Those Gossipin' Men (TAGS Episode)

Episode Info

Those Gossipin' Men

• S1.E15
• Filmed: 15
• Aired: 15
• Original Air Date: 1961/01/16
• Writer(s): Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart
• Director: Bob Sweeney

Plot Summary

Aunt Bee teaches Andy a lesson after he ridicules the Mayberry women for being such terrible gossips. Bee sets a trap to prove the men are just as bad by planting the seed of a rumor that ends up leading most of the Mayberry males to the hotel room of a mild-mannered shoe salesman. The men are convinced he is a talent scout for the fictitious TV show "Manhattan Show Time."

Plot

Aunt Bee is waiting in line at Walker's Drugstore, along with Emma Brand, Clara Lindsey, and Opie. Emma tells the other ladies that when Milly Parsons walks into Church with blonde streaks, that she nearly dropped her hymnal. Clara even thinks that she adds the blonde streaks to her hair, just to impress their new Mailman.

When Barney accidentally cuts his finger while cleaning his gun, and to keep it from getting infected, Andy comes in to get some Sulfa Powder. Aunt Bee asks if everything is all right, and that is when he says that Barney has "got a little scratch." He walks out and Emma Brand isn't quite convinced that it's just a little scratch, and she claims that he came running all the way over to get it? Fred then tells her that the Courthouse is just across the street. Aunt Bee and Clara Lindsey get spread around town that he has shot and killed himself. Andy teases the ladies for believing such gossip.

In response to the teasing, Aunt Bee decides to pull a prank on Andy to show that men gossip too. She spreads a rumor that a down-on-his-luck visiting shoe salesman is really a talent scout for the television show Manhattan Show Time.

The men of Mayberry believe the rumor and visit the salesman with their bands and children hoping that one of them would be discovered. The salesman eventually leaves town after achieving record shoe sales.

Odd Facts Known by Few

• As Andy walks into the drug store, there is a TV Guide with Lucy on the cover. This TV Guide cover is from October 9-15, 1954. Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball's company, Desilu, produces this series.
• On the wall behind Andy's desk are upside-down maps of Idaho and Nevada. The Idaho map remains upside-down for at least 6 more episodes. Later in the season, it is right-side up. The Nevada map remains upside-down for the remainder of Season 1.
• According to Barney, New York City is 900 miles from Mayberry. It's actually about 550 miles from New York City to Mt. Airy, NC (Andy Griffith’s hometown).
• In this episode, the barber shop has a door to the back room. In every other episode showing the interior of the barber shop, the barber shop has a curtain to the back room.
• Floyd has a son, Randall, in this episode. In episode 29, Quiet Sam, his wife "Melba" is mentioned. Randal auditions on the saxophone and plays a selection from Saxomania. Another son, Norman, is mentioned again in The Jinx. Later in the series, however, Floyd is said to have no children. In a later episode he is said to be a widower.
• Barney reveals his shoe size, 7 1/2 B, in this episode. In The Merchant of Mayberry Barney requests size 10 and a half socks but in this episode, he tells Wilbur Finch he wears a size 7 and a half B shoes.
• Barney offers to serenade the shoe salesman with a few selections on his jaw harp (harmonica), including ”Finiculi, Finicula”, an old Neapolitan song, as well as “Vagabond Lover” and “Animal Crackers”.
• You can see the boom mic in the windshield of the car.
• Actor Jack Finch later appeared in the Don Knotts movie "The Love God?"
• This episode marks Jonathan Hole's last appearance as Funeral Director Orville Monroe.
• Last of two appearances in the series by Harry Antrim as druggist Fred Walker. Although he owned the drug store, his niece, Ellie Walker, was the druggist in 13 episodes in the series.

Character List

• Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
• Ronny Howard - Opie Taylor
• Don Knotts - Barney Fife
• Frances Bavier - Aunt Bee Taylor
• Cheerio Meredith - Emma Brand
• Sara Seegar - telephone gossip
• Jack Finch - Wilbur Finch
• Harry Antrim - Fred Walker
• Phil Chambers - Jason
• Howard McNear - Floyd Lawson
• Jonathan Hole - Orville Monroe
• Mary Treen - Clara Lindsey