Synopsis
Includes:
Petticoat Junction: Spur Line to Shady Rest (1963)
Petticoat Junction: Herbie Gets Drafted (1963)
Petticoat Junction: Uncle Joe's Replacement (1963)
Petticoat Junction: Honeymoon Hotel (1963)
Petticoat Junction: A Night at the Hooterville Hilton (1963)
Petticoat Junction: Cannonball Christmas (1963)
Petticoat Junction: The Little Train Robbery (1963)
Petticoat Junction: Bedloe Strikes Again (1963)
Petticoat Junction: The President Who Came to Dinner (1963)
Petticoat Junction: Is There a Doctor in the Roundhouse? (1963)
Petticoat Junction: The Courtship of Floyd Smoot (1963)
Petticoat Junction: The Ringer (1963)
Petticoat Junction: Kate's Recipe For Hot Rhubarb (1963)
Petticoat Junction: Quick, Hide the Railroad (1963)
Petticoat Junction: The Very Old Antique (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Visit from a Big Star (1964)
Petticoat Junction: The Ladybugs (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Kate and the Manpower Problem (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Bedloe and Son (1964)
Petticoat Junction: A Millionaire for Kate (1964)
Petticoat Junction: The Hooterville Flivverball (1964)
Petticoat Junction: The Genghis Keane Story (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Kate Flat on Her Back (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Cave Woman (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Local Girl Makes Good (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Hooterville vs. Hollywood (1964)
Petticoat Junction: My Daughter the Doctor (1964)
Petticoat Junction: The Talent Contest (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Betty Jo's First Love (1964)
Petticoat Junction: The Art Game (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Behind All Silver, There's a Cloud Lining (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Kate the Stockholder (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Kate and the Dowager (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Charley Abandons the Cannonball (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Dog Days at Shady Rest (1964)
Petticoat Junction: Spur Line to Shady Rest
The first episode of Petticoat Junction (NOT the pilot film, since no pilot was ever made!) finds C & F.W Railroad president Norman Curtis (Roy Roberts) dispatching his vice-president Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) to the tiny community of Hooterville, there to find out why one of the railroad's branch lines doesn't connect with the Main Line. Upon arrival, Bedloe shows up at the Shady Rest, a little hotel run by widow Kate Bradley (Bea Benadaret) with the help of her lazy Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) and her three toothsome daughters Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley), Bobbie Jo (Pat Woodell) and Betty Jo (Linda Kaye). After encountering numerous frustrations at the Shady Rest--beginning with an ornate elevator that had never worked!--Bedloe is shocked to find that the C&FW is represented by the Hooterville Cannonball, an 1890s-vintage steam engine than runs whenever its engineers feel like it. The outraged Bedloe vows to fire the engineers and put the Cannonball out of business--but crafty Kate isn't about to let that happen! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Herbie Gets Drafted
Store clerk Herbie Bates (Don Washbrook), the off-and-on boyfriend of Billie Jo Bradley (Jeannine Riley), has just received his draft notice. Herbie broods over the likelihood of being separated from Billie Jo for two whole years. But Billie Jo doesn't look as if she'll be lonely in Herbie's absence, what with several other local boys hovering around her like bees around honey. So how will THIS situation work itself out? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Uncle Joe's Replacement
Herbie Bates (Don Washbrook), head clerk at Sam Drucker's general store and erstwhile beau of Billie Jo Bradley (Linda Kaye), is offered a second source of income when Billie Jo's mom Kate (Bea Benadaret) appoints him assistant manager of the Shady Rest Hotel. Unfortunately, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan jumps to the conclusion that Herbie has been hired as his replacement--and now poor old Joe will have to retire from what he does around the hotel, which is generally nothing! Beverly Wills, the actress seen as Mrs. Norton, was the daughter of comedienne Joan Davis. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Honeymoon Hotel
Ever on the lookout for a quick buck, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) gets himself a justice-of-the-peace license, the first step in transforming the Shady Rest into a Honeymoon Lodge. Alas, after pronouncing Walter Shepherd (Tommy Ivo) and Elsie Gregg (Judee Morton) man and wife, Joe learns that his license is invalid--and now Kate (Bea Benadaret) and the girls must do some quick maneuvering to get Walter and Elsie legally hitched before...well, just before. (Trivia note: according to TV Guide, the role of Walter was to have been played by Jonathan Beeman) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: A Night at the Hooterville Hilton
Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) takes it upon himself to write a new brochure for the Shady Rest Hotel. Since he's describing what he hopes will be the "future" Shady Rest, Joe is a bit careless with the facts, waxing rhapsodic about the luxuries and splendors of the hotel and even suggesting that it is a part of the vast Hilton chain. Unfortunately, the brochure is prematurely mailed to the community newspaper's snooty travel columnist Mrs. Stroud (played by Elvia Allman, who would later join the cast in the reccuring role of Selma Plout, hated rival of hotel owner Kate Bradley [Bea Benadaret]). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Cannonball Christmas
Every Christmas, the Hooterville Cannonball goes on a caroling tour throughout the community. All this may come to a screeching halt this year, thanks to the machinations of Scroogelike railroad troubleshooter Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane), who has cracked down on unauthorized stopovers. This episode was rebroadcast on December 19, 1964, suggesting that it was intended for annual Yuletide showings--which probably would have happened had not Petticoat Junction switched from black and white to color in 1965 (and at the same time replacing two of the actresses playing the Bradley girls!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The Little Train Robbery
The folks at the Shady Rest are quite impressed by Arthur (John Wilder) and Lowell (Jimmy Hawkins, a pair of nice, polite young men who have shown up at the hotel asking a lot of seemingly innocuous questions. Little does anyone realize that the two gentlemen are actually would-be train robbers, intent upon stealing the Hooterville Cannonball's bank shipment. Though he plays a crook in this episode, Jimmy Hawkins would later "reform" in the recurring role of car-happy Orville Miggs, the boyfriend of Betty Jo Bradley (Linda Kaye). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Bedloe Strikes Again
Though he struck out rather spectacularly during his first visit to the Shady Rest, railroad troubleshooter Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) has returned with a new scheme to put the Hooterville Cannonball out of commission. This time, Bedloe's fiendish plot involves a pair of VIPs, one of whom is played by veteran movie heavy John Hoyt, who later gained sitcom fame as the foxy grandpa on Gimme a Break. This episode has gained a latter-day prominence as being the first sitcom offering by the CBS network after its four-day coverage of the JFK assassination. Not surprisingly, the ratings were better than usual; viewers stunned by the tragedy of the previous weekend were certainly in the mood to forget about their troubles and have a good laugh! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The President Who Came to Dinner
In the first episode of a two-part story, C&F.W. railroad president Norman Curtis (Roy Roberts) hopes to succeed where his vice-president Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) by putting the Hooterville Cannonball out of business. As part of this plan, Curtis shows up at the Shady Rest Hotel under an assumed name. Unfortunately for Curtis--but fortunately for us--the crusty railroad executive succumbs to the rustic charms of Hooterville, not to mention the three attractive daughters of hotel owner Kate (Bea Benadaret). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Is There a Doctor in the Roundhouse?
In the conclusion of a two-part story, railroad president Norman Curtis (Roy Roberts) has decided--for now--not to scrap the Hooterville Cannonball. This would be good news but for the fact that, in his eagerness to run the engine himself, Curtis accidentally breaks the throttle. With the Cannonball out of commission, how will the locals be able to attend the annual jamboree held at Kate Bradley's (Bea Benadaret) Shady Rest Hotel? This episode boasts the talents of two of Hollywood's finest character actors, Douglass Dumbrille and Addison Richards. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The Courtship of Floyd Smoot
Floyd Smoot (Rufe Davis), one of the Hooterville Cannonball's two engineers, is down in the dumps after he is jilted by his mail-order sweetheart. To cheer Floyd up, hotel owner Kate (Bea Benadaret) pretends to be attracted to him. This well-intentioned deception backfires when Floyd begins thinking about marriage! Don Washbrook makes his first series appearance as Herbie Bates, erstwhile sweetheart of Kate's flirtatious daughter Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The Ringer
The annual Shady Rest Horseshoe Tournament is fast approaching, and the smart money is on the undefeated champion, Pixley Fats. This year, however, Fats is up against some formidable competition in the form (and what a form!) of the tournament's first female contestant: tomboyish Betty Jo Bradley (Linda Kaye). The role of Pixley Fats is essayed by Henry Calvin, best known as the buffoonish "Sergeant Garcia" on Disney's Zorro TV series, and as an ersatz Oliver Hardy opposite Dick Van Dyke's Stan Laurel in a classic 1963 episode of Van Dyke's own TV show. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Kate's Recipe For Hot Rhubarb
During the first season of Petticoat Junction, Bobbie Jo Bradley was portrayed (by Pat Woodell) as a naïve bookworm, with no interest in men--or virtually anything else. Worried that Bobbie Jo will never find a husband, her mom Kate (Bea Benadaret) takes it upon herself to force the girl out of her cocoon and transform her into a real fashion plate. Jack Bannon, the son of star Bea Benadaret, makes his first series appearance in this episode, as Roger Budd. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Quick, Hide the Railroad
In the conclusion of a two-part story, C&F.W. railroad troubleshooter Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) is determined to put the ancient Hooterville Cannonball out of business, despite the fervent appeals (mostly in song) by the three daughters of Kate Bradley (Bea Benadaret), owner of the Shady Rest Hotel. With the bumbling assistance of her shiftless Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan), Kate tries to outwit Bedloe by diverting his attention from the Cannonball. This she does by arranging for the seven-and-a-half-ton engine to be hidden from view! The image of the determined Bedloe strenuously pumping a handcar down the railroad tracks has become one of the icons of early-1960s TV situation comedy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The Very Old Antique
Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) is back in Hooterville with another scheme to rid the C&F.W. railroad of the ancient Hooterville Cannonball. This time, Bedloe hopes that retired railroad tycoon and renowned antique collector Philip Waterhouse (Everett Sloane) will purchase the Cannonball, thereby allowing Bedloe to post a profit while foiling Kate (Bea Benadaret). As usual, however, Kate has a counter-plan to stop Homer in his tracks (so to speak). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Visit from a Big Star
John Vivyan, that dashing Cary Grant lookalike who starred in Blake Edwards' 1959 TV series Mr. Lucky, shows up in this episode as famous movie star Lane Haggard. Hoping to escape the pressures of Hollywood and the attentions of his many fans, Haggard books himself into the Shady Rest Hotel--where he finds himself at the mercy of the enterprising Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan). Haggard's secretary Lucy is played by Joan Marshall, who as "Jean Arless" had previously portrayed the androgynous serial killer in William Castle's Homicidal (1961)! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The Ladybugs
This is one of the first sitcom episodes to acknowledge the phenomenon known as Beatlemania. Hoping to cash in on the popularity of the Fab Four, Uncle Joe organizes a female rock group called the Ladybugs, consisting of his three nieces and Sheriff Ragdale's daughter Sally (played by Sheila James, formerly Zelda Gilroy on Dobie Gillis, and better known in recent years as California State Senator and feminist activist Sheila James Kuehl). Musical comedy legend Donald O'Connor directed this episode, in which the "Ladybugs" perform their deathless signature tune "I'll Be Your Ladybug If You'll Be My Beatle"--which the girls had previously introduced on the March 22, 1964 edition of The Ed Sullivan Show! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Kate and the Manpower Problem
Rosemary DeCamp, who would appear in later Petticoat Junction episodes as the Bradley girls' Aunt Helen, is here seen as Emily Mapes, an old school friend of Kate Bradley (Bea Benadaret). Having recently remarried, Emily is convinced that the widowed Kate should take upon herself a second husband. To this end, she enlists the aid of Kate's daughters to round up all the local eligible bachelors--who even by Hooterville and Pixley standards are a sad lot indeed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Bedloe and Son
Fresh from a five-year stint as insufferable boy millionaire Chatsworth Osborne Jr. on Dobie Gillis, Steve Franken appears in this episode as Homer Jr., the son of railroad troubleshooter all-purpose villain Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane). A true chip off the old block, Homer Jr. is every bit as sneaky and deceitful as Homer Sr., who has hatched a plan to use his son to worm his way into the confidence of the Bradley clan. But Homer Sr. hadn't reckoned with the persuasive charms of the three Bradley girls. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: A Millionaire for Kate
A pre-I Dream of Jeannie Hayden Rorke guests in this episode as Herbie Grant, a former schoolmate of Kate Bradley (Bea Benadaret). Now known as "H.B. Grant", Herbie arrives at the Shady Rest announcing that he is a millionaire--and that he is very, very interested in renewing his friendship with Kate. But Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan), evidently operating on the theory that it takes one to know one, is convinced that Grant is a con artist, and he intends to break up the budding romance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The Hooterville Flivverball
His feelings hurt by the engineers of the Hooterville Cannonball, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) vows to put the venerable steam engine out of business. To this end, he sets up his own railroad and his own train, the Hooterville Flivverball. Powering Joe's locomotive is the rickety Model T Ford owned by Betty Jo's boyfriend Orville Miggs (Jimmy Hawkins)--a set-up that leads to a riotous climax right out of a Mack Sennett comedy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The Genghis Keane Story
In the final episode of Petticoat Junction's first season, Kate (Bea Benadaret) braces herself for a visit from her former schoolteacher Adelaide Keane (played by Benadaret's fellow old-time-radio veteran Lurene Tuttle), who was so stern and tough that she was known to one and all as "Genghis" Keane. But after having spent a lengthy vacation in Europe, Adelaide is no longer quite the tyrant that she used to be--in fact, she's a pussycat. Ken Osmond, the former Eddie Haskell on Leave It to Beaver, shows up in this episode as Billie Jo's (Jeannine Riley) current beau Harold, while Barbara Pepper makes her first appearance as Mrs. Ziffel (here named "Ruth" instead of "Doris"). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Kate Flat on Her Back
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Kate (Bea Benadaret) has been rescued from the cave-in, and is now recuperating from a sprained ankle. This means that Kate will not be able to curry favor with the representatives of a big convention--and that Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) and the girls had better do some quick thinking and maneuvering to book that convention into the Shady Rest. In some East Coast TV markets, this episode was originally pre-empted by CBS to provide coverage of the California Presidential Primary. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Cave Woman
In the first episode of a two-part story, the staff of the Shady Rest have hopes of tripling and even quadrupling their business by booking an upcoming convention. Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan and his nieces have pinned their hopes on the salesmanship of Shady Rest owner Kate Bradley (Bea Benadaret), whom they are sure will easily win over the conventioneers. Unfortunately, Kate is nowhere to be found--and only the home viewers know that she has been trapped in a cave-in with a sprained ankle. (In addition to its plot relevance, the title of this episode is something of an inside joke: Bea Benadaret had just finished a four-year stint as the voice of "cave woman" Betty Rubble on The Flintstones). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Local Girl Makes Good
Several years removed from her most famous TV role as nurse Consuelo Lopez on Marcus Welby MD, Eleana Verdugo appears in this episode as former Hooterville resident Mary Jane Hastings. Now a prominent big-city executive, Mary Jane returns to her home town, impressing one and all with her sharp business acumen. She also proves to be quite adept at manipulating the local menfolk--which may or may not be beneficial to Kate (Bea Benadaret and her daughters. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Hooterville vs. Hollywood
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley) is determined to use the $500 left her by her father to launch an acting career. But the money was intended to finance her medical studies, and Billie's mom Kate (Bea Benadaret) is determined to see that the letter of the law is carried out--even if it means taking her own daughter to court before Judge Sam Drucker (Frank Cady) (most folks forget that Sam wasn't merely the owner of the Hooterville general store). The name of the character played by Don Beddoe was "borrowed" from the real-life Joseph Depew, an assistant director long in the employ of Beverly Hillbillies producer Paul Henning. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: My Daughter the Doctor
In the first episode of a two-part story, Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley) falls heir to a $500 insurance endowment from her late father. Unfortunately, the conditions stipulate that Billie is to study to be a doctor--but she wants to use the money to go to Hollywood and become an actress. A pre-Batman Adam West appears as Dr. Clayton Harris (at the time West was so little-known that he isn't even listed in the TV Guide synopsis!), while another of the supporting players, Paul DeRolf, performs his own composition, "The Hooterville Hop". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The Talent Contest
This week Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) has created a talent contest for the young folk of Hooterville and Pixley. Of course, Joe has more in mind than simply helping a local person to stardom. In fact, he plans to "fix" the contest so that one of his nieces will win--whereupon he will pocket the prize money himself! Two-reel comedy veteran Maxine Semon makes the first of two series appearances as townswoman Mabel Snark. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Betty Jo's First Love
Tomboy Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) has finally fallen in love. The object of her affections is Orville Miggs, played by Jimmy Hawkins) in a role quite different from his earlier Petticoat Junction appearance a s would-be bank robber. Unfortunately, Orville would rather spend time tinkering with his old Model T Ford than spooning with Betty Jo, obliging Kate (Bea Benadaret to come up with a plan. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: The Art Game
Veteran character actors Lyle Talbot, Olan Soule and Ian Wolfe are seen in this episode, a gentle spoof of the "modern art" world. When a visiting art dealer purchasing one of Uncle Joe's own paintings, Joe (Edgar Buchanan) thinks he has a lucrative future as a brush-pusher. In truth, the dealer is interested only in the painting's valuable frame--but Joe doesn't know that as he spends Kate's hard-earned dollars on canvases, easels, smocks, berets and the like! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Behind All Silver, There's a Cloud Lining
Lazy Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) is faced with two problems: How to bring customers to the Shady Rest, and how to dig a drainage ditch at the lowest possible cost. Joe ends up tackling both problems by speading the rumor that there's been a valuable silver strike on the Shady Rest property. Glenn Strange, whose other roles include the Frankenstein monster and Gunsmoke's Sam the Bartender, is seen as would-be prospector Hawley. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Kate the Stockholder
Now that he's superintendent of the C&F.W. railroad, Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) imposes all sorts of Draconian rules and regulations upon Charley (Smiley Burnette) and Floyd (Rufe Davis), the engineers of the Hooterville Cannonball. It is Bedloe's master scheme to force the two engineers to quit, thereby giving him an excuse to scrap the engine once and for all. Of course, Kate (Bea Benadaret) figures out what Bedloe is up to--and it is Kate who gets even by fomenting a C&F.W. stockholder's rebellion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Kate and the Dowager
The Hooterville bank will extend credit to Kate (Bea Benadaret only on one condition: That she stir up a lot of business for the Shady Rest Hotel immediately. Thus it is that Kate works overtime currying favor with her current guest Clara Watkins (Doris Packer), who if she likes the Shady Rest will recommend it to all her influential friends. Naturally, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) and the girls are determined to help matters along by making it seem as though hundreds of customers are already clamoring to book themselves into the hotel--and this requires a lot of telephone activity, even though the Shady Rest doesn't have a telephone. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Charley Abandons the Cannonball
Charley Pratt (Smiley Burnette), one of the two engineers of the Hooterville Cannonball, has never been known as the sensitve type. But when it appears that no one wants to pay him any attention, Charley goes into a funk--one so deep that he quits his job. Bob Hastings, a busy comic actor best known in 1964 as the obsequious Lt. Carpenter on McHale's Navy, is here seen as Bill Tuttle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Petticoat Junction: Dog Days at Shady Rest
Railroad president Norman Curtis (Roy Roberts) feels that his pet basset hound should get out of the house for a while. Thus, Curtis sends the pooch for a brief stay at the Shady Rest Hotel. This provides a golden opportunity to Curtis' second in command Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane), who cooks up a doggedly clever scheme that will get the Shady Rest staff in trouble with Curtis, thereby providing him an excuse to scrap the Hooterville Cannonball. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
