# Andy Griffith Show trivia: **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724 "2003-12-18T11:23:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/21 "2003-12-20T03:45:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by audit1 \* > **What the name of Opie’s mother ever referenced on the show?** She was only mentioned twice on the show, but both times just as “Ma” by Opie. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/22 "2003-12-21T02:41:40Z")
And the only black person I recall seeing on the show was when Gomer went to enlist in the Marines. I think there was a black person there enlisting. Other than that, not one black person in the entire town of Mayberry, N.C. Weird. I’ll bet Barney and Andy were in the local KKK chapter. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/23 "2003-12-21T05:44:35Z")
Jim Auchmutey, [Cox News Service](http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/television/article/0,1713,BDC_2470_2418951,00.html): > [@](#): > > Griffith based much of Mayberry on his Depression-era raising in Mount Airy, a small town where the Blue Ridge begins to rise near the Virginia line. It’s a part of North Carolina that has a low black population, but that doesn’t fully explain why Mayberry seemed to be the whitest village south of Vermont. > > It was the times, Griffith said. Black actors during the civil rights era weren’t eager to play subservient roles, but the show’s creative team didn’t think viewers would buy it if, say, Aunt Bee went to see a black doctor. So they sidestepped race entirely. > > “I wish we had tried harder,” he said. “I’m sorry about that.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/24 "2003-12-21T16:25:03Z")
You would see black people in crowd shots from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/25 "2003-12-21T18:09:10Z")
Yeah - I remember black people at the county fair in the b&w (that is, good) eps. There was a black man named “Flip Conroy” in a color episode (he was a recently retired football player who also played classical piano). Opie’s mom was also mentioned in a _Danny Thomas Show_ episode, when Danny Thomas accidentally ran over and killed Opie’s turtle while driving through Mayberry. That episode is where TAGS came from. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/26 "2003-12-22T05:56:05Z")
Don Knotts is from my hometown (Morgantown, WV) – the carpenter who built our house is/was his lifelong buddy, who was mentioned on the show. He once had DK over for fried chicken in his back yard – we watched from the bushes next door, and took away souvenir chicken bones _gnawed on by a TV star!_ And yes, there were very few black people in Mayberry. I often remark that one of history’s easiest jobs must’ve been heading the Mayberry chapter of the NAACP. (Another candidate: heading the West Virginia chapter of Mensa, a job actually held by my late mother). ---
**Author:** ![Alex-NC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@Alex-NC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex-NC)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/27 "2003-12-22T21:50:50Z")
The Jack Nicholson part was that of an accused thief. He was accused of stealing a TV and all the evidence pointed to him. Aunt Bea was on the jury and held out voting not guilty because she said the Nicholson character had an “honest face.” (Chuckle) Of, course, evidence came to light that proved her right. Anyone remember when Buddy Ebsen made a guest appearence? ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/28 "2003-12-23T00:58:20Z")
Yes, Ebsen played a sneaky tramp whom Opie was in danger of admiring. But in the end, he Did The Right Thing and let Opie know he was not a role model. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/29 "2003-12-23T02:46:28Z")
Rent (or buy, it’s worth it) **No Time for Sergeants** and guffaw hysterically at Griffith and Knotts’ first scene together. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/30 "2003-12-23T04:01:31Z")
Old Man Darling also went on to be… _Uncle Jesse Duke!!!_ …oh, and I have an Andy Griffith Show DVD with the Darling episodes on it…including a “music video” of “Dooley”… …I love that song… ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/31 "2003-12-23T05:26:25Z")
**torgo** , I hear tell that the (ca.) 1958 movie ‘A Face in the Crowd’, starring Andy Griffith, is a good movie. Opinions? ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/32 "2003-12-23T15:25:02Z")
The movie is good, fine performances by Griffith and Patricia Neal. AG gives a VERY un-Andy Taylor characterization. He’s chilling and loathsome as you could never possibly imagine him. If that movie was made today, Billy Bob Thornton could easily step into the role. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/33 "2003-12-23T19:27:53Z")
Two things. I once saw Andy play and sing “Goin’ Down the Road.” He was in his office. Secumbly, Andy apparently starred in a made-for-TV movie I would give anything to see. Anyone seen this? [http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Bungalow/4383/index.html](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Bungalow/4383/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/34 "2003-12-23T19:34:35Z")
I forgot to mention the movie is called “Pray for the Wildcats,” and not only does it sound like the most demented thing ever shown on TV, it also stars Mike Brady and the understated Bill Shatner! Auuugh! I must see this movie! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/35 "2003-12-23T19:54:35Z")
I completely forgot to mention that I was an extra on **Matlock** once. I played an assistant district attorney. 3 days of work and while I did not speak to Mr. Griffith personaly, I was impressed with his hard work and easy-going nature with all of us small-fry. Never did see my episode. I wonder if I’m on camera? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/36 "2003-12-23T22:20:24Z")
[This](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0085977/) was a really good Andy Griffith movie also. It’s based on a true story/true crime novel and he plays against type in a sort of “flip side” of Mayberry. Johnny Cash is also good playing, ironically, a straight as an arrow no nonsense small town southern sheriff. Mel Brooks tells several hysterical stories about Howard Morris from when the two of them were writers on Sid Caesar’s YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS. One is about the cremation/ashes scattering of Howard Morris’ father and it appears in various forms in several Mel Brooks movies (including the mediocre LIFE SUCKS, in which the ashes being scattered belong to the character played by Howard Morris). It’s a long story, but it ultimately ends with the ashes being flung from a boat just in time for a gale of wind to blow them back on everybody in the boat. Another is how Brooks convinced Morris that he (Brooks) suffered from occasional blackouts and multiple personality disorder. Another Ernest T. Bass favorite: “Ole Man Haney’s Ocean!” ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724/37 "2003-12-24T02:31:10Z")
That is a good one **Sampiro** , probably one of the 10 best made-for-TV movies ever made. Griffith is positively evil, not unlike watching Henry Fonda in “Once Upon a Time in the West.” His scene at the end is chilling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-trivia/219724.md?page=1)