Corporation.
A Behind the Scenes Look at
The Andy Griffith Show
And The REAL Mayberry
By Jake Easton
R A D O K N E W S
The Mount Airy Connection
While Griffith often dismissed any ties between his show and the sleepy little town of Mount Airy, North Carolina, even Andy can't deny the many similarities.
For example, if you've wondered where the talented TAGS writers came up with the various names, it's apparent they didn't have to look far from Andy's hometown. The small towns surrounding Mount Airy - where Andy Griffith was born in 1926 - were a treasure trove for many of the now-familiar characters and locations seen on the show.
Among the names too obvious to ignore are: Mulberry, NC (Mayberry), Pilot Mountain, NC (Mount Pilot), Taylorsville, NC (Andy Taylor), Lawsonville, NC (Floyd Lawson), Crumpler, NC (Helen Crump), Walkertown, NC (Ellie Walker), Jonesville, NC (Sam Jones), Warrensville, NC (Warren Ferguson), and Stoneville, NC - Mayor Stoner (That's 'Stoner,' for those who recall the "Barney and the Governor" episode). All of these little municipalities are less than 25 miles from where Andy grew up.
Other TAGS characters were named after real people, including childhood friends, family and acquaintances such as Andy's best buddy since grammar school - Emmitt Forrest, and former Mount Airy mayor E.T. Clark (collectively "Emmett Clark"), Jim Slate (Jim Slater), the Beasleys (Juanita, and Goober in one episode), the Roundtrees (Miss Roundtree), Earl Gilley - and to keep his in-laws happy - Andy's then-wife Barbara 'Edwards' Griffith (Clara Edwards, who was in 21 episodes).
In addition to the real North Carolina cities of Charlotte, Raleigh, Bannertown, and Siler City, there were many streets that were shared between fact and tv fantasy. There's Haymore Street (Andy and his parents, Carl and Geneva, lived at 711 Haymore), Rockford Street (where Andy's grammar school was located), Main Street, Turner Mountain (Turner's Grade - speed limit 35mph), Oak, Elm, Maple, Willow, Orchard, and River Road - all the rural byways of Mount Airy.
The Town With An Identity Crisis
Mount Airy, North Carolina comes from established roots in the heart of the Blue Ridge foothills. The town was incorporated in 1885, and over the next fifty years, the Surry County area was among the state's largest producers of tobacco, furniture manufacturing, textiles, and granite.
With more than a century having passed, and all the big industries long gone, Mount Airy - population 8,484 - is now home to a few hosiery manufacturers, some scattered wineries, and a dozen small manufacturing companies. One of the town's largest employers, NCFI, manufactures polyurethane foam insulation products - and yes - they were the foam supplier to NASA for the space shuttle fuel tanks.
To offset its weakened economy, it seems like the whole town of Mount Airy has turned to tourism as a way to fan the demand flame for 'everything Andy.'
Starting in the early 1980s - twenty years after The Andy Griffith Show was produced - Mount Airy's City Barber Shop became Floyd's City Barber Shop, the Mount Airy Inn became The Mayberry Inn, then came the Mayberry Mall, Mayberry Cinema, Mayberry Antiques, Mayberry Alarm & Lock Co., Mayberry Waterworks (Car Wash), Mayberry Country Hair World, Mayberry Candle Shop, Mayberry Coffee Company, Mayberry Embroidery, Mayberry Learning Center, Mayberry Square, Mayberry R.F.D. Developers, Mayberry Collectors Center, Mayberry Bed & Breakfast, Simply Mayberry Gifts, Andy's Homeplace Bed & Breakfast, The Andy Griffith Museum, The Andy Griffith Theater, Aunt Bea's Barbeque (albeit misspelled), Aunt Bee's Room, Wally's Service Station, Bluebird Diner, the Old Mayberry Jail, and Knight's Inn Mayberry.
One notable exception to the madness, is the Snappy Lunch diner. On November 14, 1960, in the seventh show to air (episode 9 - "Andy the Matchmaker"), Barney had been walking shy seamstress, Miss Rosemary to church every Sunday. Andy decided it was time to get them together and suggested they "take in a movie, then go down to the Snappy Lunch to eat, have some coffee, and talk."
The real life Snappy Lunch diner is Mount Airy's oldest business whose southern heritage goes back to 1923, and a spot where Andy himself ate as a young boy. The diner's owner, Charles Dowell, nearly fell off his couch when he saw that episode in 1960 - and business at the Snappy Lunch diner has prospered ever since.
While subsequent episodes often have Andy and Barn going to 'the diner,' it's clear to Mount Airy residents that they were referring to their very own little Snappy Lunch eatery.
Epicurean note: If you're in the neighborhood, be sure to try Snappy Lunch's tasty cheeseburger for $1.55, or if you're feeling particularly decadent, go all out for the mouth-watering World Famous Pork Chop sandwich for $3.50. They're open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch - and just like Wally - they don't work on Sundays.
hile continuously dismissing any ties between The Andy Griffith Show and Mount Airy for decades, on October 16, 2002, Andy Griffith publicly returned to Mount Airy for the first time in 45 years to be honored by North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley in renaming a ten mile stretch of Highway 52 to Andy Griffith Parkway.
During the dedication ceremony, Andy, then 76, said "I'm proud to be from the great state of North Carolina. I'm proud to be from Mount Airy. I think of you often, and I won't be such a stranger from here on out."
Then he gave the local residents what they had been hoping for, for years: Validation. "People started saying that Mayberry was based on Mount Airy," Griffith said. Then pausing with a sly grin, he added: "It sure sounds like it, doesn't it?" 
Jake Easton is a veteran journalist, political columnist, and freelance writer
for a variety of Radok News publications. Mr. Easton recently finished writing
the book, Americans Behaving Badly - the story of bad behavior by liberal
media, politicians and celebrities after the Sept. 11th attacks against America.
By Radok Press. ISBN: 0972242805
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Did You Know? Andy Griffith played one of the first single dads on television.
Did You Know? Until recently, Andy Griffith had not returned to Mount Airy publicly since June 1, 1957, to see a parade in his honor for No Time for Sergeants.
Griffith also celebrated something else on that day - his thirty-first birthday.
Favorite Quote
Opie: "The cage sure looks awful empty, don’t it Pa?"
Andy: "Yes son, it sure does... But, don’t the trees seem nice and full."
Did You Know? Howard Hesseman of WKRP in Cincinnati made two guest appearances on TAGS, but never shows up in any of the credits.
For diehard TAGS fans, here's a hint: Hesseman played a sturdy role in both episodes.
Did You Know? Andy Griffith was married three times.
Barbara Edwards (1949-1972), Solica Cassuto (1973-1981), and his current wife, Cindi Knight, who he married in 1983.
