freddy fleet

Two Chairs No Waiting 172: The Fleets Come to Mayberry Part 3

by Floyd on January 24, 2012

Two Chairs No Waiting Host: Allan Newsome
Running time: 0:30:05

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.

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TCNW 172: The Fleets Come to Mayberry Part 3