Flora Malherbe
Encyclopedia
Flora Malherbe was a fictional character on the American
TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show
and its successor, Mayberry RFD. She was played by American actress, Alberta Nelson
.
Flora was Goober Pyle
's girlfriend on the series. In her four appearances, she is shown to be a warm-hearted, slightly naive, young woman who works hard and strives to do a good job both as a waitress and at Wally's Filling Station. Her warm-hearted naiveté makes her a suitable match for Goober. She is depicted as unselfish as she volunteers to help Goober at Wally's and then steps down from a job she enjoys to save that relationship. She is always helpful; it is Flora who assists Emmett in shopping for a fur coat for his wife, Martha in "Emmett's Anniversary."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
and its successor, Mayberry RFD. She was played by American actress, Alberta Nelson
Alberta Nelson
Alberta Nelson was an American television and film actress. She was born on August 14, 1937, and attended Villa Maria Academy and later graduated from Andrews High School for Girls in Willoughby, Ohio...
.
Flora was Goober Pyle
Goober Pyle
Goober is a fictional character in the American TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show and its later sequel series Mayberry RFD. He was played by George Lindsey. Lindsey initially read for the part of Gomer Pyle, which went to singer Jim Nabors...
's girlfriend on the series. In her four appearances, she is shown to be a warm-hearted, slightly naive, young woman who works hard and strives to do a good job both as a waitress and at Wally's Filling Station. Her warm-hearted naiveté makes her a suitable match for Goober. She is depicted as unselfish as she volunteers to help Goober at Wally's and then steps down from a job she enjoys to save that relationship. She is always helpful; it is Flora who assists Emmett in shopping for a fur coat for his wife, Martha in "Emmett's Anniversary."
Appearances
- Flora first shows up in the episode "Eat Your Heart Out" (February 28, 1966) as the new waitress in MayberryMayberryMayberry is a fictional community in North Carolina that was the setting for two American television sitcoms, The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reunion television movie titled Return to Mayberry...
who has a crush on Sheriff Andy TaylorSheriff Andy TaylorSheriff Andrew "Andy" Jackson Taylor is the principal character on The Andy Griffith Show, an American sitcom which aired on CBS, . The character made a few appearances in the show's spinoff Mayberry R.F.D. and appeared in a reunion telemovie Return to Mayberry...
, while Goober has a crush on her. Flora's infatuation with Sheriff Taylor complicates his relationship both with Goober and with Helen CrumpHelen CrumpHelen Crump is a fictional dramatic character on the American television program The Andy Griffith Show . Helen made her debut in the third season episode "Andy Discovers America" . Helen was a schoolteacher and became main character Sheriff Andy Taylor's girlfriend...
until he is able to convince Flora that Goober is the fellow for her. Perhaps Flora's most memorable scenes are in "Eat Your Heart Out" where she swaps plates on two occasions to give a better portion to Andy, but in the end does the same thing to give Goober the bigger portion.
- Next Flora offers to take Goober's place at Wally's Service Station when Goober goes fishing in "Goober's Replacement" (March 28, 1966). She is seen at the station wearing slacks, a work shirt with oil rag hanging out the pocket, a service cap and a money changer on her belt, and the comment is made that she looks good in slacks. When Goober returns from his trip, he discovers that Wally and his customers are quite happy with Flora and in no hurry for Goober to resume his duties. He also discovers Flora is more interested in making improvements at the station than she is in romance. It is up to Andy to convince Flora to save her relationship with Goober by stepping down to allow Goober to have his old job back.
- In "Emmett's Anniversary" (February 26, 1968) and in "Emmett's Retirement" (Mayberry RFD, Episode 23 March 10, 1969) Flora appears as a friend of Emmett Clark's.
Trivia
- The musical score heard when Flora appears on-screen is the theme from A Summer PlaceA Summer Place (film)A Summer Place is a 1959 romantic drama film based on the novel of the same name by Sloan Wilson. It was directed by Delmer Daves and stars Richard Egan, Dorothy McGuire, Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee...
. - Alberta Nelson also played the role of Barney FifeBarney FifeBernard "Barney" Fife is a fictional character in the American television program The Andy Griffith Show, portrayed by comic actor Don Knotts. Barney Fife is a deputy sheriff in the slow paced, sleepy southern community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
's admirer Nettie Albright in Episode 176, "The Return of Barney Fife" (January 10, 1966). - Flora's furrier friend in "Emmett's Anniversary" was played by Ronnie SchellRonnie SchellRonald Ralph "Ronnie" Schell is an American actor, stand-up comedian and cartoon voice actor . Early in his career he appeared as himself as a contestant on You Bet Your Life opposite Groucho Marx, demonstrating a comic barrage of jive talk.-Life and career:Schell was born in Richmond, California...
. - At Mayberry events around the country, there is a Flora Malherbe tribute artist.