The Andy Griffith Show: The Two Mayors

The Two Myberry Mayors

Not all fans of The Andy Griffith Show may realize that there were two Mayberry Mayors in the first three seasons of the series. The mayor's office was above the jail.

Barney Fife (Don Knotts) accidentally discharged his one bullet from his gun into the ceiling several times, but no one from the mayor's office ever complained.

Mayor Floyd Pike

The first official to run the town was Mayor Floyd Pike (Dick Elliott), who was in 11 episodes during the first two seasons (1960-1961). His first was The Manhunt, and his final appearance was in The Manicurist, which starred Barbara Eden.

Elliot was in hundreds of television shows and films, including It Happened in New York, Annie Oakley, Rawhide, and Tales of a Restless Gun. He also had a memorable scene in It's a Wonderful Life.

He was the man sitting on the front porch who told George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) to go ahead and kiss Mary (Donna Reed). Elliot was also the man who played Santa Claus on the television shows hosted by comedians Red Skelton, Jack Benny, and Jimmy Durante.

The Andy Griffith Show was one of Elliot's final roles, but he was replaced in season 3 by Parley Baer after he died from heart disease on December 22, 1961. He was 75.

Mayor Roy Stoner

I don't recall an episode explaining why Pike was no longer the mayor. When the third season began, Baer was introduced as the new Mayor whose name was Roy Stoner.

He debuted in Andy and the New Mayor and was in seven episodes. I thought he was funny in his own way, but the producers did not believe his stern demeanor fit well in Mayberry. His predecessor, Elliot, was more jovial, but each man had his own personality. Baer's final episode of The Andy Griffith Show was Rafe Hollister Sings.

Bayer portrayed Chester in the radio version of Gunsmoke, and after The Andy Griffith Show, he was in popular television programs including Newhart, The Dukes of Hazzard, Mad About You, The A-Team, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and F-Troop. He was also in the Disney live-action features The Ugly Dachshund and Follow Me, Boys.

Memories of Both Mayberry Mayors

I have fond memories and a favorite episode with each Mayberry Mayor. In A Plaque for Mayberry, Mayor Pike is frightened when the town drunk Otis Campbell (Hal Smith) is going to be honored.

He is afraid that Otis will embarrass him and his fair city and begs Andy to keep Mr. Campbell away from the ceremony. Otis shows up in pristine condition and gives his award to the mayor for the town.

My favorite episode with Mayor Stoner is The Mayberry Band. Andy, Barney, Floyd, and the men of the town want the mayor to approve their band to go to a competition. Unfortunately, they are not in tune.

They trick the mayor by having real musicians put on their uniforms and play. Mayor Stoner gives the go-ahead, and when the real Mayberry band is on the bus to leave town, they begin playing in their out-of-tune manner. The bus pulls off with the mayor looking at them, and he is stunned.

Why was there no mayor in the final seasons?

There was no Mayberry mayor in seasons four through eight and the series star is alleged to be the reason why.

Andy Griffith reportedly opposed having a mayor. He pointed out that, legally, a sheriff is a county official and is not subordinate to a town mayor, making the traditional "boss-employee" dynamic implausible.

Fans can enjoy the escapades of mayors Pike and Stoner on The Andy Griffith Show on retro channels and streaming services.