiana Goober ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Re: Warren's Mayberry Relations trivia
I think Dep. Warren was related to Miss Clara Edwards. Not sure, but that rings a bell. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Re: Barney's Middle Names
HeyLet's see if I can help Jessica out. Barney's three middle names were Milton, Oliver, and the initial P which I am not sure what it stood for. Hope I am correct on this. Liz ain't you got a jack Roberts!!! ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Re: Return to Mayberry DVD
That's the wonderful thing abut WBMUTBB. Everyone looks out for everyone. Yeah, it's a good thing we're not giraffes. Don Good The quality of mercy is not strained You're not talking to a jerk, you know.) ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Opie and Thelma Lou
Which episode had Thelma Lou making homemade peach ice cream and brownies for Opie? I would like the actual title of it. It's prayin' on my mind. The Rivals, Season 3, Disc 5, second episode. The best line in it is Pa, just what can you do with a grown woman? Isn't it a wonderful thing that TV Land is back to black and white? Color episodes are good but nothing compares to the first five seasons. Here's to you and yours! Harriet, the chicken thief in Kelsey's Woods, USA ..Johnny Paul Jason says chewing tar is good for your teeth...That's an old wives taleJohnny Paul ain't married ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Re: homemade peach ice cream
Thelma Lou made homemade peach ice cream and brownies in The Rivals episode #91. Dennis Mayberry chapter Knoxville, TN Can you do this (handstand)? -- Opie Yes, but it's not very ladylike. -- Karen Which episode had Thelma Lou making homemade peach ice cream and brownies for Opie? I would like the actual title of it. It's prayin' on my mind. Bee in New Concord, OH ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
peach ice cream
Which episode had Thelma Lou making homemade peach ice cream ... I saw your title and was so hoping you'd found the perfect recipe in some Mayberry book. Sigh. :-) Martha Huntsville, AL ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
lots of green
In stage productions you avoid white because of lighting problems and use a light blue. Maybe at the time TV lighting handled green well. Just a thought. Martha Huntsville, AL ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
more on the moving song
always thought Barn wrote the song, but guess not, since Cleaver did it. and that show was in the early to mid 50's? Wasn't it originally from a 30s or 40s movie with Jeannette McDonald and something Arnold? Martha Huntsville, AL ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
songs travel
The song Juanita has another TAGS link. On Father Knows Best, Jim Anderson sang it. Maybe when Betty Anderson became Ellie Walker, she brought the song with her? And then when Betty Anderson moved to New York and became ??? (I never watched ODD COUPLE much but know she was on it), she took it there. Martha Huntsville, AL ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
