Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:24):
Got any partners. You're listening to Conversations with Jacob, hosted
by my good friend Jacob Waller. Make sure to check
out the podcast where podcasts are available, and check out
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(00:50):
CWJ podcast, and you can visit our website Conversations with
Jacob podcast dot weebly dot Hey, you got a show idea,
maybe a guest suggestion, email us at Conversations with Jacob
at gmail dot com. Now here's your host, Jacob Waller,
(01:15):
and welcome.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Back everybody to another episode of Conversations with Jacob right
here on YouTube. And our podcasts are available, and we
got a good episode lined up for you this week.
Before we get to our guests, I want to give
a few podcasts plugs. We'll make sure to check us
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Jacob podcast dot weavy dot com, which you can check
(01:37):
it upcoming episodes, past guests, and a whole lot more.
Also make sure to like and comment to our YouTube channel.
Also check out the podcast every Monday at one pm,
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much more merchandise the Lincolns on our website. And you
(02:00):
like podcast, check out my gift friend mister Ila Newsom
from Two Chairs No Waiting And here's ada newso t
more about the podcast.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Andy Barney, Opie Goober, Floyd de Barber. That's some of
the names from the Andy Griffath Show dropped by Two
Chairs No Waiting the Andy griff Show Fan Podcast, and
we'll visit with some of those folks, along with tribute
artists and fans and just all kinds of things related
to the Andy Griffith Show. I'm your host, Alan Youwseom
and you can find the show Two Chairs No Waiting
(02:30):
at two Chairsnowaiting dot com or on iTunes.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
And my guests this week is Kenneth Junkin, who is
having some technical difficult he's getting home, but he got
him through the phone here. Before we get to him, first,
I'm gonna tell you about Kenneth Junkin. He is a
Otis Cambell tribute artist he oh which he's done security
for Don Knox and he's been a work of the
(02:55):
ultra fan of The Andy Griffin Show. And so with
no further ado here Kenneth junking to the podcast and Kenneth,
welcome aboard.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Thank you, Jacob, thank you so much for.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
Having me looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Oh absolutely. Now for people out there that's listening, can
you give us a brief description.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Very description of Kenneth?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, sure, yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (03:21):
Well, I'm from a little town called Gordo, Alabama. It's
a lot like Mayberry. Lived here basically all my life
and lived out in the country. We've worked with my
grandfather's farm, and TV was our big entertainment. We didn't
go anywhere much way out here. But I remember October third,
(03:45):
nineteen sixty eight, thirty Central time, the Andy Griffith Show
premier and just loved it so much. And to be
honest with you, there were very few of my neighbors
who had TV's back then here and what few of
us did the next morning after the show as the
(04:06):
season went on, and we've discussed it, and most of
the discussion was.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
About Barney Fire.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
So I've been a Mayberry fan all my life and
used to kind of plan my evening activities around the reruns,
and uh played football high school was a state shop
put champion, and UH played a little semi pro football,
big Alabama football fan. I worked as a UH UH
(04:33):
director of technology at Fifer Incorporated, which is a very
large manufacturing company, and I'm retired now and loving doing
otis and the Mayberry's family.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Now, Keith, talk to us about Kate, talk to us
about how you became doing security for Don Knutts.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Yes, I can.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
UH.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
At work, we had breaks with some Mayberry uh Andy
Griffith Show fan and at one of these breaks I
found out about the Andy Griffy Show Rerun Watchers Club,
and when I did, I immediately joined it and had
some conversation with Jim Clark, who started this, a great
(05:16):
author and has done so much for US fans of
the Andy Griffy Show. And I found out about Maybury Days.
I didn't get to go first when I went to
the second one, and I met a guy named Bob
Shipe who was trying to raise money for American Cancer
Society and he had he had wrapped up a deal
(05:41):
with Don Notts to come to the Mayberry squad car
Nationals up in Bradford, Ohio, and he and I got
to be friends and He asked me what I host
and work at his security, and I thought it was
a dream come true, and so I told him.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
I sure would.
Speaker 6 (05:59):
I had a conversion van and we picked up don
k not set along the local hotels with his I
think uh ended up his second wife, Frenzy. She was wonderful.
And I had three other guys with me, an eight
deputy from Michigan, and it took all we could do
(06:19):
to protect him, not anything hostile, but just to let
him get around it. He was He was sworn by
the fans, if you can imagine. But Don was very
laid back. He was not Barney Fife when I was,
except when he got on the stage. He was kind
of quiet, a little shy, and was totally different. But
(06:43):
after the second day he started telling us some stories
that were great, and uh, it was a dream come true,
it really was. And uh, I got to do that
two other times and we kind of became friends, and
like to say, it was a dream come true to
get to work with Don Nott's my absolute favorite character
anywhere TV or movies, and he's such a talented, nice guy,
(07:08):
very nice. He would sign two lout of graphs and
didn't charge a penny for it, which is amazing.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Now can you talk to us about the Opry maybe
or Clary Union.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
Yes, that's the first time I met Don uh And
there was a great show there, and almost every character
that was on the show, excluding Andy and Ron Howard
and Helen Krount she was sick had cancer, bless her heart,
(07:43):
but the Darlings, Raf Hollister, of course, Betty Lynn, George Coober, Lindsay.
Now Jim Nabs wasn't there, but find everybody else was.
And there was a two o'clock show that me and
five of my buddies went to from work, and then
there was a seven o'clock show, but we went to
(08:03):
the two o'clock show, and after the show, which was fantastic,
first time Don Knights came out.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
He was in his uniform.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
And there were several thousand people there, and I looked
around in tears were streaming out of a lot of
the thing's eyes seeing Don k nots in his uniform again.
And so we went to get in his line to
get an autograph, and it was by far the longest
line of any of the cast members. And we heard
rumors stirring around that they were going to cut the
(08:33):
line off because none and the other cast members had
to go have dinner before they did the seven o'clock show.
And this is a true story. And we saw four
there were four looked like secret service guys.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Wet for address.
Speaker 6 (08:49):
They came walking down Don's line and stopped right the
side of us, about maybe ten or twelve feet to
our right, and they were looking at us, and one
of our famed buddy ran over to him and put
his arm around one of the guys and was.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Kind of talking softly to him.
Speaker 6 (09:07):
And then they all looked at me, and my buddy
came back to get in line with us, and the
security guys went on about fifty feet behind us and
cut the lines off. But before I said, Donnie, what
did you tell that guy? He said, well, I told
him we got you out of an asylum this morning,
and if you didn't get to meet Don k Not,
we just couldn't control you.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
And they moved on, And that's a true story.
Speaker 6 (09:30):
Ugly, we didn't get him, and we got to meet
George Lindsay and that day, and then of course I
got to meet Don or kid closer to Don when
we had the squad car Nationals up in Ohio. That's
when I first did is security.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Now have you met the guy that played Others on
the Eddie Griffin Show.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
I met him that day for just a few minutes
after we left the autograph station and they were getting
on a bus to go eat. I ran out there
and he had security around him and he was waving everybody,
and I said, hey, Otis, I got your dog here.
If the fans know he had an inducible dog when
(10:15):
he had too much to drink, and I have making
I like those whole He came over to me and
we talked just a few minutes, and he took the
dog and of course it was a maple leaf dog
and he was leaving around. He made it jump up
on the bus with him and we just died last.
It was a nice guy. And uh, you know he
slowed down the headed to the restaurant, had everybody else
(10:40):
waiting for him to get his dog on the bus.
But super guy, super guy.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Now did you ever think and that you be meeting
all these people?
Speaker 4 (10:50):
No?
Speaker 6 (10:51):
No, especially coming up in school and watching the show. No,
it was it was an unbelievable dream come true. The
way I got to meet them, and become so good
friends with them. I worked security for other other of
the cast members and.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Drove them around. And I've had them in.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
My hometown at Gordo at was event we call Mule Days.
Betty Lynn Tamlou has been here where I'm sitting right
now on a couch at my house twice. And she
met my family the first time, my sisters and nieces
and nephews and brother in law. And about eight months
later she was back in Tuscaloosa for a fundraiser for
(11:31):
special needs adults, and she came back over here and
remembered every one of my family's names.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
I could not believe that.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Oh wow.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
And Heard and my dad were about the same age,
and they got to be friends the first time. And
my dad died at eighty four years old. His birthday
was made the twelfth, and on made the twelfth, on
his eighty fourth birthday, betty Lynn family called my dad
and the last person he talked to on the phone
(12:02):
the last time I seen him smile. They talked and talked.
She remembered his birthday and so he smiled and that
was just so special for him and all of us.
And I told her that, and she almost was in
tears later on, so she was absolutely a wonderful, sweet
(12:22):
carrying a lady.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Now, and how did you begin doing otis?
Speaker 6 (12:27):
Well, when I first started, I was, you know, I
was doing posting and security for the test members. And
then we had a gentleman from Louisville, Kentucky who was
almost ady.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
And he had some surgery and he had to quit
doing otis well.
Speaker 6 (12:44):
Some of the David Browning, who was the number one
tribute artist for Mornie, he's retired now, and he and
Alan Newsome.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Just call me otis because I kind of dressed.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
A little bit like the folks in Nyby when I
went to them.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
And when this gentleman retired, they asked me what I
started doing about thirty about twenty nine years ago, and
I said, well, I sure will you know, so I
gradually got into it, and I've been doing it almost
thirty years now. But because I was around, you know,
with the cast members, driving them and posting them, taking
(13:18):
them to eat and making sure they were okay. And
like I said, I did a little bit after I
started doing Odus, and I do it several times in
the year. Some churches even bring me I do him
I do Otis as sober. I give the story about
how I got sober, and now the movie and a
(13:40):
couple of other places want me to stagger a little,
and I do, but generally I do Otis sober, and
you can do a lot with Otis even sober.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Now speaking of movies, Oh, you had a few shots
in the movie Mayberry Man.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
Yeah, that's where they asked me to lock myself up
like Otis did. And so I staggered into the courthouse
and was hunting a little bit, and Uh, I did that,
and then we did some scenes outside with the starr
and co star Uh, you know, around the squad car
(14:22):
and listening to their troubles and that's the thing. But
my my big part was locking myself up and sell
number one.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
No, did you ever think and that you be doing
a movie?
Speaker 6 (14:37):
No, oh my gosh, no, No, I've I've actually been
in two documentaries, but I never thought about being in
a movie. There was a crew when I was named
the ultimate uh Mayberry fan. UH came in and followed
me to Mayberry Days several years ago and came to
(14:57):
my house right here and UH interviewed me and I
went to a lot of my memorabilia and collections, and
then they rode with me in my van all from
here to Mount Airy, which is eight or nine hour drive.
They stayed with me and followed me around. It's a
little bit of it on a YouTube, and I think
(15:18):
a Canadian company actually bought it, but I don't know
if anybody ever.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Showed the whole thing. But that was fun.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
And then I've had a Chris Hudson came and he
did a special on me and David Browning and Alan
Newsom as Maybury tribunarists. So two documentaries in this movie,
which I never thought I would be on a movie.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Now, Now, how you staid it? Oh, you've been named
the number one Andy Griffin the fan. I gotta ask you, though,
was how many times have you seen each episode?
Speaker 5 (15:52):
I've probably seen.
Speaker 6 (15:56):
Most all of them one hundred and fifty to two
hundred times, some of them more than that, because I
watched them on on VHS, on CDs, and then of
course two or three channels that had them here on
reruns locally, so I know I've probably seen all of
them at least two hundred or close to it. Some
(16:17):
of them, like to say more than that, so I
write the trivia a Maybury Days. Then if you win that,
you're considered the worst champion of Maybury Trivia. Yeah, that's
a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Now with all these now, with all these episodes, and
you got a favorite one, Well.
Speaker 6 (16:38):
It's kind of hard to say. I'm like a lot
of folks. I like Man in a Hurry, and I
like Opie the Bird Band because it's got such a
neat story with it and just pure fun. It's Goober
any Heart of Love. That's one of my favorites, and
(17:00):
the way he cuts up and goober. George Lynday and
I became very good friends. His home was just a
few miles north of me here at God from Jasper, Alabama.
And uh, after I met him, we got to talking
and I went to his film festival. I still help
(17:20):
with that, and uh, we were eating dinner one night
and I told George play quarterback. Got A had a
scholarship to the University of North Alabama. I think it
was Florence Teachers College when he played. And I told Joe.
I said, George, they offered me a scholarship back in
the late sixties. He said they did, And he said,
(17:44):
who offered you a scholarship, And I said, Coach hal self.
He said, how self offered you a scholarship? I said yes,
he said, he gave me and my scholarship. I had
no idea. The coach self said, coach that long. And
after that we became very very good friends. We call
and talk to each other. And he knew a lot
(18:05):
of folks here at the University of Alabama that I know,
and uh, that was a big surprise to me. And
so we became very good friends.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Oh, it's my favorite episode is when Barney gets a car.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Oh, Barney first car.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
Yes, yes, that is one of my Also, I didn't
think about it, but I love that. You know when
the stern column rises out of the steering wheel and
Barney is driving and sees this the column coming out
of his steering wheel. Yeah, well, Betty Lynne told me
(18:45):
she did not know that was gonna happen and when
she screamed and yelled that was real. That wasn't They
didn't tell her about that, and she said this scared
her to death when that came.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Righting up, now, telling this episode airs Mayberry D's will
be over with But for people that don't know, and
what is Mayberry D's.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
Okay, Well, it is a celebration of the show. It's
and there's usually some cast members there. Unfortunately there's not
as many as there used to be. We've lost and
some of them are not able to come anymore. But
there's several thousand people show up in Mount Airy, which
is Andy Griffin's hometown, and there's a Floorence barbershop there,
(19:36):
and there's the the Snappy Lunch, which was actually mentioned
on the show. And there's something going on just about
all week. There's a golf tournament on Thursday that usually
about twenty four teams are in. There's parades, there's entertainment,
there's bands and there the the museum is open use
(20:01):
mostly just camaraderie and fellowship and and uh and seeing
all these other friends. We do a trivia on Friday.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
It's a hill.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
Uh that's uh, it's gotten to be popular.
Speaker 6 (20:14):
And uh, of course I could say the parade, and uh
there's sack races and pie eaton contests and something going
on just about all week there. The hotels are full
and uh, thousands of Mayberry fans in town. And you
just like me doing all this. They yell, I want
(20:35):
their picture too with you and want to you know,
and I'm Kenneth Junking. They see Maybury, it's not you know,
they me as a Tribune artist that not Canneth junk
It necessary. But and the other tribute artists they're they're
treat them the same way. It's it's about the closest
thing you could be told being in the real Navy
(21:00):
as a real Maybury.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Yeah, oh I know which. I was down there in
July for my birthday. Kind I feel like a nice
place to be. Of course the people was nice as well.
It kind of it kind of felt like the real Mayberry.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
Yes, yes, yes, uh.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
And and the the uh citizens of Mount Airy are
take a lot of pride in being that way.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
They sure do, most of them do.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Now there's no uh, there's other events besides Maybury Days
as well.
Speaker 6 (21:40):
Yes, yeah, there's several towns around in Tennessee and Georgia, Alabama, uh, uh, Indiana,
uh that have Maybury events.
Speaker 5 (21:53):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
And it's kind of.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
Like our small Maybury Days. Uh.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
We we put on show.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
The tribute artists like we do a Mayberry Days.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
Uh and we we have events and do a little
trivia and uh uh have dinners and auctions and uh some.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Of them have got really big, but none of them.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Are as big as the real Mayberry Days.
Speaker 6 (22:20):
But yes we do we uh uh myself and Alan Newsom,
uh Floyd and this Mayberry who's from Gordo here, beautiful
sweet young lady, just a daw. We're doing a car
show in Huntsville with a Mayberry theme part of it
next Saturday. And then we have uh, I think in Bruceville, Tennessee.
(22:45):
We do a show and the first weekend uh in
uh September, and then of course Mayberry Days is the
third weekend in September, and if anybody is any kind
of a fan, they need to try to go to
Mayberry Days at some point. Then in October, the end
of October.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
We do the Mayberry Cruz out.
Speaker 6 (23:05):
Of Charleston, South Carolina, and we entertained four or five
nights a week on there and do trivia and usually
have a special guest. And that's that's really special.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
So yeah, it goes on.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Now he get an off season from being Otis.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
Yes, that's what I do, Santa Claus, and I try
to never get Otis and Santa.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
Claus characters confused. And you know what.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
I did not know this, but I've been doing Santa
Claus for fifty years. I was very young when I started,
and it was several years that Hal Smith also Otis.
He also did Santa Claus.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Yeah, that's right, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
And I did not know that for several years so
after I started, So I just could very very unusual
that he and I both at Otis and uh Santa
Claus and uh my Santa Claus is really a big
deal to a lot of nursing homes and the hospitals
and churches and individuals and schools and businesses.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
You know. Uh, I'm usually full.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
And this Maybury is my little santaspper Maddie Maddie Sharp
and the pickle queen who has been sick, Tessy Farrish,
Maybury Pickle Queen is one of my helpers also, so
we keep from Maybury Christmas thing going.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
How about that?
Speaker 5 (24:40):
Now?
Speaker 2 (24:41):
What does Mayberry and the Andy Griffin Show mean to you, Kenneth.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
Well, it's more than a TV show, you know. It's
honestly as part of my life, and it's a good
part of my life because I think that show had
a lot of great messages about caring for full and
watching out for each other and trying to help each
other and living a kind of a modish but fun
(25:08):
life and working. And it's been part of my life,
a good part and the best part about it. You know,
I've met all the cast members that I have and
worked with them, that's great. But I have met so
many new, wonderful friends. That's been the best part about
it is on all the new friends. And well, some
(25:31):
of them are not you anymore because I've known them
for thirty years or more, but that has been special.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
Jacob.
Speaker 6 (25:38):
I got three rooms full in my four bedroom house
of gifts that people have given me over the years,
and I'm trying to get a building outside.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
I've got a contract.
Speaker 6 (25:50):
That's going to help me with it so i can
display it. It's just that right now I'm looking at
some of them here in my living room, and you know, it.
Speaker 5 (25:58):
Just means so much.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
So many of them give me gifts, some of them
are big gifts, a little, it doesn't matter. It's just special.
And you feel like when they do that that they
like you and enjoy you, which that makes me feel good.
But it's been a big, big, great part of my life.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Now to you like the term tribute artists or impersonator?
What is that now to you? Like the word? Uh?
Do you like to be preferred to a tribute artist
or an impersonator?
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Tribute artist?
Speaker 6 (26:38):
That could be we're supporting the show, wed that the
Andrew Griffy Show, Rewe Watchers Club promote the show, and
that's kind of what we do.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Also, the tribute artist is is what I prefer.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Now?
Speaker 2 (26:57):
How you said that you got some memorabilia with so
what kind of stuff do you have?
Speaker 6 (27:02):
Oh my gosh, Well, I have a lot of pictures.
I've got quilt, I've got handmade embroidery with Mayberry words
on it their description. I've got the figures of the
cast members that.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
People find or have made.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
I've got uh, actually one of my favorites, or I've
got several favorites. But Tim White, who is a wonderful
bluegrass musician, they performed at a lot of our shows,
and he was doing a show up at Nashville on TV.
(27:46):
He was and they did a recreation of the with
Otis with his vase, with the rehabilitation of Otis where
he's bilt the water and filled and came to get
they refilled with the put alcohol in it. Well, they
redid that and Kim White went on the on the
(28:09):
show on the studio where they filmed that, and he
picked up that. They asked they could have it, and
they said he brought and gave that to me. And
I got it on a display right here that was
pretty big. And uh, I've got a table from George
Goober Lindsey. It's a call like a lap table and
(28:30):
it's got a big basketball.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
Player of Kenny shoes, his skinny.
Speaker 6 (28:33):
Legs holding it up and the shoe was untied and
I've never tied it back. And just the stacks of
the pictures and uh uh actually some of the scripts
I've got scripts from the actual Otis used and uh
and golf clubs and golf balls, just many many things.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Now you've been to the Andy Griffins, zim, is there
a section in there that you like to see? Every
time you go in there.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
I go look at Otis's code and hat I've got
some that look as bad.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
As his dude, And you know, it's.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
All fun really though, But that's one thing I always
think about. And Alan Newsom and Ice Lloyd, who is
now had a tribute artists it does so much to
keep us going. We need to write a lot to
these shows and still do. And we were talking one
day about we have put on these outfits more than
(29:38):
the actual cast members. You know, I put it on
hundreds and hundreds of time. Otis was in twenty or
thirty shows. Floyd was in about one hundred and fifty
or so. But we put our outfits on more than
they have.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Yeah. Speaking of Adam Newsome, oh, I had him on
the podcast a while back, and of course I got
to say with Adam Newsom, he does a pretty good
job as Floyd.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
Oh he does.
Speaker 6 (30:06):
He practices, and sometimes he even forgets he's not doing
the character when we're talking what and he goes into
Floyd's Floyd floy Is without even realizing it, which is great.
Speaker 5 (30:20):
He does. He does a great job, he sure does.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Now do you agree that Mayberry is not a place
on but a state of mind?
Speaker 5 (30:29):
I think it is a state of mind. I really do.
Speaker 6 (30:32):
Yes, It's a wonderful state of mind. That's a very
good way to describe it to me.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
I think.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
Now, do you have any plans to retire from being Otis?
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Uh, it's in the back of my mind.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
But you know, I.
Speaker 6 (30:54):
Work out a lot, I'm an older guy, and uh,
I still feel pretty good. Uh and uh I don't
want to ever make uh fail and do an notice
and until I get to that point, which it may
not be too long down the road, but uh uh
it's in the back of my mind thinking that few
(31:16):
years ahead.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Yes, now, if you be retired, then what is your
plans after retirement.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
I'd still go to the events if I was able to,
but you.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Know, doing notice was like I say, I've been.
Speaker 6 (31:30):
Very fortunate for my health. I don't take any medications
and get good report my doctor and feel pretty good.
Speaker 5 (31:37):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
I would try to still probably go to the.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
Events, but not walk around as much, you know. And
uh and and visit more with with my friends. You know,
their family. To me, all these can't all these other
tribute artists and their family and friends that I've met
their their family.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Oh yeah, because I would imagine after him for twenty
some years, you know, it becomes like family.
Speaker 6 (32:04):
Yes, yes, they're so wonderful. They care about you and
check on you, and we do that for each other.
And I know I could count on many and many
of them from anything.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Oh yeah, Now as you get closer to the end
the podcast. Like I said, this episode with air sometime
in November, so by the time we talked about this topic,
how the date would already pass. But I've noticed on
your Facebook and which you're a big Trump fan.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 6 (32:40):
I played golf with one of his big contractors at
the Maybury Golf tournament several years ago and he wanted
me to go meet Trump. I'll tell you what he said,
which I'm proud of. We wrote into the same golf guard.
I had no idea who he was till we introduced
each other. He said, I think Donald Trump like you. Oh,
(33:05):
I've never forgot that.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
And I've seen him.
Speaker 6 (33:07):
He came to the Alabama ball game that I was at,
and I've seen it too well, bynocker, But I admire him.
I think he is honestly wants the best for America.
He doesn't take any money for being president, which tells.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
Me a lot.
Speaker 5 (33:21):
So oh yeah, I am a Trump fan.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Oh yeah, it's nothing wrong with that. And hopefully by
the time this goes up, maybe we're no. Maybe by
the time this goes up, and maybe we're know who
the president of the United States. Yeah, figure out well,
I will figure out who's in the White House by
the time this goes up. So before you wrap up, keath,
(33:48):
which I used to ask all my guests at the
end of they got to close in thought for the
people listening to you got a close and thought to
me to the listeners that's listening.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Well, hey.
Speaker 5 (34:01):
At first, I want to thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (34:04):
For including podcast.
Speaker 6 (34:06):
Uh Alan knew some things a lot of you and
uh I do too. I appreciate it and like I say,
this is a big part of my life. And uh
with with all this happened, it's it's more than it's
exciting and fun. But like you say, all the wonderful
new people I've met over the years when I wouldn't
have met without this, And uh Andy had a lot
(34:31):
of a lot of good messages in that show. And
uh if fans out there watch it and think about
how he treated Don Barney and uh with his saviors,
but he tried to correct him And I ain't being
based though. Uh it's a spect part and I just
(34:52):
wish the whole world was like Mayberry.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Oh yeah, absolutely. Oh, and Kenneth, I don't thank you
once again come on the podcast to talk about to
talk about you. Oh it's I greatly appreciate it and
I'm sorry though we couldn't get the camera working.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
Thank it, Semest.
Speaker 6 (35:13):
But I appreciate you working with me and again of
choosing me to be on the podcast.
Speaker 5 (35:18):
I can't wait to hear it.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Oh yeah, absolutely all right, ken On, thanks again and
for the people watching and listening, and thanks for tuning in.
And we'll cat you guys next week on Conversations with Jacob.
Until then, God bless and we'll see you next week
Got any partners. You're listening to Conversations with Jacob, hosted
by my good friend Jacob Waller. Make sure to check
out the podcast where podcasts are available, and check out
the video version on YouTube. You can follow us on
social media Facebook is Conversations with Jacob, Twitter is at
(00:50):
CWJ podcast, and you can visit our website Conversations with
Jacob podcast dot weebly dot Hey, you got a show idea,
maybe a guest suggestion, email us at Conversations with Jacob
at gmail dot com. Now here's your host, Jacob Waller,
(01:15):
and welcome.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Back everybody to another episode of Conversations with Jacob right
here on YouTube. And our podcasts are available, and we
got a good episode lined up for you this week.
Before we get to our guests, I want to give
a few podcasts plugs. We'll make sure to check us
out on Facebook, Conversations with Jacob the website Conversations with
Jacob podcast dot weavy dot com, which you can check
(01:37):
it upcoming episodes, past guests, and a whole lot more.
Also make sure to like and comment to our YouTube channel.
Also check out the podcast every Monday at one pm,
and you can check out our podcast story. You can
buy mugs, t shirts, and and and just a whole
much more merchandise the Lincolns on our website. And you
(02:00):
like podcast, check out my gift friend mister Ila Newsom
from Two Chairs No Waiting And here's ada newso t
more about the podcast.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Andy Barney, Opie Goober, Floyd de Barber. That's some of
the names from the Andy Griffath Show dropped by Two
Chairs No Waiting the Andy griff Show Fan Podcast, and
we'll visit with some of those folks, along with tribute
artists and fans and just all kinds of things related
to the Andy Griffith Show. I'm your host, Alan Youwseom
and you can find the show Two Chairs No Waiting
(02:30):
at two Chairsnowaiting dot com or on iTunes.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
And my guests this week is Kenneth Junkin, who is
having some technical difficult he's getting home, but he got
him through the phone here. Before we get to him, first,
I'm gonna tell you about Kenneth Junkin. He is a
Otis Cambell tribute artist he oh which he's done security
for Don Knox and he's been a work of the
(02:55):
ultra fan of The Andy Griffin Show. And so with
no further ado here Kenneth junking to the podcast and Kenneth,
welcome aboard.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Thank you, Jacob, thank you so much for.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
Having me looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Oh absolutely. Now for people out there that's listening, can
you give us a brief description.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Very description of Kenneth?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, sure, yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (03:21):
Well, I'm from a little town called Gordo, Alabama. It's
a lot like Mayberry. Lived here basically all my life
and lived out in the country. We've worked with my
grandfather's farm, and TV was our big entertainment. We didn't
go anywhere much way out here. But I remember October third,
(03:45):
nineteen sixty eight, thirty Central time, the Andy Griffith Show
premier and just loved it so much. And to be
honest with you, there were very few of my neighbors
who had TV's back then here and what few of
us did the next morning after the show as the
(04:06):
season went on, and we've discussed it, and most of
the discussion was.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
About Barney Fire.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
So I've been a Mayberry fan all my life and
used to kind of plan my evening activities around the reruns,
and uh played football high school was a state shop
put champion, and UH played a little semi pro football,
big Alabama football fan. I worked as a UH UH
(04:33):
director of technology at Fifer Incorporated, which is a very
large manufacturing company, and I'm retired now and loving doing
otis and the Mayberry's family.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Now, Keith, talk to us about Kate, talk to us
about how you became doing security for Don Knutts.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Yes, I can.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
UH.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
At work, we had breaks with some Mayberry uh Andy
Griffith Show fan and at one of these breaks I
found out about the Andy Griffy Show Rerun Watchers Club,
and when I did, I immediately joined it and had
some conversation with Jim Clark, who started this, a great
(05:16):
author and has done so much for US fans of
the Andy Griffy Show. And I found out about Maybury Days.
I didn't get to go first when I went to
the second one, and I met a guy named Bob
Shipe who was trying to raise money for American Cancer
Society and he had he had wrapped up a deal
(05:41):
with Don Notts to come to the Mayberry squad car
Nationals up in Bradford, Ohio, and he and I got
to be friends and He asked me what I host
and work at his security, and I thought it was
a dream come true, and so I told him.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
I sure would.
Speaker 6 (05:59):
I had a conversion van and we picked up don
k not set along the local hotels with his I
think uh ended up his second wife, Frenzy. She was wonderful.
And I had three other guys with me, an eight
deputy from Michigan, and it took all we could do
(06:19):
to protect him, not anything hostile, but just to let
him get around it. He was He was sworn by
the fans, if you can imagine. But Don was very
laid back. He was not Barney Fife when I was,
except when he got on the stage. He was kind
of quiet, a little shy, and was totally different. But
(06:43):
after the second day he started telling us some stories
that were great, and uh, it was a dream come true,
it really was. And uh, I got to do that
two other times and we kind of became friends, and
like to say, it was a dream come true to
get to work with Don Nott's my absolute favorite character
anywhere TV or movies, and he's such a talented, nice guy,
(07:08):
very nice. He would sign two lout of graphs and
didn't charge a penny for it, which is amazing.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Now can you talk to us about the Opry maybe
or Clary Union.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
Yes, that's the first time I met Don uh And
there was a great show there, and almost every character
that was on the show, excluding Andy and Ron Howard
and Helen Krount she was sick had cancer, bless her heart,
(07:43):
but the Darlings, Raf Hollister, of course, Betty Lynn, George Coober, Lindsay.
Now Jim Nabs wasn't there, but find everybody else was.
And there was a two o'clock show that me and
five of my buddies went to from work, and then
there was a seven o'clock show, but we went to
(08:03):
the two o'clock show, and after the show, which was fantastic,
first time Don Knights came out.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
He was in his uniform.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
And there were several thousand people there, and I looked
around in tears were streaming out of a lot of
the thing's eyes seeing Don k nots in his uniform again.
And so we went to get in his line to
get an autograph, and it was by far the longest
line of any of the cast members. And we heard
rumors stirring around that they were going to cut the
(08:33):
line off because none and the other cast members had
to go have dinner before they did the seven o'clock show.
And this is a true story. And we saw four
there were four looked like secret service guys.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Wet for address.
Speaker 6 (08:49):
They came walking down Don's line and stopped right the
side of us, about maybe ten or twelve feet to
our right, and they were looking at us, and one
of our famed buddy ran over to him and put
his arm around one of the guys and was.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Kind of talking softly to him.
Speaker 6 (09:07):
And then they all looked at me, and my buddy
came back to get in line with us, and the
security guys went on about fifty feet behind us and
cut the lines off. But before I said, Donnie, what
did you tell that guy? He said, well, I told
him we got you out of an asylum this morning,
and if you didn't get to meet Don k Not,
we just couldn't control you.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
And they moved on, And that's a true story.
Speaker 6 (09:30):
Ugly, we didn't get him, and we got to meet
George Lindsay and that day, and then of course I
got to meet Don or kid closer to Don when
we had the squad car Nationals up in Ohio. That's
when I first did is security.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Now have you met the guy that played Others on
the Eddie Griffin Show.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
I met him that day for just a few minutes
after we left the autograph station and they were getting
on a bus to go eat. I ran out there
and he had security around him and he was waving everybody,
and I said, hey, Otis, I got your dog here.
If the fans know he had an inducible dog when
(10:15):
he had too much to drink, and I have making
I like those whole He came over to me and
we talked just a few minutes, and he took the
dog and of course it was a maple leaf dog
and he was leaving around. He made it jump up
on the bus with him and we just died last.
It was a nice guy. And uh, you know he
slowed down the headed to the restaurant, had everybody else
(10:40):
waiting for him to get his dog on the bus.
But super guy, super guy.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Now did you ever think and that you be meeting
all these people?
Speaker 4 (10:50):
No?
Speaker 6 (10:51):
No, especially coming up in school and watching the show. No,
it was it was an unbelievable dream come true. The
way I got to meet them, and become so good
friends with them. I worked security for other other of
the cast members and.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Drove them around. And I've had them in.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
My hometown at Gordo at was event we call Mule Days.
Betty Lynn Tamlou has been here where I'm sitting right
now on a couch at my house twice. And she
met my family the first time, my sisters and nieces
and nephews and brother in law. And about eight months
later she was back in Tuscaloosa for a fundraiser for
(11:31):
special needs adults, and she came back over here and
remembered every one of my family's names.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
I could not believe that.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Oh wow.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
And Heard and my dad were about the same age,
and they got to be friends the first time. And
my dad died at eighty four years old. His birthday
was made the twelfth, and on made the twelfth, on
his eighty fourth birthday, betty Lynn family called my dad
and the last person he talked to on the phone
(12:02):
the last time I seen him smile. They talked and talked.
She remembered his birthday and so he smiled and that
was just so special for him and all of us.
And I told her that, and she almost was in
tears later on, so she was absolutely a wonderful, sweet
(12:22):
carrying a lady.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Now, and how did you begin doing otis?
Speaker 6 (12:27):
Well, when I first started, I was, you know, I
was doing posting and security for the test members. And
then we had a gentleman from Louisville, Kentucky who was
almost ady.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
And he had some surgery and he had to quit
doing otis well.
Speaker 6 (12:44):
Some of the David Browning, who was the number one
tribute artist for Mornie, he's retired now, and he and
Alan Newsome.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Just call me otis because I kind of dressed.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
A little bit like the folks in Nyby when I
went to them.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
And when this gentleman retired, they asked me what I
started doing about thirty about twenty nine years ago, and
I said, well, I sure will you know, so I
gradually got into it, and I've been doing it almost
thirty years now. But because I was around, you know,
with the cast members, driving them and posting them, taking
(13:18):
them to eat and making sure they were okay. And
like I said, I did a little bit after I
started doing Odus, and I do it several times in
the year. Some churches even bring me I do him
I do Otis as sober. I give the story about
how I got sober, and now the movie and a
(13:40):
couple of other places want me to stagger a little,
and I do, but generally I do Otis sober, and
you can do a lot with Otis even sober.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Now speaking of movies, Oh, you had a few shots
in the movie Mayberry Man.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
Yeah, that's where they asked me to lock myself up
like Otis did. And so I staggered into the courthouse
and was hunting a little bit, and Uh, I did that,
and then we did some scenes outside with the starr
and co star Uh, you know, around the squad car
(14:22):
and listening to their troubles and that's the thing. But
my my big part was locking myself up and sell
number one.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
No, did you ever think and that you be doing
a movie?
Speaker 6 (14:37):
No, oh my gosh, no, No, I've I've actually been
in two documentaries, but I never thought about being in
a movie. There was a crew when I was named
the ultimate uh Mayberry fan. UH came in and followed
me to Mayberry Days several years ago and came to
(14:57):
my house right here and UH interviewed me and I
went to a lot of my memorabilia and collections, and
then they rode with me in my van all from
here to Mount Airy, which is eight or nine hour drive.
They stayed with me and followed me around. It's a
little bit of it on a YouTube, and I think
(15:18):
a Canadian company actually bought it, but I don't know
if anybody ever.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Showed the whole thing. But that was fun.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
And then I've had a Chris Hudson came and he
did a special on me and David Browning and Alan
Newsom as Maybury tribunarists. So two documentaries in this movie,
which I never thought I would be on a movie.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Now, Now, how you staid it? Oh, you've been named
the number one Andy Griffin the fan. I gotta ask you, though,
was how many times have you seen each episode?
Speaker 5 (15:52):
I've probably seen.
Speaker 6 (15:56):
Most all of them one hundred and fifty to two
hundred times, some of them more than that, because I
watched them on on VHS, on CDs, and then of
course two or three channels that had them here on
reruns locally, so I know I've probably seen all of
them at least two hundred or close to it. Some
(16:17):
of them, like to say more than that, so I
write the trivia a Maybury Days. Then if you win that,
you're considered the worst champion of Maybury Trivia. Yeah, that's
a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Now with all these now, with all these episodes, and
you got a favorite one, Well.
Speaker 6 (16:38):
It's kind of hard to say. I'm like a lot
of folks. I like Man in a Hurry, and I
like Opie the Bird Band because it's got such a
neat story with it and just pure fun. It's Goober
any Heart of Love. That's one of my favorites, and
(17:00):
the way he cuts up and goober. George Lynday and
I became very good friends. His home was just a
few miles north of me here at God from Jasper, Alabama.
And uh, after I met him, we got to talking
and I went to his film festival. I still help
(17:20):
with that, and uh, we were eating dinner one night
and I told George play quarterback. Got A had a
scholarship to the University of North Alabama. I think it
was Florence Teachers College when he played. And I told Joe.
I said, George, they offered me a scholarship back in
the late sixties. He said they did, And he said,
(17:44):
who offered you a scholarship, And I said, Coach hal self.
He said, how self offered you a scholarship? I said yes,
he said, he gave me and my scholarship. I had
no idea. The coach self said, coach that long. And
after that we became very very good friends. We call
and talk to each other. And he knew a lot
(18:05):
of folks here at the University of Alabama that I know,
and uh, that was a big surprise to me. And
so we became very good friends.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Oh, it's my favorite episode is when Barney gets a car.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Oh, Barney first car.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
Yes, yes, that is one of my Also, I didn't
think about it, but I love that. You know when
the stern column rises out of the steering wheel and
Barney is driving and sees this the column coming out
of his steering wheel. Yeah, well, Betty Lynne told me
(18:45):
she did not know that was gonna happen and when
she screamed and yelled that was real. That wasn't They
didn't tell her about that, and she said this scared
her to death when that came.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Righting up, now, telling this episode airs Mayberry D's will
be over with But for people that don't know, and
what is Mayberry D's.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
Okay, Well, it is a celebration of the show. It's
and there's usually some cast members there. Unfortunately there's not
as many as there used to be. We've lost and
some of them are not able to come anymore. But
there's several thousand people show up in Mount Airy, which
is Andy Griffin's hometown, and there's a Floorence barbershop there,
(19:36):
and there's the the Snappy Lunch, which was actually mentioned
on the show. And there's something going on just about
all week. There's a golf tournament on Thursday that usually
about twenty four teams are in. There's parades, there's entertainment,
there's bands and there the the museum is open use
(20:01):
mostly just camaraderie and fellowship and and uh and seeing
all these other friends. We do a trivia on Friday.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
It's a hill.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
Uh that's uh, it's gotten to be popular.
Speaker 6 (20:14):
And uh, of course I could say the parade, and uh
there's sack races and pie eaton contests and something going
on just about all week there. The hotels are full
and uh, thousands of Mayberry fans in town. And you
just like me doing all this. They yell, I want
(20:35):
their picture too with you and want to you know,
and I'm Kenneth Junking. They see Maybury, it's not you know,
they me as a Tribune artist that not Canneth junk
It necessary. But and the other tribute artists they're they're
treat them the same way. It's it's about the closest
thing you could be told being in the real Navy
(21:00):
as a real Maybury.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Yeah, oh I know which. I was down there in
July for my birthday. Kind I feel like a nice
place to be. Of course the people was nice as well.
It kind of it kind of felt like the real Mayberry.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
Yes, yes, yes, uh.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
And and the the uh citizens of Mount Airy are
take a lot of pride in being that way.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
They sure do, most of them do.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Now there's no uh, there's other events besides Maybury Days
as well.
Speaker 6 (21:40):
Yes, yeah, there's several towns around in Tennessee and Georgia, Alabama, uh, uh, Indiana,
uh that have Maybury events.
Speaker 5 (21:53):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
And it's kind of.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
Like our small Maybury Days. Uh.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
We we put on show.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
The tribute artists like we do a Mayberry Days.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
Uh and we we have events and do a little
trivia and uh uh have dinners and auctions and uh some.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Of them have got really big, but none of them.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Are as big as the real Mayberry Days.
Speaker 6 (22:20):
But yes we do we uh uh myself and Alan Newsom,
uh Floyd and this Mayberry who's from Gordo here, beautiful
sweet young lady, just a daw. We're doing a car
show in Huntsville with a Mayberry theme part of it
next Saturday. And then we have uh, I think in Bruceville, Tennessee.
(22:45):
We do a show and the first weekend uh in
uh September, and then of course Mayberry Days is the
third weekend in September, and if anybody is any kind
of a fan, they need to try to go to
Mayberry Days at some point. Then in October, the end
of October.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
We do the Mayberry Cruz out.
Speaker 6 (23:05):
Of Charleston, South Carolina, and we entertained four or five
nights a week on there and do trivia and usually
have a special guest. And that's that's really special.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
So yeah, it goes on.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Now he get an off season from being Otis.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
Yes, that's what I do, Santa Claus, and I try
to never get Otis and Santa.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
Claus characters confused. And you know what.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
I did not know this, but I've been doing Santa
Claus for fifty years. I was very young when I started,
and it was several years that Hal Smith also Otis.
He also did Santa Claus.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Yeah, that's right, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
And I did not know that for several years so
after I started, So I just could very very unusual
that he and I both at Otis and uh Santa
Claus and uh my Santa Claus is really a big
deal to a lot of nursing homes and the hospitals
and churches and individuals and schools and businesses.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
You know. Uh, I'm usually full.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
And this Maybury is my little santaspper Maddie Maddie Sharp
and the pickle queen who has been sick, Tessy Farrish,
Maybury Pickle Queen is one of my helpers also, so
we keep from Maybury Christmas thing going.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
How about that?
Speaker 5 (24:40):
Now?
Speaker 2 (24:41):
What does Mayberry and the Andy Griffin Show mean to you, Kenneth.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
Well, it's more than a TV show, you know. It's
honestly as part of my life, and it's a good
part of my life because I think that show had
a lot of great messages about caring for full and
watching out for each other and trying to help each
other and living a kind of a modish but fun
(25:08):
life and working. And it's been part of my life,
a good part and the best part about it. You know,
I've met all the cast members that I have and
worked with them, that's great. But I have met so
many new, wonderful friends. That's been the best part about
it is on all the new friends. And well, some
(25:31):
of them are not you anymore because I've known them
for thirty years or more, but that has been special.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
Jacob.
Speaker 6 (25:38):
I got three rooms full in my four bedroom house
of gifts that people have given me over the years,
and I'm trying to get a building outside.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
I've got a contract.
Speaker 6 (25:50):
That's going to help me with it so i can
display it. It's just that right now I'm looking at
some of them here in my living room, and you know, it.
Speaker 5 (25:58):
Just means so much.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
So many of them give me gifts, some of them
are big gifts, a little, it doesn't matter. It's just special.
And you feel like when they do that that they
like you and enjoy you, which that makes me feel good.
But it's been a big, big, great part of my life.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Now to you like the term tribute artists or impersonator?
What is that now to you? Like the word? Uh?
Do you like to be preferred to a tribute artist
or an impersonator?
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Tribute artist?
Speaker 6 (26:38):
That could be we're supporting the show, wed that the
Andrew Griffy Show, Rewe Watchers Club promote the show, and
that's kind of what we do.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Also, the tribute artist is is what I prefer.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Now?
Speaker 2 (26:57):
How you said that you got some memorabilia with so
what kind of stuff do you have?
Speaker 6 (27:02):
Oh my gosh, Well, I have a lot of pictures.
I've got quilt, I've got handmade embroidery with Mayberry words
on it their description. I've got the figures of the
cast members that.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
People find or have made.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
I've got uh, actually one of my favorites, or I've
got several favorites. But Tim White, who is a wonderful
bluegrass musician, they performed at a lot of our shows,
and he was doing a show up at Nashville on TV.
(27:46):
He was and they did a recreation of the with
Otis with his vase, with the rehabilitation of Otis where
he's bilt the water and filled and came to get
they refilled with the put alcohol in it. Well, they
redid that and Kim White went on the on the
(28:09):
show on the studio where they filmed that, and he
picked up that. They asked they could have it, and
they said he brought and gave that to me. And
I got it on a display right here that was
pretty big. And uh, I've got a table from George
Goober Lindsey. It's a call like a lap table and
(28:30):
it's got a big basketball.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
Player of Kenny shoes, his skinny.
Speaker 6 (28:33):
Legs holding it up and the shoe was untied and
I've never tied it back. And just the stacks of
the pictures and uh uh actually some of the scripts
I've got scripts from the actual Otis used and uh
and golf clubs and golf balls, just many many things.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Now you've been to the Andy Griffins, zim, is there
a section in there that you like to see? Every
time you go in there.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
I go look at Otis's code and hat I've got
some that look as bad.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
As his dude, And you know, it's.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
All fun really though, But that's one thing I always
think about. And Alan Newsom and Ice Lloyd, who is
now had a tribute artists it does so much to
keep us going. We need to write a lot to
these shows and still do. And we were talking one
day about we have put on these outfits more than
(29:38):
the actual cast members. You know, I put it on
hundreds and hundreds of time. Otis was in twenty or
thirty shows. Floyd was in about one hundred and fifty
or so. But we put our outfits on more than
they have.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Yeah. Speaking of Adam Newsome, oh, I had him on
the podcast a while back, and of course I got
to say with Adam Newsom, he does a pretty good
job as Floyd.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
Oh he does.
Speaker 6 (30:06):
He practices, and sometimes he even forgets he's not doing
the character when we're talking what and he goes into
Floyd's Floyd floy Is without even realizing it, which is great.
Speaker 5 (30:20):
He does. He does a great job, he sure does.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Now do you agree that Mayberry is not a place
on but a state of mind?
Speaker 5 (30:29):
I think it is a state of mind. I really do.
Speaker 6 (30:32):
Yes, It's a wonderful state of mind. That's a very
good way to describe it to me.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
I think.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
Now, do you have any plans to retire from being Otis?
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Uh, it's in the back of my mind.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
But you know, I.
Speaker 6 (30:54):
Work out a lot, I'm an older guy, and uh,
I still feel pretty good. Uh and uh I don't
want to ever make uh fail and do an notice
and until I get to that point, which it may
not be too long down the road, but uh uh
it's in the back of my mind thinking that few
(31:16):
years ahead.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Yes, now, if you be retired, then what is your
plans after retirement.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
I'd still go to the events if I was able to,
but you.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Know, doing notice was like I say, I've been.
Speaker 6 (31:30):
Very fortunate for my health. I don't take any medications
and get good report my doctor and feel pretty good.
Speaker 5 (31:37):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
I would try to still probably go to the.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
Events, but not walk around as much, you know. And
uh and and visit more with with my friends. You know,
their family. To me, all these can't all these other
tribute artists and their family and friends that I've met
their their family.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Oh yeah, because I would imagine after him for twenty
some years, you know, it becomes like family.
Speaker 6 (32:04):
Yes, yes, they're so wonderful. They care about you and
check on you, and we do that for each other.
And I know I could count on many and many
of them from anything.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Oh yeah, Now as you get closer to the end
the podcast. Like I said, this episode with air sometime
in November, so by the time we talked about this topic,
how the date would already pass. But I've noticed on
your Facebook and which you're a big Trump fan.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 6 (32:40):
I played golf with one of his big contractors at
the Maybury Golf tournament several years ago and he wanted
me to go meet Trump. I'll tell you what he said,
which I'm proud of. We wrote into the same golf guard.
I had no idea who he was till we introduced
each other. He said, I think Donald Trump like you. Oh,
(33:05):
I've never forgot that.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
And I've seen him.
Speaker 6 (33:07):
He came to the Alabama ball game that I was at,
and I've seen it too well, bynocker, But I admire him.
I think he is honestly wants the best for America.
He doesn't take any money for being president, which tells.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
Me a lot.
Speaker 5 (33:21):
So oh yeah, I am a Trump fan.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Oh yeah, it's nothing wrong with that. And hopefully by
the time this goes up, maybe we're no. Maybe by
the time this goes up, and maybe we're know who
the president of the United States. Yeah, figure out well,
I will figure out who's in the White House by
the time this goes up. So before you wrap up, keath,
(33:48):
which I used to ask all my guests at the
end of they got to close in thought for the
people listening to you got a close and thought to
me to the listeners that's listening.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Well, hey.
Speaker 5 (34:01):
At first, I want to thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (34:04):
For including podcast.
Speaker 6 (34:06):
Uh Alan knew some things a lot of you and
uh I do too. I appreciate it and like I say,
this is a big part of my life. And uh
with with all this happened, it's it's more than it's
exciting and fun. But like you say, all the wonderful
new people I've met over the years when I wouldn't
have met without this, And uh Andy had a lot
(34:31):
of a lot of good messages in that show. And
uh if fans out there watch it and think about
how he treated Don Barney and uh with his saviors,
but he tried to correct him And I ain't being
based though. Uh it's a spect part and I just
(34:52):
wish the whole world was like Mayberry.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Oh yeah, absolutely. Oh, and Kenneth, I don't thank you
once again come on the podcast to talk about to
talk about you. Oh it's I greatly appreciate it and
I'm sorry though we couldn't get the camera working.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
Thank it, Semest.
Speaker 6 (35:13):
But I appreciate you working with me and again of
choosing me to be on the podcast.
Speaker 5 (35:18):
I can't wait to hear it.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Oh yeah, absolutely all right, ken On, thanks again and
for the people watching and listening, and thanks for tuning in.
And we'll cat you guys next week on Conversations with Jacob.
Until then, God bless and we'll see you next week
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