The Andy Grifith Show Trivia: Barney and Hilda Mae

Before Thelma Lou there was Hilda Mae

Fans of The Andy Griffith Show know that Thelma Lou (no last name) was the main girlfriend of Barney Fife (Don Knotts). Betty Lynn first appeared as Thelma Lou in episode 22 Cyrano and Andy in season 1 in March 1961. Prior to her arrival Florence MacMichael portrayed Hilda Mae (no last name) was who the Deputy Sheriff's sweetie.

For those who don't remember, MacMichael first appeared in season 1 episode 10, Ellie for Council, which aired on December 12, 1960. She was introduced as Barney's girlfriend in the episode where druggist Ellie Walker (Elinor Donahue) decides to run for town council.

Ellie is met with resistance from the Mayberry men but the women rally behind her. By the end of the episode Ms. Walker drops out of the race. Hilda Mae was only a minor factor in the events.

Hilda Mae's tine in Mayberry was brief

The actress was in the role of Barnie's sweetie in a second episode.Hilda Mae reappeared in episode 20 of season 1, Andy Saves Barney's Morale. In this episode, Andy leaves Barney in charge of Mayberry, arrests most of the townspeople, and when Andy returns, they are all in jail.

Hilda's disappearance was never explained and fans of The Andy Griffith Show know that Barney and Thelma Lou became an item throught the run of the CBS series.

Return to Mayberry

Barney often spoke on the phone with Juanita Beasley who worked in a local diner but she was never seen. Fans have discussed how Juanita was around while Barney was calling Thelma Lou his girl. "Thel"left Mayberry in season 6, and married.

She returned and married Barney in the 1986 television film Return to Mayberry. Hilda Mae was not in the reunion movie but in The Andy Griffith Show episode The Christmas Story on December 19, 1960 Barney mentions getting a Christmas card from her.

Florence MacMichael's life and career

Hilda Mae's portrayer was born on April 26, 1919, in Hagerstown, Maryland, to Mary Wahl MacMichael and Roy A. MacMichael. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. MacMichael's first acting role was in Young and Willing in 1943.

Florence MacMichael was married twice, first to Sebryn Myers who died and later to James McCoy. She had two children, a son and a daughter. On May, 28, 1999, she passed away at age 80,in Cambria in San Luis Obispo County, California.

If MacMichael looks familiar it's because she also portrayed Winnie Kirkwood on the television series "Mr. Ed" and was in the Disney film The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit. From 1960-1963 she was in the recurring role of Florence Pearson in the sitcom My Three Sons. Her final film role was Welcome Home Soldier Boys in 1971.

The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hithcock conection

.Like many actors of her day, Florence MacMichael appeared in the popular television series The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

Fans of these classic TV shows say they sometimes become confused about which one they watch because they see the same actors. Her hair was darker in some roles, but you can recognize the actor by her face.

She was in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Season 1 Episode 7: "Annabel" and three episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents; Season 6 Episode 21: "The Kiss-Off"), Season 6 Episode 33: "A Secret Life," and Season 7 Episode 27: "Act of Faith." She was in The Twilight Zone episode Mr. Bevis.

Still, for fans of The Andy Griffith Show she will be fondly remembered for her brief time in Mayberry as Hilda Mae.