Nitrate

The Andy Griffith Show · S1 · E12

Stranger In Town

  • TV-G
  • Dec 26, 1960
  • 25 min

Ed Sawyer, a mysterious stranger, arrives in Mayberry and disrupts the lives of the townspeople because he appears to know everyone's name, intimate details about their lives, and other startling facts about them.

About this episode

Ed Sawyer, a mysterious stranger, arrives in Mayberry and disrupts the lives of the townspeople because he appears to know everyone's name, intimate details about their lives, and other startling facts about them.

Season 1

32 episodes
  1. 1The New Housekeeper

    25 minOct 3, 1960★ 8.0

    Sheriff Andy Taylor and his young son Opie are in need of a new housekeeper. Andy's Aunt Bee looks like the perfect candidate and moves in, but her presence causes friction with Opie.

  2. 2The Manhunt

    25 minOct 10, 1960

    Andy and his bumbling deputy, Barney Fife, offer to help track down an escaped convict, but the captain of the state police scoffs at the small-town sheriff's help.

  3. 3The Guitar Player

    25 minOct 17, 1960

    A gifted guitar player (James Best) who has self-doubts about his musical talent gets a chance at stardom -- with a little push from Andy.

  4. 4Ellie Comes to Town

    25 minOct 24, 1960

    When Mayberry's local pharmacist falls ill, his niece Ellie Walker steps in as a temporary replacement -- and creates turmoil with the town's resident hypochondriac.

  5. 5Irresistible Andy

    25 minOct 31, 1960

    It's the annual church picnic, and when Andy invites Ellie to the event, he begins to suspect that she has marriage on her mind -- so he hastily arranges for three of Mayberry's most eligible bachelors to lavish attention on her.

  6. 6Runaway Kid

    25 minNov 7, 1960

    Andy must intervene -- and risk breaking a promise to Opie -- when he discovers that one of Opie's young friends has run away from home.

  7. 7Andy the Matchmaker

    25 minNov 14, 1960

    When Barney's bumbling law enforcement techniques are questioned, Andy and Ellie decide to stage a fake robbery -- a scheme that turns Barney into a real hero!

  8. 8Opie's Charity

    25 minNov 28, 1960

    Andy is dismayed when Opie refuses to contribute money to the school charity drive -- but there's a secret reason for Opie's apparent selfishness.

  9. 9A Feud is a Feud

    25 minDec 5, 1960

    Andy hopes to finally bring peace to two of the county's longtime feuding families, the Carters and the Wakefields -- by arranging a duel between the two patriarchs of the quarreling clans!

  10. 10Ellie for Council

    25 minDec 12, 1960

    It's a battle of the sexes when Ellie Walker decides to become the very first woman to run for a seat on the Mayberry city council -- and the town's horrified menfolk decide to sabotage her newfound political career.

  11. 11Christmas Story

    25 minDec 19, 1960

    Mayberry's local "Scrooge," storeowner Ben Weaver, manages to have harmless bootlegger Sam Muggins thrown into jail on Christmas -- but the Mayberry folks manage to celebrate Christmas with Sam in a most unusual way.

  12. 12Stranger In Town

    25 minDec 26, 1960Now viewing

    Ed Sawyer, a mysterious stranger, arrives in Mayberry and disrupts the lives of the townspeople because he appears to know everyone's name, intimate details about their lives, and other startling facts about them.

  13. 13Mayberry Goes Hollywood

    25 minJan 2, 1961

    Lights! Camera! Chaos! A Hollywood producer chooses idyllic Mayberry as the backdrop for his next movie, and the entire town goes into a frenzy as they gear up for the anticipated glamour, fame and fortune.

  14. 14The Horse Trader

    25 minJan 9, 1961

    Andy performs some slick dealing with an antique dealer to get rid of the town's old worthless cannon. But when young Opie later mimics his father's shady deal to obtain a pair of roller skates, Andy has second thoughts about his own wheeling and dealing.

  15. 15Those Gossipin' Men

    25 minJan 16, 1961

    Aunt Bee, accused by Andy of being a hopeless gossip, sets out to prove that the men of Mayberry are even bigger rumormongers than the women.

  16. 16The Beauty Contest

    25 minJan 23, 1961

    The Mayberry town council wants to end the annual Founder's Day celebration with a beauty contest, with Andy chosen to pick the winner. The result is pandemonium as candidates of all shapes and sizes descend on the hapless "judge."

  17. 17Alcohol and Old Lace

    25 minJan 30, 1961

    Opie comes home talking about a "flower-making machine" owned by sisters Clarabelle and Jennifer Morrison, the spinsters who run the local flower shop. Andy and Barney do a little investigating -- and discover the contraption is actually a still and the kindly sisters are in the moonshine business!

  18. 18Andy, the Marriage Counselor

    25 minFeb 6, 1961

    Mayberry newcomers Fred and Jeannie Boone are constantly causing domestic disturbances with their fighting, so Andy decides to play marriage counselor to the bickering couple -- with disastrous results.

  19. 19Mayberry on Record

    25 minFeb 13, 1961

    A New York City record promoter arrives in Mayberry, intent on making a recording of the region's local folk music, but Andy becomes wary of the stranger and suspects he might be a con artist seeking some fast cash.

  20. 20Andy Saves Barney's Morale

    25 minFeb 20, 1961

    When Andy has to leave Mayberry for the day to testify in a court case held in a neighboring town, Deputy Barney Fife is left in charge of the sheriff's department -- and he proceeds to arrest everyone in Mayberry!

  21. 21Andy and the Gentleman Crook

    25 minFeb 27, 1961

    A notorious, nationally known con man dubbed "Gentleman Dan" becomes a hero of epic proportions to Aunt Bee, Opie and Barney when he is held for two days in the Mayberry jail.

  22. 22Cyrano Andy

    25 minMar 6, 1961

    Andy makes an earnest attempt at matchmaking to help Barney win the heart of his girlfriend, Thelma Lou. Things go fine at first -- until barney misinterprets Andy's efforts and thinks he's trying to steal her away!

  23. 23Andy and Opie, Housekeepers

    25 minMar 13, 1961

    Aunt Bee must leave Mayberry to care for a sick cousin, but not before scolding Andy and Opie for their messy housekeeping habits. The two are determined to clean house before she returns -- a project that suddenly accelerates when she phones to say she'll be coming home earlier than expected!

  24. 24The New Doctor

    25 minMar 27, 1961

    Andy must make a hasty, ill-advised marriage proposal to Ellie Walker after he becomes convinced that the new, handsome young doctor in town is trying to steal his girl.

  25. 25A Plaque for Mayberry

    25 minApr 3, 1961

    The Women's Historical Society is all set to throw a celebration in honor of the last living descendant of a Revolutionary War hero named Nathan Tibbs, who has been traced to Mayberry. But their excitement turns to horror when they discover that the intended honoree is the town drunk, Otis Campbell.

  26. 26The Inspector

    25 minApr 10, 1961

    When a state inspector arrives in Mayberry to check the jail and courthouse, Andy and Barney are shocked to discover he's a by-the-book stickler for rules and regulations. Things look shaky until Andy is able to demonstrate the "Mayberry way" of fighting crime.

  27. 27Ellie Saves a Female

    25 minApr 17, 1961

    Ellie Walker takes pity on a shy tomboy named Frankie Flint and is determined to give a "Cinderella" makeover to the young girl -- much to her gruff father's displeasure.

  28. 28Andy Forecloses

    25 minApr 24, 1961

    Andy, faced with the unpleasant task of serving an eviction notice on a family who has fallen on hard times, tries desperately to come up with a way for the tenants to keep their home.

  29. 29Quiet Sam

    25 minMay 1, 1961

    Barney is convinced that the new, mysterious farmer in town warrants further investigation. Andy finally agrees to pay a visit to the man's farm -- and finds himself drawn into a predicament he never imagined he'd find himself in.

  30. 30Barney Gets His Man

    25 minMay 8, 1961

    Barney's reputation as a deputy soars when he inadvertently helps capture Eddie Brooke, an escaped convict. But Brooke vows to escape again and head straight back to Mayberry to exact his revenge.

  31. 31The Guitar Player Returns

    25 minMay 15, 1961

    Mayberry's famed hometown musician -- Jim Lindsey (James Best) -- returns for a visit in his flashy convertible and fancy clothes. But despite all the trappings and signs of showbiz success, Andy senses that all is not well in the life of the popular performer.

  32. 32Bringing Up Opie

    25 minMay 22, 1961

    After being scolded by Aunt Bee, Opie decides to run away from home -- a plan that quickly turns into a series of eye-opening, and sometimes dangerous, adventures for Opie and a scare for both Aunt Bee and Andy.

Guest stars

George DunnPete
Walter BaldwinFloyd Lawson
Bill ErwinGeorge Sapley
Phil ChambersJason, the Hotel Clerk
William LanteauEd Sawyer
Pat ColbyBill Matthews
Marlene WillisLucy Matthews
Sarah SeegarMrs. Buntley