Andy Griffith Once Shut Down a Well-Meaning Teen’s Campaign to Honor ‘The Andy Griffith Show’

[@Hupomone]

I would say that control definitely played a part. Those who may have underestimated his acting ability would do well to take note of the fact that the affable, kind Sheriff Taylor (well, for the first five seasons, at least) was something of a contradiction to Andy's truly mercurial, rambunctious, somewhat prickly personality.

[@VickieBell-z7x]

I 💕 love the Andy Griffith Show it was about a simpler time. I'm glad Morgan town west Virginia has a statue of Barney Fife . And mount Airy has a statue of Andy and Opie. Good video bob

[@mymix1880]

Interesting video. Andy and Don were great friends. People need to be kind. Always thank you. Melanie. Blessings to all

[@evdallas123]

He even chastised his own hometown for cashing in on Mayberry but late in life he finally came to terms with it

[@BobHolepit]

Andy Griffith wasn't really a nice guy, not like Andy Taylor.

[@kevingreen3365]

My friend, Jamie Lester, made the statue of Don in Morgantown, WV. He also designed the WV state quarter with the New River Gorge bridge as well as statues of Jerry West and “Hot Rod” Hundley that are at WVU. If you’re ever in Morgantown, you gotta go see it!

[@BobHolepit]

I'm from Morgantown West virginia. I've seen all the statues that Jamie Lester has made but I don't know him personally.

[@JohnPotts-kq7kk]

When the show first aired, I remember my parents and most others I knew as a kid, always watched the series to see Barney & what was happening in Mayberry NOT to see Andy! As for me, I wanted to see Opie since I was a kid myself! So, YES, I think the show should have just have been called Mayberry!❤

[@deborahmaehs7604]

Perhaps it was the control issue (as you mentioned) or possibly some underlying resentment regarding Don’s success in movies after leaving the show? Hard to say. I’m glad that there are statues honoring both Andy and Don, even if they are in different locations. I kind of understand the reason why Andy was opposed to the renaming of a town because Mayberry is an idealized place in space and time from the Golden Age of television that could never be recreated in real life. Interesting video. Thanks for sharing.

[@ProfessorEchoMedia]

Andy sounds like one of those old guys who just couldn’t let go of his bitterness and frustrations, for whatever reason. He probably needed someone like Sheldon Leonard to tell him NO once in awhile or to chill out. Although he did have MATLOCK, you have to wonder how much of a toll all those failures he experienced following TAGS took a toll on him.

[@BobHolepit]

I live in Morgantown West Virginia and drive by The Don knotts statue probably at least once a week. I posted in a previous show that I live about 2 mi from the home that Don knotts bought his mother in Morgantown West Virginia from the proceeds of The Ghost and Mr chicken. Makes me so proud that I come from the same hometown is one of the greatest comedians of all time Don knotts. Also when I was a young man I saw the boarding house that Don knotts his mother had in Morgantown West Virginia off of University avenue. Reading Don's autobiography Barney Fife and other characters that I have known, he describes old Morgantown and I remember so many places that he alluded to in that book. If you love Don knotts and you get a chance please read that book. Thank you.

[@Houndini]

How many more movies from early 1960’s you still have to buy on line or at a store except The Ghost & Mr. Chicken? I rest my case your honor. And just Nip It in the bud!!!

[@theandygriffithshowfactsan3585]

I've read it. Was a good read

[@DeniseEverett-e8u]

I don't really know what to say about the video, thanks for the information Bob.

[@robertbock8157]

I've been to the Mayberry Trading Post. Mayberry Virginia. about 21 miles northeast of Mt Airy in Patrick county.

[@natlee8947]

I always heard Griffith was hard to work for, and unless you were Don Knotts you had to walk on egg shells around him. I can believe that Griffith had a bit of an ego.

[@kevincharles3309]

While we'll never know what was behind these types of decisions by Andy, it feels like he was motivated by the need to control things and by not wanting anyone else to profit from TAGS. The fact that he was buried before the world knew he was dead was him controlling things from the grave. He wouldn't give Don Knotts a percentage of TAGS despite Don being the true star. He fired Betty Lynn from Matlock for asking for better lines..seems extreme. I get the impression that for such a big star, Andy Griffith could be a small man at times. Despite that, I still love Mayberry. Appreciate you Bob.

[@opinionatedone2561]

Dont get opposing dons statue; no matter who does it , where or why 😮

[@MyGuitarslinger]

I know it was common to name a show after the star like The Danny Thomas and The Dick VanDyke Show, The Jack Benny Program. Maybe Andy would not have felt the need or desire to have so much control if the show had been called Mayberry.

[@wandahall4435]

❤❤❤😮😮😮😊😊😊

[@daleeasterwood2683]

The more I hear about Griffith, the more I think he was a very odd fellow. I like Andy Taylor. I’m conflicted on Griffith. Part of him was very unappealing.

[@MaryHeimonen-zi3uk]

I still love the show. Strange information. Oh well, no one is perfect! 🤪😍Have blessed Friday! ❣️

[@Richard-uj8mt]

All I can say is a friend was honored after being a pastor for 40 years and said If you knew what I was really like you would not want to be around me. True about all of us.

[@daleeasterwood2683]

@@Richard-uj8mt that we can all be jerks sometimes doesn’t excuse any of our bad behavior. Griffith was a gifted actor, no doubt.

[@joeanderson9852]

❤❤

[@paulsarnik8506]

Yeah the Show was about Mayberry's kooky inhabitants but the Linchpin was Andy!;🤓😎✌🏼☮️

[@roberttaylor1931]

Sounds like Andy was making a big moulage over it.

[@suewarner1781]

Sounds like total control and ego.

[@jackieellenbarnes1268]

Andy doesn’t sound like a Nice Guy.

[@BobRiedel]

Andy Griffith was just a stone weirdo in real life. A 180 of "Andy Taylor." Everything from the married Griffith bedding most of his female co-stars to vehemently denying Mount Airy was the model for Mayberry to being buried 4 hours after dying. Just a strange man.

[@richardeast3328]

More like Lonesome Rhodes.