You are in for a treat this episode as we’ll be hearing/seeing the entire interview with “Opie’s Pals” Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul) and Dennis Rush (Howie) from April 12, 2025. Keith and Dennis we’re interviewed once on Friday and then again on Saturday in Granville, TN at the Mayberry – I Love Lucy Festival. This recording features the interview from Saturday.
They’ll be talking about their careers and sharing wonderful insights and stories from how they got their starts to where they are now.
This is going to be one of the longest episodes I’ve ever published but I know you are going to enjoy every minute of the show.
Because it’s so long, we won’t be doing any trivia this episode.
Set back and listen or watch the video version to see images of the things/people they talk about. It’s BIG!
TCNW 839: Keith Thibodeaux and Dennis Rush Interview
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Please leave comments or ask questions on the TwoChairsNoWaiting.com website or using the contact information given in the podcast. I would 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.
Granville, TN has an annual Mayberry/I Love Lucy Day and this years was held on April 9th. The special guest for the event was Keith Thibodeaux, the man who played Opie’s friend “Johnny Paul” as well as “Little Ricky” on I Love Lucy. What a wonderful bridge between the two great television classics.
Episode #295 of Two Chairs that featured Keith and I encourage you to give it a listen because while he does go into a bit of his time on The Andy Griffith Show in the presentation he did in Granville, he talked more about it back in episode 295.
In Granville, Keith shared with us all his experience growing up in the entertainment industry. He talks about how he got his job on I Love Lucy and what that was like. His hits on the fun he had working on The Andy Griffith Show and then moves on to how his life after Mayberry played out. His struggles, reaching out to God, redemption, and joy. You will not want to miss a minute.
Finally, we’ll checkout this weeks installment of “Returning to Mayberry” by SpiritWalker called “Car Men to Guitar Men.”
Don’t forget to sign up for the Two Chairs No Waiting e-mail mailing list. I want to be able to reach out to you if there’s a problem with the website and the best way to do that is by using a mailing list. Don’t worry, I won’t be filling your mailbox with e-mail but I would like to have a way to say “hey” if the need arises.
Please leave comments or ask questions on the TwoChairsNoWaiting.com website or using the contact information given in the podcast. I would 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.
I’m always searching for new Mayberry related items you may not have seen that I can bring to you here on the show. Well, this week I was able to find a wonderful set of interviews with Keith “Johnny Paul” Thibodeaux that occurred at the 3rd Annual Mayberry Squad Car Rendezvous in Bradford, OH on July 7, 1995.
Keith played Opie’s friend “Johnny Paul” on The Andy Griffith Show but you may also know him from another role he played on a different television classic. He was “Little Ricky” on I Love Lucy.
The interview covers both those highlights and more so sit back and enjoy. Part one of the interview was broadcast live by “Good Morning Mayberry” on Cincinnati’s WMOH 1450AM radio. The show was on every Saturday morning from 10am to noon back in the 1990’s. Host Mark “Golden” Richards and Dennis Hasty do an amazing job. Part two with Keith also has Richards and Hasty emceeing but all the questions come from the fans in attendance.
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Don’t forget to sign up for the Two Chairs No Waiting e-mail mailing list. I want to be able to reach out to you if there’s a problem with the website and the best way to do that is by using a mailing list. Don’t worry, I won’t be filling your mailbox with e-mail but I would like to have a way to say “hey” if the need arises.
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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.
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