Andy Griffith passed away today at the age of 86.
He was widely known has Sheriff Andy Taylor in the Andy Griffith Show and brought much happiness to all who watched the goings on in Mayberry with the Sheriff, Deputy Barney Fife, Aunt Bea, Opie, Gomer, Goober, Floyd, Howard, Otis, Thelma, Helen and many others.
The Andy Griffith spun off Mayberry RFD featuring Ken Berry and some of the regulars from the original series along with Gomer Pyle USMC featuring Jim Nabors. George Lindsey made a nice caraeer playing the Goober like character on Hee Haw after Mayberry RFD went off the air.
In the late 70′s Andy did a show called Salvage 1 but then achieved a rebirth of fame with the TV Show Matlock where he portrayed a very wealthy but cheap southern lawyer. In the later years of the show Don Knotts reunited with Griffith portraying his next door neighbor.
Many may not know that Andy Griffith loved to sing (did so on his show and Matlock on occasion) and recorded many albums including many Gospel songs and had a platinum album in the 90′s.
Goodbye and Thanks to a guy who gave us many hours of television enjoyment that was wholesome family entertainment.
This is when TV was TV good wholesome shows like Andy Griffith, Leave it to Beaver, Mr Ed and on and on. The town of Mayberry was a simple all American Town with good people and families. The world today is nothing like those days but hey good old Andy might be gone and God Bless him but thank god for re-runs
The re-runs of these shows remind me of my childhood There are still small towns in Vermont , where my family gets away from time to time where everyone knows each other and helps each other.A true American Town. Its a slower pace, no traffic, barely no crime . The police report is something out of The Andy Griffin show. On one of our travels during the foliage ,The road that runs along Lake Wilby, we come to a complete stop. A man and woman hit the telephone line and lost their 30 foot sail boat. Traffic jam. everyone empty out of their cars about twenty of us and put the sail boat back on the trailerr. No blowing horns, just curiosity.These towns bring you back to a time gone long ago. You just have to explore small towns in northern Maine N.H. and Vermont small country stores and down to earth people ,very friendly. Would nt it be nice .
I agree, and the result is very relaxing. There is a downside to this atmosphere in that the many of the residents are economically stressed, although that probably tends to avoid the complications of our fast-paced lives.
The Andy Griffith Show reminds us of how neighbors, family and friends should treat each other, and how communities should pull together for the good of everyone. We could all learn a lot from watching the reruns.
Such a great way life, long lost to the likes of Wall Street Occupiers and gangbangers.
Simpler times. Even Dragnet which was about crime in LA back in the late 60s and 70s shows you how much our world has changed. Episodes like the “Candy Store Bandit”…. I’m thinking, wow this was considered crime in LA of all places. Indeed, how far we have come.
But there is some hope, you can visit Mt. Airy, North Carolina which is where Andy grew up. He based Mayberry on his hometown and you can visit all the real places still including rides in authentic Mayberry Sheriff’s cars and visit the Snappy Lunch!
http://www.visitmayberry.com/
http://www.andygriffithmuseum.com/
https://plus.google.com/110044584941357168811/about?gl=us&hl=en
http://www.wtsp.com/video/1719703207001/1/Mt-Airy-Reacts-To-Andy-Griffiths-Death-5pm