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Host: Allan Newsome
Running time: 0:15:18
Two Chairs No Waiting
Frances Bavier is known to everybody as Aunt Bee from our home town of Mayberry, NC. In 1972 Frances retired from acting and moved to Siler City, NC. Ms. Bavier was a native of New York so when asked why she choose to retire to Siler City she said, “I fell in love with North Carolina, all the pretty roads and the trees.”
In this episode of Two Chairs No Waiting we’ll hear from Carolina Camera reporter Bill Ballard who was able to interview Frances Bavier not too long after she had moved to North Carolina.
Andy Griffith addressed the fact that the two sometimes clashed during the series’ run. Andy reported on Larry King Live – April 24, 1998, that Frances had phoned him four months before she died. She said she was deeply sorry for being “difficult” during the series’ run.
Frances was born December 14, 1902 and passed away on December 6, 1989 at the age of 86.
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Related Links:
- Frances Bavier (Wikipedia)
- Aunt Bee Retires (YouTube) – See the rare interview that Carolina Camera Reporter Bill Ballard got with Frances Bavier after she retired to North Carolina.
Executive Producer of Two Chairs No Waiting Episode #139: Jay Hicks
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Aunt Bee…..I am familiar with Siler City, it is not far from where I was born. I also have an Aunt Bee. She lives in Hickory, NC. All the years I was growing up she was known to my cousins and I as Aunt Bee. Her name is actually Beatrice and she still kicking at over 85 years of age! I did not know that she had moved to Siler City until after her death. It is nice to know that we have several Mayberry actors/actresses who made NC their home!
Despite the difficulties with Francis on the set of TAGS, she was professional enough to not let it show in the episodes, I don’t think anyone else could have done the role of Aunt Bee any better than she did.
“The Poor Butterfly” is becoming a song that sticks in my head, very relaxing to listen too! LOL, I don’t think I can listen to this song now without visualizing Floyd swaying his head to the tune, he looks like he thourougly enjoys the tune also! Great Show, Thanks.