"Petticoat Junction" (1963) TV series 1963-1970

Creator:

Paul Henning

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

24 September 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The misadventures of the family staff of The Shady Rest Hotel and their neighbours of Hooterville.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Hooterville | Train | Rural | Green Acres

Cast

Edgar Buchanan	...	Joseph P. 'Uncle Joe' Carson / ... (195 episodes, 1963-1970)
Linda Henning	...	Elizabeth Josephine 'Betty Jo' Bradley Elliott / ... (191 episodes, 1963-1970)
Bea Benaderet	...	Kate Bradley (149 episodes, 1963-1968)
Lori Saunders	...	Roberta Josephine 'Bobbie Jo' Bradley (121 episodes, 1965-1970)
Mike Minor	...	Steve Elliott / ... (93 episodes, 1964-1970)
Meredith MacRae	...	Willimena Josephine 'Billie Jo' Bradley / ... (92 episodes, 1966-1970)

Also Known As:

Dern Tootin' (USA) (working title)
Ozark Widow (USA) (working title)
Whistle Stop (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min | 30 min (222 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 6625 Romaine Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

Although Meredith MacRae replaced Gunilla Hutton at the beginning of the '66-'67 season, in the opening credits' longshot of the Bradley girls coming down from the water tower, it's still Gunilla who appears, never corrected, for the next four years!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Beverly Hillbillies: The Thanksgiving Story (#7.10)" (1968)

Folksy & heartwarming shenanigans at the Shady Rest

This is a mindless, entertaining series from the 1960's that baby boomers such as myself grew up on. Petitcoat Junction is something of a first cousin to The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres. The series portrays the goings on at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is located on the outskirts of the little village of Hooterville. The hotel is run by the widowed Kate Bradley and her three lovely young daughters, Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Betty Jo...all without much assistance from their lazy but protective Ol' Uncle Joe. Much of hotel life revolves around the local steam train, the Cannonball, operated by Floyd and Charlie, who make regular stops during their runs to Sam Drucker's little country store.

The two main stars wonderful, with Bea Benadaret playing the widow, Kate, and Edgar Buchanan Uncle Joe, who's mainly seen concocting get rich quick schemes while lazing about on the hotel's porch in his rocking chair. Yes, he's a-movin' kinda slow at the Junction. The three beautiful daughters are adequately cast, though with various actress changes mid way through the series.

The show gets its name from the three daughters at the Shady Rest. Naturally many of the plot lines revolve around the suitors of these lovely young ladies. Betty Jo, the youngest, is the one given the most character portrayal, initially something of a tomboy but eventually growing up to wed sweetheart Steve, the first Bradley sister to marry. Unlike some viewers, I don't recall her two sisters having very distinctive personalities, except for Billie Jo being starstruck. In my opinion, they mainly seem to look pretty, banter a bit with each other & their mom, and attract beaux. Assorted guests come & go from the Shady Rest, and it's all a leisurely, amusing tale of their various misadventures. All in all, it's a cute, fun, and harmless little series.