Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Howard first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. He gained national attention for playing young Opie Taylor, the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor (played by Andy Griffith) in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 through 1968. During this time, he also appeared in the musical film The Music Man (1962), a critical and commercial success. He was credited as Ronny Howard in his film and television appearances from 1959 to 1973. Howard was cast in one of the lead roles in the influential coming-of-age film American Graffiti (1973), and became a household name for playing Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days (1974–1980). He starred alongside Lee Marvin in 1974 in “The Spikes Gang” and played the second lead in John Wayne's final film, The Shootist (1976)… Continue @ Wikipedia
There isn’t enough room on these pages to say how important and beloved The Andy Griffith Show was and is in the scheme and in the annals of classic television history. Sure Leave It To Beaver, Father Knows Best and many others were great, but The Andy Griffith Show is just so exceptional it could not be touched!
Right in the pulse and heartbeat of the series was Opie Taylor played by Ronny Howard, son of Andy Taylor played by Andy Griffith. He portrayed this role from age six to age fourteen and he was a helluva good actor! We grew up with Opie and loved him, his character, and the relationship between father and son brought about by the fabulous writers. There were 249 episodes in this glorious series and quite a few which highlighted the father-son relationship between Andy and Opie. The very First Episode in Season Three entitled, Mr. McBeevee from (1962) is among my favorites and will be the focus of my Tribute to Ron Howard in honor of his 70th Birthday! It is filmed with stunning on-location outdoor scenery in California. So Happy 70th Birthday to that cute little kid we all loved as Opie Taylor and to the man, his many accomplishments and future good health!
The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
Opening Theme
S03E01 Mr. McBeevee (Oct.01.1962)
Directed by
Bob Sweeney
Writing Credits
R.S. Allen, Harvey Bullock Writers
Sheldon Leonard Aaron Ruben Danny Thomas Creators
Stars
Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
Ron Howard - Opie Taylor
Don Knotts - Barney Fife
Frances Bavier - Aunt Bee Taylor
Karl Swenson - Mr. McBeevee
Thurston Holmes - Charlie
Produced by
Sheldon Leonard executive producer
Richard O. Linke associate producer
Aaron Ruben producer
Music by
Earle Hagen
Cinematography by
Sidney Hickox
Casting By
Ruth Burch
Art Direction by
Kenneth A. Reid
Set Decoration by
Ken Swartz
Costume Design by
Robert O'Dell
Makeup Department
Lee Greenway Eva Kryger
Production Management
Frank E. Myers
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Saunders
Art Department
Reggie Smith
Sound Department
Charles David Forrest Robert Reeve
Editorial Department
Joseph Gluck
Music Department
Alan Jaggs Herbert W. Spencer
Script and Continuity Department
Hazel W. Hall
Transportation Department
Frank Khoury
Additional Crew
Doris Hartley Aaron Ruben Jay Sandrich
Opening Theme
S03E01 Mr. McBeevee (Oct.01.1962)
Directed by
Bob Sweeney
Writing Credits
R.S. Allen, Harvey Bullock Writers
Sheldon Leonard Aaron Ruben Danny Thomas Creators
Stars
Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
Ron Howard - Opie Taylor
Don Knotts - Barney Fife
Frances Bavier - Aunt Bee Taylor
Karl Swenson - Mr. McBeevee
Thurston Holmes - Charlie
Produced by
Sheldon Leonard executive producer
Richard O. Linke associate producer
Aaron Ruben producer
Music by
Earle Hagen
Cinematography by
Sidney Hickox
Casting By
Ruth Burch
Art Direction by
Kenneth A. Reid
Set Decoration by
Ken Swartz
Costume Design by
Robert O'Dell
Makeup Department
Lee Greenway Eva Kryger
Production Management
Frank E. Myers
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Saunders
Art Department
Reggie Smith
Sound Department
Charles David Forrest Robert Reeve
Editorial Department
Joseph Gluck
Music Department
Alan Jaggs Herbert W. Spencer
Script and Continuity Department
Hazel W. Hall
Transportation Department
Frank Khoury
Additional Crew
Doris Hartley Aaron Ruben Jay Sandrich
Now it’s time to take a trip into Mayberry for a dissection of this historic tale. The script so clever and inspiring that I’ve included just about all the transcript.
It’s in the nature of many young children to exaggerate by making up people or places that don’t really exist. Sometimes they do and other times they don’t. Opie is talking about his new horse Blackie, and even gullible adults will believe those tall-tales told by children. Like the master of all, expert of none, Barney Fife. That’s what this story is all about.
Andy: Howdy, Barn. Have some coffee?
Barney: Thought you'd never ask.
Opie: Can I have a lump of sugar to take out to Blackie?
Barney: Who's Blackie?
Opie: That's my horse.
Barney: Your horse?
Opie: Yeah. He's tied up out outside.
Barney: Are you kiddin' me? How long you had a horse?
Opie: Oh, not long.
Barney: Well, ain't that something. Andy, you never said anything. You got the boy a horse. Is it a full-size horse or just a pony?
Opie: He's big like cowboys have and he's black all over with a white spot on his nose and he's got a silver saddle and a long tail. And you should see him jump over fences.
Barney: Jumps over fences. Well, Andy, ain't he kind of young? I mean, that's quite a responsibility taking care of a big animal like that. Where do you keep him anyways?
Blackie
Andy: Barn, actually...
Barney: Let's go outside and have a look. Wait till you see the way he'll nuzzle up to me. I got kind of a way with these critters. In a sense, I'm a master, you know? Well, there feller... Blackie. Blackie! Blackie, come on, boy. Come on.
Opie: He's tied up at the hitchin' post.
Barney: Huh?
Andy: Hitchin' post, right there. Actually, Barn, Blackie's a little on the invisible side.
Barney: Invisible, huh? You mean, there ain't no horse.
Aunt Bee: Come on in, Opie. Finish your breakfast.
Opie: Comin'.
Barney: Why'd you let the boy lead me on like that?
Andy: Oh, come on, Barn...
Barney: No, it's all right, it's all right. I can take a joke as good as the next fella. I just don't think you ought to let the boy get started in that direction.
Andy: I'm, uh... I'm sorry.
Barney: It's all right. Why don't we just, uh... Just forget it.
Andy: Okay. Now you see, Blackie, what a mess you got me into?
In the courthouse Opie tells Andy and Barney about a man walking around in the treetops.
Opie: Hi, Paw.
Andy: Oh, hi, Ope, what you got there?
Opie: These letters came for you at the house. Aunt bee thought you might want 'em.
Andy: Oh. While you're here how'd you like the top executive training job of taking the trash out back here?
Opie: Gee, I can't right now, Paw. I told Mr. Mcbeevee I’d be right back.
Andy: Who?
Opie: Mr. Mcbeevee. You don't know him. He's new around here. I just met him this morning.
Andy: Oh.
Barney: Oh, newcomer in town, eh? Where's he live at?
Opie: I met him in the woods.
Barney: What's he doin' in the woods?
Opie: Well, mostly he walks around up in the treetops.
Barney: He walks in the tree...? Mm-hmm. I suppose he's invisible, too.
Opie: No. Mr. Mcbeevee's easy to see. Especially his hat. He wears a great big, shiny, silver hat.
Barney: That does it!
Opie comes home with a real hatchet, “blade's genuine steel”, which he claims was given to him by his friend, Mr. McBeevee.
Andy: Uh, you say, uh... Mr. McBeevee give it to ya?
Opie: Uh Yeah. He said I could keep it, too.
Andy: Uh... Ope, uh, a hatchet is a mighty fine thing to have and it's extra special fun thinkin' that your friend Mr. Mcbeevee give it to you. 'Course now, I imagine if you was to think real hard you might remember that it come from some place else. Maybe you just picked it up along the road. More'n likely, it come from Mr. Edinger's carpenter shop.
Opie: No, paw, I got it from Mr. McBeevee.
Andy: You, uh... you did get this in the woods?
Opie: Uh-huh.
Andy: Well, somebody probably left it there for a reason which means that they'll be comin' by to pick it up. Now, you do know where you got it? Good. Then... then you just take it back and put it right where you got it.
Opie: Do I have to take it back?
Andy: Uh, it seems like the best idea. Now, you just skedaddle right along. Hurry back.
Barney: It's a good idea you stopped him. Sooner or later, he's got to find out he's living in a real world, and there just ain't any Mr. Mcbeevees.
Opie finds Mr. McBeevee (Karl Swenson, who is just fabulous), and returns the hachet. Mr. McBeevee and his twelve extra hands does a magic trick for Opie.
Opie: Mr. Mcbeevee! Mr. Mcbeevee!
Mr. McBeevee: Well, Opie, me lad, what is it?
Opie: I brought your hatchet back.
Mr. McBeevee: Well, now, is there somethin' wrong with it?
Opie: My Paw told me I should bring it back.
Mr. McBeevee: Oh, well, now he's probably thinkin' that it's too dangerous for ya and he may be right at that, too, you know. Parents usually are. It's a pity that I can't spare anything else for ya. I need these. These are me extra hands. I have 12 extra hands.
Opie: Well, that's all right. Thanks just the same. Well, I guess I'd better be gettin' home.
Mr. McBeevee: Hey, wait, wait, now. I can't let you go now with that long face on you. Did... did I ever show you the trick that I learned from the Heathen Cannibals to make smoke come out of me ears?
Opie: Can you really?
[Opie huge smile]
Mr. McBeevee: Oh... That's better now. Look. I think I have somethin' here that you can use. This is an old, old quarter that's just beggin' to be turned into gum and ice cream.
Opie: I couldn't take money.
Mr. McBeevee: Well, you earned it. Well, the berries you picked for me and the fresh springwater and the apples you brought for me. And bein' that you can't take the hatchet you take the coin.
Opie: Gee, thanks!
Mr. McBeevee: Hey, wait! I'll see ya later.
Opie: Probably tomorrow. I have to work for my Paw this afternoon.
Mr. McBeevee: Anytime, my boy, anytime at all.
Opie: Bye, Mr. McBeevee.
Mr. McBeevee: Good-bye.