Sarah the Mayberry telephone operator

Sarah was the telephone switchboard operator on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. She was never seen but was mentioned in 23 episodes of the sitcom that ran from 1960-1968. Mayberry residents would pick up a telephone and ask Sarah to get them another party on the line, usually someone in Mout Pilot, Noth Carolina. Sometimes she would eavesdrop and on other occasions, Andy or Barney would have a short conversation with her. If I had to imagine what she looked like I would say that Sarah resembled the woman in the cover photo.

She was probably in her mid-thirties or 40s with a short bob hairdo, not too attractive but not homely either, and dressed rather plainly. No one knows if Sarah was married or had children but those who enjoyed THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW knew one thing about her. She was always on the job. I think Sarah was polite but could also be curt when the situation called for it. You have to have somewhat of an edge when you are dealing with the public. I don't believe she was as extreme as Lily Tomlin's character on ROWAN AND MARTIN'S LAUGH IN.

Buzzie was sarcastic, had a nasal twang, and often snorted. She was popular for her signature line "One ringy dingy." The actress brought a lot of laughs to the comedy show but I sense that Sarah was more grounded and down to earth. Sarah seemed to be on duty 24/7 which viewers knew was not realisitc. Perhaps the character was a metaphor for that dependable county doctor or the general store owner who could be roused from sleep to open the doors for those in need.

Sarah, like the invisible Juanita at the diner, were fixtures within the town who were left to the viewer's imaginations. Those who tuned in each week to THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW expected and received an amount of hometown familiarity that was comforting. Those who grew up in rural areas can understand the fact that Juanita was always at the diner and Sarah would be the one manning the switchboard. There were people in small county towns who were fixtures and you expected to see them in their place every time.

Think about HEE HAW and PETTICOAT JUNCTION where the men in bib overhauls were sitting around a pot-bellied stove playing checkers or just killing time. You knew where they would be and expected each one to be in their place. Sarah represented dependability because she could be counted on and never disappointed. If she ever was not at her post then everyone would know something was wrong.

Sarah represented small town life where one telephone switchboard operator was enough. She knew all the residents by name just like her name was known. Andy and Barney never picked up the phone to make a call only to find that Sarah was not there. Those who attend small neighborhood churches can relate because when you walked through those doors you always knew where everyone would be seated.

Compare Mayberry to life today where there are hundreds of strangers who answer the phones at vast call centers in faraway states. It used to be that when you called certain companies you knew the receptionist by name but now doing things remotely makes them somewhat impersonal. In Mayberry, you could count on Floyd running the barbershop, and Gomer then later his cousin Goober repairing cars at Wally's garage. Although Sarah and Juanita were never seen and viewers never even heard their voices, they knew they where they could always be found.

The implication related to these women is the point the same way Thelma Lou had no last name. She was just Thelma Lou who was Barney's girl. Even Otis Campbell the town drunk who let himself into the jail to sober up could be counted on to do his thing. Some fanot ns have said that it's best to leave Sarah to the imagination and perhaps that is true. They say familiarity breeds contempt but in Mayberry it was endearing to the viewers.

The first time Sarah was mentioned was actually on THE DANNY THOMAS SHOW episode "When Danny meets Andy Griffith" which aired in February 1960. This is when Danny Williams got a ticket in Mayberry and had to make a phone call. The last episode where she said to have been mentioned is The Bazaar which aired in October of 1965 in season 6. This suggests that Sarah was not utilized as the operator in seasons 7 and 8. If anyone finds out differently I certainly would like to know.