Thelma Harper is trying to salvage her family home that has brought many memories, pleasant and unpleasant, as well. While Bubba is researching the town founder James L. Ray, the neighborhood is getting exciting about their selling their homes and purchasing a lovely new home in a new development for a nice amount of money. We get to see Mayor Tutwiler again played by Alan Oppenheimer. While Thelma learns that her home might have a reason to exist after all, she has to stall the demolition crew from destroying her home including riding the wrecking ball. I am surprised that Beverly Archer who plays Iola Boylen wrote the episode and she does a terrific job of it. It is a memorable episode.
3 Reviews
Fair episode with one good sight-gag
blockerlover23 November 2007
Beverly Archer (a.k.a. Iola Boylen) wrote this pretty funny episode concerning the history of Mama's house. Mayor Tuttweiler has decided to turn Mama's street into the site for the new city dump, giving Mama and all the other residents $30K to find new houses before the month's end. Everyone seems surprisingly happy about moving except Mama, who wants to keep her showplace, but Bubba's history paper about Raytown founder James A. Ray may save the day! Ends with a great sight-gag involving Vicki Lawrence riding a wrecking ball. Archer does a good job at giving everyone a slice of the pie, although this script seems a little mean-spirited and is curiously low on big laughs.
Hilarious ending couldn't save a stinker.
vitoscotti2 April 2023
The episode written by Beverly Archer didn't have the usual witty repartee of the funnier ones. The premise has been used before. The student digging up unknown information was done on The Andy Griffith Show "The Battle of Mayberry" with Opie (Ron Howard) doing somewhat similarly as Bubba. There was some fine sentimental acting by Mama Thelma Harper (Vicki Lawrence). Makes you really realize how truly talented the writers are when they hit a home run with a classic episode. We do get to see prolific actor Alan Oppenheimer as the Raytown Mayor. I remember him best as among other classic sitcoms The Andy Griffith Show "Barney Holds a Summit" as Mr Ruskin.
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