Ronnie Dapo, the boy who plays Arnold, the tantrum kid, previously appeared alongside Ron Howard in the 1962 movie "The Music Man."
In 2016, the Mount Airy News caught up with the retired, 64-year-old actor, who reflected on his career and time in Mayberry. After he delivered his famous fit on the set, "The whole place stood up and applauded me," he recalled. "Parts like that were great." He left showbiz at the age of 14 and would go on to work in music, steel and printing.
Besides being able to cite rules and regulations precisely, this episode also establishes Barney's ability to add up figures quickly in his head. This ability will also serve him later in "Barney Fife, Realtor."
Barney demonstrates his ability to recite rules and regulations precisely, despite not being able to remember preambles, declarations and facts of history that he often boasts about knowing.
After Opie's failed attempt at throwing a tantrum on the floor of the courthouse, the next shot of Arnold, his father and Barney coming in shows them subtly acknowledging Opie's unexpected presence on the floor.