On the opening credits Jed is shown shooting at an animal and the oil gushes out of the ground, then he runs in to tell Granny.
When I saw the first episode a few years ago, I was expecting to see this scene but it was NOT in it, apparantly he had ALREADY struck the oil.
My question is, was there an episode BEFORE that one that ACTUALLY shows Jed stricking the oil and him running in to tell Granny like it shows on the opening?
I have talked to people who remember when the show was on live in the 60s and they told me there IS an episode like this but it has NOT been shown in YEARS!
I'm thinking it was prolly the pilot episode, and for some reason they NEVER show it, and they just call the episode where the move to California the "first episode".

But does ANYONE know?? Or remember that episode?

I don't know of an episode where it happens the way introduction shows it, and the pilot does not have such a scene. In it (pilot), the whole series is put into progression by an oil field representative poking around and discovering that the swamp near Jed's house is "full of oil," which Jed already knew-- "I could have told you that," Jed said to the oil man.

Yeah, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" implies something that doesn't happen in the series; that Jed "struck oil" when he was out hunting and he seemed excited, as if he knew he would quickly be a rich man; when in the pilot he didn't even know that his swamp full of oil was anything but a wasted slough that can't grow anything. Also, the line, "The kinfolks said, 'Jed, move away from there!'" is off too. It was only Pearl who said that, and Granny and Elly May didn't want to go, Jethro was said to just be driving them out (what a layover!) and the one so crazy about the idea was the one who didn't go, at least at first.

Well if you notice the opening in the colored episodes is different than the one in the b&w.
The opening in the B&W episodes Jed runs in to tell Granny, and THAT scene IS in the first episode, but he's not telling her about the oil, he's telling her to take cover b/c Jethro's about to hit the cabin with the truck.

BUT on the opneing of the colored episodes when he goes to tell Granny, they actually run outside, so I ASSUME that's when he tells her about the oil...And he DOES seem rather excited like he knows something good is gonna happen and Granny does too.

I don't know of an episode where it happens the way introduction shows it, and the pilot does not have such a scene. In it (pilot), the whole series is put into progression by an oil field representative poking around and discovering that the swamp near Jed's house is "full of oil," which Jed already knew-- "I could have told you that," Jed said to the oil man.

Yeah, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" implies something that doesn't happen in the series; that Jed "struck oil" when he was out hunting and he seemed excited, as if he knew he would quickly be a rich man; when in the pilot he didn't even know that his swamp full of oil was anything but a wasted slough that can't grow anything. Also, the line, "The kinfolks said, 'Jed, move away from there!'" is off too. It was only Pearl who said that, and Granny and Elly May didn't want to go, Jethro was said to just be driving them out (what a layover!) and the one so crazy about the idea was the one who didn't go, at least at first.when they first move into the mansion, Mr. Drysdale's talking to Jed & Jethro in one scene, and Jed tells him that Pearl sent Jethro out with them so he could go to school.

On the opening credits Jed is shown shooting at an animal and the oil gushes out of the ground, then he runs in to tell Granny.
When I saw the first episode a few years ago, I was expecting to see this scene but it was NOT in it, apparantly he had ALREADY struck the oil.
My question is, was there an episode BEFORE that one that ACTUALLY shows Jed stricking the oil and him running in to tell Granny like it shows on the opening?
I have talked to people who remember when the show was on live in the 60s and they told me there IS an episode like this but it has NOT been shown in YEARS!
I'm thinking it was prolly the pilot episode, and for some reason they NEVER show it, and they just call the episode where the move to California the "first episode".

But does ANYONE know?? Or remember that episode?there is a pilot for the show that hasn't been shown in years; maybe that's what the people are talking about. It's included as an extra on the season 1 DVD comeing out this month; so we'll see.

Also; I don't think the show was ever done live.

Well all my grandparents tell me they REMEMBER that episode, but I've never seen it, they always start with the one AFTER he has struck the oil.

well, I plan to buy the DVD when it comes out, so I'll let you know if they show him striking the oil in the pilot.