Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Andy Griffith

So sorry to hear that Andy Griffith died.  Is it as obvious to you that he reminds me of my Daddy?  .   And I know that you will hear him called a TV Icon, but he was a real man from the SOUTH!  If they ever decide to repeat a wonderful movie with him playing a bad guy and Johnny Cash playing the sheriff, please do not miss this movie, it is called "Murder in Coweta County" and is based on a true story.
We grew up listening to his comedy record, "What It Was Was Football" and the B side was "Romeo and Juliet".  It was so funny!   ("And I dropped my big orange drink, I DID!") The joy from this man was just so obvious to me even as a child.  His show, "The Andy Griffith Show" is one that we never missed.  You see, when I was young, it was popular to make fun of the people from the South but everyone loved Andy.   Beside a fishin' hole...how can you listen to this and not feel happy? May he rest in peace.

26 comments:

  1. This is why I love reading blogs like yours Kay, I learn all kinds of interesting stuff all the time. Don't think I've seen any of his shows, but I loved that little song.

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    1. If you ever see The Andy Griffith Show will be shown on TV, don't miss it! And also, that movie that I mentioned, "Murder In Coweta County", it shows what a great actor that Andy really was.

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  2. RIP Andy -- he can fish forever now in Mayberry, enjoying those long, lazy days of summer. I loved that show when I was a kid.

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    1. Dear Debra,
      We never missed that show either. There was a wisdom and a sweetness about it that really appealed to me, and it still does.

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  3. The Andy Griffith Show is my favorite TV show of all time. I not only watched it as a kid, I've watched some of the re-runs over and over again. I have the set of DVD's, so my children got to watch it growing up, too. In fact, it's one of our Christmas family traditions to watch the Christmas episode. I still get tears in my eyes when old cranky Ben Weaver stands on that crate watching Andy, Ellie, Barney, Aunt Bea and friends through the window, singing along with them to Away in the Manger.

    Rest in peace, Andy.

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    1. Dear Beth,
      Like you, I know so many of the episodes by heart. Recently, when I was in England for two weeks, I told my co-workers to not make me feel like Aunt Bea, that I didn't want things TOO neat and tidy when I came back otherwise, I would think that they wouldn't need me! And all of them knew exactly what the reference was about! I love it when characters are so real to us that they make us think and act like better people. Sounds corny I know, but if we can make a TV show now that makes people sweeter, wouldn't that be nice?

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  4. Boo Hoo....I did not hear that sad news.
    I grew up watching and loving him.

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    1. I am sorry that he passed away but I am grateful for his albums, his TV shows, and his movies.

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  5. I still watch that show every evening after the news, wouldn't miss it... I'm so sad.
    Dorothy

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    1. Dear Dorothy,
      And being from the South, don't you think it was important that Andy Griffith was on TV for us? It meant a great deal to me as a child.

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  6. RIP Andy! He was a good TV character. I met him back in the 70's when I worked for NBC. xo Diana

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    1. Wow, how interesting that you actually met him! Now, what did you do for NBC? Do tell! Now, can you go back and work for them again, they have a lot of junk on there now!

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  7. A true classic. I remember watching this at my grandparent's when we'd visit for two weeks every summer. We lived in a very small town in northern Ontario and didn't get this one - my grandparent's lived in southern Ontario, relatively close to the American border and they had so many more channels than we did; we were in heaven!

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    1. Dear Jane,
      We always loved Andy Griffith! And he not only looks like my Dad, he even talks a lot like he does.
      Oh, wish I could have known you when you were a little girl! I could have kept you up to date on all the TV shows! You know I watched all the good ones!

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  8. My late husband was such a big Andy Griffith fan. He got to meet Andy a couple of times and he watched every episode of "The Andy Griffith" show over and over. He could recite every line. RIP Andy.

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    1. Dear Kay,
      How wonderful that since your husband was a big fan that he got to meet him!! It's great to make a reference to an episode and then have someone not only remember it, but quote actual lines from it! Just goes to show what great writers they had, and great actors delivering those lines. So believable, you would swear they all lived in Mayberry.

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  9. All of us feel like we have lost a friend, not just a famous person. May he rest in peace.

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    1. Dear Mimi,
      Exactly so, like a dear family friend.

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  10. Thank you so much for posting this. I used to love the Andy Griffith Show when I was growing up in Hawaii. It reminded me of life in Hawaii back then. I really loved hearing him sing the theme song. It's the first time I've actually heard the words.

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    1. Dear Kay,
      When I was looking for the song, I found this and I had never heard him sing it either! (It was always just whistled at the beginning of the show, if anyone reading this has never seen the show.)
      My son, who was listening from another room, asked me to play that song again with Andy singing the theme song,since he had never heard it before and really liked it.
      I never thought of people watching this show outside of the South, I only learned as an adult how popular this show was in all the states and around the world where it is shown!

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  11. RIP Andy Griffith... I hadn't even heard that he passed away. How sad. His show is a true classic.

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    1. Dear Martha,
      He was so much a part of my childhood, and a very nice memory it is... glad that you liked it too!

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  12. I wasn't familiar with Andy Griffith, but I listened to the sketch and it had me laughing.

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    1. Dear Tracey,
      You would have to know how "country" people were from my neck of the woods to know how truly funny this really is...and I am so glad that you listened to it, sorry about the scratchy quality.
      (By the way, wish I had your English air today!)

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  13. Catching up on your lovely posts, and just had to put a comment here. Every time I hear of the death of someone like Andy Griffith, famous and beloved by so many, my heart aches. Always loved the show and now and then still run across it and have to watch. It is still sweet and funny. Rest easy now Andy, your work here is done. Thanks for such a nice post Kay.

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  14. Thanks so much for your comment! Andy is so much like my Dad, you wouldn't believe it! And if they ever show that movie again "Murder in Coweta County", please don't miss it. It shows what a great actor Andy Griffith could be, if given the chance. I grew up listening to that "What It Was, Was Football" record, I think we almost wore it out!
    Thank you so much for your comment!

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