Andy Griffith at 100

It was 100 years ago on this date that Andy Griffith was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina. The Andy Griffith Show is one of the first shows I can ever remember watching as a child, and it has remained one of my favourite shows ever since. As a kid, I can remember hearing Andy Griffith's monologue "What It Was, Was Football" on oldies radio stations. As I grew a little older I saw his movies, including Angel in My Pocket (1969), Onionhead (1958), No Time for Sergeants (1958), and A Face in the Crowd (1958) As I grew older I also learned how versatile Andy Griffith was. He could play the kind-hearted Sheriff Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, but he could also play the malevolent Lonesome Rhodes in A Face in the Crowd (1957).

Of course, as impressive as Andy Griffith's film debut in A Face in the Crowd (1957) was, it has always been The Andy Griffith Show that resonated with me the most. I remember for many years during my childhood, CBS would air repeats of The Beverly Hillbillies and The Andy Griffith Show back to back on weekday mornings. Later syndicated reruns would air on local stations around the country, including KRCG in Jefferson City and KPLR in St. Louis. As a someone who grew up on a farm outside a small town, The Andy Griffith Show appealed to me. I could sympathize with the characters who lived in Mayberry. As to Andy Griffith's character, Sheriff Andy Taylor, he reminded me a lot of my father, although my dad was a farmer rather than a sheriff. Both Andy Taylor and my father were laid-back. Both my father and Andy Taylor were empathetic and preferred solving problems with common sense instead of discipline. And, most importantly, both liked telling stories and had a bit of mischievous streak. I am sure I am not the only young viewer who saw a lot of his father in Sheriff Andy Taylor.

Regardless, The Andy Griffith Show would prove to be a game changer when it came to television. Prior to The Andy Griffith Show, the only rural sitcoms were The Real McCoys and Guestward ,Ho! (which debuted only a few days before The Andy Griffith Show). The Andy Griffith Show proved to be a smash hit and started a cycle towards rural comedies that lasted for most of the Sixties. The Andy Griffith Show would prove to be revolutionary in one other respect. It was very early in the show's run that it shifted from Sheriff Andy Taylor being the primary source of humour on the show to Sheriff Andy Taylor playing the straight man to the citizens of Mayberry, particularly his Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts). The Andy Griffith Show then became much more about Mayberry and, as a result, would inspire every show about eccentric small towns ever since, from Northern Exposure to Newhart to Gilmore Girls to Parks and Recreation.

Besides Andy Taylor, I have to think Andy Griffith's most significant role is Lonesome Rhodes in A Face in the Crowd (1957), even it if it isn't as well-known as Ben Matlock on the TV show Matlock. Sadly, A Face in the Crowd (1957) seems more pertinent now than it was when it was first released. The film centres on Lonesome Rhodes, who goes from being a drifter to the host of a successful local radio show which goes national and turns Rhodes into a figure with considerable influence, although one who is extremely dysfunctional as well. Rhodes was one part, Arthur Godfrey, one part Will Rodgers, and one part Huey Long. I have to suspect he reminds many viewers of a certain individual, although that individual lacks Rhodes's folksy style. Andy Griffith gave an incredible performance as Rhodes, one that should be counted among the greatest film debut performances of all time. Amazingly enough, Andy Griffith was not nominated for an Oscar for a performance. Even more amazing is that A Face in the Crowd (1957) was not nominated for any Academy Awards. 

Of course, Andy Griffith might not have played Lonesome Rhodes if it had not been for another, much more pleasant character. Andy Griffith played Will Stockdale, the country bumpkin who is drafted into the United States Air Force, in the United States Steel Hour episode "No Time for Sergeants," which was based on the novel No Time for Sergeants by Mac Hyman. He reprised the role of Will Stockdale in the Broadway production No Time for Sergeants, which was an expanded version of the United States Steel Hour teleplay. The play would be adapted as the 1958 movie of the same name, in which Andy Griffith once more played Will Stockdale.No Time for Sergeants in its various forms would not only launch Andy Griffith' career as an actor, but an argument can be made that it had an impact on American popular culture over all. It seems likely that, along with The Real McCoys and The Andy Griffith Show, it was partially responsible for the cycle of rural comedies on American television in the Sixties. Indeed, there would be a sitcom based on No Time for Sergeants (with Sammy Jackson as Will Stockdale) and, for that matter, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (itself a spinoff of The Andy Griffith Show) was pretty much No Time for Sergeants, but in the Marines instead of the Air Force.

Andy Griffith played many other roles over they years. His show Matlock ran for nine seasons and is still seen in reruns to this day. He played Western movie extra Howard Pike in Hearts of the West (1975). Over the years he appeared on several TV shows, in several TV movies, and feature films.

Of course, Andy Griffith was a complicated figure. He was hardly like Andy Taylor in real life. On th one hand, his co-stars on The Andy Griffith Show, such as Don Knotts, and Ron Howard, always spoke highly of him. Barbara Eden, who guest starred in the episode "The Manicurist," has praised Andy Griffith as being both police and professional. On the other hand, there were former cast members of the show Matlock who have said that he was difficult to work with. He was known to be a perfectionist and known to have a severe temper. Andy Griffith was a far cry from Andy Talyor, but he was a far cry from Lonesome Rhodes as well.

While Andy Griffith may not have been the avuncular, gentle Andy Taylor he played on television, he left being an incredible legacy. He not only gave great performances, but even had an impact on television history. And, for many fans, he would have a lasting impact. To this day, The Andy Griffith Show remains one of my favourite shows. 

The Way of the Dragon (1972)

When The Way of the Dragon (1972) was released in the United States in 1973, Bruce Lee was already something of a name in the United States. He had played Kato on the cult television series The Green Hornet, guest starred on shows like Ironside and Blondie, played Li Tsung on the TV series Longstreet, and appeared in the movie Marlowe (1969). Unhappy with only playing supporting roles in the United States, Bruce Lee went to Hong Kong where he got a deal with Golden Harvest. Afterwards he formed his own production company, Concord Production Inc..

The Way of the Dragon (1972) centred on Tang Lung, a martial artist from Hong Kong, who travels to Rome to help Chen Ching-hua (Nora Miao) and her Uncle Wang (Huang Chung-hsin) when they are terrorized by a gangster who wants their property. Among the highlights of the film was a fight in the Colosseum between Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. 

It was in 1972 that Bruce Lee formed Concord Production Inc. with Raymond Chow, the co-founder of Golden Harvest. The responsibilities between Bruce Lee and Raymond Chow were divided equally, with Bruce Lee handling the creative ends of things and Raymond Chow handling the administrative end of things. Golden Harvest distributed Concord's films. Because Bruce Lee had complete control of The Way of the Dragon (1972), he wrote and directed The Way of the Dragon, as well as starred in it. Bruce Lee also choreographed the fight scenes.

Indoor shots were filmed at Golden Harvest's studios in Hong Kong, but many of the exteriors were filmed around Italy. While filming in Rome, Bruce Lee filmed many scenes using what would become known as "gorilla-style" shooting, with Bruce Lee not bothering to get the proper permits. Among the famous locations in and around Rome appearing in The Way of the Dragon are La Villa d'Este in Tivoli, Piazza Navona, Piazza Navona,Via Vittorio Veneto, and, of course, the Colosseum. Its budget was $130,000 in American dollars, which its pre-sales in Taiwan alone paid for. 

The Way of the Dragon (1972) was released in Hong Kong on December 30, 1972. In Hong Kong, it earned $5,307,350.50 in Hong Kong dollars, making it Bruce Lee's highest grossing film in Hong Kong so far and the highest grossing flim in Hong Kong in 1972. It would go onto gross $4 million more in Hong Kong dollars, making it the highest-grossing film ever in Hong Kong until that time. 

The Way of the Dragon (1972) was originally produced for the East Asian market, but circumstances would lead to its release in the West. Between the TV series Kung Fu (1972-1975) and the 1972 movie King Boxer (re-titled 5 Fingers of Death in the United States),  a kung fu craze swept through the United States and elsewhere. With kung fu movies making big money in the American box office, it was quite natural for The Way of the Dragon (1972) to be released in the US. It was then in September 1973 that The Way of the Dragon (1972) was released under the title Return of the Dragon. It proved to be a smash hit in the United States just as it had in Hong Kong. In its first five days alone, it made $1 million. During its initial run, it earned $5,200,000. With re-releases, it would ultimately earn $85 million. Sadly, it would be the last of Bruce Lee's films to be released during his lifetime.

The success of The Way of the Dragon (1972) would have an immediate impact. Warner Bros. decided to import more kung fu movies to the United States. It was also the success of The Way of the Dragon (1972) that also led Warner Bros. to decide to co-produce Bruce Lee's next film, Enter the Dragon (1974). Perhaps its most lasting legacy was that it turned Bruce Lee from a well-known supporting player to an action movie superstar.  His death on July 20, 1973, and the posthumous release of Enter The Dragon (1974), turned him into a legend. 

Victor Sen Yung--Chinese American Pioneer

Today Victor Sen Yung is best known for playing the Cartwrights' cook Hop Sing on Bonanza and Charlie Chan's Number Two son Jimmy in the Charlie Chan movies. Regardless, Victor Sen Yung played many more roles in his career, as well as an accomplished chef who wrote his own cookbook. He was also a pioneer among Chinese American actors.

Victor Sen Yung was born Sen Yew Cheung on October 18, 1945, in San Francisco. His parents had both immigrated from China. His mother died from influenza during the 1919 epidemic. His father then placed both Victor Sen Yung and his sister Rosemary in the care of a children's shelter, while he returned to China. He remarried there and returned to the United States, where he once more took guardianship of young Victor and Rosemary. 

To earn more income for the family, Victor Sen Yung began working as a houseboy when he was eleven, He attended the University of California at Berkeley and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in economics. He moved to Los Angels to pursue post-graduate work at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. He entered the film industry in uncredited bit parts in such movies as The Good Earth (1937), Double or Nothing (1937), and Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937). Billed as "Victor Young," he finally received billing in a film with Shadows Over Shanghai (1938).

When Keye Luke, who had played Charlie Chan's Number One Son Lee, left the Charlie Chan series, he was replaced by Victor Sen Jung as Charlie Chan's Number Two Son Jimmy. Like Lee Chan, Jimmy Chan was a thoroughly Americanized, modern young Chinese American, although bungling to the point that it sometimes interfered with his father's investigations. He ultimately played Jimmy in eleven Charlie Chan films. 

Victor Sen Yung received a meatier role in The Letter (1940), in which he played Ong Chi Seng, a young lawyer who served as attorney Howard Joyce's (James Stephenson) clerk. The role owed something to current stereotypes about East Asians--Ong was both conniving and self-serving. At the same time, however, Victor Sen Yung does give a marvellous performance in the role, showing he could do more than play Jimmy Chan.

Across the Pacific (1942) and Okono in the overly racist Little Tokyo, U.S.A. (1942).  Victor Sen Yung's service in World War II would be interrupted by his service in World War II. He served in the United States Army Air Forces. 

Following the war, Victor Sen Yung returned to the role of Jimmy Chan in the Charlie Chan movies, as well as other roles. Among his most notable roles during this period was amusement park attendant Sam Fong in the film noir Woman on the Run (1950). Later, Flower Drum Song (1960) would present Victor Sen Yung with another well-known role, that of Frankie Wing, the fast-talking, wisecracking emcee of the Celestial Gardens. He later played Wing Young in Confessions of An Opium Eater (1962) and Wei Chi in The Killer Elite (1975).

Like many actors during the era, Victor Sen Yung's career shifted to television in the 1950s. He made his television debut in an episode of Front Page Detective in 1951. Throughout the Fifties, he guest starred on such shows as Adventures of Superman, Medic, Death Valley Days, Mike Hammer, Bronco, and Thriller . On Bachelor Father, he played the recurring role of Charlie, quick witted cousin of Bentley Gregg's (John Forsythe) houseboy Peter Tong (Sammee Tong). It was in 1960 that he started a 14 year run playing Hop Sing, the cook of the Cartwrights on the long-running Western Bonanza. 

During the Sixties, Victor Sen Yung continued to appear on Bonanza and, early in the decade, Bachelor Father as well. He also guest starred on such shows as The Barbara Stanwyck Show, The Rifleman, Hawaiian Eye, The Wild Wild West, Here's Lucy, Get Smart, and The F.B.I. Continuing to appear as Hop Sing on Bonanza for the first few years of the Seventies, Victor Sen Jung guest starred on such shows as Kung Fu, Police Woman, and How the West Was Won. 

Not only did Victor Sen Jung play a cook on television, but he was a talented chef in real life as well. His cookbook The Great Wok Cookbook was published in 1974. He was reportedly working on a second, which would remain unfinished when he died. It was November 9, 1980, that Victor Sen Jung died from natural gas poisoning due to a natural gas leak in his home. His death was ruled accidental. His Bonanza co-star Pernell Roberts not only delivered his eulogy, but payed for his funeral as well. He would make his last appearance on film in The Man with Bogart's Face in 1980.

Throughout his career, Victor Sen Jung would play his share of stereotypes, including to some degree Hop Sing , but he also had the opportunity to play roles that went well beyond stereotypes. He played a doctor in his guest appearance on Medic. The role of Frankie Wnig in Flower Drum Song also went beyond stereotypes. On Kung Fu he guest starred as characters that were fully developed, rather than the sometimes simple Chinese stereotypes of the Golden Age of Hollywood. In the Adventures of Superman episode "The Riddle of the Chinese Jade,"  he played an antique dealer who is tricked into stealing a jade figure.

While Victor Sen Jung was never an activist in the modern sense of th word, he did help pave the way for future Chinese American actors. Even when his roles could sometimes be stereotypes, he brought a dignity and warmth to the characters giving them more depth than that might have had otherwise. And while he could hardly be described as an activist, Victor Sen Jung addressed the lack of roles for Chinese American actors in the television and film industries of the Seventies, as well as the discrimination Chinese actors often faced. In his own way then, Victor Sen Young was a pioneer when it came to East Asian American representation.

"When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge

It is hot and muggy today, and our air conditioner is broken down. As a result I don't feel up to a full post today. I will then leave you with a song. It was sixty years ago today that "When a Man Loves a Woman' hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright, and was initially recorded at FAME Studios at Muscle Shoals. It was re-recorded at Norala Studios in Sheffield, Alabama. "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge not only hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it hit no. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. 

Samsung Should Not Discontinue Samsung Messages

For several months now, those of us who use Samsung Messages for texting on our phones have seen the message "Samsung Messages will be discontinued on Jul 6 2026. Switch to Google Messages to keep chatting with powerful features." In some respects, this is hardly surprising. As early as July 2024, Samsung Messages no longer came pre-installed on the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. For a time starting in September 2024, users started seeing a message to "upgrade" to Google Messages on their phones. Fortunately, those prompts would stop for a time. In January 2025, Samsung Messages was removed from the Google Play Store, although it remained available in the Samsung store. Oddly enough, Samsung Messages will remain available outside the United States. 

I already did a post on how Samsung Messages is superior to Google Messages for many of us back in February 2025, so I won't repeat myself here. I will say that I am angry at Samsung for discontinuing Samsung Messages, as are many on the Samsung Members Community. I first started using Samsung Messages when I got my first smart phone, a J3, way back when. By the time I got a new phone, an A54, Samsung Messages was no longer pre-installed on Samsung phones, but I simply transferred it from my old phone to my new phone and disabled Google Messages. I dislike Google Messages and I consider it a downgrade, not an upgrade, from Samsung Messages. Never mind the useful features Samsung Messages has that Google Messages does not, but Google Messages is one of the ugliest, most unwieldy text messaging apps I have ever seen. It is also less user friendly than Samsung Messages. I am a fan of many Google apps (I used Google Maps until they started labelling "the Gulf of Mexico" with an incorrect name), but they really dropped the ball with Google Messages.

Now I know that Google Messages has support for RCS (Rich Communications Services), but I actually hate RCS and really have no desire to use it. If I want my texts to look like chat, then I'll use a chat client, not a text message app. Too, I have to point out that Google already has a a bit of a choke hold when it comes to Android apps. Samsung Messages being discontinued means there is one less alternative to a Google app. 

Of course, much of what angers me is that Samsung often has a lot of bloatware on their phones. I don't use Bixby, Samsung Health, Samsung TV Plus, or Samsung Wallet, most of which can't be uninstalled, although fortunately they can be disabled. Instead of discontinuing these, Samsung is insisting on discontinuing one of the Samsung apps people actually like and use. What are they going to do next? Discontinue Samsung email or the Samsung browser? All the while insuring we keep Bixby and Samsung Wallet?

I still don't know what I plan to do come July. I really don't want to "downgrade" to Google Messages. I have considered Textra, but I haven't heard much about it. At any rate, I will miss Samsung Messages. 

Character Actors Who Served in World War II

Usually when classic movie actors who served in World War II are discussed, it is big names such as Gene Autry, Clark Gable, and Jimmy Stewart, but the fact is that several character actors also served during World War II. Here is a short list of character actors who served during the war, although there were many, many more.

Eddie Albert: Now best known for Green Acres, Eddie Albert was a genuine war hero. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in September 1942. It was in 1943 that that he was discharged from the Coast Guard he could become a lieutenant junior grade in the United States Navy.It was during the Battle of Tarawa that he rescued 47 Marines at incredible risk to his own life, and supervised the rescue of 30 more. The Marines had been pinned down by Japanese gunfire. For his bravery during the Battle of Tarawa Eddie Albert was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V". In later years Eddie Albert would be asked about his courageous action during World War II. Rather than talk about himself, Mr. Albert preferred to discuss the courage of the Marines at the Battle of Tarawa and others with whom he served.

Neville Brand: Known for playing heavies, Neville Brand served as a soldier during World War II. It was in October 1939 that he enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard. It was in March 1941 that he enlisted in the United States Army as a corporal. He was a part of B Company, 331st Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Infantry Division (Thunderbolt Division), serving in both the e Ardennes, Rhineland and Central European campaigns. He was wounded  along the Weser River on April 7, 1945, and very nearly bled to death. He was awarded the Silver Star and discharged in October 1945.

James Doohan: Today James Doohan is best known as Lt. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, the Chief Engineer on the starship Enterprise, but during World War II he served in the  Royal Canadian Artillery and as part of the 22nd Field Battery of the 3rd Canadian Division was part of a reconnaissance party in the second wave to land at Juno Beach. He lost his right middle finger during the fight, and during his acting career wore a prosthetic. He later graduated from Air Observation Pilot Course 40 and served as an Observation Pilot supporting the 1st Army Group Royal Canadian Artillery.  

Clive Dunn: Clive Dunn is now best known Lance Corporal Jones of the Home Guard on the classic Britcom Dad's Army, but he actually saw action during World War II. At the start of the war, he enlisted in the British Army and served as a trooper in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars. Initially posted with them in the Middle East, he later served with he 1st Armoured Brigade in support of the 6th Australian Infantry Division during the Greek Campaign. In 1941 he fought in an action at the Corinth Canal. Unfortunately, when his unit was overwhelmed by German forces, he was among 400 taken prisoner. He spent the remainder of the war in POW camps in Austria.

Charles Durning: Like James Doohan, Charles Durning also saw combat during D-Day. Having been drafted into the United States Army at age 20, he was among the first wave to land at Omaha Beach. He later took place in the Battle of the Bulge. Charles Durning had a distinguished military career, earning the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. Even France recognized him for his service in liberating France. He was awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour in April 2008.

Jerry Fujikawa: Following World War II, Jerry Fujikawa would play Japanese officers in various movies and TV shows, but during the war he served in the United States Army. Sadly, like many Japanese Americans, he was interned at Manzanar at the start of the war. It was while he was at Manzanar that he volunteered for the Army. He served as a messenger in the segregated Japanese American unit, Charlie Company in the 100th Infantry Battalion. He was wounded in combat near Castellina, Italy, on July 9, 1944. He later served in France.

Lee Marvin: Lee Marvin not only played a military man in several movies, but he actually was one during the Second World War. On August 12, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served as a quartermaster before completing the School of Infantry, and then served as a scout sniper in the 4th Marine Division in the Pacific Theatre. During the war, he took part in 21 amphibious assaults on various islands. It was during the Battle of Saipan that he was wounded during an assault on  Mount Tapochau. His sciatic nerve was severed by machine gun fire and then he was shot in his foot. He received medical treatment in various Naval hospitals for over a year before receiving an Honourable Discharge. 

Larry Storch: Today Larry Storch may be best remembered as Corporal Randolph Agarn on F Troop, but during World War II he served not in the cavalry, but in the United States Navy. During the war he served aboard the submarine tender Proteus in the Pacific Theatre. Among his shipmates was a fellow named Bernie Schwartz, later to become better known as Tony Curtis. The two would remain friends for the rest of their lives. The crew of the Proteus, along with the submarines of Submarine Squadron 20, witnessed the surrender of Japan aboard the U.S.S. Missouri.

The Late Great Clarence Carter

Clarence Carter, the legendary blues and soul singer and guitarist known for such songs as "Slip Away" and "Back Door Santa," died on May 13, 2026, at the age of 90. 

Clarence Carter was born on January 14, 1936 in Montgomery, Alabama. He listened to the blues records his stepfather bought, and as a result he took an interest in music while still young. He learned to play guitar as a result. He graduated from Alabama State College in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in music. 

He briefly taught school before beginning his music career. He and his friend Calvin Scott formed a music duo and their single "I Wanna Dance But I Don't Know How" was released under the name "Clarence and Calvin" on the Fairlane label. They signed to Duke Records as The C & C Boys and released four singles there. They recorded "Step By Step," which was released on Atlantic Records. None of their singles saw any success. It was after Calvin Scott was injured in a car accident that Clarence Carter began his solo career. He had his first hit with the single "Tell Daddy," released on the Fame label in 1967. It went to no. 35 on the Billboard R&B chart.

By late 1967, he had signed with Atlantic Records. There he would have a string of hits that lasted into the early Seventies, starting with "Slip Away," which went to no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart. It was followed by such hits as "Too Weak to Fight," "Back Door Santa," "Snatching It Back," "Doin' Our Thing," and "Patches." 

Unfortunately, after 1971, Clarence Carter saw fewer successes. He left Atlantic for Fame and then in 1975 signed with ABC Records. It was in 1985 that he signed with Ichiban Records and found new success with his album Dr. C. C. Its single "Strokin'" proved to be a hit in Australia and the UK.He released several more albums, many of which did very well. His final studio album, Sing Along with Clarence Carter, was released in 2011. He continued to release more live albums afterwards. 

Clarence Carter was a true talent, particularly as a composer. His lyrics could be very descriptive, which sometimes ran him into trouble, as in the case of "Strokin'," which considered by many radio stations to be too suggestive. He was also an impressive balladeer, and no one could write or sing about the anguish of love the way he could. In is songs, he often addressed complex romantic situations with sensitivity and intelligence. All of this was aided by impressive baritone voice, which could be extremely emotive. Clarence Carter was a great R&B and soul singer, and possibly one of the most underrated performers in the field.