The character of Helen Crump was supposed to be a one-shot appearance for Aneta Corsaut, which is why the writers picked a rather unpleasant sounding name for the character. The producers were so impressed with Aneta Corsaut's performance and her rapport with Andy Griffith that they made her a regular cast member for the remainder of the show.
This is the first episode in which Aneta Corsaut appeared as Helen Crump, Opie's teacher. Eventually, she became Sheriff Taylor's girlfriend and, in the Mayberry R.F.D. series, his wife.
Aunt Bee speaks of it having been a long time since Dewey took Manila. This is in reference to May 1, 1898, when Admiral George Dewey led the US in the Battle of Manila Bay. This battle was the first major engagement of the Spanish-American War and one of the most decisive naval battles in history. It marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in Philippine history.
The jail cell calendar shows a month with thirty days, with the thirteenth falling on a Saturday. In 1963, that would set the time of this story in November. ***** UPDATE ***** The calendars used in the show are props that are reused. The calendar in Floyd's barber shop is the same calendar used in "The Taylors in Hollywood," at the studio. "Andy Discovers America" was filmed early in 1963. Prior to filming, the most recent month with 30 days during which the 13th landed on a Saturday was in June of 1959.
This show's copyright has expired and it is now in the public domain.