Hal Smith Movies
Character actor Hal Smith (born Harold John Smith) cut his acting teeth in various touring road companies. Before serving in the Air Force during World War II, he had amassed impressive credits as a band singer, radio disc jockey, and writer. In the postwar years, he decided to try his luck in Hollywood, although holding down a real-estate job so he'd have a financial cushion between acting jobs. His first recurring TV role was on the vintage sitcom I Married Joan (1952-53). (It was a different actor who appeared in the bit role of Anne Baxter's suitor in O. Henry's Full House [1952].) He spent most of the '50s playing guest stints and providing voice-overs for cartoon characters, and was briefly Hal the Bartender, a commercial spokesman for a popular brand of beer. In 1960, he was signed for the semi-regular role of town drunk Otis Campbell on The Andy Griffith Show, essaying this hilarious (if politically incorrect) characterization with expertise, although he often insisted, "I don't think I've ever really been drunk in my whole life." Since Otis did not appear in every Griffith episode, Smith had time aplenty to free-lance, playing such film roles as a drunken Santa in Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960) and an effeminate Roman emperor in The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962), and supplying voices for such cartoon programs as Davey and Goliath and The Flintstones. By 1962, he was making 50,000 dollars per year, a tidy sum in those days. During the 1970s and '80s, Smith was most closely associated with Disney, replacing the late Vance "Pinto" Colvig as the voice of Goofy and providing voices for series ranging from Winnie the Pooh and Friends to Ducktales. Smith died in 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1962
The moonshining Gordon boys (Paul Bakanas, Orville Sherman) threaten dire consequences for town drunk Otis Campbell, whom they hold responsible for their arrest. As a result, it isn't safe for Otis to occupy his usual cell after his weekly boozefest. Thinking quickly, Andy allows Otis to serve out his sentence in the Taylor household-a move Otis soon regrets when Aunt Bee puts him to work. Did we say Aunt Bee? We meant "Bloody Mary"! Written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart, "Aunt Bee the Warden" first aired on March 12, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Aunt Bee wonders why her widowed nephew Andy has never remarried-until her cousin Clara Johnson "helpfully" tells her that Andy will never marry as long as Bee herself remains unattached. Feeling like a fifth wheel, Bee tries to persuade Andy that she doesn't need his support by inventing an imaginary boy friend. The fun begins when Bee has to produce her phantom beau-and comes up with nonplussed Mayberry dry cleaner Fred Sherman (H. Fred Goss). First seen on April 2, 1962, "Wedding Bells for Aunt Bee" was written by Harvey Bullock. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
A pre-Bonnie and Clyde Michael J. Pollard guest-stars as Barney's cousin Virgil, newly arrived from New Jersey. Not the brightest bulb in the basket, Virgil can't seem to do anything right, messing up even the smallest and easiest of chores. Andy discovers that Virgil has a latent talent which compensates for his chronic clumsiness. Rance Howard, the father of series regular Ronny Howard, appears as a bus driver. First telecast on April 30, 1962, "Cousin Virgil" was written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Envious of his ostensibly successful brother Ralph (Stanley Adams), town drunk Otis Campbell has for several years claimed to be Andy Taylor's deputy in his correspondence with his brother. When Ralph shows up in Mayberry, Andy agrees to help Otis keep up his "lawman" charade. It is up to the respective wives of Otis and Ralph to force the brothers to reveal the truth about themselves. Written by Fred S. Fox and Iz Elinson, "Deputy Otis" aired on May 7, 1962, as the final episode of The Andy Griffith Show's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hal Smith
- 1962
Season Three of The Flintstones begins with an episode focusing on Dino, the pet dinosaur of Fred and Wilma Flintstone. Thanks to a nationwide contest, Dino lands a role on the popular animal series "The Adventures of Sassie" (which is, of course, a takeoff of Lassie) at Screen Rocks Studios. Fred's eagerness to cash in on Dino's big chance causes a rift between pet and master, but worse is to come when Dino catches a glimpse of the "real" Sassie in her dressing room. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Fred umpires a PeeWee League baseball game between the Bedrock Giants and the Grittsburg Pyrites. During the game he is spotted by a big-league scout who sense professional potential in our hero. But Fred's new career may be nipped in the bud when the parents of the ballplayers (including his boss Mr. Slate) pressure him to make favorable calls whether they're deserved or not. The climactic scene includes play-by-play coverage from sportscaster Bill Stone, a spoof of legendary radio personality Bill Stern. This is the final episode of The Flintstones' second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Veteran character actress Verna Felton supplies the voice of Mrs. Slaghoople, the overbearing mother of stone-age hausfrau Wilma Flintstone. Having sold her own house, Mrs. S moves in with daughter Wilma and son-in-law Fred, who complains that the event is comparable to "Grant taking Richmond" (apparently he has peered into the distant future). Hoping to get rid of his mother-in-law, Fred tries to marry her off to a wealthy Texasn named Melville J. Mushrocks--but Wilma, suspecting that Mushrocks is a phony, does her best to scuttle the romance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Barney wins a houseboat on the TV game show "The Price is Priced" (a brilliant takeoff of The Price is Right, right down to the oohing-and-aahing studio audience). Because Fred bankrolled Barney's TV appearance, he figures that the houseboat is partly his. The boys are able to compromise on the boat's name ("Nautical" and "Seaworthy" are rather clumsily combined into "Nau-Sea"), but when time comes to decide whether Fred or Barney will be the captain--well, that's another story! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Fans of the Laurel&Hardy comedy Sons of the Desert should enjoy this sublimely derivative episode, in which Fred and Barney hope to attend a three-day lodge convention at Frantic City. Naturally, Wilma and Betty must be kept in the dark about this, so one of the boys' friends, a plumber, poses as a doctor and diagones them with "Dipsey-Doodle-Itis"--a rare disease that can only be cured by a three-day vacation from home. Meanwhile, Fred has brought home a talking Doozey Dodo Bird as a pet for Wilma; alas, the bird steadfastly refuses to say a single word... until it overhears the boys' elaborate scheme to sneak off to Frantic City, that is! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Hoping to cure Barney's hiccups, Fred administers a dose of the new soft drink that he has invented in his garage. However, the drink has a curious effect on Barney--namely, it renders him invisible! The rest of the episode finds Fred trying to cover up his "lab mistake", with Barney's disembodied voice causing him all manner of trouble. "Invisible Barney" was the series' first episode to be telecast in color, the first to include the "going to the drive-in" opening credits, and the first to feature the familiar theme music "Meet the Flintstones." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Slated to bowl for his lodge in a upcoming tournament against the Rockland Rocket, Fred is having trouble living up to his potential--in fact, he's become downright inept with a bowling ball. In order to bring back his "old form", Fred secretly signs up for ballet lessons at the Bedrock Dance Academy. Alas, Wilma assumes that Fred is messing around with other women--and it helps matters not at all when Barney spots his friend performing pirouettes with three lovely ballerinas! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
In this spoof of the 1960s dance craze "The Twist", pop singer Rock Roll comes to town to perform his newest hit tune, "The Bedrock Twitch." Thanks to a chance meeting, Fred brags about being to be close pals with Rock Roll. The trouble begins when Fred promises to talk the singer into performing at Wilma's Ladies Auxiliary Benefit Show--and we bet you can't guess who ends up going on in Rock Roll's place! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Prior to carrying out the orders of her boss Morley Thielman (George Neise) by placing a briefcase containing $100,000 in a train station locker, Janice Wainwright (Elaine Devry) stops at the office of Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), informing the lawyer that she thinks Thielman is being blackmailed. Janice's last stop is in Las Vega to meet Thielman's ex-wife--but instead, she is arrested and charged with her boss' murder. In his efforts to defend Janice, Perry must discredit the testimony of witness Fred Carlyle (James Callahan), who insists that he saw Janice's distinctively shapely silhouette through the shades of Thielman's window just before the murder. This episode is based on a 1960 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
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Larry, Moe and Curly Joe work in a pharmacy where a young professor works on a time machine. When the machine is sabotaged by foil Ralph Dimsal (George N. Neise), the Three Stooges, the professor and beautiful Diane (Vicki Trickett) are transported back in time to ancient Greece. The group lands in the middle of a fierce battle between rival armies. Meeting up with the might Hercules, they soon discover their appearance in the battle helped turn the tide in favor of the wrong side. A series of mishaps and a stint as galley slaves plague their efforts to correct historical accuracy. They battle mythological monsters and the evil General Odius (Neise) to set the historical record straight. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vicki Trickett, Quinn K. Redeker, (more)
- 1962
For the second time in Flintstones history, a Hollyrock movie producer sees star potential in cave-wife Wilma Flintstone. Galvanized by the prospect of having a movie queen in the family, Fred appoints himself Wilma's manager, then proceeds to get into a deep financial hole as he pays for singing lessons, acting lessons, dancing lessons etc. The highlight of the episode is the spoof of My Fair Lady: "The ants in France stay mainly on the plants." (By George, we get it!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In Andy's absence, deputy Barney takes over as acting sheriff. By the time Andy returns, by-the-book Barney has jailed practically everyone in Mayberry-including Aunt Bee. Humiliated when Andy releases the outraged prisoners, Barney tenders his resignation. It is up to Andy to restore Barney's self-esteem-a task for which he receives unexpected assistance. Written by David Adler, "Andy Saves Barney's Morale" first aired on February 20, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Deputy Barney's incessant complaints that nothing exciting ever happens in Mayberry are temporarily put to rest when celebrated criminal Gentleman Dan Caldwell (Dan Tobin) is escorted into the town jail. Everyone in Mayberry is charmed and thrilled by Gentleman Dan-none more so than Barney, who unfortunately allows his guard to slip, whereupon Dan gets the drop on the deputy. The script, by Ben Gershamn and Leo Solomon, is predicated upon treasured bit of Andy Griffith Show folklore: The lone bullet in Barney Fife's pocket. "Andy and the Gentleman Crook" was originally telecast on February 27, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Spinsters Jennifer and Clarabelle Morrison (Charity Grace and Gladys Hurlbut), Mayberry's self-appointed moral arbiters, take it upon themselves to impose their own brand of Prohibition on the town. With Barney's assistance, the Morrison sisters begin rounding up every moonshiner in the county. But the ladies' motives are not entirely altruistic, as Sheriff Andy's son Opie discovers when he happens upon a mason jar full of home brew. Written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart, "Alcohol and Old Lace" first aired on January 30, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Deputy Barney grows suspicious of secretive farmer Sam Becker (William Schallert), convincing himself that the truculent Sam is up to no good. Sheriff Andy eventually learns that Becker is simply nervous over the prospect of becoming a father. The episode reaches a rousing climax as Andy is pressed into service to deliver the baby. First shown on May 1, 1961, "Quiet Sam" was written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Worried about an impending visit from the state prison inspector, deputy Barney grouses over the fact that the Mayberry jail looks more like a luxury hotel room than an institution of incarceration. Andy pooh-poohs Barney's trepidations, explaining that the inspector is an old friend of his. Alas, a new inspector has been hired-and true to Barney's dire predictions, he lowers the boom on Andy, threatening to remove the sheriff from office. Written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart, "The Inspector" first aired on April 10, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
The Colonial Dames of America breeze into Mayberry, searching for the descendant of a celebrated hero of the Revolutionary War. Everyone in town is convinced that he or she is the person who will receive the coveted plaques from the C.D.A. Imagine everyone's shock and dismay when the descendant turns out to be town tosspot Otis Campbell. Written by Ben Gershman and Leo Solomon, "Plaque for Mayberry" originally aired on April 3, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In need of a new sheriff, the nearby town of Greendale offers the job to deputy Barney, on the basis of a newspaper story praising the efficiency of the two-man Mayberry police department. Realizing that Barney would be in way over his head, Andy contrives to make himself scarce so that Barney can experience first-hand the awesome and daunting responsibilities of High Sheriff. The guest cast includes Ralph Dumke as Greendale's Mayor Purdy and Dabbs Greer as Councilman Dobbs. Written by Ben Gershman and Leo Solomon, "Sheriff Andy" was originally telecast on December 25, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
The citizens of Mayberry are duly impressed when an FBI man and a press photographer arrive in town to celebrate Sheriff Andy for making Mayberry the most crime-free city in the county. Andy is likewise impressed-until he notices that the FBI agent allows himself to be photographed. Sure enough, the two strangers turn out to be crooks, who have breezed into town to rob the local bank. Best bit: Barney making a great show of locking up that "mad killer" Otis Campbell. Scripted by a pre-Beverly Hillbillies Paul Henning, "Crime-free Mayberry" originally aired on November 20, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Season One of The Andy Griffith Show came to a close on May 22, 1961, with the episode titled "Bringing Up Opie." Aunt Bee decides that Opie shouldn't be spending so much time hanging around the town jail where his sheriff father Andy works. Her opinion seems to be confirmed when Opie ends up handcuffing one of his playmates to the school flagpole. Eventually, though, Aunt Bee realizes that it is better to keep Andy and Opie together as much as possible. "Bringing Up Opie" was written by Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Contemptuous Fred doesn't think that Barney knows how to be a good scoutmaster, so he offers to take charge of the neighborhood cave-scout troop. Not surprisingly, disaster ensues, culminating with a remarkably well-animated (for Hanna-Barbera!) flood scene. Incidentally, all of the voices of the male scouts are provided by women: Little Hugo, for example, is enacted by Lucille Bliss, better known as the voice of pioneering TV-cartoon character Crusader Rabbit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
