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wbmutbb-digest Wednesday, June 27 2001 Volume 03 : Number 179
Topics in this issue:
There was a deputy named Fife--and more limericks
Re: wbmutbb-digest V3 #177
Re: cast billing
Unedited TAGS episodes on DVD?
Re: wbmutbb-digest V3 #178
Oopps!!! Sorry!
McHales Navy
Opie's Irish Ma
Opie's post-TAGS/RFD appearances
BARNEYS VOICE
billing in the credits
Opie's Mom--more speculation from the Untrained Voice
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 09:32:56 -0400
From: "GRITTON, JOE A. (AIT)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: There was a deputy named Fife--and more limericks
We are all familiar with the poem, or more accurately the limerick about
Barney
There was a Deputy named Fife
Who carried a gun and a knife
The gun was all dusty
The knife was all rusty
'Cause he never caught a crook in his life
I have often wondered if it would be possible to come up with similar
verses for other Mayberry Characters in the same limerick format. (which is
very confining). After some thought and jotting notes for a few days, Here
is an attempt.
There was a Sheriff named Andy
Who with the law and people was handy
He humor was homespun
He never carried a gun
and the show based on him was a dandy
There was a lady named Aunt Bee
A wonderful homemaker was she
Whether fried chicken or pies
Her cooking took the prize
Caring her for her men, was her Specialty
There was a young boy named Opie Taylor
He was the proud son of the head jailer
Kindness, manners, obedience, had it all
A special relationship with his Paw
He was one great little red-header feller
There was good man, Floyd the Barber
No ill will for anyone he did harbor
His shop was the hangout for men
as great tales he would spin
"Tween his razor or wit--tough to tell which was sharper
There was a town drunk named Otis
Drinking moonshine was his every day modus
He rode a cow to the jail
Fought a goat in his cell
And with laughs he'd always load us
There was a gas station man named Pyle
Who had a good ole country boy style
He could dance with a spark
Surprisingly sang like a lark
but Go-lly he had a great bashful smile.
There was a deputy named Fife
Who had a hard time deciding on a wife
He thought nothing was finer
than Juanita at the Diner
Until Thelma Lou snagged him for life
There was a mountain man named Bass
Mrs. Wi-ley thought he was a bit crass
He was healthy and real strong
Always quick with a serenade song
But at rock-throwing was head of the class
There was a man named Ernest T
A rock-throwin' mountain man was he
He always made a scene
for Rowena or Charlene
"He's a nut" repeated a famous Dep-u-ty
There was a mechanic named Goober
He could fix your tire and Tube 'er
He was good with a gas pump
Sometimes could be dumb as a stump
but he was Mayberry's favorite Oil Luber
There was a family named Dar-Ling
One of 'em always had a marryin' thing
Charlene sure was perty
The boys kinda dirty
But boy could they all play and sing
There was a lady named Mary Grace
Who didn't have the prettiest face
Gomer had to think twice
when he kept hearin' she was "Nice"
but they romanced and danced at a dizzying pace
Copyright-Joe Gritton 2001
OK let's here some more--put that bucket on and give it a think!
Also let me know which are your favorites and who else you would like to
see?
Jack Egbert was no prize ya know--The Untrained Voice
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 14:15:34 EDT
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: wbmutbb-digest V3 #177
Hey Gang,
I must say I loved Miss Pooveys explination of what happened to Opie's ma. I
never thought about where she came from or where her family might be but I
loved this scenario. I believe I might just subscribe to this theory myself.
Keep up the good work groovey one...you're the katz!
Jacob in Jackson, TN
"Nip it! Nip it in the bud!!"
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 20:22:06 EDT
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: cast billing
In a message dated 6/26/01 6:25:54 PM Central Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> The only show I ever remembering going against this
> law of Hollywood is TAGS where Ronny Howard is listed
> above Don Knotts and Frances Bavier. I thought Don
> and Frances were far more accomplished actors. Am I
>
I can't accept the idea that Don Knotts would seriously consider leaving "The
Andy Griffith Show" over his billing with Andy and Ron Howard. My guess is
the simple fact that Ron Howard was the only series regular other than Andy
to actually appear in the opening credits, and that's why the billing...
Dixon
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 19:30:45 -0500
From: "Cynthia Mahoney" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Unedited TAGS episodes on DVD?
Has anyone heard anything about unedited TAGS episodes coming out on DVD
soon? Someone I know who is also a TAGS fan mentioned it to me, but I have
not heard anything about it from any other source.
Mary Grace Gossage
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 20:33:24 EDT
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: wbmutbb-digest V3 #178
Dear Jeanne(From West Virginia)
Thank you so much for the information about Howard McNear. It has always been
my favorite character on TAGS. I appreciate your hard work and research. I
enjoy your website as well.
Thanks again and warmest regards
Downtown Ron Brown
KGBY Sacramento
PS.I have got to say that "the groovymisspoovey" has the coolest nickname!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 20:00:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Oopps!!! Sorry!
Sorry about the duplicate postings about Opie's Ma. I originally sent it
on Saturday. When it didn't show up I tried againon Sunday and then
Monday! Some of my fellow webtv-ers said the e-mail system this week-end
was a little hinky. Again, sorry about that; like Brisco, I don't like
chewing my cabbage twice! Or three times in ths case!
~the groovy misspoovey~
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 20:01:33 -0500 (CDT)
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Joe)
Subject: McHales Navy
While watching a Mchales Navy episode on a local channel, I spotted our
beloved Don Knotts playing the part of a Navy psychiatrist. Being the
great actor he is,he played the part beautifully.
Joe (From the photo lab in back of the drugstore)
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 22:06:49 EDT
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Opie's Irish Ma
< He had been so deeply and completely in love with Opie's ma that his heart
was afraid to take another chance. The fact that the dear little thing had
come from Ireland, explains why we never hear about Andy romancing his wife
in high school. It also explains why we never hear about any relatives on her
side coming to visit their little grandson/nephew/cousin. >
Miss Poovey,
This storyline of yours is delightful! Are you sure you weren't a very young
writer on the show and just haven't shared it with us??? I personally think
you are right and will adopt it as part of my own mental collection of
Mayberryana.
New word: as in, Americana, definition: materials concerning or
characteristic of America, its civilization, or its culture; broadly: things
typical of America
My best to you and yours,
Aunt Bee from Modesto, CA
Jacquie Bauman
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 19:20:13 -0700
From: "euryman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Opie's post-TAGS/RFD appearances
Here's a trivia question that'll make ya'll "thank":
After TAGS/Mayberry RFD/Gomer Pyle USMC, Ron Howard appeared on TV as Opie
Taylor on 2 separate occasions. One, of course, was in "Return to
Mayberry," but can you name the other?
- --Michael
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 22:27:14 -0400 (EDT)
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Stan Oliver)
Subject: BARNEYS VOICE
DON KNOTTS HAD A GREAT VOICE. IN INTERVIEWS ANDY DID STATE THAT HIM
AND DON WOULD SIT AROUND AND SING AND DON WAS A GREAT SINGER AS ANDY.
HE STATED MANY TIMES OFF CAMERA THEY WOULD SING. BUT THE SHOW WHEN
BARNEY COULD NOT SING WAS FUNNY. ALSO IF YOU EVER SEE THE SHOWS WITH
JAMES BEST AS JAMES LINDSEY PLAYING THE ELECTRIC GUITAR IT WAS NOT
PLUGGED IN. JAMES TOLD OF THIS BEFORE AND HE ALSO SAID HE DID NOT PLAY
GUITAR IN REAL LIFE BUT ANDY WAS GREAT.
STAN OLIVER
MECHANICSBURG OHIO
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 22:09:07 -0500
From: Paul Mulik <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: billing in the credits
>>>...Ronny Howard is listed [in the credits] above Don Knotts and Frances
Bavier. I thought Don and Frances were far more accomplished actors. Am I
wrong on that score?
>>>
The order should go as follows:
Andy Griffith
Ronny Howard
Don Knotts
Frances Bavier
George Lindsey
Every source you check will have Don Knotts in second, but as a regular cast
member, he was never listed higher than third in the on-screen credits. In
fact, during much of the first season he was given FOURTH billing (Elinor
Donahue was third). Andy was always first and Ronny was always second.
Eventually, Don settled in at third, and after he left the show, Frances was
given third billing.
It's true that normally an actor's credentials determine his or her place in
the line-up (BTW, Barbara Billingsley was listed first on "Leave it to
Beaver," not Hugh Beaumont) but in the case of TAGS they went according to
the importance of the characters, not the actors. When the show was
conceived, the idea was that the stories would revolve around Andy Taylor
and his family. Incredible as it may seem today, in 1960 the character of
Barney Fife was a mere afterthought. At the outset, the producers
underestimated how important the character would become as the series
progressed.
I consider George Lindsey to come in 5th because he was the only other major
TAGS cast member to be billed in the opening credits (but not until Mayberry
RFD). I omitted Ken Berry from my list because on TAGS, he didn't come
along until the very end, therefore you couldn't really call him a principal
cast member.
- --Paul
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 08:42:36 -0400
From: "GRITTON, JOE A. (AIT)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Opie's Mom--more speculation from the Untrained Voice
Still on the subject of Opie's mom....Since my buddy Miss Poovey put her
write-up in the Digest the other day, I extracted a portion of my Fan
Fiction story that I mentioned was on the TAGSRWC website...since alot of
folks don't get over there. Here is an except from "The Greatest Story
Never Told". ( and it does not disagree with the Groovy Miss P) Again, it
is just one writer's view of how things could have happened.
Andy and Opie are in their rowboat fishing together on a beautiful day
Opie: Did Maw even fish with you? [Opie stares at the empty bench
between them]
[Andy's bright smile turns serious. He rests his rod and reel on the boat
seat, runs his hand back through his hair, opens his mouth, but
nothing comes out for a moment.]
Andy: Ahh, yes she did son. We went fishin together many a time. Why
do you ask son?
Opie: Oh I just wondered what it would be like for her to be here fishin
with us too.
[Andy scoots up to where he can put his arm around Opie]
Andy: Opie, it would be the best thing ever. It would be more special than
you can imagine. I'm sorry....I'm just so sorry that we'll never get to
experience that.
[Opie reaches to hug Andy back as they both fight back tears.]
Opie: It's OK Paw. I'm just curious to know about her. Did she like
baitin' hooks? Could she cast as good as you? Did she hum like you do when
you're relaxing...those kinda things.
Andy: You know what? Those are great questions, and I've put off this
talk too long. Now let's start here with the fishin part and when we get
home, I'll pull out some pictures and books and mementos and we'll just get
you up to speed on her all together, OK? Me and Aunt Bee have been thinkin
about having this talk for a long time. We just need to have that talk.
Aunt Bee's been tellin' me we need to have that talk.
[Opie nods a grinning nod as Andy begins.]
Andy: She didn't mind baitin' hooks at all. Now she couldn't cast as far as
I can, but boy she could drop that hook right over a ripple where a fish
just jumped. Why if she was a little quicker she coulda hit that fish in
the head with her sinker.
Opie: (giggles) Was fishin' her favorite thing to do too Paw?
Andy: Well no, I wouldn't go that far. I think she learned to like it
because she knew I enjoyed it so much....Now see her favorite thing was to
take long walks in the country.
- -----(portion of the story deleted her for brevity--see it on the web)
Opie Paw, did she get to hold me before she died?
Andy: You better know she did son. Yes sireee! I remember the doctors
was still workin' on her and she had this air thing over her nose
and mouth. They brought you in all rapped up in a blue nightey. Then,
they laid you down oh her chest. Her eyes got wide, she
grinned so much, they could hardly keep that mask on her. She looked
at me, she looked at you, she looked up toward the ceiling...She held you
up, as much as her frail arms could stand and then brought you down, right
on her cheek,...see you wasn't much bigger that a minute. Then her eyes
closed and she held you tight. I wrapped my arm around the two of
you...and that was it..the most special time ever, and the
saddest...but we were all together for those precious few moments.
[...only the birds can be heard as the two sit and reflect..]..
- ------------
I may be high-spirited but I'm not sensitive. Don't be sayin' I'm sensitive
The Untrained Voice
------------------------------
End of wbmutbb-digest V3 #179
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