Merchant of Mayberry, The (TAGS Episode)

Episode Info

The Merchant of Mayberry

• S2.E22
• Filmed: 54
• Aired: 54
• Original Air Date: 1962/03/05
• Writer(s): Ben Gershman and Leo Solomon
• Director: Bob Sweeney

Plot Summary

Mean old Ben Weaver goes on a rampage when Bert Miller, a traveling salesman, stops in Mayberry. Weaver demands Miller be taken off the street for not complying with a Mayberry law that prohibits anyone from selling goods without a permanent structure. Andy, out to have a little fun, decides to settle the matter in his own way by helping Bert build a nice little stand in a vacant lot down the street, setting off a trade war between Bert's and Weaver's Department Store. Ben finally gives in and decides the best way to eliminate the competition is to put him to work in his own store.

Summary

The episode centers on themes of small-town kindness, underdog support, and gentle mischief against a local bully. A tired, footsore traveling salesman named Bert Miller (Sterling Holloway) arrives in Mayberry, weary of life on the road and selling his goods door-to-door. Andy and Barney encounter him and learn he's struggling and considering settling down.

To help Bert—and partly to needle the town's irritable department store owner, Ben Weaver—Andy and Barney assist Bert in setting up a makeshift outdoor stand selling general goods on a vacant lot. Ben Weaver, protective of his monopoly and quick to complain about any competition, immediately objects and tries to shut Bert down.

With each of Ben's complaints, Andy and Barney cleverly escalate their support for Bert. They upgrade the simple stand into a more permanent-looking "Bert's Market" booth, stock it with more merchandise, and even help promote it around town. This playful one-upmanship frustrates Ben further, turning the situation into a lighthearted competition. Andy sings "The Crawdad Song" at one point, and he and Barney perform "Spread a Little Sunshine Every Day."

The escalating rivalry reaches a point where Ben, fed up with the threat to his business, finally relents. He offers Bert a well-paying job at his own department store, allowing the salesman to stay in Mayberry without continuing his exhausting travels. The resolution highlights Andy's folksy wisdom in balancing fairness, community support, and avoiding outright confrontation.

Odd Facts Known by Few

• We find out Barney wears size 10 and a half socks (though Bert sells Barney size 11 "in case Barney is not done growing").

• Early in the episode, when Ben Weaver crosses street to approach Andy and Barney in front of the grocery store, the film is "reversed." The Ford Falcon that is parked in front of the movie theater has its steering wheel on the wrong side and the license plate is backward. There is also a continuity issue: Since the theater was behind Ben Weaver, he should have approached Andy and Barney from their right. Instead, he comes upon them from their left. Later in the episode, when Ben approaches Andy and Barney at Bert Miller's stand, the film is no longer "reversed." The movie theater and Ford Falcon are just fine.

• This is the second episode in which Ben Weaver ends up hiring the person he was trying to get Andy to run out of town. Previously, in the episode "Andy Forecloses," he tried to get Lester Scobey evicted from his house.

• Actor Sterling Holloway was officially named a Disney Legend in 1991, and is the beloved voice of Winnie The Pooh. He had major roles in two different film adaptations of "Alice in Wonderland." In Paramount's 1933 version, he played the Frog. In Disney's 1950 animated version, he provided the voice of the Cheshire Cat. He would later voice Kaa the snake in The Jungle Book (1967)

• Hal Smith (who played Otis Campbell on the show) eventually took over the Pooh voice role after Holloway.

• Andy misquotes William Congreve's famous line from the 1697 play "The Mourning Bride." The oft-misquoted line is actually, "Music has charms to soothe a savage breast," (not "beast," as it's often remembered or said)the first line of the play, spoken by Almeria in Act I, Scene 1.

• At the time of this episode, Crowley's Market offered the following prices: Fresh Florida Oranges (0.29 per dozen); 2 lb white half-runner beans (.26); Fat back (.17/lb); 10lb bag of potatoes (.29); Picnics (.29); Yellow hominy (.10); Syrup (.27/pint); Pork sausage (.49/lb); Bacon (5 lbs for .99).

• This episode marks the first appearance of Mary Lansing (Mrs. Mason) who is best known later as Martha Clark on TAGS and Mayberry RFD.

• This was Will Wright's last appearance as the grumpy department store owner Ben Weaver. He had played the role in three episodes across Seasons 1 and 2. Sadly, Wright passed away from cancer on June 19, 1962 — just a few months after this episode originally aired on March 5, 1962. The character did return one more time in Season 4's "The Shoplifters," but he was recast with a different actor (Tol Avery). It's a bittersweet note for fans who loved Wright's crusty but ultimately redeemable portrayal.

Character List

• Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
• Don Knotts - Barney Fife
• Ronny Howard - Opie Taylor
• Frances Bavier - Aunt Bee Taylor
• Will Wright - Ben Weaver
• Sterling Holloway - Bert Miller
• Sara Seegar - Ms. Farmer
• Bob McQuain - Joe Waters
• Mary Lansing - Mrs. Mason