Bob Ross Movies

In this romantic drama, Austin Ruth (Andrew Prine) is a drifter who goes from rodeo to rodeo. He gets a ride to his next rodeo from Chase Lawrence (Gilmer McCormick), a girl from an upper-class background. She is avoiding her family and has recently dropped out of college. Austin and Chase are attracted to each other, despite their superficially antagonistic initial behavior. Because of her, Austin is motivated to try to prove something in the upcoming rodeo competition. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

As indicated by its title, this episode of The Andy Griffith Show served as the pilot for the spinoff series Mayberry RFD. Ken Berry makes his first appearance as widowed Mayberry farmer Sam Jones (though the episode was shown out of production order, making it Berry's third appearance). When his old friend, Italian laborer Mario (Gabrielle Tinti), shows up in town, Sam generously hires Mario as a handyman-little realizing that the enterprising foreigner has brought his entire family along. Written by Bob Ross, "Mayberry RFD" was originally telecast on April 1, 1968, as the final first-run installment of The Andy Griffith Show. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When the ladies of Mayberrry complain about the hootchie-kootchie dancers at a travelling carnival, Andy is forced to close the show down. As a result, the carnival's "one man band", Jerry Miller (Jerry Van Dyke) is thrown out of work. Feeling sorry for Jerry, Andy hires the man as a potential replacement for departing deputy Barney-and lives to regret it. Written by Bob Ross, "Banjo-Playing Deputy" originally aired May 3, 1965, as the final episode of The Andy Griffith Show's fifth season; it was also the series' last black-and-white episode. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Moving into its new 8:30 PM Monday timeslot, The Andy Griffith Show entered its fifth season on September 21, 1964 with the episode titled "Opie Loves Helen" (which was actually the sixth episode filmed for Season Five). When his regular partner doesn't show up for his weekly dance class, Opie ends up tripping the light fantastic with his teacher Helen Crump. As a result, Opie develops a strong crush on Helen-causing no end of embarrassment for Helen's boyfriend-and Opie's father-Andy Taylor. "Opie Loves Helen" was written by Bob Ross. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Leaving his usual jail cell after sobering up from his weekly bender, Otis Campbell trips and falls. Though the injury is minor, Barney insists that Otis sign all manner of documents absolving the county of any blame. This insignificant incident mushrooms into a major crisis when Otis falls into the clutches of an ambulance-chasing lawyer named Bentley (Jay Novello). Written by Bob Ross, "Otis Sues the County" was originally shown on December 28, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Ward (Tony Dow) and June (Barbara Billingsley) promised Wally (Tony Dow) that he could get his license when he turned 17. Well, he's turned 17 -- and true to their word, his parents allow Wally to enroll in driving school. Making one mistake after another, Wally can only envy his driving partner Shirley (Beverly Lunsford), who seems to have been born behind a steering wheel. Our hero starts panicking, when, on the day of the big test, "perfect driver" Shirley fails miserably! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Goaded by his friends, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) tries out a swing with one of his dad's precious golf clubs. In an instant, the club falls apart, and Beaver is convinced that he is responsible. What he doesn't know is that Ward (Hugh Beaumont) previously broke the club on the links, and that he had intended to throw it out anyway. Even with this in mind, Beaver did disobey his dad by messing around with the clubs -- but will he be punished for "intent" rather than "result"? (My, these fifth-season Leave It to Beaver episodes are certainly more complicated than the earlier shows!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beaver insists that he's too old for birthday parties and presents and all that kind of junk. Accordingly, his parents present him with money on his birthday, as does his Uncle Billy. However, Beaver cannot resist spending some of the cash on a model car. So here's the problem -- inasmuch as he was so adamant about not getting "toys" for his birthday, and he hasn't asked permission to purchase the car, Beav must now figure out a way to hide his new acquisition lest he lose face in front of his parents. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The pilot for the long-running CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show was seen on February 15, 1960, as an episode of The Danny Thomas Show, "Danny Meets Andy Griffith." As originally conceived, Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) was not only the sheriff of the sleepy North Carolina town of Mayberry, but he was also the mayor, justice of the peace, and newspaper editor. Child actor Ronny Howard (who, as Ron Howard, would in adulthood enjoy a spectacularly successful career as a film director) was seen in the pilot as the widowed Andy's son Opie, but Frances Bavier played an entirely different role than she would in the actual series, while Frank Cady rather than Hal Smith was cast as town drunk Otis Campbell. While there would be changes in concept and casting, the laid-back character of Andy Taylor "clicked" with TV audiences, ensuring that The Andy Griffith Show would join the Monday night CBS lineup come October 3, 1960. Introduced as regulars during season one were of course Andy Griffith, Ronny Howard, and Frances Bavier (now as Aunt Bee, housekeeper for Andy and Opie Taylor), with the significant and salutary addition of Don Knotts as Andy's tightly wound deputy Barney Fife. The rapport between Andy and Barney contributed mightily to the series' success during its shakedown season, with nominal leading character Andy often voluntarily taking a back seat to Barney's overzealous antics. Subsequent additions to the cast included Jim Nabors as bucolic gas station attendant Gomer Pyle (later spun off into his own series, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.); George Lindsey as Gomer's cousin, Goober Pyle; Howard McNear as dithery barber Floyd Lawson; and Hal Smith as the aforementioned Otis Campbell. Taking advantage of Andy Taylor's widower status, the series' writers tried to pair the character off with a number of eligible young ladies, beginning in the first season with Elinor Donahue as drugstore sales clerk Ellie Walker. But only when Aneta Corsaut joined the cast as Opie's schoolteacher Helen Crump did Andy find the "right" girl. Indeed, Andy and Helen would become engaged during the series' final season. Conversely, Barney Fife had but one steady girlfriend, Thelma Lou, played by Betty Lynn.
Don Knotts left the series at the outset of its sixth season (the show switched from black-and-white to color at the same time); it was explained that Barney had accepted a deputy position in Raleigh, permitting Knotts to make a handful of memorable return guest appearances. Barney was briefly replaced by Deputy Warren Ferguson, played by Jack Burns; later on, Goober Pyle became Andy's unofficial deputy. The post-Don Knotts episodes brought forth several other new recurring characters: Jack Dodson as town clerk Howard Sprague, Paul Hartman as handyman Emmet Clark, and Hope Summers as Aunt Bee's best friend, Clara. During the Emmy-winning series' eighth season, Andy Griffith decided to leave the show. At this point, Ken Berry was added to the cast as widowed farmer and later town councilman Sam Jones, with Buddy Foster as Sam's son Mike and Arlene Golonka as Sam's girlfriend, Millie Hutchins. After the final telecast of The Andy Griffith Show on September 16, 1968, the series continued for three additional seasons under the title Mayberry RFD, with Ken Berry taking over as star and with most of the familiar Andy Griffith Show supporting characters still in attendance. One of the most consistently popular sitcoms of all time, The Andy Griffith Show lasted 249 half-hour episodes, and also spawned the high-rated 1986 TV movie Return to Mayberry. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

All week long, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) and Wally (Tony Dow) have been looking forward to attending a local carnival. Alas, on the appointed day, Aunt Martha (Madge Kennedy) imperiously descends upon the Cleaver household with her friend Mrs. Hathaway (Irene Tedrow). As the seconds become minutes, and the minutes drag into hours, poor Beav and Wally wonder if they will ever be able to escape the attack of the killer aunts! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi