In this “The Andy Griffith Show” season four episode entitled, ‘The Haunted House’ which originally aired on October 7, 1963, it’s “age before beauty” as the gang from Mayberry discover “there’s nothing to fear, but fear itself!”
Bobby Fleet and his Band with a Beat has been the focus of the last two episodes of this podcast. Both episodes of The Andy Griffith Show featuring Bobby Fleet were in the very first season of the series. Now we move along to season 3 of The Andy Griffith Show when an episode titled “The Mayberry Band” aired on November 19, 1962 and introduced fans to Freddy Fleet and his band.
The mistake made by everybody, including me, is calling Freddy’s band “The Band with a Beat” just like Bobby’s band but that title is never used during the episode.
We always assume that Bobby’s and Freddy’s bands are the same and while Freddy does mention that every time he comes through Mayberry that Andy tries “pot bellied schemes” we don’t know that it is the same band.
Maybe Bobby and Freddy Fleet are brothers who both have bands that travel the state and sometimes come through Mayberry. Maybe the script continuity person missed this one and gave Mr. Fleet the wrong name. We’ll never know and it’s for fans to discuss and decide for themselves.
We do know that Freddy Fleet is played by actor Joseph Sirola (born October 7, 1929). Joseph, or Joe, Sirola was once a case worker for the New York City Department of Welfare before becoming perhaps the most successful “voice-over” actor in the history of the profession. His voice has been heard in scores of advertisements since the 1960′s and one cannot listen to a radio or watch a television in a major market without hearing his distinctive voice.
In his long career, Sirola has done everything from beckoning people to Club Med to convincing them to rent from Hertz. Listen to the podcast for a chance to hear his voice over work and I’m sure you’ll recognize his voice.
Follow me on Twitter if you use twitter. I’ve been posting Mayberry things there as another way to let folks know about The Andy Griffith Show.
Don’t forget to leave comments or ask questions on the TwoChairsNoWaiting.com website or using the contact information given in the podcast. We’d love to have you be a part of our next feedback episode. Call the Two Chairs No Waiting Hot-line at (888) 684-8415 and leave a voice mail to be part of the show.
“The Guitar Player Returns” is only 7 months and 28 episodes later and the 31st episode of season 1 of TAGS (Oct 17, 1960 – May 16, 1961) and when “Bobby Fleet” appears, he’s a different man. No longer is Henry Slate playing the character but instead Fleet is played by Herb Ellis.
We’re going to enjoy meeting Bobby Fleet and the other characters that join us in “The Guitar Player.” As I was going through this episode, I just kept finding great quotes that brought a smile to my face and I’m sure they’ll do the same for you.
As this episode of the podcast is being recorded, it is the 50th anniversary of the first airing of episode number 4 of The Andy Griffith Show titled “Ellie Comes to Town.” That fact and as a result of a voice mail I received this week it seemed fitting to focus just a bit on this episode. Running time: 0:16:38
The issue that keeps raising it’s head is “who’s bank book was Andy looking at, his own or Parnell Rigsby’s, when he said, “Ain’t that the saddest bank book you ever saw?” Andy took the bank book out of the same cigar box that he had been keeping Mr. Rigsby’s change purse. I, and many others, have always believed that to be Andy’s bank book BUT there are also a lot of folks that think that it was Mr. Rigsby’s bank book. Running time: 0:16:08
Listen to this episode of Two Chairs No Waiting to find exactly who Carl is and where he appears on The Andy Griffith Show. “The Andy Griffith Show starring Andy Griffith; with Ronny Howard, Carl Griffith. Also starring, Don Knotts.” Running time: 0:11:05