![]() This is an interview with Frank Sutton that was never published around the time of the variety show. Here is a link to the story of the unveiling. In 2017 a statue of Frank Sutton was unveiled in Clarksville Tn. He would die of a heart attack in 1974 just a few months shy of his 51st birthday. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart he had been medically rejected by the Marine Corps.įrank, a heavy smoker, would only live to be 50. Army during World War II and served in the South Pacific, taking part in 14 assault landings. Sutton was a sergeant who served from 1943–1946 in the 293rd Joint Assault Signal Company. He took acting in East Nashville High School and graduated in 1941.Īfter high school, Sutton returned to Clarksville to become a radio announcer. The Twilight Zone, Have Gun Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Route 66 and many more. 1965 GOMER PYLE 66 WELL, FINALLY MADE IT FELLERS. (2) 1965 GOMER PYLE 40 SHAZAM LOOKY HERE (2). Sutton appeared in movies and shows from the 50s thru the 70s. 1965 GOMER PYLE 39 GOLLY, SERGEANT, YOU AND UNCLE SAM ARE. The local connection with Sutton is he was born in Clarksville Tennessee, a few miles from where I live. CBS told Nabors he had to fire Sutton but Nabors refused and the show was canceled. Sutton ended up co-starring with Nabors on his variety show and Sutton worked well in the comedy bits but was not a dancer or singer. It could have been a big hit but he turned it down because he felt like he did everything he could do with the character. It would employ a black recruit who, unlike Gomer, would always be one step ahead of the Sergeant. They also offered Frank Sutton his own show Sergeant Carter–USMC. In 1969 Jim Nabors wanted out because he wanted to do a variety show. No one could understand why he wanted out of a hit show but he wanted to be in a program where he could sing, dance, and do different bits.ĬBS offered Nabors a variety show so he was happy. It never placed lower than 10 in the Neilson ratings. I would watch the show as a kid and I thought Sgt Carter was mean to Gomer…as an adult I could understand if Carter would have choked him. Frank Sutton played quick tempered Sgt Carter who would be tormented by Gomer Pyle for five seasons. Gomer was a naive country boy from Mayberry North Carolina who joined the Marines and Andy went with him for the induction and helped the clueless Gomer get accepted. The character of Gomer Pyle was portrayed by Jim Nabors and he left The Andy Griffith Show in the 4th season in an episode entitled Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. The show ran from 1964 to 1969 and was a spinoff from The Andy Griffith Show. ![]() The show has a local connection for me because of Frank Sutton.
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