10.0/101 votes#1 - The Keeper of the Flame
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 1/8/1962
Opie joins a secret club known as The Wildcats and is subsequently suspected of being the guilty party when the barn that the club meets in catches fire and burns to the ground.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
10.0/101 votes#2 - Jeannie The Policewoman
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/2/1957
Jeannie becomes a member of the New York City Police Department, and after she is sworn to secrecy on her first assignment, Al becomes worried because of her unusual behavior. During the episode, she sings "Start All Over Again." Guest stars: Charles Bronson, Mary Treen, Emlen Davies, Murray Alper, and Darlene Fields.
Director: Leslie Goodwins
Writer: Jack Elinson
9.5/102 votes#3 - Alcohol and Old Lace
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/30/1961
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!
Director: Gene Reynolds
Writer: Jack Elinson
9.0/103 votes#4 - Those Gossipin' Men
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/16/1961
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.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
9.0/101 votes#5 - Bringing Up Opie
Season 1 Episode 32 - Aired 5/22/1961
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.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
9.0/101 votes#6 - Barney's Replacement
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 10/9/1961
When a rookie policeman is sent to Mayberry for training, Barney mistakenly believes the man is his replacement and quits the police force to become a vacuum-cleaner salesman.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
9.0/101 votes#7 - Mayberry Goes Bankrupt
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/23/1961
Will the town coffers run out of cash? It appears that way when Mayberry resident Frank Myers is stunned to discover that the township apparently owes him close to $350,000!
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
9.0/101 votes#8 - The Jinx
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 1/29/1962
After a series of mishaps, Barney declares that Mayberry resident Henry Bennett is a "jinx." Andy sets out to prove him wrong -- but begins to believe it himself after the troubles continue.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
9.0/101 votes#9 - Barney and the Choir
Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 2/19/1962
Things hit a sour note when Barney joins the Mayberry choir -- and it's quickly determined that his singing voice isn't exactly harmonious to the other members of the group.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
9.0/101 votes#10 - Aunt Bee the Warden
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 3/12/1962
With the town jail full, Andy reluctantly decides to have the town drunk, Otis Campbell, incarcerated in Andy's own home. But when Aunt Bee takes charge as the "warden," Otis is soon howling to be locked up in the real jail!
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.5/102 votes#11 - The Farmer Takes a Wife
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/1/1962
Big Jeff Pruitt (Alan Hale) comes to Mayberry, determined to find a suitable wife. Andy and Barney are more than happy to help him with his search -- until Pruitt announces his choice: Barney's girlfriend, Thelma Lou!
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.5/102 votes#12 - Guest of Honor
Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 2/26/1962
As part of the Founder's Day festivities, the residents of Mayberry decide to give a key to the city to the first visitor entering the town. Unfortunately, that visitor is Sheldon Davis, a highly skilled pickpocket and petty thief.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.0/103 votes#13 - The Manhunt
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/10/1960
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.
Director: Don Weis
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.0/103 votes#14 - The Guitar Player
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/17/1960
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.
Director: Don Weis
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.0/102 votes#15 - Ellie for Council
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/12/1960
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.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.0/102 votes#16 - The Horse Trader
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/9/1961
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.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.0/101 votes#17 - Cyrano Andy
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/6/1961
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!
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.0/101 votes#18 - The New Doctor
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/27/1961
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.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.0/101 votes#19 - The Inspector
Season 1 Episode 26 - Aired 4/10/1961
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.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.0/101 votes#20 - Barney on the Rebound
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/1961
After a disagreement with Thelma Lou, Barney unwittingly falls under the spell of the female half of a scheming con team and Andy must attempt to save the day.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
8.0/101 votes#21 - Andy on Trial
Season 2 Episode 29 - Aired 4/23/1962
A newspaper publishing mogul is ticketed for speeding and retaliates by sending an undercover reporter to Mayberry to dig up whatever dirt she can on Andy and his department.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
7.7/103 votes#22 - Ellie Comes to Town
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/24/1960
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.
Director: Don Weis
Writer: Jack Elinson
7.6/105 votes#23 - The New Housekeeper
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/3/1960
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.
Director: Sheldon Leonard
Writer: Jack Elinson
7.5/102 votes#24 - The Beauty Contest
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/23/1961
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."
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
7.0/101 votes#25 - The Guitar Player Returns
Season 1 Episode 31 - Aired 5/15/1961
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.
Director: Bob Sweeney
Writer: Jack Elinson
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Jack Elinson Ratings Summary
"The Keeper of the Flame" is the best rated episode written by Jack Elinson. It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. It was directed by Bob Sweeney. It aired on 1/8/1962 and is rated 0.0 points higher than their second-best episode, "Jeannie The Policewoman".