≡ Menu

old time radio

Host: Allan Newsome
Special Guest: Parley Baer
Running time: 0:19:23

Two Chairs No Waiting

Two Chairs No Waiting

An important person very much connected to The Andy Griffith Show (TAGS) passed away on January 30, 2010 and I couldn’t let another week pass by without mentioning his passing. So, rather than this episode simply being part three of our remembering Howard McNear we are going to also remember Aaron Ruben.

Aaron Ruben was producer, story consultant, writer, and director and one of TAGS strongest pillars for the first five seasons. Jim Clark, Presiding Goober of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC), said this about Aaron. “Other than Andy Griffith himself, no one was more crucial behind the scenes in guiding and shaping ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ during its first five seasons.”

Mr. Ruben will be missed and fondly remembered.

Parley Baer joins us once again to share his memories of Howard McNear and his experience performing the eulogy at Howard’s funeral.  Smiles and laughter were shared that day remembering Howard and you can hear the love in Parley’s voice as he tells the story.

Tell those Mayberry folks in your life about these episodes of Two Chairs No Waiting.

Don’t forget to leave comments or ask questions on the iMayberry.com/podcasts website or using the contact information given in the podcast. We’d love to have you be part of our next feedback episode. Our voice mail number is (256) 513-9526 and you can leave a voice mail. (If you’d like to call toll-free, I only give that number as part of the podcast so you’ll have to listen to hear that number. )

Related Links:

  • Aaron Ruben Memorial – Located at iMayberry.com. Drop by for the complete story from the October 3, 1995 issue of TAGSRWC’s newsletter, The Bullet.
  • Visit Two Chairs LIVE – Two Chairs No Waiting headquarters is broadcasting video LIVE (at times). Drop by this site and you can see the live feed when it is active or watch recorded episodes of the podcast “behind the scenes” production. It’s not much yet but I’m trying to make it better.

Two Chairs No Waiting is brought to you by WeaversDepartmentStore.com.

Executive Producer of Two Chairs No Waiting Episode #70: Bob James

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

Host: Allan Newsome
Special Guest: Parley Baer
Running time: 0:14:33

Two Chairs No Waiting

Two Chairs No Waiting

I hope you were able to listened to episode #68 of the podcast as this will continue along that same line. You don’t have to have heard it but I think you might like hearing it before you listen to this episode.

In this show we’ll again be hearing from Mayor Stoner himself, Parley Baer, as he tells us about his friend Howard McNear.  Folks, after you hear the first story I’m pretty sure you’ll be seeing “Floyd” in your minds eye doing what Parley describes as he speaks of Howard.  I was laughing and smiling when I heard it the first time and that joy is still present each time I listen.

Tell those Mayberry folks in your life about these episodes of Two Chairs No Waiting.  I really believe these Howard McNear episodes are some that any “Floyd” fan will love.

Don’t forget to leave comments or ask questions on the iMayberry.com/podcasts website or using the contact information given in the podcast. We’d love to have you be part of our next feedback episode.  Our voice mail number is (256) 513-9526 and you can leave a voice mail.  (If you’d like to call toll-free, I only give that number as part of the podcast so you’ll have to listen to hear that number. )

Related Links:

  • Visit Two Chairs LIVE – Two Chairs No Waiting headquarters is broadcasting video LIVE (at times). Drop by this site and you can see the live feed when it is active or watch recorded episodes of the podcast “behind the scenes” production. It’s not much yet but I’m trying to make it better.

Two Chairs No Waiting is brought to you by WeaversDepartmentStore.com.

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

Host: Allan Newsome
Special Guest: Parley Baer & William Conrad
Running time: 0:16:12

Two Chairs No Waiting

Two Chairs No Waiting

Friends, I have found some things that I have never heard and I’m so excited to be able to share what I’ve found with you!

In this episode we hear from William Conrad and Parley “Mayor Stoner” Baer give us their memories of Mayberry’s favorite barber, Howard McNear.

Be sure to come back next week for more memories from Parley about “Floyd” and tell the Mayberry fans you know to drop by and give the podcast a listen. I think they, and you, will enjoy it.

Don’t forget to leave comments or ask questions on the iMayberry.com/podcasts website or using the contact information given in the podcast. We’d love to have you be a part of our next feedback episode.

Related Links:

  • Visit Two Chairs LIVE – Two Chairs No Waiting headquarters is broadcasting video LIVE (at times). Drop by this site and you can see the live feed when it is active or watch recorded episodes of the podcast “behind the scenes” production. It’s not much yet but I’m trying to make it better.

Two Chairs No Waiting is brought to you by WeaversDepartmentStore.com.

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

Host: Allan Newsome
Running time: 0:11:58

Two Chairs No Waiting

Two Chairs No Waiting

I have been looking around the Internet for podcasts to listen to and I found The Great Gildersleeve Replay. Said to be both the first spin-off program, and one of the first situation comedies, The Great Gildersleeve was a spin-off from Fibber McGee and Molly. The radio show ran for 16 years (1941-1957) on NBC Radio.

What does any of this have to do with The Andy Griffith Show? Well, I was listening recently and noticed two names that were used on The Great Gildersleeve that will draw the attention of Mayberry fans.  The Great Glidersleeve is set in the town of Summerfield  and Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve is the main character. I had noticed that one of the supporting characters is Floyd Munson and that he is the barber in Summerfield.  They even call him “Floyd the barber” but while I notice the name and smiled it wasn’t until I heard the episode titled “Sleigh Ride” (Feb 6, 1944) that I really took notice.  It turns out Floyd’s brother is mentioned and his name is Otis.

I started digging to try and see if this show might have been where Andy and the writers of The Andy Griffith Show (TAGS) came up with the names Floyd the barber and Otis.  I spoke with Jim Clark and Ken Beck recently and neither had heard about Gildersleeve being a source for the names.  I checked the writers to see if there were any in common between the Gildersleeve and TAGS but could find none.

I did find that the person who played Floyd on Gildersleeve was Arthur Q. Bryan.  Mr. Bryan, it turns out, was the voice of Elmer Fudd on the Warner Brothers cartoons.  When Mr. Bryan passed away onNovember 18, 1959, Hal Smith (Mayberry’s Otis)assumed the voice of Elmer Fudd in later Looney Tunes productions.

I can’t say for sure what the tie in between the towns of Summerfield and Mayberry might be but there seems to be enought there to make it worth continuing to dig.

Don’t forget to leave comments or ask questions on the iMayberry.com/podcasts website or using the contact information given in the podcast. We’d love to have you be a part of our next feedback episode.

Related Links:

  • The Great Gildersleeve – Wikipedia story with background on The Great Gildersleeve.
  • Arthur Q. Bryan – Voiced “Floyd the Barber” on The Great Gildersleeve. Wikipedia has a very nice write-up.

Two Chairs No Waiting is brought to you by WeaversDepartmentStore.com.

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