Andy Griffith Show Memories : Episode #3 - Guitar Player
The Guitar Player
Episode Number: 3 Season Num: 1
First Aired: October 17, 1960
Overview
Andy recognizes the talent possessed by local guitar player Jim Lindsey, but realizes that the only way he is ever going to get out of Mayberry is with some help.
Writers: Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
Director: Don Weis
Cast/Crew/Guest Stars
- Ron Howard (Opie Taylor)
- Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee Taylor)
- Andy Griffith (Andy Taylor)
- Don Knotts (Barney Fife)
- James Best (Jim Lindsey)
- Jonathan Hole (Orville Monroe)
- Connie Van (Waitress)
- Henry Slate (Bobby Fleet)
- Dub Taylor (Talbot, the postman)
Episode Summary
In what appears to be a common event, Andy arrests guitarist Jim Lindsey, who doesn't seem to care if he amounts to much in life or not. It is clear that Jim doesn't care to do much of anything more than play his guitar around town. Andy recognizes the opportunity of having a rock and roll band stopping in town to eat and plots to get Jim noticed by the band. When Bobby Fleet & His Band With a Beat rejects Andy, Andy arrests Fleet and his band for a parking violation. He then arrests Jim Lindsey for resisting arrest. Despite finally getting both parties together, Andy can neither force Jim to play nor can he force Bobby to listen. Andy finally gets Jim to show off his talent and Bobby Fleet promptly offers Jim a job as a real musician.
Notes/Trivia/Quotes
- In front of the funeral home Jim appears to be able to play both a rhythm and a lead guitar at the same time.
- When Jim plays outside the funeral parlor, Foley's market is not shown. However, one-half of it actually is. Half of Foley's market was converted into the funeral parlor. The door that the proprietor opens is actually Foley's door.
- During his jam session with Bobby Fleet and His Band with a Beat, the drummer manages to get snare drums, bass drums, and cymbals with nothing more than a couple of drum sticks tapping on the cell bars.
- In this episode Andy describes a singer he saw on TV jerking and shaking "like someone was beating his dog." This is surely a reference to Elvis Presley's famous appearance on TV when he was broadcast from only the waist up on most stations.
- The band Bobby Fleet and His Band With The Beat, was later referred to as "Freddy Fleet and His Band With The Beat".
- The series was filmed entirely in Hollywood, at Desilu Productions on the former RKO Pictures lot. Mayberry exteriors were shot on the former Selznick International Pictures lot, later known as Forty Acres. The rural fishing hole that opened each episode was Franklin Canyon Lake, just north of Beverly Hills. Franklin Canyon was also the site of the show's Myers Lake and other outdoor locales.
- The whistled theme song, "The Fishin' Hole" was composed by Earle Hagen (the music coordinator and famous whistler of the show) and Herbert Spencer, with unsung lyrics by Everett Sloane. Hagen also wrote the music for the series.
Andy: Why in the world don't you do somethin' about yourself?
Jim: What do you mean, Andy?
Andy: Well, you got a fine talent there. You're the best guitar player I ever heard.
Jim: Well that's mighty nice of you, Andy...but Mayberry ain't very big.
Andy: Well now, who says you got to stay in Mayberry? You heard all these fellas that come through here playin' in the shows. How 'bout that fella we see every now and then on television, a'shakin' and a'screamin' - sounds like somebody's beatin' his dog. You're better than all of them.
Jim: Well now, I wouldn't say that.
More From Mayberry...See Link Below for Mayberry Business Principles
- Mayberry Business Principles
Remember These Mayberry Businesses? Wally's Filling Station, Foley's Market, Walker's Drug Store, Floyd's Barber Shop...