The Andy Griffith Show: Stranger in Town left fans with questions
The season one episode has people wondering what happened to some Mayberry citizens.
What happened to the Mayberry stranger?
Stranger in Town was episode 12 of season 1 of The Andy Griffith Show airing in December 1960. The plot revolved around Ed Sawyer (William Lanteau) who arrived in Mayberry knowing personal details about the private lives of the residents which caused concern.
The townspeople were leary of this stranger trying to befriend everyone by telling them pertinent information about their lives. They were about to run him out of town until Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) talked them out of it. Th epsiode left some unanswered questions that fans of the CBS television series still talk about seven decades later.
Sawyer's army buddy had been Mayberry resident Joe Larson who subscribed to the town paper that detailed the lives of those who lived there. Joe also told stories about the people "back home" and later Sawyer began subscribing to the paper himself, himself and thinking of Mayberry as his hometown.
Ed Sawyer causes trouble
Ed arrived on a bus and went into Floyd Lawson's Barbershop. In this one episode Floyd was played byWalter Baldwin. Howard McNear whom fans grew to love came later. He shares so many details the men wonder who he is and what he is up to.
After he leaves the barbershop he runs into Mrs. Buntley, who is just stepping out of Mayberry's Dry Cleaning and Pressing Shop. Mrs. Buntley (Sarah Seager) has her twin sons in a stroller. She is stunned when Ed distinguishes Robert and William from one another because William has a little mole on his right ear.
Andy Saves the day in Mayberry
After Sawyer is surrounded by angry folk Andy showed his fellow Mayberrians the error of their ways they began warming up to Ed. The strangest thing about this episode is that Ed Sawyer and those who decided to give him a chance were never seen again.
Fans find that odd for a man who went out of his way to endear himself to the townspeople. Some viewers felt cheated out of never knowing the outcome of his time in the North Carolina town.
Ed had spooked Lucy Matthews (Maryanne Willis) by telling her he knew her favorite color is blue and gave her pther personal details about her life. After Andy explains why Sawyer wants to live in Mayberry Lucy decides he can call on her.
Mayberry fans have questions
Fans say they wonder if the duo hit it off or possibly married. Pat Colby portrayed Lucy's brother Bob Matthews who had stroongly objected to Sawyer dating his sister. Just like Ed, neither sibling was mentioned in later episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.
Bill Erwin portrayed George Sarpley who had a gas station for sale that Ed wanted to purchase. Fans wonder if the deal went through and where this filling station was located.
Was it the same gas station later known as Wally's where Gomer Pyle (Jim Neighbors) and Goober Pyle (George Lindey worked or did Mayberry have more than one place to get gas and have vehicles serviced? Neither Sarpley nor his business were ever mentioned again either.
What happened to the characters in Stranger in Town?
Colby returned to Mayberry but not as Bob. He portrayed Jimmy Morgan in The Great Filing Station Robbery in season 3. No one knows what happened to Lucy, Bob, George, or Ed.
Some fans of The Andy Griffith Show have said it would have been nice to see Lucy and Ed years later, married with children. Others suggest there should have been an explamation about the gas station. At this point those who enjoy the series can only imagine what happened.
About the Creator
Cheryl E Preston
Cheryl enjoys writing about current events, soap spoilers and baby boomer nostalgia. Tips are greatly appreciated.
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Comments (1)
Not enough actors so they play two roles? Very small town with small population but still cannot find out how people turn out missing? What is Andy doing, sleeping on the job?