>>>Hi Neighbors I have a question for the expert level noticers. I'm trying to understand how the opening credits on the show worked, specifically, for Elinor Donahue. I have the Paramount set of DVDs. I find only 3 audio mentions of Elinor in the opening credits....where the voice over announcer said her name. This was on Ellie Comes To Town, Irresistable Andy, and later in the season The Horse Trader. I did not see a visual opening credit for Elinor Donahue....that is her name on the screen in the open. Does anyone remember or know if her name was visually on the opening credits? >>>
Mighty good question, Dennis! Elinor Donahue was indeed given third billing in some early episodes, after Andy Griffith and Ronny Howard. The reason for this was, before the first few episodes were filmed, her character was envisioned as a major part of the series, and at that point, the idea of Andy having a deputy was a mere afterthought (Barney Fife was added to the cast after Don saw the pilot on TV, and called Andy to ask for a job). As far as her name appearing in print during the opening sequence, I don't recall ever SEEING it, but announcer Colin Male definitely did SAY it. However, there were several different versions of the opening segment used over the years (the even changed the name of the show to "Andy of Mayberry" in some iterations), so maybe her name was seen at some point. While we're on the subject of credits, most any source you check will give the cast in this order: Andy Griffith Don Knotts Ronny Howard Frances Bavier ... however, in the onscreen credits, Don Knotts was never higher than third (unless you count his special guest appearances during the color years). Ronny was always given second billing, immediately after Andy, and always before Don. Here, then, is the correct order: Andy Griffith Ronny Howard Don Knotts Frances Bavier George Lindsey Frances is fourth, because as Dennis mentioned, her name appears in the opening credits during the color years. George Lindsey should be 5th, because his name finally made it to the opening credits, he just had to wait until the later episodes of Mayberry R.F.D. --Paul Mulik _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
