What was the last black and white episode of the series?
What was the first color episode of the series?

Not counting reruns (or differences in production order) season five concluded on May 3rd, 1965 with Jerry Van Dyke's turn as the 'Banjo Playing Deputy'. Season six began in color on September 13, 1965 with 'Opie's Job' (delivering groceries).

What was the last black and white episode of the series?
What was the first color episode of the series?

Correct me if im wrong but I believe the last b&w episode was Banjo Playing Deputy and the first color episode was Aunt Bee, the Swinger. This info comes from The Andy Griffith Show Book by Ken Beck and Jim Clark, which by the way, is a great book if your big TAGS fan.

It's possible that was the first ep *filmed* in color, but all the episode guides I see list it as the 4th broadcast that season, on October 4th.

"Opie's Job" is correct, it was the first episode broadcast in color. In fact, every year the show was on the air, the season premiere was always centered around Opie. This most notably includes "Mr. McBeevee" (1962-63) and "Opie the Birdman" (1963-64).

Not counting reruns (or differences in production order) season five concluded on May 3rd, 1965 with Jerry Van Dyke's turn as the 'Banjo Playing Deputy'. Season six began in color on September 13, 1965 with 'Opie's Job' (delivering groceries).

I am really sad that Jerry Van Dyke did not replace Don Knotts as the deputy because Jerry would have made a funny character and I think he and Andy would have meshed quite well. Jack Burns was awful and then after he was fired, there was no deputy.

I found a website that has a lot of TV shows with Andy Griffith Show on the list and I am watching some of my favorite episodes now. I wont be watching any of the color episodes except the ones that Don Knotts guest starred in and the one where poor Andy had to eat three speghetti dinners in one night because of Goober (I think, I haven't seen this one in probably 25 years).