Opie Taylor’s friend

[flossieskid]

Patricia Anne -
My Dad played “Arnold’s” father. The child actor was Sheldon Collins. I think my Dad was on the show a few times, but the one I really remember is when Opie and Arnold find a baby. Opie asks his Dad Andy some questions about babies. Since Arnold is always hanging around Opie, Andy asks my Dad if he has told his son Arnold about the birds and the bees?

I think my Dad tells Andy he was nervous about having “the talk” with Arnold. But, if Andy wants to tell Opie that would be great, says my Dad, because then Opie will tell Arnold and then my Dad doesn’t have to do it!

I have been trying to take 2 photos of my parents on all their shows:
1) in a scene with the star of the show and 2) their name in the credits (God, that will take forever - I hope I live that long!!) But, THAT Andy Griffith Show has to be my favorite because the man playing the father of the baby Opie finds turns out to be a very young (and quite handsome) Jack Nicholson - and my Dad got top billing!! Most actors can’t say that! What a hoot!

[Easton]

I've been trying to think of ways to help you take photos so you can post or share or print. Unless you know your way around a computer, it's a very difficult task trying to learn from words on the screen. If you have family or friends who know how to do this, it's best and easiest for them to visit you, sit with you at the computer for a few hours, and teach you.

I have a small program which works behind the scenes and, with the push of a single button, it will take an image file (screen cap) of your entire screen and everything you can see on it and store it in a folder on your computer. Unless you want your computer visible to the entire world, you will need to edit it to get rid of everything you don't want people to see. (I use a simple editing program as well.) Then you have to learn how to print it or store it online so you can share it in forums.

Once you figure all that out, it's pretty-much a breeze.

[Johnny]

One of the episodes you described is Opie Finds a Baby S7E10, and aired in 1966. Your Dad portrayed, Dr. Lou Bailey. (imdb). There is one other episode IMDB lists James McCallion appearing on Andy Griffith. It was S8E16, Goober the Executive, (1967).

I don't have Season 7 or 8 of Andy Griffith on DVD.. Perhaps someone else here does and can help you with images. I do have an image of Jack Nicholson's appearance.

[flossieskid]

Thank you Easton and Johnny!! I would really like to know the name of the program you use, Easton, for copying and printing screen shots. I have tons of DVD’s that I thought I would have to take pictures of what is on the screen of my DVD player. My son is somewhat computer savvy and can surely help me. I don’t need to hide any images since no one uses my laptop but me.

Your way sounds like a much better choice than dealing with the sun bouncing off my TV screen or the room too dark to even see the images while I try to focus my camera. What a total upgrade! I think I knew programs existed for this type of thing, but I just never really investigated anything. I know you are quite the expert, so I would appreciate any guidance you can give me to capture the images of my folks on all the TV shows and movies they have appeared.

What fun, Johnny, to see how cute Mr.Nicholson was in that super early Andy Griffith Show. He must be in his 20’s - right?
Thanks for sharing!

[Easton]

Jun 17, 2021 1:30:27 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

Thank you Easton and Johnny!! I would really like to know the name of the program you use, Easton, for copying and printing screen shots. I have tons of DVD’s that I thought I would have to take pictures of what is on the screen of my DVD player. My son is somewhat computer savvy and can surely help me. I don’t need to hide any images since no one uses my laptop but me.

First of all, do you use Windows10? If not, please let me know which version you use so I can find the appropriate versions of the programs I use.

Gadwin Printscreen is the capture program I use. It's very simple and, once you install it and set it up (both operations are very easy although setting it up will easier with a little guidance. ) Once you set it up properly, it will start up automatically when you start your computer and runs in the background and you won't even know it's there. After that, pressing 1 single key will put Gadwin to work and will open a preview screen of the image you are capturing. If you're satisfied with the image, clicking a check mark on the capture screen will save the image in the file format you want in the folder you want (so you will always know where they are) and with a file name you want to use.

This is a screen cap I just did from YouTube. The video was in full-screen and I paused it which is why you can see the red bar and options at the bottom of the screen. The photo below shows the screen cap window as you might see it as you use it. (I've blocked out my personal browsing issues at the top of the screen.)

That's pretty-much what Gadwin does for you. After a bit of trial and error, it becomes a breeze (for the most part).

The Gadwin website has a whole list of downloads and I want you to get the right one. I found it on CNET, a reputable (and safe!!) download website. It's been around since 1994. That's quite a record.

When you're ready to download, you can get it here: download.cnet.com/Gadwin-PrintScreen/3000-2094_4-10123018.html

We'll do a 'message' tutorial if you wish or I can put it here if other people wish to use it and learn how. Your choice.

After you capture the images, you may wish to edit them for size, cropping, effects, etc. The cropping and resizing features are probably the ones you would use most. (They're the ones I use most.)

I use probably the most popular and basic editor which can do more than you would ever need it to do. And it's Free!! It's called IrfanView and I've been using it for years. The only thing I would need to know if yours is a 32 bit or 64 bit system, and even you can find that out with only 4 clicks of the mouse which you can do right now:

1 - Click the 'Start' button (bottom left of the screen).

2 - Click the gear 'Settings' icon.

3 - Click 'System' in the window that pops up.

4 - Scroll down to the bottom of the list at the left and click 'About'. Under 'Devise Specifications', look for 'System Type'. It will say either 32 bit or 64 bit.

Job done.

You already have an editor on your system: Microsoft Paint. Seriously, though, I haven't used it in years and I just tested it for cropping and a few other basic edits and IrfanView is much, much easier and intuitive. To be blunt, Microsoft Paint sucks. I don't know why anyone would use it.

Between you, me, and your son, we should have you up and running before you know it.

[Johnny]

Glad you enjoyed the image I captured of Andy Griffith & a young Jack. Nicholson. Jack was born in 1937, so when he appeared on the Andy Griffith show, he was 29 to 30. 

If you play a DVD on your computer, you may pause at the image you want, capture it and save it as an image to a file.

I use a couple of methods to accomplish that.

(1) Use the PrtSc button on the top row of my keyboard. It stands for Print Screen and it will capture an image of whatever is on your desktop screen. At the time you capture it, it will be saved to your clipboard which is a virtual place in memory.  Then I open Paint and do a Paste operation. The whole image then be on your Paint screen. I find this program very easy to use and you don't need to download anything. It may be found on every version of Windows. If you select your Start Button, in the search box type Paint, you will see that program listed as MSPaint. Select it and it will open.  All you need to do is select the dotted box icon using your cursor. You may then easily enclose just the area you want to save by dragging the box over that part of your image. Then select crop & it will cut off all of the image around the part you enclosed. You can then save it in the format of your choice. Pictures (or videos) are worth a thousand words. Here is a video on how to use Print Screen & Paint to capture an image on your screen. The only thing the video didn't show was how to crop (cut away part of your image you don't want).  Here is a quick video tutorial on how to crop using Paint.

(2) Alternatively you may use another program that comes with modern versions of Windows called Snipping Tool. If you select your Start Button, in the search box type Snipping and a program should be listed by that name with a little pair of scissors to the left of it. Here is a tutorial on how to use Snipping Tool. Once your capture the image using this tool, you may save it in a format of your choice to a file folder.

[flossieskid]

Holy Moly Easton and Johnny. What terrific advice from both of you!

Thank you sooo very much for your incredible help. I was not aware that I have so many choices to achieve my goals! With your great instructions and so much detail, I know my son will be able to guide me through the process of getting those screen shots printed. I will be zipping through all the 100 plus shows, that feature my parents, in no time!

Thanks again for helping me achieve success! But, as Brenda and so many others who post on the Forum have said, “Walton fans are the absolute best.” I couldn’t agree more.

[patriciaanne]

Jun 16, 2021 6:14:15 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

Patricia Anne -
My Dad played “Arnold’s” father. The child actor was Sheldon Collins. I think my Dad was on the show a few times, but the one I really remember is when Opie and Arnold find a baby. Opie asks his Dad Andy some questions about babies. Since Arnold is always hanging around Opie, Andy asks my Dad if he has told his son Arnold about the birds and the bees?

I think my Dad tells Andy he was nervous about having “the talk” with Arnold. But, if Andy wants to tell Opie that would be great, says my Dad, because then Opie will tell Arnold and then my Dad doesn’t have to do it!

I have been trying to take 2 photos of my parents on all their shows:
1) in a scene with the star of the show and 2) their name in the credits (God, that will take forever - I hope I live that long!!) But, THAT Andy Griffith Show has to be my favorite because the man playing the father of the baby Opie finds turns out to be a very young (and quite handsome) Jack Nicholson - and my Dad got top billing!! Most actors can’t say that! What a hoot!

Oh that is a great story!! 💗 I can't wait to see that episode again. I have them all taped on my external hard drive. I'll have to look for that one when I have a little time. 😍

[patriciaanne]

Jun 18, 2021 5:36:52 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

Holy Moly Easton and Johnny. What terrific advice from both of you!

Thank you sooo very much for your incredible help. I was not aware that I have so many choices to achieve my goals! With your great instructions and so much detail, I know my son will be able to guide me through the process of getting those screen shots printed. I will be zipping through all the 100 plus shows, that feature my parents, in no time!

Thanks again for helping me achieve success! But, as Brenda and so many others who post on the Forum have said, “Walton fans are the absolute best.” I couldn’t agree more.

I also use the snipping tool with no problems. Maybe once you get all your photos, you can put together a photo book online with Snapfish or another one I can't think of right now. You can write up your memories and info about the show next to or underneath the photo. What a treasure that would be for your kids and your grandkids!

[patriciaanne]

Shutterfly is the other one. Snapfish and Shutterfly. You can check them both out. I've made beautiful books with Shutterfly. You can totally customize them. 😊

[flossieskid]

Thanks Patricia Anne for your suggestions. It will be fun to do that! I really want to get photos of the movies my parents did too. The only film my Mom and Dad were in together was the Alfred Hitchcock classic “North by Northwest”. I am hopeful to get their photos with Cary Grant since they both had nice scenes with him, but not together. I won’t spoil the ending, in case you haven’t seen it, but there are 2 funny stories about my Mom and that movie.

Even at age 9, I knew who Cary Grant was. It was around that time my Mom came home from work one day and I asked her how the day’s filming went. She said “Horrible!” When I asked why, she replied, “I had to be mean to Cary Grant!” That statement will make sense if you see the movie. Mom plays James Mason’s housekeeper and has a pivotal scene near the end of the movie.

Most of the actors of “The Golden Age” seemed to be very nice people (with a few exceptions, of course!)) and Cary Grant was one of the best according to my Mom (and Dad - but THAT story is for another day). When my Mom started the movie, just as any red-blooded American woman, at that time, she was thrilled to actually be meeting and then working with such an iconic movie star.

The first day of my Mom’s filming wasn’t her big scene with the handsome star. Halfway through the day, Mom sees the gorgeous man himself walking right toward her. Since they hadn’t met, Mom was sure he would be walking right past her to a friend probably standing behind her somewhere. But, he walked right up to her and said,”Welcome Nora, I’m Cary Grant.” She was shocked to say the least! “How did he know her name she wondered?” But she was sure thrilled he did! She said she maintained her dignity and good manners and shook his extended hand and mumbled something back to him about what an honor it was for her to work on the film and she was looking forward to their scenes together. However, my Mom told me that after his very friendly introduction, she really just wanted to ‘TOTALLY fan girl out’ and scream at him - “I KNOW YOUR NAME!!”

She was in another film with Cary Grant - one of my favorites of all time another classic called “An Affair to Remember”. My Mom only had a small scene with Deborah Kerr when they are watching Cary Grant on an interview show with his fiancee, played by a wonderful actress, Neva Patterson. If you blink, you’ll miss my Mom. I am still in awe how my TIVO knows to tape either of my parents’ programs when they are NOT listed in the credits. Another mystery of technology!

Once again, I think I can prove that, at some point, every actor will probably work with every other known actor in SAG! Or as Eastman pointed out to me, I may have less than “6 degrees of Kevin Bacon!” due to the interesting connections my parents and I have to other actors - like between my Mom and Neva Patterson. While they never met on the set of “Affair…” both were series regulars on the TV comedy “Governor and JJ” starring Dan Dailey and Julie Sommars in the late 60’s. The series didn’t last long, but her friendship with Neva certainly did!

“North by Northwest” plot line has Mount Rushmore in South Dakota as a major character. After 7 years of working as a reporter in CA, our 28 year old daughter, Nikki, asked us if we would think she was crazy if she wanted to stop working in media (her daily newspaper job and her weekend radio work) and move to middle America and work as a waitress?? “ Say what?!?!? Come again???” You mean you are turning your back on your Masters degree from Columbia School of Journalism to experience small town life?!?! I was, of course, being way too judgmental. Any one living with LA traffic has the desire, at LEAST once a week, to desert the big city and move to a nice farm, complete with roaming hills, an old truck that still runs, a local store (like Ike Godsey’s) and lots of animals that just graze and don’t need to be milked or served meals 3 times a day! But, it MUST have the one thing no Angelino can be without- cable TV!! A girl can dream……..

After recovering from the shock ( only because I knew my husband would be available to give me intense psychotherapy and Valium, if needed!!) we said, “As long as you can continue to pay back your student loans, you have our blessings.” As I am making that speech, I was grateful to have been around so many talented actors my whole life!! I was able to embrace my “role” as supportive Mom, while choking back a sob!! While convincing, I didn’t see any Emmys in my future!

When we asked where she was moving to, she told us South Dakota. I thought, how sweet she picked the one state where the only movie filmed about South Dakota’s famous Mt. Rushmore is the movie both her grandparents were in. However, it turned out that there was no sentimentality involved! Nikki just thought South Dakota seemed like a nice place in middle America where she could have an adventure - and she sure did! My Mom and Dad would have been proud!

[Easton]

Cary Grant has a great list of great movies, but one rarely-seen movie, his penultimate, was a war-time film called 'Father Goose' which co-starred Leslie Caron. It's a romantic comedy. Sadly, I've seen it only once many decades ago and remember very little of it except for one short scene.

Leslie's character, Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau (I had to Google that), spoke English with an extremely heavy French accent. In the scene, Leslie is reading a letter written in French and translating it into English for Cary's 'Eckland' character. I don't remember the circumstances, but I remember that she was stalling for time. At a certain spot in the translation, she stops abruptly and asks Eckland, "How do you say in English 'parachute'?" Eckland seems perplexed for a few long moments and you can see on his face how hard his mind is working before he announces triumphantly, "Parachute."

I've never seen North By Northwest except for the Mt. Rushmore and crop duster scenes. I suppose I should watch it. I should check out Amazon Prime to see if it's there.

[Johnny]

I've been to Mount Rushmore. Gutzon Borglum certainly outdid himself.  I hear many locals were hired for the labor on the faces, dangling from ropes while chipping away.  On route to the park, I  stopped along the side of the road and hiked in, to the base of the monument and noticed all the rocks that were cast down during its construction. I believe Gutzon made a scaled model, that he worked from and magnified it on a grid pattern to sculpt the large facade in the mountain.

Other things I observed in SD were fields of flax, the Badlands park complete with American Bison & I believe a couple of caves I spelunked into Wind and Jewel Caves. Of course the mountain range in which Mt Rushmore is situated are the Black Hills and  sacred to the indigenous people especially the Lakota Sioux.   

[patriciaanne]

Tracey I can understand your daughter's feelings. I grew up in the city and always wanted to live on a farm in a rural area. My parents thought I was nuts. And they had no acting experience so they didn't hide it. 😄 What did your daughter end up doing after moving to SD?