The Christmas Story (The Andy Griffith Show)

"The Christmas Story"
The Andy Griffith Show episode
Christmas Eve in the jail.
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 11
Directed by	Bob Sweeney
Written by	David Adler
Production code	11
Original air date	December 19, 1960
Guest appearance(s)
Elinor Donahue Joy Ellison Margaret Kerry Sam Edwards Will Wright Kelly Flynn
Episode chronology

"The Christmas Story" is an episode from the American television program The Andy Griffith Show broadcast Monday December 19, 1960 on CBS. A family spends Christmas Eve in jail. "Christmas Story" is the eleventh episode in season one, and the eleventh episode in the complete series. The show is noted for being the only Christmas episode in The Andy Griffith Show complete series, and for featuring actress Margaret Kerry, the model for Tinkerbell in Walt Disney's 1953 animated feature film, Peter Pan. On December 25th, 2015, CBS aired this episode in color, as part of "The Andy Griffith Show Christmas Special", which also included "The Pickle Story".

Plot summary

On Christmas Eve, department store owner Ben Weaver insists Andy jail moonshiner Sam Muggins. Weaver has brought along a jug of moonshine as evidence of Sam's wrongdoing. Andy complies with Weaver's request but feels it's only fair that Sam's wife Bess and his two young children be incarcerated as well, since they all had knowledge of Sam's moonshining. With the Muggins family in jail, Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee, Ellie, and Opie prepare a feast with all the trimmings for the family and decorate a Christmas tree. Peeping at the window, Ben Weaver is touched with the Christmas spirit and tries to get himself arrested in order to join the fun. Andy only arrests Weaver, however, after he dumps a garbage can in the alley. Together, the men appear at the door of the jail with a suitcase full of gaily wrapped gifts from Ben's store. Ben is welcomed and regaled with food and drink. Weaver falls asleep in one of the jail cells after finishing the jug of Sam's moonshine.

Cast

Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor Don Knotts as Barney Fife Elinor Donahue as Ellie Walker Frances Bavier as Aunt Bee Joy Ellison as Ethie Muggins

Margaret Kerry as Bess Muggins Ron Howard as Opie Taylor Sam Edwards as Sam Muggins Will Wright as Ben Weaver Kelly Flynn as Billy Muggins

Crew

A Mayberry Enterprises Production Aaron Ruben, producer and story consultant Ann Helfgott, wardrobe Bob Priestley, set decorator Bob Sweeney, director Bruce Bilson, assistant director David Adler, writer David Forrest, sound engineer Earle Hagen, music Filmed by Desilu Frank E. Myers, production manager Hazel Hall, script continuity Kenneth A. Reid, art director Lee Greenway, makeup

Miss Donahue's fashions Mr. Burt of Encino Ralph Berger, art director Recorded by Glen Glenn Sound Co. Reggie Smith, propmaster Richard O. Linke, associate producer Robert Fritch, film editor Robert Reeve, re-recording editor Ronald Jacobs, assistant to producer Ruth Burch, casting Sheldon Leonard, executive producer, in association with Danny Thomas Sid Hickox, director of photography W. Argyle Nelson, production supervisor

Notes

• The role of Ben Weaver would be played by three different actors during the course of the series' run.
• Actor Sam Edwards (Sam Muggins) appeared in four different roles during the course of the series' run.

DVD releases

"The Christmas Story" was released on DVD Paramount Pictures The Andy Griffith Show: Complete Series Collection, 2007. (ISBN 1415731594).

See also

• Christmas Eve
• The Andy Griffith Show

External links

• The Andy Griffith Show at the Internet Movie Database
• The Christmas Story at epguides.com
• Mayberry.com home of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club w/ Interviews, Episode Guides, newsletters, and forums.
• Behind The Scenes of The Andy Griffith Show A behind the scenes look at The Andy Griffith Show and the real Mayberry, includes filming locations, the stars made on the show, and Mayberry trivia.
• Remembering Mayberry
• Mayberry Articles & Events
• Searchable Andy Griffith Show Episode Guide
• The Andy Griffith Show on TVLand.com
• Interview with Michael Rosen on Archive of American Television in 1998.