<P> Sheldon Leonard, producer of The Danny Thomas Show, and Danny Thomas hired veteran comedy writer Arthur Stander (who had written many of the "Danny Thomas" episodes) to create a pilot show for Andy Griffith, featuring him as justice of the peace and newspaper editor in a small town . At the time, Broadway, film, and radio star Griffith was interested in attempting a television role, and the William Morris Agency told Leonard that Griffith's rural background and previous rustic characterizations were suited to the part . After conferences between Leonard and Griffith in New York, Griffith flew to Los Angeles and filmed the episode . On February 15, 1960, The Danny Thomas Show episode "Danny Meets Andy Griffith" aired . In the episode Griffith played fictional Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry, North Carolina, who arrests Danny Williams (Thomas's character) for running a stop sign . Future players in The Andy Griffith Show, Frances Bavier and Ron Howard, appeared in the episode as townspeople Henrietta Perkins and Opie Taylor (the sheriff's son). General Foods, sponsor of The Danny Thomas Show, had first access to the spin - off and committed to it immediately . On October 3, 1960, at 9: 30 pm, The Andy Griffith Show made its debut . </P> <P> The show's production team included producers Aaron Ruben (1960--65) and Bob Ross (1965--68). First - season writers (many of whom worked in pairs) included Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart, Arthur Stander and Frank Tarloff (as "David Adler"), Benedict Freedman and John Fenton Murray, Leo Solomon and Ben Gershman, and Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum . During season six, Greenbaum and Fritzell left the show and Ruben departed for Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., a show which he owned in part . Writer Harvey Bullock left after season six . Bob Sweeney directed the first three seasons save the premiere . </P> <P> The show was filmed at Desilu Studios, with exteriors filmed at Forty Acres in Culver City, California . Woodsy locales were filmed north of Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon . </P> <P> Don Knotts, who knew Griffith professionally and had seen The Danny Thomas Show episode, called Griffith during the developmental stages of the show and suggested the Sheriff character needed a deputy . Griffith agreed . Knotts auditioned for the show's creator and executive producer, Sheldon Leonard, and was offered a five - year contract playing Barney Fife . </P>

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