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YOU CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH OF ANDYPublished in THE STATE Newspaper TALK ABOUT TOWN By Neil White Mike Safran is probably going to be whistling while he works next week. In fact, we have a pretty good idea what the Columbia antiques and memorabilia dealer is going to be whistling - the theme song from "The Andy Griffith Show." Safran will spend four days in Mount Airy, N.C., Griffith's hometown, doing and inventory and appraisal of all the items in the Andy Griffith Museum. Boy, talk about a great job. Safran will get to spend his time combing through rooms of artifacts related to the guy who created the most enduring TV sitcom of all time. Safran got this gig because of his friendship with Emmett Forrest, the Mount Airy resident and Griffith childhood pal who has spent decades gathering items related to the life of the TV legend. And the way Safran describes Forrest makes it sound like he's not much different from the classic small town Andy Griffith character. "It's as nice to visit with him as it is to be involved with the appraisal," said Safran, who will be staying in the bed-and-breakfast inn that was Griffith's childhood home. The museum is loaded with unique items. There's the rocking chair made by Griffith's father for his mother while she was pregnant with Andy. There are rare pressings of "What It Was, Was Football," the comedy monologue that put Griffith on the map. There are cans of Andy Griffith black-eyed peas. There are issues of TV Guide with Andy on the cover. There are concert tickets from a 1950s show in which Andy shared a bill with Elvis. Best of all, there are the plaques that hung on the show's courthouse doors. "There are bizarre things, there are interesting things, and there are funny things. It's just remarkable stuff," said Safran, who owns an antiques and memorabilia store on Whaley Street in addition to the large volume of business he does on the Internet. Safran will judge the items that fill a handful of rooms for both their quality and their rarity. But there's something more to it than that for Safran, who, by the way, is arguably the foremost collector of Gamecock related memorabilia. "It's the synergy of the collection itself. You have to put a value there, too, because of how long it takes to amass a collection like this. It takes a lifetime," he said. "It's so apparent the effort that has been put into this collection." Safran adds that Forrest is looking to put a value on the collection because he plans to donate it to Mount Airy, the real life version of Mayberry. Forrest's love for all things Griffith is comparable to the love fans have developed for this special show over 40 plus years. Like nearly everyone else, Safran is a fan, too. "How could you not be a fan? The show still works today," he said. We'll say. No matter how many times you see a favorite episode, you always laugh again. At the exact same moments. And even though you know how it's going to end, you can't wait to see the same great ending one more time. Talk's favorites? The episode in which Barney buys a car from the little old lady who turns out to be a scam artist. The episode in which Barney "sings" the solo in the choir performance. The episode in which Andy and Helen are trapped in the cave as Barney franticly plans the rescue. The episode in which Gomer makes the citizen's arrest of Barney. The episode in which Andy and Barney capture the escaped con, much to the shock of the state police. OK, we could go on and on. As you can see, we really like Barney, too. So does Safran when asked about his favorites. "I always think of Barney. He's the slapstick guy. And I always liked Ernest T. Bass," Safran said. "But Andy was the glue of the show. He was the guy. That's apparent by this collection." He's right, of course. Andy is the show's anchor. Just thinking about it makes us want to start whistling the theme song. Website Link: Visit the Mount Airy Andy Griffith Museum Website |