Mayberry is a
fictional community that was the setting for two popular
American television sitcoms, ''
The Andy Griffith Show
''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom television series that was aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color.
The series ...
'' (1960–1968) and ''
Mayberry R.F.D.'' (1968–1971); Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reunion
television film
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...
titled ''
Return to Mayberry''. The town is also frequently mentioned in the spin-off program ''
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.'', and is seen when Pyle returns to visit his home town. Mayberry is said to be based on
Andy Griffith's hometown of
Mount Airy, North Carolina. Mount Airy is also known as Mayberry and called by both names by its residents.
The name "Mayberry"
According to show episodes, the community of Mayberry was named for fictional founder John Mayberry. In the 1964 episode “The Pageant,” Mayberry celebrates its centennial, implying its founding was in 1864. Purportedly,
Andy Griffith himself chose the name of the fictional community. Griffith, however, told
Larry King
Larry King (born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger; November 19, 1933 – January 23, 2021) was an American TV and radio host presenter, author, and former spokesman. He was a WMBM radio interviewer in the Miami area in the 1950s and 1960s and beginning in ...
in 2003 that Artie Stander is the person who thought of the name Mayberry; Stander was one of the show's creators and writers.
"Mayberry" is mentioned many times in television shows such as ''
Cheers
''Cheers'' is an American television sitcom, created by Glen and Les Charles, Glen Charles & Les Charles and James Burrows, that aired on NBC for eleven seasons from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/C ...
,
House
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
,
Criminal Minds
''Criminal Minds'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Jeff Davis that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005. It follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral ...
,
Supernatural
Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...
,
How I Met Your Mother
''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom created by Craig Thomas (screenwriter), Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005, to March 31, 2014, follows main char ...
,
FROM'', ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. The concept is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film, also written by Whedon, a ...
'', and ''
Scrubs''. According to the episode "The Battle of Mayberry," the town was almost named Taylortown in honor of Colonel Carleton Taylor, who was one of the first settlers in the town.
Specific features
Mayberry had one traffic light and little in the way of indigenous crime with the exception perhaps of
moonshining
Moonshine is high-proof liquor, traditionally made or distributed illegally. The name was derived from a tradition of distilling the alcohol at night to avoid detection. In the first decades of the 21st century, commercial distilleries hav ...
and
bootlegging. Speeding was also mentioned in the area, like that on Highway 6 in the fourth season episode "Barney's Sidecar." Out-of-town bank robbers, scam artists, escaped convicts, and vagrants occasionally found their way to Mayberry. The county and the town share the same name and jurisdiction. In episode 44 "Sheriff Barney," the mayor of nearby Greendale relates that Mayberry County has had the lowest crime rate in the state for two years in a row under Sheriff Taylor. The town only had one long-distance telephone line, as referenced in the episode "Man in a Hurry," that two old ladies shared each Sunday preventing others from using the telephone.
In the opening scene of season 8, episode 30 (the last episode), a sign at the railroad station lists the population and elevation of Mayberry:
:Population: 5,360
:Elevation: 671
However, this conflicts with the comment made by choir director John Masters to Andy Taylor, that "there's got to be a decent tenor in a town of two-thousand people" in the episode ''The Song Festers'' – season 4, episode 20. And, in season 7, episode 23 ("The Statue"), Howard Sprague refers to a population of 1,800.
Mayberrites

* Nettie Albright (
Alberta Nelson), classmate who had a crush on Barney
* Amanda (
Janet Waldo), local prospect Barney selected to be Andy's future wife
* Big Jack Anderson (
Nestor Paiva
Nestor Caetano Paiva (June 30, 1905 – September 9, 1966) was an American stage, radio, film and television actor of Portuguese descent. He performed in over 400 motion pictures either as an extra, a bit player, or as a significant supporting ...
), area moonshiner who ran a still in the Rimshaw House
* Teena Andrews (Diahn Williams), local citizen named Irene Phlogg who went on to become a famous movie star
* Ramona Ankrum (
Jackie Joseph), quiet young woman from the family that owns the Ancrum Charcoal Company and love interest of Ernest T. Bass
* Arnold Bailey (Sheldon Collins), friend of Opie
* Dr. Lou Bailey (James McCallion), father of Arnold Bailey
* Barbara Sue (Gail Lucas), local citizen who wants to win "The Beauty Contest"
* Ralph Barton (
Charles Lampkin), friend of Sam Jones (RFD)
*
Ernest T. Bass (
Howard Morris), bothersome troublemaker who is fond of throwing rocks through windows
* Charlie Beasley (Ray Lanier), local citizen with attractive muscles
* Juanita Beasley, never seen waitress at the Bluebird Diner who flirts with Barney over the phone (originally the character named Juanita was portrayed as the Mayor's daughter in season one)
* Sam Becker (
William Schallert
William Joseph Schallert (July 6, 1922 – May 8, 2016) was an American character actor who appeared in dozens of television shows and films over a career spanning more than 60 years. He is known for his roles on ''Richard Diamond, Private ...
), farmer and Korea War veteran who Barney suspects of growing marijuana
* Tom Bedlow (
Sam Edwards
Sam George Edwards (May 26, 1915 – July 28, 2004) was an American actor. His most famous role on television was as banker Bill Anderson on ''Little House on the Prairie''.D.S.S. Form 1 Military Draft Registration Card completed on October 16, ...
), local citizen who tried out for the barbershop quartet
* Mrs. Beggs (
Virginia Sale), local citizen
* Dr. Bennett (
George Selk), physician
* Henry Bennett (
John Qualen), local citizen accused by Barney of being a jinx
* Billy (Tim Stevenson, John Reilly) friend of Opie
* Erma Bishop (
Lillian Bronson) crowned Miss Mayberry in beauty contest for her kind and helpful nature
* Leonard Blush (
Howard Morris), never seen local celebrity and former pupil of voice teacher Eleanora Poultice; "The Voice of Mount Pilot" on Mount Pilot radio station WMPD
* Fred Boone (
Jesse White), local citizen who loves bickering with his wife
* Jennie Boone (
Claudia Bryar), wife of Fred Boone
* Trey Bowden (David Alan Bailey), friend of Opie
* Nate Bracey (Frank Behrens), former classmate of Andy and Barney who attended the "Class Reunion"
* Emma Brand-Watson (
Cheerio Meredith), serial jaywalker
and hypochondriac
* Asa Breeney (
Charles P. Thompson), security guard
* George Bricker (
Doodles Weaver), postman
* Ellen Brown (
Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden (born Barbara Jean Morehead; August 23, 1931) is an American actress and singer, who starred as the title character in the sitcom ''I Dream of Jeannie'' (1965–1970). Her other roles included Roslyn Pierce opposite Elvis Presley in ...
), manicurist who came to Mayberry in search of a friendly town
* Karen Burgess (Ronda Jeter), Opie's classmate and girlfriend
*
Otis Campbell (
Hal Smith), town drunk and descendant of a Revolutionary War hero
* Rita Campbell (Dorothy Neumann), wife of Otis Campbell
* Ella Carson (Ruth Thom), local citizen seen in three episodes
* Mary Alice Carter (
Morgan Brittany), Opie's first love
* Emmett Clark (
Paul Hartman), fix-it shop owner
* Martha Clark (Mary Lansing), wife of Emmett Clark
* Miss Clark (
Luana Anders), local citizen seen in two episodes
* Flip Conroy (
Rockne Tarkington), football coach at Opie's school
* The Country Boys (
Billy Ray Latham on banjo, Leroy Mack and
Clarence White on guitar, Eric White on bass, and
Roland White on mandolin), five member bluegrass band (The Country Boys are a real-life band who appear in two episodes)
* Mr. Crawford (Robert F. Simon), pharmacist
* Billy Crenshaw (Johnny Bangert), Opie's rival for a delivery boy job
* Glen Cripe (Delos Jewkes), bass singer in the Mayberry town choir
* Lydia Crosswaith (
Josie Lloyd), romantic interest of Goober Pyle
* Art Crowley (Frank Warren), grocer
* Old Man Crowley (
Burt Mustin), local citizen
*
Helen Crump (
Aneta Corsaut),
Kansas
Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
transplant, Opie's teacher, and Andy's girlfriend (later appearing as his wife in ''
Mayberry R.F.D.'')
*
The Darlings (
Denver Pyle as
Briscoe Darling Jr.,
Maggie Peterson as Charlene Darling, and
The Dillards
The Dillards are an American bluegrass music, bluegrass and country rock band from Salem, Missouri. They are notable for being among the first bluegrass groups to have electrified their instruments, and they are considered to be pioneers of cou ...
as the Darling Boys), hillbilly family that plays bluegrass music with Andy in several episodes
* Sharon DeSpain (
Peggy McCay), Andy's high school flame who returned to Mayberry for the "Class Reunion"
* Fletch Dilbeck (Jon Lormer), local farmer who sells crops from the bed of his Chevrolet truck
* Mr. Doakes (Norris Goff), grocer
*
Clara Edwards (
Hope Summers), Aunt Bee's best friend (also called Clara Johnson or Bertha Edwards in early episodes)
* Ella (
Ann Morgan Guilbert
Ann Morgan Guilbert (October 16, 1928 – June 14, 2016), sometimes credited as Ann Guilbert, was an American television and film actress and comedian who portrayed a number of roles from the 1950s on, most notably as Millie Helper in 61 episode ...
), resident who writes a society column for The Mayberry Gazette
* Elmo (
Vince Barnett), local citizen
*
Warren Ferguson (
Jack Burns),
Boston
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
transplant and replacement deputy even more inept than Fife
*
Barney Fife
Bernard "Barney" Fife is a fictional character in the American television program ''The Andy Griffith Show'', portrayed by comic actor Don Knotts. Barney Fife is a deputy sheriff in the slow-paced, sleepy, southern community of Mayberry, North Ca ...
(
Don Knotts
Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924February 24, 2006) was an American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on the 1960s sitcom ''The Andy Griffith Show'', for which he earned five Emmy Awards. He als ...
), Andy's lifelong friend (originally portrayed as his cousin in the pilot episode and through the first season) and deputy sheriff; later a detective with the
Raleigh, North Carolina Police Department
* Judd Fletcher (
Burt Mustin), elderly local citizen
* Charles 'Charley' Foley (
Stanley Farrar,
Frank Ferguson
Frank S. Ferguson (December 25, 1899 – September 12, 1978) was an American character actor with hundreds of appearances in both film and television.
Background
Ferguson was born in Ferndale, California, the younger of two children of W. Tho ...
), proprietor of Foley's Grocery
* Jubal Foster (
Everett Sloane
Everett H. Sloane (October 1, 1909 – August 6, 1965) was an American character actor who worked in radio, theatre, films, and television.
Early life
Sloane was born in Manhattan on October 1, 1909, to Nathaniel I. Sloane and Rose (Gerst ...
), local farmer and moonshiner
* Mrs. Foster (
Irene Tedrow), neighbor of the Taylor family whose chicken a-la-king tasted like "wallpaper paste"
* Mr. Frisby (
Charles Lane), local farmer and egg man
*
The Fun Girls (
Joyce Jameson as Skippy and
Jean Carson as Daphne), Andy and Barney's dates
* Fred Goss (
Fred Sherman), runs Mayberry's dry cleaning establishment
* Billy Gray (Kim Tyler), friend of Opie
* Sue Grigsby (Vici Raaf), wife of Harold Grigsby
* Mr. Hampton (
Leon Ames
Leon Ames (born Harry Leon Wycoff;U.S. Federal Census for 1910 for Fowler, Center Township, Benton County, State of Indiana, access via Ancestry.com January 20, 1902 – October 12, 1993) was an American film and television actor. He is best rem ...
), principal at Mayberry Union High School
* Ralph Hanes (
Don Haggerty), former classmate of Barney and Andy's who attended the "Class Reunion"
* Harold Grigsby (
Kelly Thordsen
Kelly Thordsen, born Sherman Jess Thordsen (January 19, 1917 – January 23, 1978) was an American film and television actor.
Life and career
Thordsen was born in Deadwood, South Dakota. He served in the United States Navy during World War I ...
), saw mill owner
* Harvey (Anthony Jochim), local citizen seen in two episodes
* Evan Hendricks (Bobby Diamond), wild-driving son of Orville, known to break an egg or two
* Orville Hendricks (
Woodrow Chambliss), butter and egg man from Mount Pilot
* Hilda Mae (
Florence MacMichael), Barney's girlfriend in season one (replaced by Thelma Lou)
* George Hollander (
Sandy Kenyon), high school history teacher
* Martha Hollister (Kay Stewart), wife of Rafe Hollister
* Rafe Hollister (Jack Prince), local farmer and moonshiner
* Cy Hudgins (
Forrest Lewis), local farmer who owns a goat named Jimmy that eats almost anything
* Millie Hutchins (
Arlene Golonka), girlfriend of Sam Jones
* Jason (
Phil Chambers), clerk at the Mayberry Hotel
* Johnny Paul Jason (
Richard Keith), best friend of Opie; nephew of Charley Foley
* Joe (
Rob Reiner
Robert Reiner (born March 6, 1947) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and liberal activist. As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence with the role of Michael Stivic, Mike "Meathead" Stivic on the CBS sitc ...
), printer's apprentice
* Mike Jones (
Buddy Foster
Lucius Fisher "Buddy" Foster IV (born July 12, 1957) is an American former child actor. He is the older brother of actress and director Jodie Foster. Beginning his career at the age of eight, he had television roles from the late 1960s through th ...
), son of Sam Jones (RFD)
*
Sam Jones (
Ken Berry), farmer, single parent, and widower (like Andy); head of the Mayberry town council in ''
Mayberry R.F.D.''
* Tillie Kincaid (Maxine Semon), friend of Clara Edwards and Aunt Bee
* Edna Larch (
Maudie Prickett), local citizen seen in four episodes
*
Floyd Lawson (
Howard McNear), barber at Floyd's Barber Shop; father of Norman and Randall Lawson
* Leon (
Clint Howard), toddler in a cowboy outfit who wanders the streets of Mayberry
* Clara Lindsey (
Mary Treen
Mary Treen (born Mary Louise Summers; March 27, 1907 – July 20, 1989) was an American film and television actress. A minor actress for much of her career, she managed to secure a plain, unassuming niche for herself in dozens of movies and t ...
), wife of Sam Lindsey
* Jim Lindsey (
James Best), talented guitarist who joins Bobby Fleet and His Band with a Beat
* Sam Lindsey (
Frank Ferguson
Frank S. Ferguson (December 25, 1899 – September 12, 1978) was an American character actor with hundreds of appearances in both film and television.
Background
Ferguson was born in Ferndale, California, the younger of two children of W. Tho ...
), husband of Clara Lindsey
* Flora Malherbe (
Alberta Nelson), waitress at the Mayberry Diner; becomes Goober's girlfriend
* John Masters (
Olan Soule
Olan Soule (February 28, 1909 – February 1, 1994) was an American actor, who had professional credits in nearly 7,000 radio shows and commercials, appearances in 200 television series and television films, and in over 60 films.
He was the ...
), hotel clerk and director of the town's singing choir
* Mr. McBeevee (
Karl Swenson), lineman, who according to Opie, walks in the trees, wears a silver hat, jingles when he walks, and has twelve extra hands
* Peggy McMillan (
Joanna Moore), nurse and Andy's girlfriend
* Mr. Meldrim (Warren Parker), president of Mayberry Security Bank
* Mrs. Mendelbright (
Enid Markey), Barney's landlady
* Merle (Sherwood Keith), town councilman
* Malcolm Merriweather (
Bernard Fox), English valet
* Bert Miller (
Sterling Holloway
Sterling Price Holloway Jr. (January 14, 1905 – November 22, 1992) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films and 40 television shows. He did voice acting for The Walt Disney Company, playing Mr. Stork in ''Dumbo'', Adult Flower in ...
), peddler
* Orville Monroe (
Jonathan Hole), undertaker and TV repairman
* Jimmy Morgan (Pat Colby), mechanic at Wally's accused of being a thief
* Morrison Sisters (Gladys Hurlbut as Clarabelle Morrison and Charity Grace as Jennifer Morrison), moonshiners who runs the local flower shop
* Sam Muggins (
Sam Edwards
Sam George Edwards (May 26, 1915 – July 28, 2004) was an American actor. His most famous role on television was as banker Bill Anderson on ''Little House on the Prairie''.D.S.S. Form 1 Military Draft Registration Card completed on October 16, ...
), moonshiner accused of stealing business from the department store, incarcerated at the Mayberry Jail on Christmas Eve with his family (
Margaret Kerry as wife, Bess; Joy Ellison as daughter, Effie; and Kelly Flynn as Billy Muggins)
* Frank Myers (
Andy Clyde
Andrew Allan Clyde (March 25, 1892 – May 18, 1967), was a Scottish-born American film and television actor whose career spanned some 45 years. In 1921 he broke into silent films as a Mack Sennett comic, debuting in ''On a Summer Day''. H ...
), elderly resident evicted for not paying taxes
* Mavis Neff (
Elaine Joyce
Elaine Joyce (born Elaine Joyce Pinchot) is an American actress.
Early life and education
Elaine Joyce Pinchot was born in Kansas City, Missouri, of Hungarian ancestry, the daughter of Iliclina (née Nagy) and Frank Pinchot.
Career
She made ...
), employee at Walker's Drugstore who went on a date with Andy
* Charlie O'Malley (
Willis Bouchey), wealthy resident who also owns a cabin outside of town
* Mrs. Pendleton (
Ruth McDevitt), head of the Mayberry school board and good friend of Martha Clark and Aunt Bee
* Pete (
George Dunn), local citizen frequently seen in Floyd's Barbershop
* Burly Peters (Thom Carney), local citizen who plays the drums in the Mayberry Band
* Dr. Thomas Peterson (
William Christopher), physician who replaced the retiring Dr. Bennett
* Whitey Porter (Joey Scott), friend of Opie
* Josephine Pike (
Josie Lloyd), daughter of Mayor Pike
* Mayor Pike (
Dick Elliott
Richard Damon Elliott (April 30, 1886 – December 22, 1961) was an American character actor who played in over 240 films from the 1930s until the time of his death.
Early years
Elliott was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
Career
Elliott p ...
) mayor in the first two seasons (1960–61)
* Whitey Porter (Joey Scott), friend of Opie
* Howie Pruitt (Dennis Rush), good friend of Opie
* Jeff Pruitt (
Alan Hale), farmer who came to Mayberry to find a wife
*
Gomer Pyle
Gomer Pyle is a fictional character played by Jim Nabors and introduced in the middle of the third season of '' The Andy Griffith Show''.
A naive and gentle auto mechanic, he became a recurring character with the January 1963 episode "Man i ...
(
Jim Nabors), service station attendant at Wally's Filling Station for three seasons (1962–64) (left Mayberry to join the Marine Corps in ''
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.'')
*
Goober Pyle (
George Lindsey), auto mechanic at Wally's Garage and Filling Station (later service station owner)
* Dr. Roberts (
Charles P. Thompson), local physician
* Mrs. Rodenbach (Mary Lansing), local citizen seen in three episodes
* Rose (
Mary Treen
Mary Treen (born Mary Louise Summers; March 27, 1907 – July 20, 1989) was an American film and television actress. A minor actress for much of her career, she managed to secure a plain, unassuming niche for herself in dozens of movies and t ...
), Andy's housekeeper who got married and moved away, replaced by Aunt Bee
* Rosemary (
Rachel Ames), local prospect Barney selected to be Andy's future wife
* Sam (Sherwood Keith), local citizen often seen in Floyd's Barber Shop
* Sandy (Sherman Sanders), square dance caller
* Sarah, often spoken to, but never seen, telephone operator
* Ed Sawyer (
William Lanteau), mysterious stranger who moves to Mayberry and disrupts the lives of the townspeople because he appears to know startling facts about them
* Mr. Schwamp, (portrayed by unknown) local citizen seen in at least 26 episodes of ''The Andy Griffith Show''; also appeared in ''Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.'' and ''Mayberry R.F.D.''
* Ben Sewell (Jack Prince), moonshiner who was ratted out by the Morrison sisters
* Sharon (Barbara Griffith), part of the Mayberry choir (portrayed by Andy Griffith's real life wife, Barbara Edwards)
* Sheldon (Terry Dickinson), local bully who extorts Opie for his milk money
* Annabelle Silby (
Lurene Tuttle
Lurene Tuttle (August 29, 1907 – May 28, 1986) was an American actress and acting coach, who made the transition from vaudeville to radio, and later to films and television. Her most enduring impact was as one of network radio's more versatil ...
), local do-gooder and wife of Tom Silby
* Tom Silby (
Stuart Erwin), local citizen who returns to town after being declared dead
* Mr. Simmons (Richard Collier), proprietor of company called Simmons Seeds
* Minnie 'Mary' Simpson (
Julie Adams,
Sue Ane Langdon), county nurse
* Rube Sloane (Thom Carney), moonshiner who was ratted out by the Morrison sisters
*
Howard Sprague (
Jack Dodson), county clerk
* Mrs. Sprague (
Mabel Albertson
Mabel Ida Albertson (July 24, 1901 – September 28, 1982) was an American actress of television, stage, radio and film who portrayed Phyllis Stephens in the TV sitcom '' Bewitched''. She also appeared in TV's ''The Time Tunnel'' (S1:E30, "Town ...
), overbearing mother of Howard Sprague
* Fred Stevens (Pat Coghlan), owner of Sterling Jewelry Store
* Roy Stoner (
Parley Baer), mayor of Mayberry for three seasons (1962–64), replacing Mayor Pike
* Henrietta Swanson (
Elvia Allman), local citizen whose daughter, Darlene, wants to enter "The Beauty Contest"
* Millie Swanson (
Arlene Golonka), bakery clerk and girlfriend of Sam Jones (RFD)
* Billy Ray Talbot (
Dub Taylor), postmaster
* Cyrus Tankersley (
George Cisar), local citizen
*
Andy Taylor (
Andy Griffith), sheriff and widowed father
*
Beatrice Taylor (
Frances Bavier), Andy's aunt and housekeeper, known as Aunt Bee
*
Opie Taylor (
Ronny Howard), son of Andy
*
Thelma Lou (
Betty Lynn), Barney's sweetheart
* Farley Thurston (
Lyle Latell), butter and egg man
* Tommy (
Dennis Holmes), friend of Opie
* Rev. Hobart M. Tucker (
William Keene), Pastor of the All Souls Church
* Myra Tucker (
Amzie Strickland), local citizen seen in two episodes
* Farley Upchurch (
Frank Cady,
Clinton Sundberg), local citizen seen in two episodes
* Ellie Walker (
Elinor Donahue
Elinor Donahue (born Mary Eleanor Donahue; April 19, 1937) is an American retired actress known for playing the role of Betty Anderson, the eldest child of Jim and Margaret Anderson, on the 1950s American sitcom ''Father Knows Best''.
Early li ...
), pharmacist and one-time love interest of Andy
* Fred Walker (
Harry Antrim), proprietor of Walker's Drug Store; uncle of Ellie Walker
* Gilly Walker (
Larry Hovis
Larry Hovis (February 20, 1936 – September 9, 2003) was an American singer and actor best known for the 1960s television sitcom '' Hogan's Heroes''.
Early life and career
Hovis was born in Wapato, Washington, and moved to Houston, Texas, as ...
), high-strung friend of Goober Pyle
* Wally (Norman Leavitt,
Trevor Bardette, Cliff Norton, Blackie Hunt), proprietor and principal mechanic of Wally's Filling Station (no last name is ever given for Wally)
* Dudley A. 'Dud' Wash (Hoke Howell,
Bob Denver), fiancée and eventual husband of Charlene Darling; father of Andelina Wash.
* Joe Waters (Bob McQuain), local citizen seen in five episodes
* Ben Weaver (
Will Wright,
Tol Avery
Taliaferro Ware "Tol" Avery (August 28, 1915 – August 27, 1973) was an American film and television character actor who appeared in more than 100 separate works between 1950 and 1974.
Biography
Early in his career, Avery portrayed Lieutenant ...
, Jason Johnson), flint-hearted proprietor of Weaver's Department Store and local landlord
* Mary Wiggins (Joy Ellison), classmate of Opie
* Mrs. Wiley (
Doris Packer), genealogy researcher who called Ernest T. Bass "a creature"
* Ramona Wiley-Becktoris (Virginia Eiler), one-time resident who dated Barney Fife and returned to Mayberry for the "Class Reunion"
* Arnold Winkler (
Ronnie Dapo), friend of Opie
Archetypal small town
Real-life models
Many assume Mayberry was loosely based on Andy Griffith's hometown of
Mount Airy, North Carolina; however, Griffith has indicated that nearby
Pilot Mountain, also in
Surry County, North Carolina
Surry County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 71,359. Its county seat is Dobson, and its largest community is Mount Airy.
Surry county comprises the Mount Airy, NC Micropol ...
, inspired him in creating the town. Pilot Mountain likely was the inspiration for the fictional town of "Mount Pilot," a nearby larger town in relation to Mayberry, often referred to and occasionally visited by the characters in ''The Andy Griffith Show''. The county seat of Surry County is in
Dobson; thus, this is the location of the nearest courthouse to Mount Airy. One episode has a fictional nearby location – "Pierce County." Another episode has Barney Fife referring to Sheriff Taylor and himself as "the law west of Mount Pilot".
Other place names used in the show refer to actual places in North Carolina, such as
Raleigh
Raleigh ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...
—which was also often called "Capital City" –
Siler City,
Greensboro,
Winston-Salem,
Chapel Hill,
Stokes County,
Elm City and
Charlotte. One of the stars of the show, Frances Bavier (who played Aunt Bee) retired to Siler City in real life. (Betty Lynn who played Thelma Lou retired to Mount Airy).
In episode 248 "A Girl for Goober," the towns of
Manteo and
Toast are mentioned. Andy Griffith owned a home in Manteo (on North Carolina's Atlantic coast), and Toast is about two miles outside of Mt. Airy in Surry County.
Stokes County, which borders Surry County to the east, is mentioned as the location of Myers Lake in episode 140 "Andy and Helen Have Their Day."
In episode 62 "Cousin Virgil," the bus picks up Barney's cousin in Currituck. A
Currituck County
Currituck County ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the University of North Ca ...
is located in eastern North Carolina.
In episode 17 "Alcohol and Old Lace" while looking for moonshine stills, Barney suggests looking into
Fancy Gap, Virginia, a town just across the state line from Mt. Airy.
In episode 60 "Bookie Barber," Aunt Bee states that Floyd's Barber Shop has received phone calls from as far away as
Morehead City
Morehead City is a port city in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007. It forms part of the Crystal Coast.
Hi ...
.
In episode 136 "Opie's Fortune," a man from
Bannertown lost $50. Bannertown is a few miles from Mt. Airy in Surry County.
In episode 68 "Barney Mends a Broken Heart," the towns of Harnett and Yancey are mentioned. Both a
Harnett County and a
Yancey County are in North Carolina. In episode 3 "The Guitar Player" played by
James Best, who later played
Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on ''
The Dukes of Hazzard
''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy television series created by Gy Waldron that aired on CBS from January 26, 1979, to February 8, 1985, with a total of seven seasons consisting of List of The Dukes of Hazzard episodes, 147 ...
,'' Best's character Jim Lindsey buys his guitar picks in
Winston-Salem, which is actually the nearest big city to Mount Airy (37 miles).
In Season 4, Episode 3 of ''
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.'', (“Corporal Carol”) Gomer tells the corporal (played by Carol Burnett) that he is from Mayberry, North Carolina, “just a little bitty town about 30 miles outside of Raleigh.“
Origins and expansion
Mayberry originated in an episode of ''
The Danny Thomas Show'' and was the setting for ''
The Andy Griffith Show
''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom television series that was aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color.
The series ...
'', ''
Mayberry R.F.D.'', and the 1986 reunion film ''
Return to Mayberry''.
Eponymous real-life community
Mayberry is the name of a real community in
Patrick County, Virginia; located 22 miles northeast of Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina. The Mayberry Trading Post, home of the Mayberry, Virginia post office until it closed in 1922, told local TV station
WGHP that Griffith and his father made many trips to the Mayberry Trading Post.
Town landmarks
Public buildings
* The Mayberry Courthouse – Was where Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife maintained law and order. It also contained the county jail—two cells, a back room, and the mayor's office upstairs. No inside stairs are seen, although there is an outside
fire escape. Aside from Andy Taylor's home, this was the main setting for ''The Andy Griffith Show''.
* Mayberry Security Bank – The town's only bank, was often subject to robberies. It contains a large vault, and its only security guard is a senile man named Asa, who is constantly sleeping and whose fall-apart dilapidated gun is filled with moldy bullets. An interesting
plot hole
In fiction, a plot hole, plothole, or plot error is an inconsistency in a storyline that goes against the flow of logic established by the story's plot.
Plot holes are usually created unintentionally, often as a result of editing or the writers ...
about the vault: in one episode, the vault combination was lost so an extra door was put in the vault. But in another episode, Barney Fife gets himself locked in the safe and only escapes by breaking the wall between the vault and the next-door beauty parlor.
* Mayberry Union High School – The high school from which Andy and Barney graduated in 1948. In the episode "The Return of Barney Fife", which originally aired 01/10/1966, Barney and Andy attend their high school reunion. Behind the small orchestra playing during the dance hangs a banner that reads "Welcome Class of '48". However, in the episode "Class Reunion", which originally aired 02/04/1963 Andy and Barney organize a class reunion in which the banner reads "Class of '45".
* U.S. Post Office – The town's only post office.
Houses
* Taylor House – Humble, yet handsome, two-story frame house at 332 Maple Road (though once noted by Barney to be on Elm St.), a short walk from the courthouse. Notable features include a front porch perfect for conversation and guitar playing, a back porch with an extra freezer, and a living room with a high ceiling and rough-hewn (rusticated ashlar) stone fireplace.
* Mrs. Mendalbright's Rooming House – Barney Fife boards upstairs and his landlady is Mrs. Mendalbright.
* Thelma Lou's House – The home of Thelma Lou, Barney's girlfriend.
* Helen Crump's House – The home of Helen Crump, Andy's girlfriend and Opie's teacher.
* Mrs. Wiley's House – The home of Mrs. Wiley, which is frequently subject to parties, two of which were crashed by Ernest T. Bass.
* The Rimshaw House – The "haunted" house of the deceased Old Man Rimshaw where Otis Campbell and Big Jack Anderson were running a still.
Entertainment/religious venues
* All Souls Church – also known as Community Church – Was the non-denominational Protestant church the Taylors and other townspeople attended in Mayberry. It could seat around 40 people and a choir. The church hosted an annual picnic and an annual bazaar.
* The Grand Theatre – The movie theater where Andy and Barney often took their girlfriends (
Helen Crump and
Thelma Lou, respectively) on dates.
Commercial establishments
* Emmett's Fix-it Shop – Handyman Emmett Clark's business replaced Floyd's when
Howard McNear left the show.
* Fleur De Lis Beauty Salon – Located just down Main Street from the Mayberry Courthouse and Walker's Drugstore.
* Floyd's Barber Shop – Run by the scatterbrained
Floyd Lawson, it was the main center of action in Mayberry. On any given day, it was not unusual to see many of the town's important figures, including the mayor and the sheriff, gathered here.
* H. Goss, Tailor - Owned by Fred Goss, a tailor who also does dry cleaning.
* Monroe's Funeral Parlor – Owned by city councilman Orville Monroe who also repairs TV's at Monroe's TV Repair when the funeral business is slow.
* Simmons Seeds – Run by Mr. Simmons.
* F. Wakefield Beauty Salon – Located on Main Street across Luken's, where Aunt Bee and Clara Johnson get their hair done.
* Walker's Drug Store – This was the town drug store and soda shop owned by Fred Walker. His niece Ellie (
Elinor Donahue
Elinor Donahue (born Mary Eleanor Donahue; April 19, 1937) is an American retired actress known for playing the role of Betty Anderson, the eldest child of Jim and Margaret Anderson, on the 1950s American sitcom ''Father Knows Best''.
Early li ...
), also a pharmacist, worked there for a while and was Andy's first girlfriend on the show. In the early episodes, characters often talked about "going to Walker's for an ice cream soda."
* Wally's Filling Station – The town's only known gas station, it employed cousins
Gomer and
Goober Pyle. It also served as the town's auto repair garage.
Places to shop
* Foley's Grocery – also known as Crowley's Market – The main grocery store in Mayberry frequented by many of the ladies in town. It was located across from the Mayberry Hotel. Mr. Foley is the owner of the store, but apparently tasks Art Crowley with running day-to-day operations.
* Luken's Style Shop – Small boutique located on Main Street operated by Mrs. Lukens.
* Morrison Sisters Flower Shop – Owned by sisters Clarabelle and Jennifer Morrison who also run a moonshine still.
* Mort's Clothing Store – Located next to the Fleur De Lis Beauty Salon.
* Nelson's Hardware Store – Barney took Thelma Lou there to see a new window-display of bicycle accessories.
* Sterling Jewelry Store – Fred Sterling, the owner, sells jewelry and silver, and does re-sizings and watch repairs.
* Weaver's Department Store – Run by the miserly Ben Weaver.
* Willick's Shoe Store – Shoe Store in Mayberry owned by Harvey Willick.
Places to eat
* Bluebird Diner – This was the restaurant where Barney was often seen calling to talk to his secret love, the enigmatic waitress "Juanita". A man named Frank owns the diner. It is located on the outskirts of Mayberry, near Myer's Lake. Mount Airy has a family-owned restaurant called the Bluebird Diner.
* Mayberry Diner – The main restaurant in Mayberry that Barney and Andy frequent for its inexpensive daily specials.
* Morelli's – A more upscale restaurant outside of town. Known for its special dinner, the pounded steak supper, "pounded on the premises."
* Snappy Lunch – Diner named after a real eatery that still serves lunch in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Lodging
* Mayberry Hotel – Where out-of-towners often stayed, the Mayberry Hotel was also where choir director John Masters was employed.
Physical landmarks
* Myer's Lake – As seen in the opening credits of ''The Andy Griffith Show'', it was the place Andy and Opie Taylor went fishing, and where Barney often drove with Thelma Lou for their "romantic getaways". The fictional lake was mentioned on the show as being located in
Stokes County, North Carolina
Stokes County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,520. Its county seat is Danbury.
Stokes County is included in the Winston-Salem, NC, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which ...
. Stokes County is a real county next to Surry County where Andy Griffith was born and raised.
Franklin Canyon Park
Franklin Canyon Park is a public municipal park located near Benedict Canyon, at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, in Los Angeles, California. The park comprises 605 acres (245 ha), and is located near the geographical center ...
was used for filming.
In popular culture
Due to the success and fame of the television show, "Mayberry" has been used as a term for both idyllic small-town life and for rural simplicity (for both good and ill).
In a song by
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American Country music, country music band formed in 1999 in Nashville, Tennessee. The band consists of Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, background vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, background voc ...
titled "
Mayberry", the town is mentioned: "Well I miss Mayberry sitting on the porch drinking ice cold
Cherry Coke
Coca-Cola Cherry (originally marketed and still commonly referred to as Cherry Coke) is a cherry-flavored version of Coca-Cola. It is produced and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers in the United States and some internationa ...
where everything is black and white."
In the
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd (, ) is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964. The group originally formed as My Backyard and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom ...
song “Simple Life” (from the album ''
God & Guns''), there’s a line in the lyrics: “…put my feet up, watch a rerun on TV,
Laughing with Ole Barney, Andy and Aunt Bee…”.
In the song called "Grandpa's Interview" on the
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, forming the folk rock group Buffalo Springfield. Since the begi ...
album ''
Greendale'': "Shows with love and affection, Like mama used to say, A little Mayberry livin', Can go a long way."
In the film ''
I Know What You Did Last Summer'' the character Helen Shivers refers to a sceptical local cop who refuses to believe her warnings as a “Mayberry ass reject” in exasperation.
"Home", the second episode of the fourth season of the television show ''
The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to Ma ...
'', makes frequent references to Mayberry because of the size of the town in which the investigation takes place.
In the song "
High-Tech Redneck" on the
George Jones
George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American Country music, country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for a long list of hit records, and is well known for his distinctive voice an ...
album of the same name, the town is mentioned: "He's a high-tech redneck, Mayberry meets
Startrek."
In the fifth episode of the seventh season of ''
Desperate Housewives
''Desperate Housewives'' is an American mystery comedy-drama television series created by Marc Cherry, and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. It aired for eight seasons on ABC from October 3, 2004, until May 13, 2012, for a tota ...
'', Doug refers to
Wisteria Lane as ‘Mayberry’ due to the apparent idyllic suburbs where the show is set.
References
External links
''Behind the Scenes of the Real Mayberry''A behind the scenes look at ''The Andy Griffith Show'' and the real Mayberry, includes filming locations, the stars made on the show, and Mayberry trivia.
{{mayberry
Fictional populated places in North Carolina
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Fictional elements introduced in 1960
The Andy Griffith Show