Disappearing Residents of Mayberry

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Brenton

Well, after Don Knotts left the series, so did Betty Lyn.

The character of Warren Fergueson left, perhaps maybe because, it was the worst character ever introduced on a situation comedy?

Elinor Donahue (Ellie Walker) was written out of the show because producers didn't feel she and Andy had any on-screen chemistry.

Johnny Paul Jason was played by Richard Keith (a.k.a Little Ricky on 'I Love Lucy'). His parents moved to the south in the late 1960s, thus ending his television career.

Howard McNear, as it has already been said here, wound up having to leave the show due to poor health (I believe he was much older than 61 when he left the show!)

I once read that actor Hal Smith, who played Otis the town drunk, wasn't really sure either what happened to the character of Otis. He recalled that he simply didn't get anymore calls from the producers. In later years, Smith became a born-again Christian and he limited his acting roles.

Interesting detail about Otis just not appearing really after the switch to color... another point in the change of tone from the wilder more sophisticated (racy) humor of the first years really, a shift more and more to a sort of conservatism of a dour unfunny Andy, more simplistic and formula plots, and no room for degenerates, drunks and so on like Otis, Ernest T. Bass, and so on, bringing in characters like Howard and Sam.

Just an observation that comes to me reading this thread.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by tdr

It can be an equally intriguing question, how some of the town residents suddenly appeared on the show. Floyd not only left for the second time, this one permanently, but Emmit the fix-it man appears with his shop in the former barber shop also without explanation, and then it appears he has been there for years and everyone in Mayberry knows him as they knew Floyd.

Goober is mentioned several times by his cousin, Gomer, before he is ever seen, and then he simply becomes another Gomer, slightly less ignorant, less kind-hearted, and with a little bit of an ego. George Lindsey, of course, had the inside shot at the Gomer role until Jim Nabors came along, so by the end he played the 'fillin' station' clown longer than the original Gomer anyway.

But while Goober could replace Gomer, and Emmit could replace Floyd, Warren could not replace Barney. So then in comes another guy who is supposed to have been around all along; Howard. Evidently he is supposed to have stayed at home under his mother's watchful eye til he was in his 30's and got the job of County Clerk, and finally had enough contact with people that he wanted to join the community, to his mother's consternation. In Mayberry RFD it is even implied that Howard and Goober had a personal feud going back to their school days in Mayberry. Maybe Goober used to beat poor Howard up, so that's why he didn't join the crowd til he was about 37.

Excellent post, with a lot of frustrating questions which of course we'll never really get answers to.

Howard's such a strange bird.

[treky]

Originally Posted by glenny

I know that Hal Smith had guest starring roles in the 70's on "The Odd Couple", playing a clown a a childrens party and on "The Brady Bunch" playing a host of a kids televison show. Bobby went on the show to try to win a ice cream eating contest.

he also played the store Santa that Cindy asks to bring Carols voice back in the first season THE BRADY BUNCH Christmas episode "THE VOICE OF CHRISTMAS".

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by vze3t9q9

According to the 1986 or was it 1985 reunion Otis sobered up and was driving a ice cream truck. I guess he when to AA.

Yes, I was just watching the opening scene of Return To Mayberry, and there's Otis driving up in the ice cream truck, screaming about the monster in Myers Lake!

The clip for that I found at:

http://www.tvparty.com/newandy5.html

And also I see the location for Mayberry was at that time Los Olivos, California, a pretty convincing looking Mayberry, really.

[biffbronson]

Just for the record, Otis Campbell did appear in at least two color episodes of the original run of TAGS (when Andy and Howard are being held captive in a cabin, and also when he takes up artwork and creates a hideous piece for the Taylor living room...!).

[brgmgb]

I've wondered about some characters disappearing too. As was said, Thelma Lou was back in the class reunion episode where Barney found out she had married.

It is also amazing how Walker's Drug Store disappears too when Ellie leaves. Did Ellie leave with the guitar player and Ben Weaver?

As for Floyd, I thought there was an episode where they said he opened a shop in Mount Pilot. He did talk about it in the episode where Howard bought the building. I think when he finally left the show, they made that comment.

Next to Floyd's Barber Shop was a TV Repair shop. Isn't that Emmit's Fix-It Shop? If so, everyone in town would know him. The strange thing is the shop has no door to the sidewalk.



And there is an episode where Andy is talking with Opie about Howard. Probably the first episode with Howard. Andy says that they went to school together. Andy said something like Howard was a strange kid and they really didn't know each other.

[visaman666]

Emmit took over Floyd's barbershop, when Floyd left town (in the middle of the night presumably).

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by visaman666

Emmit took over Floyd's barbershop, when Floyd left town (in the middle of the night presumably).

I think it was mentioned on an episode of Gomer Pyle USMC.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by treky

Thelma Lou was back in that reunion movie that was made in 1986? (I think).

Yes, Thelma Lou was back. I don't remember any mention of her marriage to someone else. She and Barney got married in Return to Mayberry.

[biffbronson]

I believe the entry problem for the business next to Floyd's can be explained by the following: The grocery store was double in size and had an obvious entry area of its own, while Floyd's and the TV shop were "half-size" businesses which shared a common entry area (that looked just like the grocery's). There were 2 doors within the common entry area of Floyd's and the TV shop, left and right.

This presumes that the Meats window was part of the grocery, which appears to be the case judging by the matching window awnings. In at least one episode Mayberry has a separate butcher shop. Regardless, along that row of businesses as seen in the photo, there were 2 obvious, large entry ways.

By the way the TV shop was also a retailer. It's "TV & Repair," not "TV Repair."

[biffbronson]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

Yes, Thelma Lou was back. I don't remember any mention of her marriage to someone else. She and Barney got married in Return to Mayberry.

Thelma Lou had married Harry Bectoris (spelling?) when she met Barney and Andy again at the Mayberry High reunion (color episode of TAGS). Barney was quite upset that Mr. Bectoris had landed his old flame.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by brgmgb

I've wondered about some characters disappearing too. As was said, Thelma Lou was back in the class reunion episode where Barney found out she had married.

It is also amazing how Walker's Drug Store disappears too when Ellie leaves. Did Ellie leave with the guitar player and Ben Weaver?

As for Floyd, I thought there was an episode where they said he opened a shop in Mount Pilot. He did talk about it in the episode where Howard bought the building. I think when he finally left the show, they made that comment.

Next to Floyd's Barber Shop was a TV Repair shop. Isn't that Emmit's Fix-It Shop? If so, everyone in town would know him. The strange thing is the shop has no door to the sidewalk.



And there is an episode where Andy is talking with Opie about Howard. Probably the first episode with Howard. Andy says that they went to school together. Andy said something like Howard was a strange kid and they really didn't know each other.

So at the time of the photograph, the entrance to (Emmet's?) T.V. Repair was either through the Grocery, or... though Floyd's Barber Shop?

And then when Floyd took off to Mount Pilot, Emmet simply moved into the larger space right ext to him?

[biffbronson]

You've misunderstood what I tried to explain. There were 2 separate doors to the TV shop and Floyd's -- you just can't see them in the photo because the entryway is recessed. All of the businesses had their own separate doors.

As far as Emmett, I have no idea as to where/when his shop was supposedly established -- nor is it really explained well in the series as far as I can recall.

[jehobden]

Originally Posted by glenny

I know that Hal Smith had guest starring roles in the 70's on "The Odd Couple", playing a clown a a childrens party and on "The Brady Bunch" playing a host of a kids televison show. Bobby went on the show to try to win a ice cream eating contest.

Hal Smith also played the store Santa Claus who promised Cindy Brady that her "mommy" would get her voice back, remarking that she was such a "sweet, unselfish girl'. Mike Brady somehow got into the department store locker room afterward to confront him for making that promise.

[treky]

Originally Posted by jehobden

Hal Smith also played the store Santa Claus who promised Cindy Brady that her "mommy" would get her voice back, remarking that she was such a "sweet, unselfish girl'. Mike Brady somehow got into the department store locker room afterward to confront him for making that promise.

dude, I believe I said that already.