WOW what am I doing reading AARP in the first place? I thought that magazine was for seniors, but in all reality, it is a magazine for people over 50, and indeed I am just a tad over 50 so I read the magazine. However, I might have to put it down soon because a wave of “OH MY GOD I’M OLD” came over me when I saw the ad for the Andy Griffith Show.

If you are over 50 then you grew up with the Andy Griffith Show. It aired from 1960-1968. The theme song is one of the most remembered theme songs of all times. Who hasn’t caught themselves doing tht familiar whistle?

The gist of the show was Andy Griffith played a widowed sheriff in the small town of Mayberry. He works with a half witted deputy Barney Fife who was played by Don Knotts. Most the time, Barney made the show with his antics. In this little town of Mayberry was the nanny/ housekeeper, Aunt Bee and Andy’s son, Opie. Of course this is how Ron Howard got his start.

Many people might not know that the Andy Griffith Show was a “spin off” from the TV show from The Danny Thomas Show. Actually the Andy Griffith Show had a spin off  TV series featuring the bumbling mechanic Jim Neighbors who played Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

In fact, the entire town of Mayberry was a bunch of bumbling people. From Floyd Lawson the nosey barber to Goober Pyle who was related to of course Gomer to Otis Campbell the town drunk.

Of course there were never any real crimes to be solved and basically what the Andy Griffith Show stood for was clean wholesome TV. It could have been why I got bored with it so easily. I liked the show, but the antics of the small town got rather old for me, but hey, that’s just me; keep in mind the show was top ten in the ratings for the entire lifespan of the show.

I think what made this show so popular was it was all about the American dream. What could be better? It was about a small town, run by a single good looking sheriff and a caring aunt helping to raise a small boy in a town with no crimes. There was no drama, no suspense and Americans sucked it up so much that it is still played, 50 years later in reruns with high ratings.

Well back to my AARP magazine. I need to see what else can make me feel old!
Tyler Woods Retroflections | Create Your Badge