Mayberry foods
Mayberry themed foods: Pounded steak and the ever-popular spaghetti (don't forget the secret ingredient in the sauce. It's oregano. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Friends named Beasley
I worked with people who went to high school with Andy in Mount Airy. One guy was named Johnny Paul Beasley. A coincidence? He went by his middle name. Paul Beasley said that Andy always said, Paul Beasley stole Angie Montgomery from me. Paul denied knowing Angie and didn't think he had the ability to steal any girl from anyone in high school. I'm just telling what the man said. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Mt. Airy phones
I worked for the company that provided telephone service to Mt. Airy, NC. At one time Sarah worked for us. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Goober
ANDY: (Discretely speaking out of the side of his mouth) Goober, your hair is dripping. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Rooming houses
My grandparents in Illinois had several roomers. My mother was a young girl, and they were all very important grown up friends for her. One was indeed a teacher, Miss Virgie. It would not have been proper in the '20s for Miss Virgie to live anywhere else. She left--the room and teaching--when she got married, but she was always in touch with the family. And then Franz came to live with them. He was a German master baker, like my grandfather, and he came to town with a flour salesman who thought my grandfather could help him find work. He did, and they rented him that had vacated by Miss Virgie. My mother told me that was a typical way bakers found work. The roomers, in this case, had the use of a hot plate and a small sink and even room for a small kitchen table and a sitting room. It could have been Mayberry. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
All time favorite quote
Goober, your hair's drippin', Andy Taylor. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Home towns
I grew up in Urbana Illinois, home of the University of Illinois. Urbana is absolutely a University town, much like Chapel Hill, NC. I spent a great deal of time as a U of I student explaining that, Yes, people are really FROM Champaign-Urbana. My grandmother was born there, as was my mother. My father graduated from the U of I and worked as an engineer for a company that made construction equipment. No, he did not work for the University. I lived there until I had my master's degree and, OK, my husband recently pointed out that I have now lived in Knoxville, TN, longer than any other place I have lived. The funny thing is that here I am not from around here and never will be. In Urbana, it was unusual to be from around here. I expect that even though I am not from around here, this is where I will stay. It is a great place to be. Unless I can find Mayberry. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
NYC
My daughter is an actress in New York. Maybe that is why I especially enjoy this bit of phone chat from Aunt Bee: Are you wearing earrings? Well, no, Clara, I've never been to New York City, but I've always pictured them as wearing earrings. Y'all know the episode, right? ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Rafe
May be pronounced that way but actually spelled R A L P H. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
NC Geography
The short answer is Yes. The writers dealt with an unrealistic geography of NC. But I wonder if they did so to make sure to mention special places. Toast and Star, which each actually had town limit signs back to back were mentioned. Manteo, Siler City, even the relative size of Mt. Pilot and its relationship to Mayberry didn't fit the map. And wasn't Fancy Gap placed in NC rather than over the line in Virginia? Imagine my surprise when I moved to NC and found out where stuff really was! You don't suppose they were just messin' with my head. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Don on Matlock
One of my favorite Don/Andy moments on Matlock was a bit of dialog that went something like this (and I have to paraphrase: Les (Don) to Matlock (Andy): You know we are a lot alike, you and me. You've got better hair, but we are a lot alike. Love it. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Perry Como
When my parents were first married--before I came along to put a crimp in their social life--they often went dancing, and being in the big city of Chicago they had the opportunity to dance to a lot of the big bands. One night the boy singer with the band was Perry Como. He spotted my dad and spent his whole break between sets sitting and talking with them at their table. Why? Because he could spot another Italian a mile away. And Mother always said my dad had the map of Italy on his face. But they never met Bobby Fleet. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Carnival goings on
The carnival that came to the fair in the county where I grew up had some of those dancing beauties. Admittance to the tent was adults only. And to ensure that only paying customers saw the show, they spread cow manure on the ground where the bottom of the tent fell. I know this because a guy from my school got the bright idea that he could see the show by laying on the ground on his back and lift up the curtain. He didn't stay long enough to see much, but he got up with manure all over his back. The sheriff's office had plain clothes deputies patrolling the carnival. This was the sixties, but plain clothes meant suits in July with straw sailor hats and canes that could be used to catch fleeing bad guys. They didn't fool anyone, but that was kind of the idea. MTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Cast member in my guilty pleasure
You can see Rance Howard acting his heart out in Ghost Town the Movie 2007, by Dean Teaster. [Not to be confused with the theatrical movie with Ricky Gervais, this gem went straight to video.] It was filmed in Maggie Valley, NC, at Ghost Town in the Sky, the tourist attraction. It features many Ghost Town regulars, including guys whose jobs are to get 'shot' and fall off roofs for the pleasure of visiting tourists. But, there, acting his heart out as if he was in a real movie, is Rance Howard. As the sheriff, he carries the burden of advancing the story line. Too bad, they didn't let him start earlier. If they had, I wouldn't have had to watch it twice to figure out what was going on! You have to admire a fella who can turn in a fine performance under such circumstances. Used copies are available on Amazon beginning at 88 cents. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
De-tasseling
I grew up in Central Illinois. De-tasseling was a rite of passage. Hot scratchy work. Although it was hot as blazes, you had to cover your arms in long-sleeved flannel shirts and long pants and squeeze between rows of corn. Sack lunches under the noon day sun. It was one of the few jobs you could get before you were 16. Now that I have worked in agriculture in the South, my response to those who ask, But did you ever pick cotton? is No, but I de-tasseled corn and I walked (soy) beans. That's the Corn Belt equivalent. BTW, my husband, who grew up in small town NC, said Mayberry seemed more like a Midwestern town. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Blue Ridge Country magazine
July/August issue has a story about Mayberry's Museum. 'Bye. Got to go read it! Maurine Taylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Fave episode oneliner
My favorite episode contains my favorite line . . . Goober And the Art of Love is full of great lines, but I most enjoy Andy's aside: Goober, your hair's drippin'. I heard that'n and had to get up off the porch. --Andy Griffith ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Russell Hiatt sez . . .
I hope everybody saw the Q A with Russell Hiatt of Floyd's City Barber Shop . . . about cutting hair in the April 2010 issue of Men's Health magazine. Unfortunately, he didn't address the issue of clippers vs. scissors and comb. I'm sure he would have if he'd know in would be weighing on our minds. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Towns mentioned
Toast, NC. They mentioned Toast (unincorporated). ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
That Place Out on the Highway
I knew there was a reference to the Blue Vue, which was in reality a nice motel with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was owned by a good friend of Andy Griffith's. That good friend happened to be the local manager of the telephone company in Mt. Airy. (I worked in the regional office of that company.) Whenever we had business meetings in Mt. Airy, we ate at the Blue Vue. They served mighty fine barbecue! In TAGS episode I saw yesterday afternoon, it seemed to be quite a different kind of place, where Barney took someone OTHER THAN THELMA LOU. Furthermore, he did not TELL Thelma Lou, and Andy was really raggin' him about it. Asked if they went out to Lover's Leap. I love those local references. I knew a real Johnny Paul Beasley from Mt. Airy when he was a grown up working for the telephone company, and he swore that he DID NOT steal Angie Montgomery from Andy Griffith in high school! But, if he didn't, how come his name was given to a TAGS character?! He must have done somethig Andy remembered! I'm just sayin'. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Old editors never die . . .
their blue pencils continue to itch at the sight of a typo. I just voted for the Old Mount Airy City Jail even though the last time I checked there was an a at the end of Carolina. I guess editoris another name for a trained noticer. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Don has more company in heaven
Tom Poston, another of Steve Allen's crew, passed away yesterday at the age of 85. More laughter in heaven. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Terrible injustice in Knoxville
TV station WVLT in Knoxville, Tenn., has been showing two episodes of the Worlds Greatest TV Show (TAGS, of course), one at 4:30 and one at 5 p.m. for quite some time. Imagine my surprise when I came back from the mailbox recently and plunked myself down to commence the highlight of my day--the full hour of TAGS. And there was The Honeymooners at 4:30. I was mighty relieved to find Andy et al. still holding forth at 5 p.m. as usual. Not casting aspersions on The Honeymooners, but making the transition from Ralph Kramden to Andy Griffith can cause severe whiplash of the brain. All yer top scientists will tell you that! Then to make matters worse, WVLT continued to run promos for a full hour of TAGS. And I kept checking at 4:30, but the promos must have been just cruel jokes because The Honeymooners at 4:30 seems to be a semi-permanent scheduling change. BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Broadway remembers Don
At last night's Tony award show, Don Knotts was honored among the many great performers that we lost last year. There he was with Anne Bancroft, Shelley Winters, Darin McGavin and all. What a charming picture they showed. But we have the advantage. He left us Barney to visit our homes whenever we wish. BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Hair, oh, wonderful hair
One of my favorite Matlock moments is when Les and Ben are sitting around after Ben won a case with Les's help. Les says, You know you and I are a lot alike . . .[dramatic pause] . . . . You've got better hair, though. Everybody say, Awww! BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Cast mention on Broadway
I just got back from New York, where I visited my daughter, a UNC grad who is studying musical theatre, and verified that they do wear earrings just as Aunt Bee pictured them. We saw several shows, and in one we heard a TAGS cast member's name mentioned. The show is The Drowsy Chaperone, and it's a good 'un. The character known as The Man in the Chair narrates the show as a glitzy, meaningless--but fun--musical takes place in his apartment while he plays the cast album. Before he puts the needle on the phonograph record, he muses (I paraphrase): 'I thought about playing the sound track album of Meredith Willson's The Music Man because I had a hankering for a young Ronnie Howard.' I wanted to shout, Thata boy, Opie, but I didn't because I am 'way yonder too sophisticated. BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Small town phone operators--Aunt Bee beat me to it
Aunt Bee of Orlando was right. In many small towns the switchboard was located in the operator's home. Not much traffic at night, and she could handle it in her night things. In fact, at one time I worked for the company that provided phone service in Mt. Airy. I got to talking with one of our senior business managers one day. It seems he had been with the company since he was in the eighth grade. His mother had been the operator in one of our smallest exchanges. The switchboard was in her home, and when she was sleeping, he was the substitute operator. (Truth be told, he probably spelled her before that, but couldn't get paid for it until he was 14.) So, if any of you happen to be reading or posting to this list in your jammies or with curlers in your hair, just think that Sarah might have been doing a similar thing back in Mayberry. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
If it hadn't been for the color episodes
we might never have seen Aunt Bee all vamped up to scare away a the suiter that just wanted a replacement for his late wife. We might never have heard one of my favorite lines. Aunt Bee is all flustered. After spending the check from the insurance company to compensate her for the missing brooch, she finds the brooch in the pocket of her painting smock. In a tizzy, she can't seem to manage dinner as usual, and Opie, seated at the dining room table, says, TA DAH: Aunt Bee, don't we get any meat or plates or anything? BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Another TAGS-MASH connection
A big TAGS fan who lives in Tenn. went to high school and even dated BRIEFLY dated David Ogden Stiers, who played Maj. Winchester. He may deny it, but it happened. And it was a REAL experience, I'll tell you what is the truth. BTaylor Knoxville, Tenn. ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Started at Central, finished at Mayberry Union High
Maybe old Central was caught up in the great consolidation movement. That would explain why the fellas graduated from Mayberry UNION High. I mean Union High is a better name than the Mayberry-Crooked Oak-Toast-Turkey Ford-Dobson-White Plains-Walnut Cove-Rural Hall Consolidated High School. I mean they'd have to have some mighty big cheerleaders to wear that 'un on their chests. Letter sweaters would be mighty expensive. I'm just thinkin' out loud, which is not technically talkin' to myself. That would be a soliloquy, a sort of self talk, as Andy would explain it. And sometimes people think self-talkers . . . are NUTS. BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Find-a-grave, not just for the famous
Find a grave is a terrific site. I found my grandfather's monument. He died in 1919 as a young man; my father bearly remembered him. The only picture that was ever made of him is on the stone, which is in a Chicago cemetery. I live in Tennessee a century later, and I can visit my grandfather's grave electronically anytime I want to. But a total stranger put the monument up. And I am grateful. So go check out Don's site, and leave him a note. BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
I just hope . . .
Don/Barney was wearin' the old salt and pepper when he got to heaven. It's so good for the dip. BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Many roads
As we remember Don Knotts, will someone please write Barney's many roads speech? We used it so often in my family, no one ever got past many roads. Thanks, BTaylor When you work with words, words are your work. --The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, 1966 ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Funny--and useful--lines
I like--and use--all of Barney's that'd be funny, too lines. For example, --Why don't you get yourself a wig and a dress?! You could be another Emmy Schmalz. --Why don't you get yourself a partner?! You could call yourselves Frick and Frack. --Why don't you go over to the old folks' home and take the bolts off the wheelchairs?! That'd be real funny, too. --Why don't you go over to the old folks' home and wax the steps? That'd be real funny, too. (When I was in college--long, long ago--we were looking for a service project, and someone actually suggested we make popcorn balls and take them to patients in a nursing home. You can guess what/who I thought of. Or we could was the steps and take the bolts off the wheelchairs?! That'd be funny, too.) BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
Funniest . . . .
Episode: Goober and the Art of Love Line: (which happens to be from Goober and the Art of Love) Andy: Goober, your hair's drippin'. Most enduring image: The look on Barney's face when he turns around to see Andy wearing his helmet. The boy's gonna explode. Color episode: Aunt Bee, the Swinger. You had to have color to appreciate how Aunt Bee looked all tarted up. But these could be different tomorrow. BTaylor ___ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
