The role of Aunt Bee

[MichaelKeith]

I know this may be sacrilege to state (and I love Francis Bavier as Aunt Bee), but you know who else would have made an excellent Aunt Bee? Spring Byington of December Bride and Laramie fame. In fact, her show, December Bride, ended in 1959 so she could have easily been cast as Aunt Bee on TAGS as it didn't premiere till Fall, 1960. I wonder if the producers considered her for this role? Instead, she got the much smaller and shorter lasting role of Daisy in the western Laramie.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

I know this may be sacrilege to state (and I love Francis Bavier as Aunt Bee), but you know who else would have made an excellent Aunt Bee? Spring Byington of December Bride and Laramie fame. In fact, her show, December Bride, ended in 1959 so she could have easily been cast as Aunt Bee on TAGS as it didn't premiere till Fall, 1960. I wonder if the producers considered her for this role? Instead, she got the much smaller and shorter lasting role of Daisy in the western Laramie.

Interesting choice, Byington was as complicated a personality as Bavier.

I think she was too old for the role, by the time TAGS premiered she was just a month short of her 74th birthday, Bavier was 57. Byington was the star of December Bride her asking price would have been higher than Bavier. Frances played a different character in The Danny Thomas Show episode that was the backdoor pilot for the series, maybe the production team made the Aunt Bee casting decision after that episode.

[MichaelKeith]

Originally Posted by Duster76

Interesting choice, Byington was as complicated a personality as Bavier.

I think she was too old for the role, by the time TAGS premiered she was just a month short of her 74th birthday, Bavier was 57. Byington was the star of December Bride her asking price would have been higher than Bavier. Frances played a different character in The Danny Thomas Show episode that was the backdoor pilot for the series, maybe the production team made the Aunt Bee casting decision after that episode.

To me, Byington's age would not have been a problem. Byington was still in good health and did a great job on the western Laramie from 1962-1964. You are right that she would probably have been more expensive salary wise than Bavier. And your point about Bavier having played in the Danny Thomas show and he and his people (Sheldon Leonard) already being familiar with her was probably the reason she won this role in TAGS. Thanks for that piece of information. I had not known that.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

I know this may be sacrilege to state (and I love Francis Bavier as Aunt Bee), but you know who else would have made an excellent Aunt Bee? Spring Byington of December Bride and Laramie fame. In fact, her show, December Bride, ended in 1959 so she could have easily been cast as Aunt Bee on TAGS as it didn't premiere till Fall, 1960. I wonder if the producers considered her for this role? Instead, she got the much smaller and shorter lasting role of Daisy in the western Laramie.

I'm glad that didn't happen, just as I'm glad that the original Floyd was quickly replaced.