Andy Griffith

Last week Andy Griffith died, the actor and Grammy award winning gospel singer. He is best known for his leading character roles on “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Matlock”. You can relive your memories of Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee and the rest of the gang. The library has books about the show as well as the complete series on DVD. Also in our collection are “Matlock” and the 1957 film “A Face in the Crowd” that gained Griffith prominence in the starring role of Elia Kazan’s epic film. Did you know that “The Andy Griffith Show” ranked among the top ten television shows in the nation during each of its eight original prime time seasons? And even more astounding, ever since the original run ended in 1968, the show has been seen literally every day on television in this country as well as throughout the world! Mayberry represents a kind of idealized view of what America was. It contains heart, a sense of community, and reminds us of what Andy said to Opie when he was leaving the town during the 1986 reunion movie: “There’s something about Mayberry and Mayberry folk that never leaves you. No matter where life takes you. You always carry in your heart the memories of old times and old friends”.