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Host: Allan Newsome
Running time: 0:21:44

Two Chairs No Waiting

The body of water called “Myers Lake” on The Andy Griffith Show is actually called the “Upper Franklin Reservoir.”  The reservoir is located in Franklin Canyon Park in Hollywood hill of Beverly Hills.

We talked about this area back on episode 13 of Two Chairs No Waiting back in January 2009.  For some reason that is one of the most downloaded and searched for episodes so I thought it would be a good time to return to Myers Lake.

Franklin Canyon Park is a public park located near Benedict Canyon at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. The park comprises 605 acres, and is located in what is said to be the geographical center of the city of Los Angeles. The park features a 3-acre lake (a.k.a. Franklin Lake or Myers Lake by Mayberry fans), a duck pond (Heavenly Pond),  and over five miles of hiking trails. The park was used for the opening of The Andy Griffith Show.

The park traces its beginnings to 1914 when William Mulholland and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power built a reservoir in upper Franklin Canyon. The 1930s began the frequent use of the canyon for filming. Today about 25 films are shot there each year.

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 (256) 513-9526 and leave a voice mail to be part of the show.

If you use iTunes, please visit the Two Chairs No Waiting page of the iTunes store and leave a review and rating.

Directions

2600 Franklin Canyon Drive, Beverly Hills, California

From the West Side, head north on Beverly Drive following signs to Coldwater Canyon. Turn left on Coldwater/Beverly Drive and turn left again on Beverly Drive , at Fire Station No. 2. The third right is Franklin Canyon Dr. continue through residential area to park entrance. At the intersection of Franklin Canyon and Lake Drive turn right to go to Franklin Canyon Ranch site or turn left to go to the Sooky Goldman
Nature Center and Franklin Canyon Lake.

From the San Fernando Valley, From the Ventura Freeway (101) or Ventura Blvd. Take Coldwater Canyon Boulevard south to the intersection of Coldwater Canyon and Mulholland Drive. Make a 90 degree right turn onto Franklin Canyon Dr. There is no street sign “Franklin Canyon.” Road signs read “Road Closed 800 Feet” “Sunset to Sunrise”; this is the park entrance. Do NOT make a “U-Turn” for this will bring you onto Mulholland Drive instead of Franklin Canyon. Stay on paved surface to reach the Sooky Goldman Nature Center and continue south of the lake for 1.5 miles to reach the Franklin Canyon Ranch Site area.

As you enter the “loop” that goes around the lake (it’s one way so this should make it easy to describe), you will have a wooden railing on the left. That railing is where Andy stopped on “The Return to Mayberry” and looked down at Myers Lake.  There is a parking area about 40 yards down on the left.

Park there and walk over to the railing just to the left of the parking area (not the railing that on the main road but the wooden “fence” that keeps folks from falling down the slope.   When you look down the slope you’ll see the path. This is where Andy and Opie walked.  There’s a wooden picnic table down there.

Related Links:

• Franklin Canyon Park – Wikipedia article about “Myers Lake.”
• Map of Franklin Canyon Park – PDF file of the park.
• Overhead image of Upper Franklin Reservoir
• Franklin Canyon Park – Brought to you by the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy.
• How to Hike Franklin Canyon in Beverly Hills
• Bonanza: Scenery of the Ponderosa –  Franklin Lake (a.k.a. Myers Lake) on Bonanza.
• Photos of Franklin Canyon – These are photos taken during my two trips to visit Franklin Canyon.
• Google Map of Franklin Canyon Park
• Video at Franklin Canyon – Your host and his son, Adam, back in 2004 at Myers Lake filming our version of the opening credits of TAGS.
• Let’s Go to the Fishin’ Hole – Report by The Mayberry Times publisher (1996) about his trip to Myers Lake and meeting with some of the cast members.
• A Walk With Andy and Opie – Report in “My Sen-Tence” from the mid-1990’s by Paul Filder and his trip to Franklin Canyon.
• Two Chairs No Waiting 13: Myers Lake is Franklin Canyon Reservoir

Executive Producer of Two Chairs No Waiting Episode #126: Jay Hicks

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Host: Allan Newsome
Running time: 0:17:54

Two Chairs No Waiting

Jean “Hello Doll” Carson was born February 28, 1923 and had a wonderful career. On this episode of Two Chairs No Waiting we’ll remember Jean’s visits to Mayberry as well as talk about just a few of things she did outside of Mayberry.

Jean passed away on November 2, 2005 but her “hello doll” will always bring a smile to fans of The Andy Griffith Show.  Her son, Tracy Alexander, owns operates Alexander Productions in Palm Springs, CA and has been active in keeping his mom’s memory alive and well.

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 (256) 513-9526 and leave a voice mail to be part of the show.

If you use iTunes, please visit the Two Chairs No Waiting page of the iTunes store and leave a review and rating.

Related Links:

• Hello Doll – Jean’s official page.
• Two Chairs No Waiting Facebook Fan Page photos – Photos related to episode #125 of TCNW.
• Alexander Events. Inc.– Tracy Alexander’s, Jean’s son, Special Event decorating company in Palm Springs.
• Andy Griffith Museum – The collection features hundreds of items from the life and career of Andy Griffith in movies,  television and music as well as a variety of memorabilia.

Executive Producer of Two Chairs No Waiting Episode #125: Jay Hicks

Visit the Two Chairs No Waiting store and share your love for the show.
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Host: Allan Newsome
Running time: 0:18:28

Two Chairs No Waiting

On this episode of Two Chairs No Waiting, we again celebrate the life of Don Knotts to mark the 5th anniversary of his passing on February 24, 2006.

Mr. Knotts fans join me in remembering the life of this man who has brought so much joy into our lives.  We hear from Al Gandolfi, the subject of last weeks show, about his favorite memory of receiving an autograph.

Ken Anderson, Brian Humphrey, Jelsic Stern, and Clyde Hughes also took time to call in with their thoughts about Don Knotts.

He may be gone but he will not be forgotten.

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 (256) 513-9526 and leave a voice mail to be part of the show.

If you use iTunes, please visit the Two Chairs No Waiting page of the iTunes store and leave a review and rating.

Related Links:

• Ken Anderson – This website is about Ken’s love for that famous TV town Mayberry, North Carolina.  It is also about his book Mayberry Reflections the Early Years.
• Two Chairs No Waiting Facebook Fan Page photos – Photos related to episode #124 of TCNW.
• A Tribute to Mayberry Brings Good Ole Days to Cocoa – Cocoa Florida’s “Good Ole Days – A Tribute to Mayberry” which took place April 8 and 9, 2005, surprised everyone by being a smashing success. (Al Gandolfi is on the left of the photo on a knee in front of Goober, Floyd, and Opie.)
• Event Calendar – Visit the iMayberry.com event calendar to stay up-to-date about Mayberry related events all around the country. When ever you’re listening, even if it’s long after the podcast was recorded, you’ll find what you’re looking for by visiting.

Executive Producer of Two Chairs No Waiting Episode #124: Allan Newsome

Visit the Two Chairs No Waiting store and share your love for the show.
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Host: Allan Newsome
Running time: 0:18:28

Two Chairs No Waiting

We talk often to tribute artist for characters on The Andy Griffith Show and from time to time to the actual stars themselves.  I thought it would be nice to hear from some Mayberry fans.  What The Andy Griffith Show means to them and what it is they like about the show.

I met up with Mayberry fan Al Gandolfi back in March 2009 following an event in West Palm Beach, Florida held at Grace Fellowship.  The event was called “Mayberry Comes to Grace Fellowship” and Senior’s pastor Frank Ingram helped make that event happen.  You may think that the Mayberry events held around the country just “happen” but that’s certainly not true.

Al, like Pastor Ingram, also made a Mayberry event happen in his town.  It was called “Good Ole Days – A Tribute to Mayberry” and it was held in Cocoa, Florida on April 8th-9th, 2005.  We get to hear a bit from Al about the hard work that goes into making these events happen for all of us, the fans, to enjoy.

I believe you’ll enjoy getting to meet Al and you’ll certainly hear from a man that loves The Andy Griffith Show.  I think you might also hear put into words some of the same feelings you have when watching Andy, Barney, Opie, Aunt Bee, and our other Mayberry neighbors.

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 (256) 513-9526 and leave a voice mail to be part of the show.

If you use iTunes, please visit the Two Chairs No Waiting page of the iTunes store and leave a review and rating.

Related Links:

• A Tribute to Mayberry Brings Good Ole Days to Cocoa – Cocoa Florida’s “Good Ole Days – A Tribute to Mayberry” which took place April 8 and 9, 2005, surprised everyone by being a smashing success. (Al Gandolfi is on the left of the photo on a knee in front of Goober, Floyd, and Opie.)
• Event Calendar – Visit the iMayberry.com event calendar to stay up-to-date about Mayberry related events all around the country. When ever you’re listening, even if it’s long after the podcast was recorded, you’ll find what you’re looking for by visiting.

Executive Producer of Two Chairs No Waiting Episode #123: Ann Newsome

Visit the Two Chairs No Waiting store and share your love for the show.
Two Chairs No Waiting Shop

Subscribe to Two Chairs No Waiting