AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL PIECE FROM THE PERSONAL COLLECTION OF ANETA CORSAUT, BEST KNOWN AS HELEN CRUMP ON THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.
This is an original 8-page television pilot/proposal titled “Opal’s Pride,” created by Jim Fritzell and Aneta Corsaut.
What makes this piece particularly special is that Aneta Corsaut was not simply the previous owner. Her name appears directly on the title page as one of the creators of the proposed television series.
The title page reads:
“OPAL’S PRIDE”
A TELEVISION PILOT
CREATED BY
JIM FRITZELL
AND
ANETA CORSAUT
This copy personally belonged to Aneta Corsaut and was in her possession. I acquired it along with scripts, original personal photographs, and other material that personally belonged to her.
The proposal describes Opal’s Pride as a television series centered on the Gillmore family, a family of five attempting to make a living in the world of harness racing during the 1970s.
The concept was not intended simply as a story about horse racing. As the proposal itself explains, the emphasis was on family, survival, unity, warmth, humor and adventure, with the family traveling from racetrack to racetrack and the children repeatedly adjusting to new homes and schools.
At the center of the story is Opal’s Pride, the family's seven-year-old mare. She is described as a “journeyman,” not a consistent winner but a horse capable of finishing in the money and helping support the family.
The father, Riley Gillmore, is described as the horse's owner, trainer and driver, who also trains horses and drives for other owners to earn enough money to support his family.
This is what separates this item from the typical Aneta Corsaut collectible.
Collectors understandably associate Aneta with Helen Crump and The Andy Griffith Show, but this document shows another side of her career. She was involved in developing an original television concept herself.
This is not a TAGS script on which Aneta happened to appear. It is an original television project carrying Aneta Corsaut's name as one of its two creators, and this particular 8-page copy came from her own personal collection.
Her co-creator, Jim Fritzell, also had an important connection to classic television. Fritzell was a television writer whose credits included The Andy Griffith Show, making the association between these two creators particularly interesting to TAGS collectors.
The combination of Aneta Corsaut provenance, her creator credit, Jim Fritzell's involvement, and the unusual nature of an undeveloped/proposed television project makes this a fascinating piece of television history.
All 8 pages are included.
The photographs show the actual Aneta Corsaut-owned “Opal’s Pride” television pilot/proposal being offered.
I have collected The Andy Griffith Show memorabilia for many years and was fortunate to become personal friends with many members of the cast. Over the years, I have acquired scripts, photographs, autographs, production documents, and personal material directly connected to the people who made the show.
This 8-page television pilot/proposal came from Aneta Corsaut’s personal collection. It was in her possession and was acquired along with her scripts, original personal photographs, and other items that personally belonged to her.
What makes this one especially interesting to me is that Aneta was not merely associated with it. She helped create it. Her name is right on the title page: “Created by Jim Fritzell and Aneta Corsaut.”
That makes Opal’s Pride an unusually personal piece of Aneta Corsaut memorabilia and a glimpse into a part of her creative career that most fans of Helen Crump and The Andy Griffith Show have probably never seen.
Your script will be carefully packaged to help ensure it arrives safely and in the same condition shown in the listing.
I gladly combine shipping whenever possible for multiple purchases.
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