# Well Gollllllly! Gomer Pyle done married him a feller! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783 "2013-01-30T05:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/41 "2013-01-30T18:36:28Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I wonder out of curiosity: do people under- maybe… 35- even know who Gomer Pyle was? And if so have they just seen the character on _The Andy Griffith Show_ or is the show still around in syndication? I just surveyed 100 high school students. One knew of the show, one knew of the show and the actor, and one knew of the name through _Full Metal Jacket_. The other 97 had never heard of him. Make of that what you will. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/42 "2013-01-30T19:00:43Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > ``` > [snip]- his partner's been handling his nuts since the '70s.) > > ``` Shouldn’t that at least be followed by a short drum roll with a cymbal crash? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/43 "2013-01-30T19:20:36Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > He’s still alive?! That was my first reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/44 "2013-01-30T19:47:51Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > And from the Gomer Pyle USMC show, LouAnn Poovie (Elizabeth MacRae) still lives as does Duke Slater (Ronnie Schell) [Debbie Downer] Plenty of the Marines who marched in the opening credits didn’t live much longer [/DD] ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/45 "2013-01-30T20:13:04Z")
[Quote=Slithy Tove] [Debbie Downer] Plenty of the Marines who marched in the opening credits didn’t live much longer [/DD] [/QUOTE] The two biggest jawdroppers of '60s sitcoms were probably how _Hogan’s Heroes_, set in a p.o.w. camp and featuring real life concentration camp survivors in the cast, was not only a hit and not only didn’t receive boycotts and outrage out the wazoo (there were objections, but nothing severe) but lasted longer than (U.S. involvement in) the war itself, and how a sitcom about a dimwitted Marine was a hit for years during the Vietnam War without the conflict ever being mentioned (though Sgt. Carter did mention Korea a few times) or why it didn’t spark outrage as thousands and thousands and thousands of Marines died during its run. ## Both shows featured the late Larry Hovis as a regular, btw, though he was only on GP for half a season. A few years ago, the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood did admit to a successful seduction of Nabors when he was middle aged. The resulting child, Clay Aiken, was initially rumored to be the prophesied deliverer and a legate was sent to examine him, but the suspicion ended when they heard him speak. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/46 "2013-01-30T20:16:34Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That was my first reaction. Although after seeing the thread title repeatedly when I open Cafe Society, now I’m picturing it as the title of a time travel episode. _Gomer Pyle, USMC_, Episode 118: “_Well Gollllllly! Gomer Pyle done married him a feller!_” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/47 "2013-01-30T20:17:34Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Both shows featured the late Larry Hovis as a regular, btw, though he was only on GP for half a season. Only room for one Sergeant Carter on the show, I guess… ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/48 "2013-01-30T20:18:21Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > …and is significantly older than his partner (about 18 years… Anybody else initially read this as his partner was _18 yrs old_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/49 "2013-01-30T20:24:56Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Anybody else initially read this as his partner was _18 yrs old_. 😉 That would have made him the gay[er] Tony Randall. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/50 "2013-01-30T20:44:27Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > It would have ended the run very quickly and destroyed any post show career. Even Paul Lynde remained closeted in those days. Most transparent closet EVAR! ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/51 "2013-01-30T21:03:18Z")
Thanks for posting this, **Sampiro**! I never even watched the show, but it’s good to hear this happy news! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/52 "2013-01-30T21:53:39Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Those weren’t calisthenics Sgt Carter was having him do after hours… Not even the squat thrusts?!? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/53 "2013-01-30T22:11:32Z")
According to the AP article that I read, Nabors only acknowledged his sexual orientation to his close friends. How is it that everyone “knew” he was gay? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/54 "2013-01-30T22:24:48Z")
Friends have friends and three people can keep a secret only if two of them are dead. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/55 "2013-01-30T22:34:10Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > According to the AP article that I read, Nabors only acknowledged his sexual orientation to his close friends. How is it that everyone “knew” he was gay? The way he talks and pretty much everything else. He’s not flaming in the Paul Lynde/Liberace/Mr. Humphreys way but he is just as obvious.. It’s one of those “not all gay guys act like he does but _only_ gay guys act like he does”. The above said with no judgment against him at all. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/56 "2013-01-30T23:06:11Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > According to the AP article that I read, Nabors only acknowledged his sexual orientation to his close friends. How is it that everyone “knew” he was gay? > [@Sampiro](#): > > The way he talks and pretty much everything else. He’s not flaming in the Paul Lynde/Liberace/Mr. Humphreys way but he is just as obvious.. It’s one of those “not all gay guys act like he does but _only_ gay guys act like he does”. > > The above said with no judgment against him at all. Huh. This was so “known” in my generation that I’d always assumed he’d come out at some point. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/57 "2013-01-30T23:44:43Z")
Heh, this news bring a smile to my face. Good thing that he was able to live to see it be an option. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/58 "2013-01-30T23:53:24Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > According to the AP article that I read, Nabors only acknowledged his sexual orientation to his close friends. How is it that everyone “knew” he was gay? I had heard years ago that he was gay. I do not remember the source or even the exact year but it was prior to 1996. At the time I had no idea whether it was true or not. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/59 "2013-01-31T00:33:22Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The two biggest jawdroppers of '60s sitcoms were probably how _Hogan’s Heroes_, set in a p.o.w. camp and featuring real life concentration camp survivors in the cast, was not only a hit and not only didn’t receive boycotts and outrage out the wazoo (there were objections, but nothing severe) but lasted longer than (U.S. involvement in) the war itself, Well, it is hard to argue against the show when 3 of the actors escaped Germany [[Werner Klemperer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Klemperer)] [[John Banner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Banner)] [[Leon Askin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Askin)]and one of them survived a concentration camp [[Robert Clary](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Clary)][John Banner was actually in a detention camp but released]. As the actor who played Klink stated “I am an actor, if I can play Richard III I can play a nazi.” And it lasted well because it was well written and the Nazis always lost. My dad liked it because it actually also showed Germans as regular people and not all evil.[like when they kip out for something and hit somewhere for a beer] ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783/60 "2013-01-31T00:37:42Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > . . . and how a sitcom about a dimwitted Marine was a hit for years during the Vietnam War without the conflict ever being mentioned . . . Come to think of it, did the comic strip _Beetle Bailey_ ever mention it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-gollllllly-gomer-pyle-done-married-him-a-feller/648783.md?page=4)