Obviously, air conditioning existed at the time TAGS was made, but it was not
very common, at least in small towns and rural areas. As someone mentioned
today, Mayberry's bowling alley apparently had it. Probably the movie theater
did and maybe the restaurants. But I suspect few homes would have had it (if
Mayberry were a real community).
I was a child during the 60's and became a teen during the 70's. I grew up on
a farm, and my parents didn't get an air conditioner until I was grown. Our
country church didn't get AC until I was grown, too. How well I remember those
hot, humid summer days when we sweltered and our clothes just stuck to us!
(Especially at church, as those were the days when people still dressed up for
services.)
It's true that we rarely see signs of anyone on TAGS sweating, but all the
porch sitting scenes were evidence of a largely pre-air conditioned age. If
all of Mayberry were air conditioned, I think it would have changed the whole
dynamic of the show -- none or few of the leisurely porch sitting scenes (so
many I couldn't list them), no loafers in front of Floyd's shop ("92!") or the
courthouse (like the pranksters who separated the sidecar from Barney's
motorcycle), and no open windows (to hear the chirping of those baby birds
whose mama is never coming back). So I think we're blessed that the show was
set in that simpler time.
Thelma Lou
(Janet)
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