Married Couples and Other Interesting Facts, Oddities & Trivia

I'm a huge fan of the Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968) and I've probably watched every episode at least 100 times.  I know there are a lot of other fans out there as well, which is why I always think it's funny when I see someone post on Facebook or in some other media source that the fictional town of Mayberry is based on Mount Airy, NC (Andy Griffith's birth place), or that they were "lucky enough" to have visited the filming locations in North Carolina, in and around Mt. Airy, as nothing could be further from the truth.

The fact is, Mayberry is NOT based on Mount Airy and was NOT filmed in North Carolina or anywhere near it.  Andy Griffith himself has stated over and over again in interviews that Mayberry is not based on his hometown of Mount Airy, and you can actually see and hear him talking about it in the "Trivia & Oddities" section of this website.

Additionally, none of the Andy Griffith Show was filmed in North Carolina, and any "mockups" of the Mayberry Sheriff's Office, Wally's Filling Station, etc. located in Mount Airy are just that - reproductions for tourists.  The exterior shots of the show were actually filmed on the Desilu "40 Acres Backlot" in Culver City, California, and the interiors were all filmed on Desilu sound stages.  (Desilu is now Paramount Studios) The famous "Andy and Opie walking to the fishing hole" scene at the beginning of each episode was filmed at the beautiful Franklin Canyon Park, just north of Beverly Hills.  (That's long way from North Carolina!)

And speaking of the opening "Fishing Hole" scene, did you know that there were actually words to that tune that is being whistled in the background?  It's called (appropriately) "The Fishing Hole," and it's sung by Andy Griffith himself.  You can hear it here: The Fishin' Hole Song

Alright, on to the people that constantly say that Otis Campbell (the Town Drunk) was the only married man, or that he and his wife were the only married couple in Mayberry, as it is most certainly not true!  Now I will admit that Otis is probably the most commonly seen married character, but he and his wife were certainly not the only married folks.  Click on the "Married Couples" button below to see a list of at least 12 other married couples along with the season and episode of where you can see them.  Note, many all of these are from Season 1, so they are mostly introduced early on.

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