User Reviews

This is a neat episode because it features veteran actor Andy Clyde in the role of Frank Myers. That's because I've seen quite a few of Clyde's silent comedies--such as his appearances as one of the Keystone Kops. He also appeared in a bazillion movies and television shows over the years. Despite his huge body of work, he's pretty much forgotten today. But even if you don't know him or his work, he was wonderful in this episode--playing a very forgetful, quirky but kindly old coot!

The show begins with the town council meeting to discuss Frank Myers. His home is a mess and they feel he is hurting the town's image. When they see that he's behind in his taxes, they jump at the opportunity to evict him--and give this thankless job to Andy. Andy is a nice guy and just dreads this and is hoping for some sort of reprieve. When he discovers some old municipal bonds among Myers' effects as he's packing him, Andy realizes that the town must owe Myers a fortune--as the bond is a hundred years old AND it has interest that is compounded yearly!! But the town can't possibly afford to pay off and they have no idea what to do next. Tune in to this one to see this bittersweet show.

Good performances, an interesting plot and a nice chance to see Clyde at work--this one's worth finding.

I just love the scene at the end where Andy is saying something silly to the Mayor and Mayor Pike just gives him this serious look as if "What the heck is the matter with you?" The mayor also gives him that same look in the barber chair in Season One The Beauty Contest episode when Andy insults the mayor's daughter. It is hilarious.

While I don't believe the following can be classified as a spoiler, and since that term is an arbitrary term, nonetheless this MAY contain a spoiler (although it does NOT give away the ending).

Synopsis: Government agencies and their typical financial institution allies force a poor, harmless man (Andy Clyde) from his home, his only residence. Tables turn and man ends up "owning" the town instrumental in mercilessly evicting him from his long time domicile.

In a word, HILARIOUS! This almost made my eyes water I laughed so hard. Probably one of the best Andy Griffith Shows from a personal perspective.

First, there is the likeability of the famous silent film actor Andy Clyde, second is Opie's innocent questioning of the meaning of eviction; leading to Aunt Bee agreeing to put up Frank for a period. There is the educational aspect of the Confederacy when it is discovered that Frank's windfall is really not a windfall at all. Also is the kindness of townspeople in helping Frank fix up his dilapidated place as well as a few more surprises. This is a winning episode, one that I can watch over and over; although most Andy Griffiths are good enough for repeated viewings. True it doesn't have the Barney character's laughs, but that's part of what makes the Andy Griffith Sow's reruns so lasting. For example this one has the mayor's character providing humor. Each episode is an individual treasure.

This is a nice show and it was fun to see Andy Clyde, better known as George MacMichael on The Real McCoys or as California Carlson, sidekick to Hopalong Cassidy in dozens of films in the 40s and 50s, as well as on Hoppy's TV series.

Here, Clyde plays Frank Myers, an old man who cannot keep up his home nor pay his taxes, so the town council insists Andy evict him. Andy winds up taking in Frank, and when they find a 100-year old bond issued by the town of Mayberry, purchased for $100 in 1861 by Frank's ancestor, that gives 8% interest, compounded annually, forever, everything is turned upside down.

Suddenly, the townsfolk want to do all they can for Frank--because the town treasury cannot come close to paying him the $349,000 they owe. They all get together and fix up Frank's house, and then discover a problem that was probably obvious to most viewers right from the get go.

IF you don't want me to spoil the ending, quit reading. To me, this is so obvious and it's also true that most anyone reading this has seen this episode a few times, so I will give it away: They finally realize that if this bond was purchased in 1861, it was likely purchased with Confederate money. So they decide they don't owe Frank anything. But they will let him stay in his nicely remodeled home because he is a nice guy, essentially.

To me, the best scene was when Frank comes to visit Andy and digs out his treasures to see if there's anything worth selling. Otherwise, there are not that many laughs in this one. One reason might have been no Barney present.

I guess I didn't enjoy the notion that Andy figures he shouldn't be evicted at the beginning because he's a nice guy, and, in the end, the town basically agrees. So, in Mayberry, Andy only evicts the nasty people who don't pay their taxes? There's also a problem with the bond issue: When during 1861 did Myers' ancestor buy the bond? North Carolina did not secede until May 20. It might well have been purchased with U.S. currency, which negates the resolution of this story. Even if he bought it after late May, they hardly had issued Confederate money the day they proclaimed the start of the new country.

As I said, it's a nice story, but not nearly as funny as most.