Strange Barber

Floyd

[@KPSoutside]

Floyd was hilarious. One of the best comedic characters on the show.

[@cultclassic999]

Yes. They kept him on the show, even after he had a stroke, and couldn't stand. That's why he is always sitting in the later seasons.

[@rufust.firefly4890]

MC NEAR was actually the 2nd Mayberry barber.

[@townhall05446]

@@cultclassic999 He is actually standing in a few scenes but certainly being assisted.

[@sdean4816]

I agree totally !

[@jgunther3398]

he would get way funnier and stranger than what you saw on the show, but kind of the same

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

For some reason, Floyd is funnier the older you get.

[@dhart8451]

He had a stroke in 1962 and actually was funnier after that.

[@1952creswell]

I actually think Floyd was funnier after he had his stroke. He was the number 2 funnyman behind Barney.

[@rexoates4484]

I agree.

[@MP-ef6mc]

There’s nothing funny about a stroke!!

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

@@MP-ef6mc You're diminishing this guy's talents

[@susanspatz9501]

You can tell that Andy tries real hard to keep a straight face when he is talking to Floyd, so funny.

[@clintonflynn815]

Watch Andy's face whenever Floyd delivers his lines. He's always fighting off a smile.

[@1952creswell]

Watch Barney's eyes when Floyd shouts "Mt. Pilot." They're as big as silver dollars. I can't get enough of this video.

[@randybock82]

I noticed that. He really cracked Andy up there.

[@masonbricke4568]

Floyd was out there, in a very distant orbit from ordinary people.

[@ZEZERBING]

I saw him play a murderer. I same way!!

[@jonhohensee3258]

@@ZEZERBING - I same way?

[@QuadMochaMatti]

@@jonhohensee3258 They become the murderer?

[@jonhohensee3258]

@@QuadMochaMatti ???

[@larrybaker5316]

Floyd was an excellent character actor, his expressions, deliveries, and getting off-task on conversations totally cracks me up. Floyd was a great addition to the show!. thank you "Floyd".

[@davewanamaker3690]

I always wanted a Floyd the Barber in my town. He was wonderful and I was truly saddened when I learned of his passing back then. It was like we all lost a friend.

[@randybock82]

I also like the episode when Floyd says,he pushed me, he pushed me real hard....he assaulted me. He could say a common line so funny.

[@GaryColemanNC]

OH! You fall in a well, you're wet... Genius!

[@tomitstube]

howard mcnear, suffered a stroke and came back, always did his scenes sitting down, don't know if this is before or after, but what a great character, floyd the barber was a show within a show, many great characters on this show.

[@jonhohensee3258]

Yeah, before the stroke he wasn't always sitting.

[@svs1481]

In this scene, Floyd uses both arms, both hands ... before the stroke

[@grgmj1980]

This was after the stroke

[@roberthill799]

He suffered the stroke in 1963. I have no idea what episode this is so I can't say what year it's from or whether it was made before or after his stroke.

[@phillmellina]

This actor was a GENIUS in developing ‘ Floyd’... What an entirely unique , unusual- and hilariously strange character... 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@danethanor]

Floyd helping Otis out of a well would have been funny as hell to see.

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

Next episode: "Floyd: The One Armed, one Legged estranged Barber and the Otis, who loves him."

[@lindabingham394]

yea the dufus and the drunk

[@lauralim1200]

Love this clean hilarious old fashioned show! Unlike the junk shows these days. Thank you for sharing this!

[@zanetaylor5639]

Floyd was one of the funnest TV characters of all time.

[@jesseharper4792]

my dad, who was a barber, always laughed loudest at Floyd the barber

[@jayjohnson6158]

One of the greatest, most natural wits of all time.

[@xboy64]

Remember when he hired Barbara Eden as a manicurist. I do.

[@brianarbenz7206]

She sort of hired herself.

[@fbody984life]

She's definitely not a boy.

[@benmarykuca4144]

@@fbody984life Didn't Barney say Ringy ding ding when she got off the bus lol

[@fbody984life]

@@benmarykuca4144 I think ever male with eyes did.

[@CogensFamilyTV]

Nature was real, real, reeeeeeal good to her !

[@richardmcleod5967]

Howard McNear had a great career during the Golden Age of Radio. He was the first "Doc Adams" in the original radio version of "Gunsmoke" which starred William "Bill" Conrad as Marshall Dillon. He also starred in various roles in many of the most popular radio shows prior to the advent of television, where he continued his success. Howard McNear was one of the most liked Actors in radio and also his work in television. The Radio program began on April 26, 1952 and ended in 1961. Howard McNear gave an edge in a positive way to the character of "Doc Adams" that was missing from the role of "Doc Adams" as played by Milburn Stone in the television version of "Gunsmoke" which began in 1955. Both the radio and television shows ran conjunctively from 1955 until 1961 and were immensely popular. Parley Baer played the coveted role of Chester Proudfoot (changed to Chester Goode in the television show) and Georgia Ellis played the part of Miss Kitty in the radio version. William Conrad was responsible in first naming the character of Chester. Parley Baer gave Chester the middle name of Wesley. Both the radio and television shows of "Gunsmoke" were the creation of the masterful script writer, John Meston. William Conrad went on to Direct the television series of "Gunsmoke" for the first few years and also continued his role of Marshall Dillon on the radio show until it ended in 1961. William Conrad became an Executive at Warner Bros. and later had his own successful television show, "Cannon". During William Conrad's career in radio alone, he performed in over 7,500 radio shows, both in starring and co-starring roles. That is probably a record for just about any Actor either on radio or television. William "Bill" Conrad felt Howard McNear to be one of the most interesting and likable Actors in Hollywood.

[@wayne3302264]

Gunsmoke radio version was my favorite show on Old Time Radio channel on XM which kept me company for many miles during my truck driving career.......

[@wayne3302264]

Another radio drama McNear had a bit part on as the storekeeper was "Ft Laramie" with Raymond Burr as Capt. Lee Quince. Good program as well.

[@normanacree1635]

One more. Parley Baer and Howard became good friends on Gunsmoke. Baer, I believe, gave the eulogy at Howard's funeral. Baer said he was on TAGS episodes mostly when Floyd wasn't in.

[@richardmcleod5967]

@@normanacree1635 Radio Archives in their Volume II Archives Treasures has 5 CD's (5 hours) of "The Story of Gunsmoke" which deals with the radio show. All the characters were alive at the time except Howard McNear. Parley Baer discusses at length Howard McNear's death and his being asked by Howard's wife to speak at the Funeral. It is quite touching, as they all loved Howard McNear. I highly recommended hearing this Documentary on the radio show which was done in the mid-1970's.

[@avlisk]

Excellent synopsis! Old Time Radio had one of the best shows ever, radio or TV: Gunsmoke, and one of the best casts ever. McNear and Conrad seemed to be everywhere on those old radio dramas. Some would be surprised to know that McNear began his radio career playing an action hero on Speed Gibson. But he developed the quirky character along the way that became his stock in trade, culminating with Floyd on TV. (I was born in 1951, so I only recently "discovered" OTR in my retirement. Great stuff indeed!)

[@dorothyaguilar5639]

My favorite show 😍 ❤ May they all R.l.P. child hood memories the best of the best ..

[@bronxbrothers121]

Dorothy, I completely agree. If we only had more wholesome shows that had a message or taught a lesson, we'd all be better off.

[@Local1Laborer]

As Floyd grew older the more he could not stand or walk. He would always be sitting in the scenes. Yet he still had unmatchable wit !

[@pavelsarneki354]

Effects of a stroke🤓😎✌🏻

[@StanleySims-xv7vc]

Howard McNear was also a character in one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes, Hocus Pocus and Frisby.

[@billp5656]

I love the episode where He and Barney were kidnapped by escaped female prisoners. Floyd told Barney “you better do what she said Al” lol

[@Pro1er]

LOL, that episode was just on today.

[@glenwelty6788]

Convicts at Large: my fave ever. Had everything: assault and battery, kidnapping, grocery shopping, ball room dancing, some actual police work! Big Maude Tyler!!! I wanna dance with Al!! LMAO

[@1952creswell]

@@glenwelty6788 Floyd: Don't blame me if those hamburgers burn!

[@larrybaker5316]

that was hilarious, i even stole his line and often say "I won't be responsible if the burgers burn" and throw up my hands ..funniest episode ever

[@1952creswell]

@@larrybaker5316 One time I watched an Andy Griffith marathon and they were going to tell what the all-time favorite episode was. It was that very episode....Convicts at Large

[@47Str8]

Due to his great acting, he seems so...normal!

[@venrellio2119]

I was shamed. I was shamed. I was SHAAAAAAAAAAMED!!!

[@ladpocks69_19]

I sense others in the room DUN DUN DUN

[@Aeon_Is_Near]

Hello Cobain, come on in.

[@ladpocks69_19]

@@Aeon_Is_Near sit down chair don't be afraid Don Don Don

[@dullfuture9283]

Spd_ur_fake_lel _ STEAM HOT TOWEL WORN ON MY FACE

[@TheRabbipinchas]

Howard McNear made Floyd Lawson an American legend. I tried to interject some of his comedic lines in college plays and absolutely no one could make them work. They would have the lines down pact, the delivery perfect, and the timing spot on, but they just didn’t work. Howard McNear had the magic, the gift as an actor to turn words on a piece of paper into a living breathing character. He became Floyd Lawson. He was an exceptional actor! Also, could someone download my favorite episode Otis Sues the County. If not the entire episode but Floyd’s most awesome part when Andy is prepping him for court. It is the most hilariously delicious scene he ever did in the show. All he has to say is He fell down the first time and I come completely apart. PLEASE?!

[@tablature6121]

Floyd had some very funny lines in that episode, but my fave is, "This proves one thing, Andy....if you want a good suit you have to go to Mount Pilot." Also, his "What a nice man." The incredulous look Andy gives him after those lines is priceless.

[@elizabethw.4553]

*BELL ON DOOR CLANKS 'COME ON IN'* *dun dun dun*

[@AdolfStalin]

What kind of communist are you, just curious

[@kevinjudy7218]

Floyd was hilarious ..

[@jeffgardner1187]

They said Howard was exactly like his character in real life. Lol. We all all loved him dearly. RIP Floyd.

[@jimrichards1798]

Howard McNear, Floyd the barber, also created the character of Doc Adams on the Gunsmoke Radio program. Talented and extremely funny guy.

[@diannh6316]

Love me some Floyd ♥️

[@jonhohensee3258]

I love how Andy couldn't keep a straight face.

[@secondstring]

Andy said in an interview once that he had a difficult time staying in character in scenes with Floyd because sometimes he just enjoyed watching the man work.

[@jonhohensee3258]

@@secondstring - I can make things up too.

[@secondstring]

@@jonhohensee3258 ??? I made that up?? C'mon man. what's wrong with you? What possible motivation would I have to fabricate something like that? It's out there, I've watched a bunch of the cast's interviews, and I'm not sure but I believe he said it in an interview when a bunch of the cast members were together.

[@jonhohensee3258]

@@secondstring - Okay okay... if you want it to be true, you can have it be true. Happy now?

[@secondstring]

@@jonhohensee3258 It's not about what I "want to be true". Get a clue and give your Mum her computer back.

[@opsnowman]

I saw McNear as the storekeeper on Gunsmoke before Mr. Jonas came along.

[@wayne3302264]

He was also the storekeeper on a radio show called "Ft Laramie" with Raymond Burr as Capt. Lee Quince, captain of cavalry. Good show to listen to on youtube if you get the time.

[@jh7580]

Floyd was awesome

[@jonhohensee3258]

Floyd ate babies.

[@fargeeks]

He was that jolly neighborhood barber that you could hangout with anytime

[@jonhohensee3258]

@@fargeeks - hang out

[@SL-vi4tk]

Otis the town drunk - who in real life didn't drink. That's Academy Award stuff...

[@davidwalter2002]

Hal Smith had a great career playing drunks. Well into the '70s, where he played a drunk a couple of times on The Odd Couple. I can imagine a casting director reading a script and saying, "We need a drunk? Get me Hal Smith on the phone!" Easiest job in show business casting Hal Smith to play a funny drunk.

[@keithwilson6060]

When I get old, I want be exactly like Floyd.

[@coloradostrong]

Dead?

[@1952creswell]

May it be so.

[@Doug41160]

Floyd was my favorite character from that show!

[@stevek6518]

Eugene Levy doing Floyd brought me here

[@robertdf42]

They had Floyd in mind when they invented Prozac

[@nygnyg1]

Love floyd... going to Nashville

[@alanstrong3295]

Perhaps Howard was a good barber in true life. Telephone, telegraph, and TelFloyd.

[@tedgegi155]

Listening to Floyd is like tripping on LSD.

[@ozzy9117]

"Sit down chair, don't be afraid"

[@electricreboot5975]

I was shaved I was shaves I was shaved

[@alfandeddie]

I want whatever Floyd tripped on

[@kevinmac1989]

Life baby..life.

[@roberthill799]

Aqua Velva and witch hazel.

[@smug8567]

Calvin Cooledge didn't say everything, Floyd!

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Well, what did he say?

[@smug8567]

@@TheKitchenerLeslie If its cold outside turn on the heat.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

@@smug8567 Oh yeah... he was a nice man. Great hair. Easy to cut. Snip-snip. Haircut?

[@smug8567]

@@TheKitchenerLeslie right

[@karlosmuller2131]

Love Floyd!

[@lianecornils6603]

For these being the “ dark ages” 📺, they sure had a flair for what’s really comedy and good acting. No special effects needed. 😊

[@88888gerald]

floyd was one of my favorites...

[@theowlsarenotwhattheyseem476]

Bell on door clangs, come on in Floyd observes my hairy chin Sit down, chair, don't be afraid Steamed hot towel on my face I was shaved I was shaved I was shaved...

[@Forevertrue]

Howard McNear, Floyd was the Doc on Gun smoke on the radio with Robert Conrad, as Matt Dylan, for many years. A totally different Character than Milburn Stone played on the TV Gun smoke. He played many characters on the Radio, a talented man.

[@petervance6777]

William Conrad ( afraid I must insist on accuracy in my radio/tv trivia) robert Conrad was on wild Wild West and Hawaiian eye😎

[@fredbiden868]

He was the Best...

[@CogensFamilyTV]

Gotta love the calendar photo of Mt. St. Helens on the wall. It indeed rivaled and even surpassed Mt. Fuji as a spectacular photo opportunity.

[@Cha-y412]

I recently watch Howard McNear on the Steve Allen show filmed in 1957 do a man on the street skit. Howard does a character in the Floyd the Barber voice and mannerisms 3 years before Floyd showed up in Mayberry. Great stuff

[@jln55]

The best 'Floyd' episode IMHO is when he and Barney were hostages to three lady prisoners.

[@jln55]

"If those hamburgers are ruined, I wont be responsible!"

[@chem100]

I'll bet he'd give you the best haircut you've ever had.

[@dougmaclennan8654]

You could put Floyd in a room with any person(s) -- fictional or real -- and the conversation would eventually revolve around Floyd.

[@robertwalegir8677]

Floyd also played a travel agent in blue Hawaii with Elvis Presley and he was just his Corky or strange in that role to

[@Ojb_1959]

Floyd could’ve and should’ve had his own spin off. He was a gem💈

[@thebrycksfeaturingcobrakai794]

I was devastated when Floyd left in season 8

[@roberthill799]

I think I stopped watching by then. Very few episodes were worth watching after Knotts left. Andy's character changed after Barney left , as well. He became kind of a grouch and a jerk. I always assumed new writers took over around the same time that Knott's departed. Plus they added some really bad new characters: Warren, Howard Sprague, Emmet the Fix-it Man. And featured the insufferable Helen Crump and Aunt Bea much more often.

[@dvdreview7956]

Don’t you mean 1962 when Floyd returned to Episode 118?

[@Ojb_1959]

💓P💓I💓N💓K💓💓F💓L💓O💓Y💓D💓

[@mtwhatley3253]

This scene was about Floyd’s life partner who moved to San Francisco. (Rewatch and you’ll catch all of the code speak)

[@misfit8915]

Where do you think Seinfeld’s Kramer cane from? Nothing new under the sun

[@normanacree1635]

I hate to think of the two of them at the same time. Hope Kramer was not meant as a reincarnation of Floyd.

[@ILoveOldTWC]

This is the one when Barney arrested Otis, put handcuffs on him. Otis got so mad that he left Mayberry and went to Mt. Pilot jail.

[@ArcaneWeasel]

Just adorable

[@judd442009]

Mt. Rainier is on the calendar in the background..

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

Strange. Barbara Eden's Boobs are Mountable.

[@foodyumyay3364]

BELL ON DOOR CLANK COME ON IN

[@davelockard4843]

Floyd was one of my favorites,earnest t bass,is another

[@1952creswell]

I actually think the Floyd's funniest episodes were after his stroke. Number 2 funny man right after Barney Fife.

[@michaelboyce9028]

Cutting off The Birdie of a Shuttlecock.

[@normanacree1635]

Much of what he said wasn't all that funny if anybody else said it. That was what made him so special. He was worth watching in a scene even if he wasn't directly involved in the dialogue. My favorite line: If you want a good suit, you have to go to Mount Pilot.

[@daveduncan8004]

They asked Don Knotts in an interview how was Floyd to work with and he just looked at the interviewee Ann just said you never knew what Howard McNear As Floyd was going to say

[@Ariz-up1ri]

Love floyd

[@catfatherb2072]

I'm here for CALVIN COOLIDGE.

[@swirlx02]

Floyd go crazy bruh

[@valleyquail1790]

Brilliant comedy

[@broncobilly4029]

Floyd was a comedy genius. :)

[@docadams7099]

I really love how he zips around the barber shop and calls himself a miserable, deceitful wretch in "Floyd the Gay Deceiver"!

[@jamesj9998]

I love Floyd.

[@cultclassic999]

I always crack up @ 01:38 "Was it by any chance Mount Pilot?" "AAAAHHH!!!"

[@dannymundycomedy]

And twice over. Thats means he'll be away for quite awhile.

[@lance8080]

Jack Bedford wore a toupee went to prison for being a pedophile but looked dead on Floid the Barber. True story.

[@philleotardo8038]

Peepee pressed against my lips

[@ILoveOldTWC]

This was after he had the stroke.

[@Kelle0284]

Now that is one strrrrrrange barber!

[@dullfuture9283]

I can see now why Kurt would write a song about this guy

[@jamesrivera4947]

"Oh, if Otis fell in a well, he'd be wet, ohh, and then getting him out, that would be a problem. He's a little overweight, you know, and . . . it wouldn't be like getting Barney out of a well. That would be easy. But you'd still be WET.

[@brianarbenz7206]

We should call ADD "Floyd Lawson's Disease."

[@chasf55]

Oh you bet I will ..

[@DK-ck6gy]

Pink Floyd

[@trueauburnchampion1322]

who dont have a family member or weird ass neighbor like Floyd.

[@judithsixkiller5586]

I think old Floyd might of had a few too many huffs off of the Bay Rum hair tonic.

[@CaptainMangles]

It's too bad he had to sit down so much but he's hilarious!

[@bryantoth5249]

Answer me this, Who cut Floyd's hair?

[@marksummers5504]

Oh he wouldn’t go to Raleigh. You know what they charge for things in the big city? Haha

[@billmiller2051]

He's the strange barber! Lol

[@garynewman2935]

Floyd Rules!

[@wvbygraceofgod5508]

Floyd was the shit, kids nowadays don’t know what funny is. They get on Tic Toc and make a video of themselves after a wreck, upside down in an intersection and think it’s funny. Two girls get in a rollover and first thing they think to do is do a TikTok video. Now that’s funny? Ridiculous. I much rather watch Floyd, Barney, and Andy.

[@Section5_CdnIntelService]

Turned out he killed Otis and was keeping his body in a freezer in the back of his shop.

[@chuckdavis9273]

No wonder he was acting so janky

[@flintknudsen2155]

Floyd was great!

[@normanacree1635]

He was (insert a word that has not been created yet, due to the fact that Floyd is the only one deserving of it)

[@ODJones-zy5ir]

Do you think the haircuts are more expensive in Mount Pilot?

[@joeanderson9852]

👍👏

[@20cameron1]

Not strange at all. Howard McNear had had a stroke by this time and you could tell by his behavior. Still was a funny man.

[@normanacree1635]

I think he is using his left hand too much for it to be after the stroke.

[@rufust.firefly4890]

What DID Calvin Coolidge say?

[@petervance6777]

I choose not to run in1928

[@billbright1755]

Strange 💈 barbers probably the number one cause of wayward souls who have lost their way.

[@ILoveOldTWC]

He was meaning the barbours that Otis might encounter in Mt. Pilot. Watch the whole episode. Otis rides a cow, but because he's drunk, he thinks it's a horse. Barney tries to use psychology on him with the ink blot test. This episode is titled "The Rehabilitation of Otis".