I think it's generally acknowledged that any southern character or atmosphere of TAGS dissipated during the color years, when it seemed like Mayberry could just as well have been in the Midwest. But how southern was the show from the beginning? Few if any of the cast members at the start of the series aside from Griffith and Knotts were actually from the south. Midwestern accents seemed to predominate among the supporting cast even then. I wonder if producers didn't want the show to be too "regional" so as not to alienate viewers in other parts of the country, so they tended to make the atmosphere of the show "small-town" rather than specifically "southern." I'd be interested to hear what others think about this.

Herbie Faye was the epitome of not being Southern with his New York City accent.

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It's something to listen for, but I think Goober retained an aspect of a North Carolina accent when he would say "ort" as his pronunciation of "ought" (meaning should).

It's something to listen for, but I think Goober retained an aspect of a North Carolina accent when he would say "ort" as his pronunciation of "ought" (meaning should).
George Lindsey was from Alabama.

That's right. He was from Alabama, which has a quite different accent from North Carolina and the coastal south - more similar to Texas and Arkansas, I believe.

The point was though that it was a southern accent regardless. And it persisted in the color episodes and on to Mayberry RFD.

The point was though that it was a southern accent regardless. And it persisted in the color episodes and on to Mayberry RFD.

Good point. Goober was definitely a piece of the show's southernness that survived.

Jim Nabors was also from Alabama.

Andy's girlfriend Peggy always sounded authentic, the soft consonants and slightly drawn out vowels.

I've always thought it was pretty southern, at least during the B&W years. Andy and Don use words and phrases that you don't hear above the Mason-Dixon. As far as accents go, Jim Nabors is about as southern as you can get.

In the very early part of season 1, Betty Lynn and Hal Smith had a slight southern accent. It disappeared quickly.

In the color years they had a couple of episodes where Aunt Bee had "sophisticated" parties, like when that explorer-lecturer fell for her. Clara was vying for him too, and she came over for the "social event of the season." Definitely didn't feel like a Southern get-together.

There was a similar episode where a guest preacher came to town, preaching the life of ease, but i think that was later in the b/w years.

I think it's generally acknowledged that any southern character or atmosphere of TAGS dissipated during the color years, when it seemed like Mayberry could just as well have been in the Midwest. But how southern was the show from the beginning? Few if any of the cast members at the start of the series aside from Griffith and Knotts were actually from the south. Midwestern accents seemed to predominate among the supporting cast even then. I wonder if producers didn't want the show to be too "regional" so as not to alienate viewers in other parts of the country, so they tended to make the atmosphere of the show "small-town" rather than specifically "southern." I'd be interested to hear what others think about this.

Living in the Deep South, I can testify that the Andy Griffith Show remains enormously popular with Southern viewers, to this very day. I have friends who still discuss the episode shown the night before.

I should send them a link to this forum.

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How many of the actors were from the South?

Andy Griffith was from North Carolina, and his accent is southern but a bit different from the Mississippi/West Tennessee back home). Don Knotts was from West Virginia which can be southern. The actress who played Bea Taylor was from New York. So was Howard Morris who played Ernest T (Morris was Jewish from New York).

Howard McNear who played Floyd was from Los Angeles born in 1905 (and it would have been fascinating to talk to him about what LA was like growing up then in the 10’s and 20’s.)

Jim Nabors and George Lindsey were from Alabama. They had a slightly different accent than Griffith. I loved the Nabors character talking about “the law” and especially calling the PO-lice a high is very similar to what southern people would say back home. “”Call the PO-lice now!”

Ron Howard was born in Oklahoma but was more or less raised in Los Angeles. His father Rance was born and raised in Oklahoma which is not or less a southern state.

Ken Berry was from Rock Island, Illinois on the northern part of the state so he is Yankee.

Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) was from Kansas City, Missouri, which is normally considered a southern state unless I'm mistaken. Also, Joanna Moore (Peggy) was from Georgia. Both lovely ladies.

Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou) was from Kansas City, Missouri, which is normally considered a southern state unless I'm mistaken. Also, Joanna Moore (Peggy) was from Georgia. Both lovely ladies.

Good catch. I didn't know the late Ms. Lynn was from Missouri.

Herbie Faye was the epitome of not being Southern with his New York City accent.

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I do notice that Opie's friends seem to have more Northern style accents, or definitely no Southern "twang" as, say Gomer and Goober have.

Herbie Faye was the epitome of not being Southern with his New York City accent.

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opies friend Arnold had a very NY accent.

opies friend Arnold had a very NY accent.

My local station, WRBL TV-3, has looped back around to the earliest episodes, lots of action from the young Opie, the gunfight with Andy in front of the Courthouse, leading to the mischief with the squad car, with two basically Southern sounding kids, the runaway kid who stayed with Opie for a while, all believability Southern accents.

Andy Griffith himself laid it on thick himself in the early days, with exaggerated accent and movement.