Other mistake: The end credits list actor Burt Mustin as playing a character named "Jud", but after Howard's introduction to everyone in The Lodge, when Andy and Howard are saying goodbye to all the members, Andy says, "See ya, Burt" to actor Burt Mustin. Then at the start of the voting scene even the subtitles read "Burt" instead of "Jud." (00:09:15 - 00:12:55)
The Barbershop Quartet - S7-E3
Other mistake: The end credits list actor Burt Mustin as playing a character named "Jud", but while Andy and the rest are waiting for Howard to show up for practice, Andy, Wally, and Aunt Bee all use Burt Mustin's real name "Burt" instead of his character's name, "Jud." Then during the rest of the episode Andy still calls him "Burt" a few more times. (00:02:00)
The Barbershop Quartet - S7-E3
Other mistake: At the end of the show Andy talks about the upcoming bowling league. Howard shows Andy his injured left thumb. This should not affect his bowling since Howard is right handed.
Continuity mistake: During the baseball game, when Opie slides into homeplate we can see the concrete mixer truck in the background beside the building, but when Helen shows Aunt Bee the photo she took of Opie the truck is gone. (00:09:40 - 00:23:25)
Other mistake: Helen is sitting on the first base side, there is a play at the plate and Opie is called out at the plate. Near the end of the show, Helen has a picture she took of the play and it show Opie to be safe. The picture angle is taken almost directly from home plate and at a low angle. The backstop is also blocked half the way up. She would have had to be on the field behind home plate for such a picture. It's also very close up but the camera she is using doesn't have any zoom feature.
Aunt Bee's Crowning Glory - S7-E5
Visible crew/equipment: When Andy removes the mirror from the wall (for Aunt Bee), the reflection of a studio light is visible in the mirror just as Andy starts moving it. (00:18:40)
Visible crew/equipment: When all the Darlings walk out of Andy's kitchen with a bag full of Aunt Bee's muffins, the actor's tape mark is visible on the floor, where one of the Darling boys looks down and stands. (00:20:25)
Revealing mistake: While Goober is up in the tree with the fake owl, when Andy and the Darlings leave the house they are standing on the porch, and after seeing the 'second omen' the Darlings leave the porch and head to their pickup truck, but what's funny is that we can see their reflections in the window behind Andy as they all walk off camera, turn around and just stand there, and we can still see those actors' reflections in the shots facing Andy and Aunt Bee even as the Darlings supposedly drive off.
Visible crew/equipment: After the squad car is hit from behind Andy rushes over to Goober, and a T-mark (it's a bit darker than the color of the dirt road) becomes visible on the ground (just as the woman gets out of her car) at the bottom of the screen, right behind Andy's feet. (00:01:25)
Visible crew/equipment: Just as Aunt Bee and Opie pull up in front of Wally's station, the reflections of crew and equipment are visible on the surface of the car. (00:06:00)
Continuity mistake: When Aunt Bee and Opie drive up to Wally's station to get gas, the car's vent windows are either open or closed depending on the angle of the shot. (00:06:05)
Visible crew/equipment: At the start, just as Mr. Hampton walks into the office and pushes the door closed, we can see a crew member's hand reaching through the doorway to help close the door. (00:00:55)
Continuity mistake: When Helen and Howard are talking about the lack of funds for the school play Andy comes up with a solution, and as Helen walks up the street there's a brick wall adjacent to the grocery store window which shouldn't be there (shot on the studio soundstage not the backlot). (00:07:05)
Other mistake: Twice during the episode there's a brick wall adjacent to the grocery store which should not be there. First when Clara walks down the street toward Floyd, then later when Andy and Opie also walk down the street toward Floyd. (Shot in the studio not backlot). (00:02:05 - 00:16:55)
Don't Miss a Good Bet - S7-E16
Visible crew/equipment: When Andy walks into the diner to speak with George Jones about investing in the treasure hunt, the shadow of the overhead boom arm and mic is moving around on the wall behind them. (00:18:30)
Visible crew/equipment: When Aunt Bee and Opie leave the house and get in the car, the reflection of crew and filming equipment can be seen on the surface of the car.
A Visit to Barney Fife - S7-E18
Visible crew/equipment: When Barney introduces Andy to Ma's boys, the actors' two tape marks are visible on the floor in front of the couch. (00:07:10)
A Visit to Barney Fife - S7-E18
Continuity mistake: While Andy and Barney are sitting on the porch, Barney's clip-on striped bow tie is clipped on the opposite way (stripes flip) when Ma and her family get back from "shopping." (00:14:45)
A Visit to Barney Fife - S7-E18
Other mistake: After Andy and Barney hear on the radio that another supermarket has been robbed they head over there, and in the shots at the supermarket note that many of the products on the shelves have their brand names covered with tape or scribbled over. For example, boxes of "Mrs. Cubbison's" stuffing/dressing and "Sunshine Cheez-It" are covered with tape. (00:16:40)
Andy's Old Girlfriend - S7-E20
Other mistake: At the cabin, when Andy and Alice are fixing breakfast at the kitchen counter, note the cereal box's brand name is covered (presumably painted), which is still recognizable as "Post Toasties." (Andy Griffith even did commercials for this specific cereal). (00:20:00)
Answer: As noted in the previous answers, in real life, things like this provided wind and/or rain deflection, and also maintained a bit of privacy when blinds were raised somewhat. The interior courthouse set was located in the studio, so the "outside" Main Street didn't exist. I believe these things were added to the courthouse windows for practicality, to avoid some crew movement being visible on the opposite side of those windows. These are not "window boxes" to hold anything, as they're actually bottomless; we can see the Venetian blind's long pull cords under them. They're made of plywood and simple to build, so the "material and labor" was inexpensive. Similar variations made of different materials are in other movies/shows. In 1957's "12 Angry Men," textured chicken wire glass panels are in the jury room windows, and in "Jesse Stone: Night Passage" another type is in Jesse's office windows.
Super Grover ★