Movie To Honor Mayberry's Town Drunk Otis Campbell Hal Smith

I would like to announce on youtube and on northcountrynow.com my intentions on making a new movie documentary. this movie will be based on my last book honoring massena's new york's most famous face Hal J. Smith. The documentary will be called more than otis: no bull!

--This movie has probably been in my head for a few years. I feel its time to start making this film from all of my personal phone interviews, photographs and archive movies of his career that spanned over seven decades.

--I have been through many barriers in my life. I feel that i can accomplish this movie. it will take many hours to produce and organize. I will probably have to travel and re-interview people still alive on film so I can tell smith's story. it would cover his days from massena, utica, and into the scenes of hollywood. this is a serious project.

--I know i will also have to go through all legal and copyright laws to retain "re-permission" to release a final movie from those I interviewed.

--over the years, from time to time, I have tried to honor hal in massena with a star infront of the town hall and in other ways. but the chamber of commerce and modern political forces have always told me, "its a good idea. but we don't have the money or time." I was basically snubbed. most of hal's old friends are dead in massena. there is no real strong interest. but i'm the youngest and still around!

-when the hometown's of andy grifith, don knotts, george lindsey, ron howard and other's from the show are being honored with events and monuments, hal's own hometown has neglected to fully remember him for history.

--onetime an older man asked me, "what did hal do for massena?" I simply stated, "He represented massena in hollywood through his works!"
--this movie will feature -- at least I hope -- margaret kerry, rance howard, andy griffith, don knotts, glenn smith, frank cady, sam edwards, will ryan, paul winchell, betty lynn, walker edminston, ginny tyler, dick beals, june foray, jim clark of the andy griffith show re-run watchers club and many others. I have phone interviews with these people. Some are now dead. but luckily their stories are preserved through me.



p.s IF YOU KNEW HAL SMITH AND I DON'T KNOW YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• hal
• smith
• mayberry
• movie
• massena
• new
• york
• utica
• hollywood
• andy
• griffith
• cartoon
• voices
• winnie
• the
• pooh
• flinheart
• glumgold
• otis
• campbell
• don
• knotts
• will
• ryan
• margeret
• kerry
• frank
• cady
• wibx
• radio

[mia0899cs]

Good luck! You can do it! I'll be here waiting for it!

[johnswackyworld]

in time..once i get things organized better!

[fenegal]

he also did the voice of john avery whittaker on focus on the family's adventures in oddysey... another andy griffith alum who voices a character on adventures in oddysey is parley baer... you have truly honored a man who was so much more than otis the drunk... a true hollywood character actor

[johnswackyworld]

thank you...and I can't wait until i finish this project in hopefully a year to hopefully show at a premier at mayberry days in 2010..john

[pegbars]

Hi, John! A good place to start honoring him would be to capitalize his name. ;)

[johnswackyworld]

well, the book i wrote has done okay for me! don't know how i would capitalize on his name, thou. his executor would have to give me more permission! i'm prety much his publicity agent --even if he has been dead for over ten years.

[ProfessorIgor]

Daws Butler filled in for 4 episodes as Barney Rubble while Mel was in his coma after the crash.

[chipnall]

What a talent - Otis Campbell was one of the best characters ever. Even as a child I picked up on how good he was. He was serious as a heart attack but fe=unny as could be.

[sickkat44]

hal would call terminally ill children as winnie the pooh to cheer them up. blake edwards had a pool table on the set of "the great race" and the cast would play for $5 a ball, he had a 7 week contract for his scenes. hal was being fitted for a bald pate to test for uncle fester on "the addams family". it was taking too long and he said "just get jackie coogan, he's already bald!" and jackie got the job. i was very lucky to have made his acquaintance. best regards for your documentary.

[sickkat44]

i knew hal briefly in the early 90's. i cast voices for jh&r and he was one of our talent. a really nice guy and got some stories from him. did you know that he built the building that housed the post office in prescott az? was barney rubble when blanc had his car accident? loved liverwurst sandwiches? he and his wife had dinner with jay stewart the night before jay comitted suicide? was only otis in about 12 episodes of andy griffith? originally started as a western sidekick ala pat buttram?

[143AC]

Mr.Hal Smith was also the host And performer of the local

Hollywood,Cal./Syndicated kids tv show The Pancake Man.

[Fringe111]

Oh yes I recognize him. No I didn't know him but I got your note about you no who and your doing the right thing.