Jaywalking

2021-03-03 Thread Ben Sandifer
I heard a radio news report this morning that you can no longer get a ticket 
just for jaywalking in Washington, D.C. You have to be committing some other 
violation at the same time. I hope this covers other parts of the country so 
that the Emma Watson case will finally be off the books.

Ben Sandifer
Macon, GA - where the bus was always headed

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Re: Mayberry Virus Response

2020-03-30 Thread Ben Sandifer
Barney will need to update THE PLAN:

Wash my hands. Go Home. Wash my hands. Take a nap. Wash my hands. Go over to 
Thelma Lou's for a little TV from a social distance of at least 6 feet between 
us.
Yep, that's the plan.
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First names only

2019-05-04 Thread Ben Sandifer
How many Mayberry characters never had their last names revealed? Right off the 
top of my head, and without running this by the boys at the lab, I can think of 
two. Though she was known by one of those good-old southern double first names, 
Thelma Lou's last name was never mentioned. And I believe the same goes for 
Olive. the widow woman with four kids who worked for a short time at the diner. 
 I'm sure there must be others.
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Alumni sighting

2019-03-22 Thread Ben Sandifer
I was watching Leave It To Beaver on ME-TV and Mrs. Rayburn was Beaver's 
teacher. But in earlier episodes she was the school principal. So I ran this by 
the boys at the lab. Their conclusion was that the school found out she was 
really Mrs. Wiley. Their background check also revealed that she regularly held 
wild parties at her house, where tag dances were held, paper napkins were 
soaked in the punch bowl, girls were picked up and rocks were thrown. So the 
school's only option was to demote her back to teacher.

 
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Music at Mrs. Wiley's

2019-02-09 Thread Ben Sandifer
In the episode "My Fair Ernest T. Bass," there were 3 different big band-type 
songs which played, on a record player, I suppose during this soiree. The first 
was "Undecided," followed by "Carolina In The Morning."  Does anyone know the 
name of the third tune? This would have been during the tag dance when Ernest 
T. used Mrs. Wiley's vase to assist him in cutting in on the man who stole his 
beloved "Romena."

Ben (in Macon, where the bus was always going)
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A Mayberry Christmas

2016-12-16 Thread Ben Sandifer
This was done at Christmas time last year, so it's about time to break it
out again.

https://youtu.be/jY8TnyrpNnE

Merry Christmas to All! 

 

 

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Andy and Elvis

2016-07-24 Thread Ben Sandifer
July 25, 1955, stand-up comic Andy Griffith started a Florida tour at the
New City Auditorium in Fort Myers. This tour was 9 shows in 5 different
Florida cities.

The opening act for this tour was Elvis Presley. Shortly after this, Elvis
became so popular that he would never be anyone's "opening act" again.

Not related to this tour, in July 1994, the band Confederate Railroad
released their song "Elvis and Andy." 

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Re: Other shows

2016-04-24 Thread Ben Sandifer
What You mean there are other TV shows besides TAGS?  Not that I've ever
seen.

 

 

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Andy mural in Broxton, GA

2016-02-04 Thread Ben Sandifer
In rural Broxton, Georgia, an artist named Dylan Ross has painted an
interesting mural on the side of an old farmhouse.

Take a look.

http://vanishingsouthgeorgia.com/2016/02/03/andy-griffith-show-mural-broxton
/

 

 

 

 

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A Mayberry Christmas

2015-12-19 Thread Ben Sandifer
Video has been added to "A Mayberry Christmas"

https://youtu.be/jY8TnyrpNnE

Make sure your sound is up and have a Merry Christmas!

 

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Andy and Elvis

2015-08-24 Thread Ben Sandifer
The boys at the lab and I were doing some research, and learned that one of
the opening acts for The Andy Griffith Show, a live comedy show, was Elvis
Presley. This tour had 9 shows, covering 5 Florida cities in 7 days, from
July 25-31, 1955. Ticket prices ranged from $1.25 to $1.50.  We knew Andy
was special, but having Elvis Presley as your opening act can only be
described as BIG.  Here's a link to a Daytona newspaper ad for this show.
http://www.elvisconcerts.com/newspapers/a55073002.jpg

 

 

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Re: Things That Don't Make Sense

2015-06-24 Thread Ben Sandifer
David Quinn's post about where Opie might have gone to look for 8 jobs
prompted me to put a bucket on my head and take a think. I also ran this by
the boys at the lab. Here's what we concluded:

Opie could not have applied at Emmett's Fix-It Shop (still two seasons
away), or Aunt Bee's Chinese Restaurant (she had not taken that plunge yet),
or the TV Repair shop (it was next door to Floyd's and his job hunting took
him in the opposite direction, since he also did not see the sign in the
window at the grocery store two doors down from Floyd's).

So here are 8 possibilities:

1.   Wally's - no job, but at least Goober did offer some valuable
skills on the right way to apply for a job

2.   Floyd's Barbershop - anyone would hire a boy like that, but not
Floyd

3.   Mayberry Gazette - delivering newspapers was a common job for boys
then, and Opie already had previous experience with his own paper. 

4.   Mayberry Pets - don't know if there was such a store, but he did
have that experience raising those three baby birds. He would use this
experience for employment taking care of Dolly, the horse, two seasons later

5.   Weaver's - they could have revived their free bubblegum promotion,
and he would be perfect to either demonstrate it or hand it out

6.   The Drug Store - perhaps they misplaced his application but found
it two seasons later when he ended up working there

7.   Silo Rentals  Storage - since he said hello to Mr. Dobson on his
way to the grocery store, he had probably already applied there, but since
Mr. Dobson was doing his own sweeping, he probably had no need for
additional help

8.   New  Used Furniture - another business in the immediate area, but
they probably turned Opie down, since he was not yet strong enough to move
furniture, or old enough to drive a delivery truck

The boys at the lab also wondered why Andy did not hire him at the
courthouse to start with, since he ended up doing just this in the epilogue.
Conclusion: the county relaxed its anti-nepotism policy at some point during
the week this episode occurred. And whatever happened to Mr. Doaks, who
managed the grocery store? He was probably fired for discimination practices
for his Boy Wanted sign in the window, and replaced with Mr. Foley.

 

 

 

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Happy Birthday Jim Nabors

2015-06-12 Thread Ben Sandifer
Shazam! Gomer is 85 years old today.  Jim Nabors was born June 12, 1930, in
Sylacauga, Alabama.

 

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Catch phrases

2015-06-05 Thread Ben Sandifer
This may have been covered already, but since we're talking about TAGS I
don't see anything wrong with re-runs.  One of the catch phrases that were
heard by several characters, in several episodes was, You beat everything,
you know that!

What episodes included this catch phrase.who said it.and who was it said to,
or about?

 

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More radio references

2015-02-26 Thread Ben Sandifer
Who could forget that famous local radio celebrity Leonard Blush!  I can
think of at least two episodes where he was mentioned. Barney was listening
to him on the radio in the courthouse when Andy walked in and interrupted. I
believe Howard Morris was the voice of Leonard Blush on the radio.  Also
Eleanora Poultice mentioned him as being one of her former students during
Barney's voice lesson as being on the third Tuesday of every month. Station
YLRB Mount Pilot.  Was Leonard Blush mentioned in any more episodes?

 

 

 

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Thanks, Andy

2014-12-26 Thread Ben Sandifer
I've been playing saxophone, off and on, for about the last 40 years.  I
played clarinet before that, but had not picked one up in almost 50 years.
My church asked me to play on one of their Christmas pieces, but the
saxophone just didn't sound right for this piece.  So I found my old
clarinet, got some minor repairs done, downloaded a fingering chart so that
I could remember where some of the notes were and started soaking my reeds.
But I still couldn't quite get the sound I wanted.  Then I remembered Andy
telling one of the boys in the Mayberry band to Andy Gump it.  So I pulled
my bottom lip in more, like Andy Gump in the funny papers, and was able to
achieve more of the sound I wanted.  Thanks, Andy!  Now, just in case a
traveling shoe salesman ever comes through town, I need to keep the
saxophone handy and learn Saxamania.

 

 

 

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Barney was right

2014-04-27 Thread Ben Sandifer
We've been having some problems with our cable and internet service.  A
technician from the cable company came out and fixed the problem by,
seriously,  putting in bigger wires.  Barney was way ahead of his time.

 

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Raleigh

2014-03-19 Thread Ben Sandifer
Here in Macon, GA, we're all excited that our Mercer Bears are headed to
Raleigh to the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  I just hope none of the
cheerleaders take a lot of jewelry because there might be a jewel thief in
their hotel.  If the menu at the hotel restaurant is hard to understand,
they can always just point to something and say, I'll have this. And if
they have down time and visit the aquarium over at the state capitol, they
may be in for a big disappointment since Ole Sam is no longer there.

 

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Ron Howard on the Forbes list

2014-01-17 Thread Ben Sandifer
Opie made the Forbes Top 10 Influential Celebrities list
http://www.eonline.com/news/500193/oprah-winfrey-steven-spielberg-find-out-w
ho-s-been-named-forbes-most-influential-celebrity

There's only one word for this - BIG!

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Dodger Fife

2013-06-09 Thread Ben Sandifer
I was watching the Atlanta Braves game last night and noticed that the
Dodgers had a starting pitcher named Fife.

I wonder if they still call him Bullet Fife at his old high school.  I was
hoping one of the Braves might hit a ball through a window at a nearby
haunted house to see how Fife might react.

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Sweet Tea

2013-05-18 Thread Ben Sandifer
Those of us in the south know that sweet tea is the table wine of the
south.  Yet I don't recall the Taylors, or anyone else in Mayberry ever
drinking or mentioning sweet tea.

Does anyone else remember this?  The only beverages I remember from TAGS are
coffee, water, a bottle of pop, sweet cider, beer and moonshine.  And that
brings up another point.  I've never heard anybody in the south say bottle
of pop.

They're usually cokes whether they're from the Coca Cola family, or not.

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Mayberry Moment in Macon

2013-05-02 Thread Ben Sandifer
Yesterday, the governor of Georgia came to Macon to sign a bill related to
background checks for daycare workers.  I couldn't help but notice that the
governor's helicopter was parked on the front lawn of the school where the
ceremonial signing was held.  I didn't see an official helicopter landing
pad anywhere on that lawn.  If the governor's helicopter was illegally
parked, why didn't some eager deputy give him a ticket?  Also, in the news
video I don't see our mayor anywhere in the crowd.  

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Dancing With The Stars

2013-03-21 Thread Ben Sandifer
If someone would go out and buy a salt-and-pepper suit, with a crease that's
just right for the dip, and then have their front teeth pulled and replaced
with a shiny gold one, they would easily win Dancing With The Stars. But I
cannot take credit for this idea. It came from the boys at the lab.

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Last episode anniversary

2012-09-16 Thread Ben Sandifer
Today (September 16, 1968) the final episode of The Andy Griffith Show was
seen on CBS at 9:00 eastern. And as the Bellamy Brothers said in their song
about TAGS, thank God for the reruns!

 

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Mt Airy story

2012-09-09 Thread Ben Sandifer
Nice story in our local paper this morning about Mt. Airy

http://www.macon.com/2012/09/09/2168483/visitors-come-to-mount-airy-looking.
html

 

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Calvin Coolidge Quote

2012-07-17 Thread Ben Sandifer
In our market, Geico is running a radio commercial that actually quotes
Calvin Coolidge. The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself
forgotten.

They never said he got this from Mark Twain, so imagine my surprise to learn
that Calvin Coolidge really did say something.  Floyd was just ahead of his
time.

 

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Heaven's New Sheriff

2012-07-09 Thread Ben Sandifer
Heaven's new sheriff arrived today, and we must say goodbye

He'll go right through the pearly gates with no gun, hat or tie

Mayberry friends he'll see again, some there for a while

Others are new, like the Darling boy on banjo and Goober Pyle

 

His first stop is the barbershop, where Floyd needs just one chair

He's glad to see the sheriff again - he's always had great hair

Then he'll be welcomed by the band that now plays on-the-beat

They don't even need the substitutes from the band of Bobby Fleet

 

His deputy's held down the fort, and now he has his chief

Though there are no moonshine stills, not even a chicken thief

Up here there is no need for guns or power to exert

But just in case, his bullet's still in the pocket of his shirt

 

And Otis might stop by to show the sheriff he is sober

In his new eternal home his drinking problem's over

Down the street he'll go, and maybe Briscoe he will meet

And in this place his radiator doesn't even overheat

 

Then on to his front porch he'll go, to pick and sing a song

Aunt Bee's cooking up a feast, and supper won't be long

She's always made enough to feed the entire neighborhood

And heaven even makes her homemade pickles taste quite good

 

Then he'll relax in his favorite chair, or walk around in his socks

Unless Ernest T. should come around with a sack of heavenly rocks

When our days on earth are done, and we all head that way
Heaven will be a better place, 'cause the sheriff arrived today

 

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Peaches and Apples

2012-07-02 Thread Ben Sandifer
I decided to see if a fresh Georgia peach could be peeled without breaking
the peel, like an apple.  My attempt failed very early in this experiment.
After wondering what causes that, I ran this by the boys at the lab and came
up with 3 conclusions (A) peaches are about as much like apples as dogs are
like giraffes (2) this only works when there is someone around to say
congratulations and (C) it must be your gauge

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A Mayberry Christmas

2011-12-22 Thread Ben Sandifer
Great job on the 12 Days Ken !  Very creative, and it inspired me to dig
my poem out that was written a couple of years ago (for the benefit of you
new arrivals).

The original version is public domain, and I wrote this parody.   So,
Mayberry friends, you're welcome to use this in any way you'd like.

 

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through Mayberry

This year's Santa would become legendary

A picture from Otis was hung up with care

By the one of the rose, which had won at the fair

 

The children had put up the last Christmas wreath

Opie and Mary Wiggins, who'd lost her front teeth

And Andy, with no gun, adorned his night cap

Just in case feuding families finally ended their scrap

 

When out on the street there came a great noise

Could it be Briscoe, Charlene and the Darling boys?

It probably wasn't that nut named Bass

It didn't sound one bit like shattering glass

 

No snow, just a steady rain fell from the sky

It had rained every day since those gypsies came by

When up came a black Ford automobile

With way yonder too much grease on the wheel

 

With a skinny little driver, who still had no wife

Often referred to as Fast Gun Fife

His car barely made it, slowly moving along

A mechanic named Pyle told him all that was wrong

 

Needs points, needs plugs, needs new wires, by gosh

And she could also use a really good wash.

To the Taylors driveway, he'd park right behind

Mr. Tucker's big car 'cause he'd changed his mind

 

He looked at the house and wished he could fly

Then a ladder next to the house caught his eagle eye

He'd climb up the ladder, yep, that was the plan 

It was left there by Wheeler, Aunt Bee's handy man

 

He knew how to enter a room with such ease

He'd taught Ernest T., with full amenities 

But on this special night, the door would not do

So down the chimney the thin deputy flew

 

He was dressed all in tan, now what could be dumber

This night, I doubt he'd encounter Fred Plumber

His hair Floyd had slicked down, but not a bit drippy

In case fingers ran through from a fun girl named Skippy

 

His hat held his ticket book just in case

The governor's car was parked in the wrong place

The bullet in his pocket was shiny and neat

And if he should use it, watch out for your feet

 

When he sang, it just kind of made you sick

'Cause he just couldn't sing - not even a lick

Even an old-fashioned recitation didn't work

After all, you can't make a bird go chirp, chirp

 

He had not an ounce of fat which helped him hustle

He could eat all the cookies, since they all went to muscle

He had little time and might get in a pinch

Since a tightwad named Weaver might turn into the grinch

 

He spoke not a word, there was much work to do

He still had to call Juanita and say toodle-ooh

For Opie he left some shiny, new skates

And a guitar, the kind that Lydia Crosswaite hates

 

For Aunt Bee he left 24 canning jars

More kerosene cucumbers for out-of-state cars

He left his friend Andy a hat and a tie

He'd never wear either, but he still had to try

 

And when he had finished he went out the door

He'd saved enough time for just one thing more

To Thelma Lou's house he now had to go

For a pan of her fudge and that doctor show

 

He cranked up his car on the third or fourth try

On his cycle and side car he could better rely

But I heard him exclaim as he drove through the mud

Merry Christmas to all, and nip it in the bud.

 

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Real life Mayberry moment

2011-12-16 Thread Ben Sandifer
Here in Middle Georgia this week, Byron police issued a warning to NBA great
Shaquille O'Neal after he was stopped on I-75. His Mercedes had windows that
were tinted darker than Georgia law allows. The officer shrugged off the
celebrity traffic stop saying, We treat everybody the same.  Makes me
wonder if he got this from Barney and the Governor.  No word on whether or
not they've cleaned the water crock at the Byron P.D., or if the mayor of
Byron is good friends with the basketball star.

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Andy moment

2011-11-25 Thread Ben Sandifer
My 14-year-old son, Alex,  and I were raking and bagging leaves today.  For
those of you who've suffered through this before, you know that you can
shake the leaf bags to get more leaves in each bag. Every time he would do
this, Alex would yell, All right, shake down !

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Fingerprint scanners

2011-08-22 Thread Ben Sandifer
A story in our local paper this morning says that Macon-Bibb County law
enforcement will soon be getting fingerprint scanners.

I immediately wondered if  one of our deputies might have contacted Count
Istvan Teleky.

And if there are any wishes left, I could sure use a new jackknife.

 

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Mayberry sightings

2011-07-02 Thread Ben Sandifer
Just finished watching The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance on AMC.  You can't
miss Briscoe Darling, but also noticed Henry, the Jinx (John Qualen), Mr.
Crawford from Opie's Drugstore Job (Robert F. Simon) and Willis Bouchey
who was in at least 4 Andy episodes - O'Malley (Convicts At Large), Mr.
Brady (The Inspector), Mr. Carter (The Great Filling Station Robbery) and
Fletch (Back To Nature).

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Favorite one-liners

2010-12-12 Thread Ben Sandifer
Andy:  I 'preciate it, and good night.

Barney: No more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Opie: I don't wanna say, after all, he is one of my own kind.

Gomer: A decoy! Shazam!

Briscoe:  Got time to breathe, got time for music.

Ernest T: I don't chew my cabbage twice.

Ben Weaver: Christmas!  Haaa!

Aunt Bee:  Toot-toot-Tootsie, good bye

Emma: I want my pills!

One of the Morrison sisters: Happy Sir Walter Raleigh Day!

Clara: Our song wasn't meant to be sung that way.

Bert Miller:  Them ringin' doorbells.

Floyd: I thought Calvin Coolidge said that.

Rev. Bream:  WHAT'S...your hurry

Warren:  Huh?... Huh?... Huh?

Mr. Schwamp  the Darling Boys:  

 

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Local Mayberry store

2010-09-20 Thread Ben Sandifer
There was a great story in yesterday's Macon paper about one of our area's
biggest Mayberry fans.

Here's a link
http://www.macon.com/2010/09/19/1270010/seeing-the-world-through-mayberry.ht
ml

 

 

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Scratch that previous email

2010-09-20 Thread Ben Sandifer
Just got today's email, and noticed that Eddie Jones had already sent you a
link to that story in yesterday's Macon paper.

I guess a body has to get up pretty early in the morning to put one over on
Eddie Jones.

 

 

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Upcoming book

2010-07-16 Thread Ben Sandifer
I just learned yesterday of the upcoming biography I Appreciate It: My
Life with Andy Griffith and Jim Clark.  Does anyone know the release date?
And with Ron Howard writing the forward, there's only one word to describe
this book - BIG !   I just hope the forward is really about Andy, and not
Arnold's dad.

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Saturday Night Live

2010-05-13 Thread Ben Sandifer
SNL had its best ratings in 18 months with Betty White as guest host.  Now
there's a Facebook campaign to get Carol Burnett to guest host.  What about
Andy?  He'd be terrific, and just think of the cameos by others.Gomer,
Goober, Thelma Lou, Opie.  He could even be his own musical guest with the
Charlene and the boys.  Why don't we start a Facebook campaign for this!

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Could this really be Miracle Salve

2010-02-04 Thread Ben Sandifer
A friend sent me an e-mail listing nearly 50 uses for WD40.  In reading
through the list, my first thought was Shazam, this sounds like Miracle
Salve.  I'd like to send the list to Dr. Pendyke for verification.

Does anyone know his e-mail address?  And then, if it looks like we have a
potential lawsuit, I'll give Neil Bentley a call.  I think I still have his
card.  I was disappointed to learn that WD40's secret ingredient is fish
oil, and not oregano.   By the way, one of the uses for WD40 is to put it on
a fishing lure to attract more fish.  Now we know how a first-time fisherman
like Howard Sprague could catch Old Sam.

 

 

 

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A Fife-ism that still applies

2009-07-01 Thread Ben Sandifer

Here in our community, our Emergency Management director has recently been 
under fire because he took it upon himself to deliver a generator to a home 
that was damaged by fire.  The home happened to be owned by a state 
representative, who happens to be married to a member of city council.  The 
whole incident reminds me of a classic Barney Fife quote, When you're a lawman 
and you're dealing with people, you do a whole lot better if you go, not so 
much by the book, but by the heart.
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Theme song in different keys

2009-06-18 Thread Ben Sandifer

My guess is to why the theme song was done in one key at the beginning and 
another ket at the end is that there were two different whistlers, and not 
everyone can whistle in any key.
If there were 2 different whistlers, I'll bet they both got an A in breathing.

Or it could be your gauge - sometimes she'll tell you F when you've really 
got yourself an E

But one thing I know - a good stand-by cymbalist can play in any key.

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Mayberry Dads

2009-06-10 Thread Ben Sandifer

In addition to all of those TV dads, how about just the best Mayberry dads.
Here's my top 10, not necessarily in order:

1. Andy Taylor (without a doubt, my #1 on this or any show)
2. Briscoe Darling (outstanding job as a single parent, raising Charlene  
those rowdy boys. Also demonstrated that it's okay for a man to cry.)
3. Mayor Pike (any dad that likes his daughter's singing that much should be on 
the list)
4. Mr. Winkler (he finally wised up and took Arnold to the old-fashioned 
woodshed)
5. Jim Muggins (a man that wanted to be with family on Christmas Eve,even while 
incarcerated should be on the list)
6. Sam Jones (good job raising Mike, and often took advice from Andy on his 
experiences with Opie)
7. Floyd Lawson (I always was partial to a man that will oil the stops on his 
boy's saxophone before his big audition)
8. Sam Becker (Quiet Sam was right there when his baby was born)
9. Mr. Carter  Mr. Wakefield (they were together in their feud, so they're 
together on the list, and they finally learned that one wedding is better than 
two funerals)
10. Barney Fife (a stretch, but he always had some pretty good ideas on raising 
that imaginary son of his)

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Songs Andy Sang

2009-06-08 Thread Ben Sandifer

My first guess was gonna be Never Hit Your Grandma With A Great Big Stick, 
but then I realized that song was never sung, just mentioned.  So my guess is 
Midnight Special, which Andy sang with Jim Lindsey in the episode called The 
Guitar Player Returns from the 1960-61 season.  Midnight Special was a hit 
for Paul Evans in 1960.  It first charted as a rhythm 'n blues hit for Tiny 
Grimes in 1948, and made the Billboard Top 40 charts again in 1965 with a 
version by Johnny Rivers. Rivers' version was also the theme for the Midnight 
Special, late night TV show, in the 70's and early 80's.  The song was first 
recorded as a folk song in the 1920's, and has been recorded by artists like 
Leadbelly, Paul McCartney, Little Richard, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Harry 
Belafonte, The Kingston Trio, Van Morrison and even Andy Griffith, himself. 
Though he had a few other chart hits, Paul Eveans is probabaly more famous as a 
songwriter.  Among the songs he has written are Roses Are Red (Bobby Vinton), 
and two Elvis hits - I Gotta Know and
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Ron Howard in AARP magazine

2009-06-02 Thread Ben Sandifer
There's a nice story on Ron Howard in the July/August issue of AARP Magazine.  
The magazine has more pictures, but here's a limk to the on-line edition.
http://www.aarpmagazine.org/entertainment/ron_howard.html
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Happy Birthday Andy

2009-06-01 Thread Ben Sandifer

 
June 1, 1926, Andy Griffith was born in Mt. Airy, NC.
Happy 83rd birthday, Ange !
This should be a national holiday.
I say we all take the day off and go fishing.
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Re: Rafe Hollister

2009-05-10 Thread Ben Sandifer

 
I can't find where Jack Prince (Rafe Hollister) made any recordings.  There's a 
site www.allmusic.com  with a wealth of information about anyone who's ever 
recorded.

An interesting bio on Prince, and how Andy Griffith heard him on Broadway. 
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0697666/bio

I tried to call the local record store to see if they had any of Rafe's 
records, but it's Sunday afternoon and the lines have been tied up for hours by 
two old ladies talking about their feet falling asleep.
I wonder what causes that?
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A Mayberry moment

2009-05-08 Thread Ben Sandifer

 
I was helping my 11-year old pack his lunch for school this morning.  He's been 
taking chili-cheese flavored potato chips the last few days, and here's how the 
conversation went:

Dad: Do these chips really taste like chili and cheese?
Son: Yea, Dad, if they didn't, you know what it would be, don't you?
Dad: What?
Son: Falsifying !
Dad: Falsifying ?
Son: Falsifying!  It'd be the clearest case of falsifying you ever saw!

Raise 'em right...bring 'em up on Andy.
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Anachronsims

2009-04-10 Thread Ben Sandifer
I always figured Mayberry was set in the late 50's-early 60's by the cars that 
were used, and also by some of the real people opie mentioned - Elvis Presley, 
Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford.

Other than Floyd's admiration for Calvin Coolidge, what other non-fictional 
people do you remember mentioned in Mayberry?
 
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Re: Mayberry single girls

2009-04-02 Thread Ben Sandifer
DeLayne,

You may be on to something here. Not only were there many single girls in The 
Farmer Takes A Wife, but let's not forget about  A Wife For Andy.
Barney brought in so many prospects for Andy that there was even talk about 
starting a girls' softball team.  According to the calculatin' machines down at 
the bank - and those machines are real good - that'd have to be at least 10.  
And of course, the Darlings were less than impressed with the choice of 
prospective husbands for little Andylina - even with that fine dowry as part of 
the deal.
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Goober got it

2009-03-25 Thread Ben Sandifer

 

With bailouts, budgets, deficits in the news these days many people have a hard 
time understanding how the significance of a trillion dollars.
As Goober once said, Now boys them zeros is the key to the whole thing!

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Thanks, Tom

2009-03-22 Thread Ben Sandifer
Thanks, Tom Baker for sharing Paul Harvey's Rest of the Story feature on Andy 
and Mayberry.
For me, listening to Paul Harvey ranks right up there with watching Andy 
re-runs.
And when you put the 2 together - what a great combination !
It sure would be nice if ABC would release a box set of these Paul Harvey 
features.
This would make a nice companion to the Andy DVD's.
 
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Night Before Christmas in Mayberry

2008-12-23 Thread Ben Sandifer
To all regular contributors to and readers of this blog, especially to Allan 
and his family, and even to all you interlopers who may drop by, here's a poem 
I wrote last year.
Sorry there's nothing new to add, but then we all know that reruns work!  Merry 
Christmas to all.

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through Mayberry

This year's Santa would become legendary

A picture from Otis was hung up with care

By the one of the rose, which had won at the fair

 

The children had put up the last Christmas wreath

Opie and Mary Wiggins, who'd lost her front teeth

And Andy, with no gun, adorned his night cap

Just in case feuding families finally ended their scrap

 

When out on the street there came a great noise

Could it be Briscoe, Charlene and the Darling boys?

It probably wasn't that nut named Bass

It didn't sound one bit like shattering glass

 

No snow, just a steady rain fell from the sky

It had rained every day since those gypsies came by

When up came a black Ford automobile

With way yonder too much grease on the wheel

 

With a skinny little driver, who still had no wife

He was known by such names as Fast Gun Fife

His car barely made it, slowly moving along

A mechanic named Pyle told him all that was wrong

 

Needs points, needs plugs, needs new wires, by gosh

And she could also use a really good wash.

To the Taylors driveway, he'd park right behind

Mr. Tucker's big car 'cause he'd changed his mind

 

He looked at the house and wished he could fly

Then a ladder next to the house caught his eagle eye

He'd climb up the ladder, yep, that was the plan 

It was left there by Wheeler, Aunt Bee's handy man

 

He knew how to enter a room with such ease

He'd taught Ernest T. , with full amenities 

But on this special night, the door would not do

So down the chimney the thin deputy flew

 

He was dressed all in tan, now what could be dumber

This night, I doubt he'd encounter Fred Plumber

His hair Floyd had slicked down, but not a bit drippy

In case fingers ran through from a fun girl named Skippy

 

His hat held his ticket book just in case

The governor's car was parked in the wrong place

The bullet in his pocket was shiny and neat

And if he should use it, watch out for your feet

 

When he sang, it just kind of made you sick

'Cause he just couldn't sing - not one single lick

Even an old-fashioned recitation didn't work

After all, you can't make a bird go chirp, chirp

 

He had not an ounce of fat which helped him hustle

He could eat all the cookies, since they all went to muscle

He had little time and might get in a pinch

Since a tightwad named Weaver might turn into the grinch

 

He spoke not a word, there was much work to do

He still had to call Juanita and say toodle-ooh

For Opie he left some shiny, new skates

And a guitar, the kind that Lydia Crosswaite hates

 

For Aunt Bee he left 24 canning jars

More kerosene cucumbers for out-of-state cars

He left his friend Andy a hat and a tie

He'd never wear either, but he still had to try

 

And when he had finished he went out the door

He'd saved enough time for just one thing more

To Thelma Lou's house he now had to go

For a pan of her fudge and that doctor show

 

He cranked up his car on the third or fourth try

On his cycle and side car he could better rely

But I heard him exclaim as he drove through the mud

Merry Christmas to all, now, nip it in the bud.

 
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Local campaign ads

2008-10-17 Thread Ben Sandifer
Here in Macon, GA, proud birthplace of Sam Edwards and home of the Lots of 
Luck to You  Yours chapter, we have a local campaign ad in the sheriff's race 
which not only is misleading, but has at least 3 documented cases of 
malfeasance. Besides that, it's factually incorrect as it refers to Barney 
Fife, not Andy, as Mayberry's sheriff.  If I were the incumbent sheriff, the 
target of this negative ad, I'd be honored for the comparison to the 
most-popular sheriff of all time. But here's where the problems lie. #1 - they 
use the Andy Griffith theme in the background of this ad.  Unless they obtained 
perrmission and paid the music publisher for the rights to use this, it's a 
serious copyright infringement.  #2 and #3 - they use the terms Mayberry and 
Barney Fife in the ad, and I believe these are both registered trademarks. 
Hopefully the boys in the lab are already working to nip this in the bud.  If 
not our town, the beloved birthplace of Sam Edwards, will turn into a regular 
sin city.
 
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Favorite Season

2008-08-15 Thread Ben Sandifer
Regarding the favorite season of TAGS question, I took this to the boys at the 
lab and they went to the www.mayberry.com website and carefully studied the 
results of the Favorite Episode poll.
Out of all the episodes (28 total) that got at least 100 votes, there were 11 
from Season 3; 8 from Season 4 and 4 from Season 1.  Seasons 2 and 5 had 2 each 
and Season 7 had 1.

Then after getting the special at the diner for only 80-cents (I don't know how 
they do it), the boys at the lab looked at total votes for these 28 episodes.  
Episodes from Season #3 had a total of 4,077 votes, while those in Season #4 
had 3,035.  So the boys at the lab have come to the conclusion that Season #3 
is the best.

A word of warning - if you go around quoting these numbers, someone may accuse 
you of reading the magazine section of the Sunday paper again.

One other thought - The episode Otis The Deputy in Season #7 had a very high 
number of votes (717), while no other episodes in seasons 6-8 even had 100 
votes.
Could these voters be confusing this episode with Deputy Otis from Season #2? 
  This might be a documented case of malfeasance.  (Curious, curious, curious).
 
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Funniest line

2008-08-05 Thread Ben Sandifer
I have to agree that wonder who that could be? is the funniest line in the 
series.
Maybe we could do a favorite line poll, or funniest line poll on the web site, 
similar to the Favorite episode poll.

And my choice for the most prophetic lineGot time to breathe, got time for 
music.
 
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Sheriff of the Year

2008-07-26 Thread Ben Sandifer
Congratulations to Putnam County, Georgia, Sheriff Howard Sills. Earlier this 
week he was named Sheriff of the Year by the Georgia Sheriff's Assocation.  
Is it just a coincidence that Sheriff Sills' mobile command post includes a DVD 
collection of TAGS, which Sills calls the best training films that ever was?  
 Naturally we Andy fans know better.  There's only one word to describe this 
honor - BIG !
The boys at the lab haven't been able to come up with a website or e-mail 
address, but if you'd like to drop the sheriff a note, try: Sheriff Howard 
Sills, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, 108 South Madison Avenue,
Eatonton, Georgia 30124
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Law enforcement loves Andy

2008-07-12 Thread Ben Sandifer
Alan,
I think I sent this in when the blog may have been down.  If I just missed it 
my apology for the repeat.  If not, here goes:

Our local newspaper recently ran a story titled, Not Many Mayberrys: 
Patroling the countryside isn't what it used to be

Here's the direct quotes from Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills:

The department doesn't have a Web site. It does, however, boast a mobile 
command post - an extra-long, camper-style trailer - that sports an array 
state-of-the-art computers and communications gizmos. Also inside, a DVD 
collection: The Andy Griffith Show.
They're the best training films that ever was, Sills says. Thank God I 
remember it. Because practically nobody that works here does. But I remember 
Mayberry. And nothing would make me happier than to go back to it.

You can find the full story at http://www.macon.com/198/story/384923.html  

I'd be curious to hear of any other law enforcement people who have similar 
situations.

Ben Sandifer
Macon, GA  (proud birthplace of Sam Edwards; aka Sam Muggins (The Christmas 
Story), Lester Scobey (Andy Forecloses), Fred (The Bazaar) and Tom Bedlow (The 
Lodge/The Barbershsop Quartet)


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Holler Fish

2008-06-05 Thread Ben Sandifer
I may have asked this question when the technical problems were going on, so I 
never saw any feedback.
I was watching an old M*A*S*H episode and Hawkeye used the expression run up 
an alley and holler fish.
I always thought this was a Gomer-exclusive, from Citizen's Arrest.
Anyone know the origin of this phrase and what it means?
 
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Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-08 Thread Ben Sandifer
I just heard a story on the radio about a survey which revealed the Top 5 TV 
moms.  Not necessarily in order, they were June Cleaver, Carol Brady, Marian 
Cunningham, Harriett Nelson and Lucy Riccardo.
Got me to wondering, if Aunt Bee or Andy were even in the running.  I seem to 
recall Barney once saying something about Andy being mother and father to Opie. 
There was also the reference to Helen Crump as Ernest T's Mother Figure.   
What other references to mothers do some of you more trained noticers recall?

And happy Mother's Day to all the moms,

Ben Sandifer
Macon, GA (proud birthplace of Sam Edwards, who played  Jim Muggins, Lester 
Scobey, Tom Bedlow)
 
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Real life Andy moment

2008-03-25 Thread Ben Sandifer
We have a relatively new cat in our house, and I play a number of different 
musical instruments.
I've discovered that the cat hates the guitar...he doesn't mind the clarinet or 
the saxophone, but he hates the guitar.
If it wasn't a male cat, I'd call him Lydia Crosswaithe...that's a cute name 
for a girl (cat)...not that I'd ever expect a boy (cat) to be named Lydia.
 
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Another Schwamp-style mystery

2008-03-07 Thread Ben Sandifer
Does anyone know the identity of the actress (or perhaps musician) who played 
Hazel?  She was in at least 2 episodes - Barney and the Choir and The Song 
Festers - but wasn't listed in the credits.  
Like Mr. Schwamp, I don't think she ever said a word but could she ever tickle 
those ivories, especially on good-ole 14-A.  I don't think we ever even knew 
her last name.  Too bad Hazel wasn't even given an audition when Opie's band 
added a keyboard player.  Of course, she probably couldn't have doubled as 
their manager like Clara did.  I also seem to recall one of the church scenes 
where someone other than Clara was playing the organ.  Maybe one of you trained 
noticers with a little more experience could let us know if that might have 
been Hazel.

 
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Thelma Lou's last name

2008-03-02 Thread Ben Sandifer
While you trained noticers keep trying to figure out where Thelma Lou's house 
was, here's something to keep you up nights.
Assuming Thelma Lou is one of those good old southern double first names, did 
we ever know Thelma Lou's last name?
And come to think of it, did we know the last names of any of Barney's other 
girlfriends (Hilda Mae, Miss Rosemary, and of course that fun girl Skippy).
The only ones where we know the last names, weren't real girlfriends since they 
had ulterior motives - Melissa Stevens (who turned out to be Gladys the 
matrimonial con artist),
Agnes Jean Parker (who was only after information on the supermarket 
robberies), and Teena Andrews (who only needed a date for the world premier of 
her new movie).
And then there's Juanita, an assumed voice on the other end of the phone who 
was never heard nor seen.
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TV commercial

2008-02-09 Thread Ben Sandifer
Those of you in or around Macon, Georgia, have probably seen a TV commercial 
for a local car dealer with Barney and Gomer impersonators.  I'm not sure who 
they are, but I know for sure the guy who's Barney is not David Browning.  The 
other guy doesn't look or sound a bit like Gomer.  He does identify himself as 
Gomer Pyle. I wonder if this is any type of copyright infringement.  
Curious, curious, curious.
Maybe I'll contact Neil Bentley in Mt. Pilot.  Of course he's hard to reach on 
a Saturday since he's probably out buying a good suit.
 
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Plane crash Andy music

2008-02-04 Thread Ben Sandifer
Here's a link to a story in the AJC about the Mt. Airy plane crash 
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2008/02/01/crash_0201.html

As far as a soundtrack from TAGS, the only thing I've found is Songs, Themes 
and Laughs from the Andy Griffith Show  Available at Weaver's for just $12 (I 
don't know how they do it)
http://www.weaversdepartmentstore.com/index.php?item=140ret=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.WeaversDepartmentStore.com%2Findex.php%3Fpage%3D1%26category%3D35
Amazon also has this.  Andy has recorded several gospel and comedy albums, and 
there are a few by the Dillards.  It would be nice to have a soundtrack with 
things like Andy, Barney  Mr. Tucker harmonizing on
Church in the Wildwood, Aunt Bee and Opie's duet of Toot Toot Tootsie,  
Ernest T. Bass on vocals and gas can with Old Aunt Mariah.   

Big Maude thinks a real treasure would be some talked about but never heard 
material, like:
1. Ernest T. Bass singing Eatin' Goober Peas
2. Never Hit Your Grandma With A Great Big Stick and others never played by 
the Darlings because they made Charlene, Briscoe or little Andylina cry.
3. Harmonica selections from the light classics by Barney Fife.
4. Anything by Leonard Blush, especially those vocals he performed on the Ethel 
Page organ recital at the Pot 'O Honey Restaurant
5. Rock  Roll Rosie from Raleigh by Jim Lindsay

And some others for consideration include:
1. Opie and Clifford's group - unplugged (after all that amplification can be 
dangerous)
2. My Influence on Kenny G, Dave Koz and other Saxophone Greats by Floyd 
Lawson's son (did we ever know his name?)
3. My Hometown, Venice and more by that great songwriting writing team of 
Bea Taylor and Clara Johnson Edwards - the liner notes could even include their 
homemade pickle recipes
4. You Could Be Another Leonard Blush - a collection of easy larynx and voice 
box calisthenics from Elenora Poultice
5. Juanita and Other French Harp Solos To Calm Down A Loaded Goat by Barney 
Fife
6. The Dipsy Doodle and Other Songs To Sing When You Have A Snoot Full by 
Otis Campbell
7. Flow Gently Sweet Afton by that one-hit-wonder, Juanita Pike
8. Battle of the band leaders - Bobby Fleet versus Keavy Hazleton
9. A collection of songs for your next swingin' singles party, as compiled by 
Howard Sprague
10. All Day Long and other songs you can sing quietly when everyone else in 
the house is asleep, by Gomer Pyle (CD package includes a funeral parlor fan 
with the lyrics printed on it)

Maybe Mr. Maxwell could take these ideas up to Richmond and see what he can do 
with them.  If he's looking for investors for this project, I'm in.
 
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Other applications for quotes

2008-01-18 Thread Ben Sandifer
True TAGS fans already know how applicable certain lines from Andy episodes are 
in everyday situations. When you use these lines, you can spot other Andy fans 
right away because they get it.  Others are like the judges at the musicale 
when Barney selected something from the light classics for his tryout - it's 
over their heads (see what I mean).  I would love to hear from others how some 
lines paraphrased from TAGS have popped up in everyday conversations.  Here's 
one of my examples.  I pulled into the church parking lot the other day just to 
run in and pick up something I needed.  Another church member saw that I was 
parked in a parking space reserved for visitors.  He said something like, Hey, 
you can't park there.  That space is for visitors.   My response as I looked 
around, There ain't a visitor in sight, but if one comes along I'll give him 
the right of way.

 
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Night Before Christmas in Mayberry

2007-12-23 Thread Ben Sandifer
A very merry Christmas to all members of the WBMUTBB chapter.
And as Gomer would say, Thank you, thank you, thank you to Allan for keeping 
this going.
Best case of communication I ever saw.

And now, I've taken the liberty of re-writing a Christmas classic.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through Mayberry

This year's Santa would become legendary

A picture from Otis was hung up with care

By the one of the rose, which had won at the fair

 

The children had put up the last Christmas wreath

Opie and Mary Wiggins, who'd lost her front teeth

And Andy, with no gun, adorned his night cap

Just in case feuding families finally ended their scrap

 

When out on the street there came a great noise

Could it be Briscoe, Charlene the wired Darling boys?

It probably wasn't that nut named Bass

It didn't sound one bit like shattering glass

 

No snow, just a steady rain fell from the sky

It had rained every day since those gypsies came by

When up came a black Ford automobile

With way yonder too much grease on the wheel

 

With a skinny little driver, who still had no wife

He was known by such names as Fast Gun Fife

His car barely made it, slowly moving along

A mechanic named Pyle told him all that was wrong

 

Needs points, needs plugs, needs new wires, by gosh

And she could also use a really good wash.

To the Taylors driveway, he'd park right behind

Mr. Tucker's big car 'cause he'd changed his mind

 

He looked at the house and wished he could fly

Then a ladder next to the house caught his eagle eye

He'd climb up the ladder, yep, that was the plan 

It was left there by Wheeler, Aunt Bee's handy man

 

He knew how to enter a room with such ease

He'd taught Ernest T. , with full amenities 

But on this special night, the door would not do

So down the chimney the thin deputy flew

 

He was dressed all in tan, now what could be dumber

This night, I doubt he'd encounter Fred Plumber

His hair Floyd had slicked down, but not a bit drippy

In case fingers ran through from a fun girl named Skippy

 

His hat held his ticket book just in case

The governor's car was parked in the wrong place

The bullet in his pocket was shiny and neat

And if he should use it, watch out for your feet

 

When he sang, it just kind of made you sick

'Cause he just couldn't sing - not one single lick

Even an old-fashioned recitation didn't work

After all, you can't make a bird go chirp, chirp

 

He had not an ounce of fat which helped him hustle

He could eat all the cookies, since they all went to muscle

He had little time and might get in a pinch

Since a tightwad named Weaver might turn into the grinch

 

He spoke not a word, there was much work to do

He still had to call Juanita and say toodle-ooh

For Opie he left some shiny, new skates

And a guitar, the kind that Lydia Crosswaite hates

 

For Aunt Bee he left 24 canning jars

More kerosene cucumbers for out-of-state cars

He left his friend Andy a hat and a tie

He'd never wear either, but he still had to try

 

And when he had finished he went out the door

He'd saved enough time for just one thing more

To Thelma Lou's house he now had to go

For a pan of her  fudge and that doctor show

 

He cranked up his car on the third or fourth try

On his cycle and side car he could better rely

But I heard him exclaim as he drove through the mud

Merry Christmas to all, now, nip it in the bud.

 

 
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Favorite episodes

2007-12-08 Thread Ben Sandifer
Picking a favorite episode of TAGS is almost as hard as picking a favorite 
song, or a favorite child.  I found 4 different polls and combined the results 
of each (1) a poll of TAGSRWC members several years ago,
(2) a 40th reunion poll that I believe was conducted by TV Land (3) a poll of 
TAGS cast members - this was also for a TV Land special and (4) the current 
ongoing on-line poll at mayberry.com
Of these 4 polls there were 9 different episodes mentioned in the top 10 for 
more than one poll.  In each poll, I gave the #1 episode 10 points, the #2 
episode 9 points, etc.
Here are the results:
#9 The Christmas Story (4 points total)
#8 Barney's First Car (6 points total)
#7 Opie's Charity (7 points)
#6 Mr. McBeevee (15 points and mentioned in 2 different polls)
#5 Convicts At Large (15 points and mentioned in 3 different polls - I used 
this as the tiebreaker with Mr. McBeevee)
#4 Barney's Sidecar (18 points)
#3 Man In A Hurry (29 points)

And now (Drum Roll) the winners - a tie for first place - both mentioned in all 
4 polls and both with 30 total points - The Pickle Story and Opie the 
Birdman
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Andy songs

2007-11-21 Thread Ben Sandifer
The Rascal Flatts entry, as Miss Crump would say, raises some interesting 
points.   How many other songs about TAGS, Mayberry, etc. are there?
One of the best known may be The Andy Griffith Show by the Bellamy Brothers 
from their 1993 album Rip Off The Knob.
Another big one was Confederate Railroad's Elvis and Andy, off their 1994 
album Notorious.
Of course our favorite deputy, David Browning, did a whole tribute album in 
2005 called Thinkin' About Mayberry.
I found some lesser known songs listed at www.allmusic.com, including Barney 
Fife by Dwight Oglesbee, several different songs called Mayberry including 
the one by Rascal Flatts.  There's also Mayberry RIP,
Mayberry Blues, Mayberry Lsdna, Another Mayberry, Chaos in Mayberry, Bury Me In 
Mayberry, Santa Goes To Mayberry and Searching the Map for Mayberry, among 
others.  Kind of strange that they don't list 
Mayberry, My Hometown by the songwriting team of Clara Edwards  Bee Taylor, 
nor anything by Jim Lindsey, Keevy Hazelton, Bobby Fleet  his Band With the 
Beat (did Freddie take over when Bobby joined the army?)  or Opie's band 
(wasn't it called the Sound Committee?).
If all of this sounds trivial, just remember Got time to breathe - got time 
for music.
 
Ben Weaver
Lots 'a Luck to you 'n yours chapter
Macon, GA  (home of Little Richard, Otis Redding, Capricorn Records and the 
Georgia Music Hall of Fame)

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Opie and the Beaver

2007-11-09 Thread Ben Sandifer
Anyone else notice the similarities between TAGS and Leave It To Beaver?   
One was set in Mayberry - one in Mayfield.  Both Opie and the Beaver seemed to 
have the same teacher every year, at least through elementary school - Miss 
Crump and Miss Landers, respectively.  Both shows had strong moral and family 
values, and usually a good lesson in each episode.  In the 80's there were 
reunion shows for both - 
Still the Beaver in 1983 and Return to Mayberry in 1986.  Opie and the 
Beaver seemed to have this thing about public servants - Beaver often hung out 
with Gus at the fire station and Opie was always hanging out at the court house 
with the sheriff.  And speaking of Gus, he was played by Burt Mustin, who was 
Jud on TAGS.  And let's not forget Doris Packer, Mayberry's own Mrs. Wiley, 
following her previous life as Beaver's school pricipal, Mrs. Rayburn.  What 
else and whom else am I missing?
 
Ben Sandifer
Lots of Luck to You and Yours chapter
Macon, GA
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