Andy talks about losing his first wife in his conversation with Opie-something he would never do during the entire run of The Andy Griffith Show (1960). There is a single episode of the series in which mention is made of Andy's first wife, Opie's Mother. Andy and Opie speak of her in season Two's "Wedding Bells For Aunt Bee".
This specific episode of the show immediately led to the creation of The Andy Griffith Show (1960). Three guest-stars were Andy Griffith, Ron Howard and Frances Bavier. Andy Griffith's role was Sheriff, Andy Taylor and Ron Howard's role was Opie Taylor. Their character roles remained the same, on the show it created. However, Frances Bavier's role was different, Henrietta Perkins, before she became Mayberry's Beatrice Taylor and Aunt Bee.
Frank Cady (Will the drunk) would show up again twice in the Mayberryverse: as Luke the drunk in The Rehabilitation of Otis (1965), and as Farley Upchurch in The Legend of Barney Fife (1966).
Andy's own show will premiere 8 months later that same year.
In the beginning of the episode the Thunderbird has the windshield removed and the sheriff car has both windshield and rear window removed. This was usually done to prevent glare from strong studio lights interfering with the cameras.
Rance Howard: Ron Howard's father appears very briefly as the TV crewman, who wraps up filming at the jail house. He made several subsequent appearances in the Mayberryverse.