http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?971

Starting in 1963, this show originally was a spin-off of sorts of Bea Benaderet who had originated the role of Jethro's mother, Pearl Bodine on "Beverly Hillbillies". Producer Paul Henning decided instead to give her an entirely new role as Kate Bradley, the widowed owner of the financially struggling Shady Rest Hotel set next to the railroad tracks linking it to Hooterville, USA (state name never revealed). Since Kate's three young, attractive daughters liked to go skinnydipping in the Cannonball train's water tower, they'd shed their petticoats on the water tower's side. Hence, the title's significance. Truth be told, they only were seen doing this during the opening credits and once when pilot Steve Elliot spotted them from the air then crashed his plane! This was a gentle 'smile com' about sanitized small town life among its contented citizens which was more like reading old letters with occasional pin-up shots of a Bradley girl than an actual LOL comedy. Though, the hotel always had far fewer guests than it needed to be solvent and there was lazy,scheming Uncle Joe to provide for (played by that wonderful character actor Edgar Buchanan), Kate took it all in stride and even would occasionally hint at letting storekeeper Sam Drucker's attraction to her not remain unrequitted. The only fly in the ointment (necessary for comedy) was the skinflinted railroad exec Homer Bedloe(played by the fantastic Charles Lane who'd live to 102 despite looking over 60 for 60 years) who'd appear several times a seasn and refused to rest until he'd shut down the income-hemoraging, code-violating Hooterville-Pixley spur line and put its earnest engineer/conductors Floyd and Charlie out of work! Bea Benaderet who'd played 2nd and 3rd bananas her entire career before Paul Henning gifted her this show, proved to an excellent anchor for the show and its characters. Thus, in addition to devastating her own family and the entire cast+ crew of this show, many believe that her death was the show's Boning. Though the script never once spelled out that Kate had died, everyone knew that she was gone and never coming back. Hence: many would question the wisdom in trying to continue the show with lazy Uncle Joe running the Shady Rest- and a woman doctor taking residence in the hotel to attempt to fill the show's maternal role. Unlike its sister shows "Beverly Hillbillies" and "Green Acres", it would be cancelled over a year before the infamous CBS Rural Show Purge in 1971.

Should have kept Rosemary DeCamp on as Aunt Helen...

For me it was when Bea passed away. I wasn't crazy about the multiple Billie Jo's and Bobby Jo's but i put up with it. But PJ without Bea just wasn't the same.

agree, they should have kept Rosemary DeCamp in the female lead role after Bea died. Of course, it still wouldn't be the same without our wonderful Ms. Benaderet.

The show was over after Bea died.

They should have kept Rosemary DeCamp for the rest of the season, but end the show then and there. I don't think the character of Dr. Craig, was a good fit.

From what I recall from the discussion at the Shady Rest website, the producers wanted Rosemary to stay on, but she had other commitments.

The article accompanying the boned poll is in error. The girls were also seen swimming in the water tower late in the series when teaching baby Kathy Jo (Steve & Betty Jo's girl) how to swim. The article seems to be saying that the last time was when Steve arrived.

Also, I believe there was at least one reference to Kate having passed on, also very late. Whoever wrote the article has taken liberties with the facts.

BiffBronson,

You mention the "Shady Rest" website in your post above and I googled it but can't seem to find it. Can you tell us the location--www._______.com
Thanks!

It's a nice site -- I'm certain Rosemary DeCamp was discussed on the message boards.

The administrator of the site is named Linda -- not to be confused with Linda Kaye Henning.

There's no "www.____" that I can find, but I can try to get you there. Here's a link, but you'll probably need to register with aimoo:

http://forum1.aimoo.com/The_Shady_Rest/errno-1/warmtips.html

Thanks for the link to the shady rest website, BiffB.

From what I recall from the discussion at the Shady Rest website, the producers wanted Rosemary to stay on, but she had other commitments.


I guess she preferred being Ann Marie's Mom over Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo and Betty Jo's aunt...

I remember she was also Shirley Partridge's Mom...

I guess she preferred being Ann Marie's Mom over Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo and Betty Jo's aunt...

I remember she was also Shirley Partridge's Mom...

Another interesting tid-bit:
She also played Mrs. Standish, the woman who was fascinated with The Clampetts and Jed's bloodline, on The Beverly Hillbillies. Bea Benederet was still on the show, so Rosemary DeCamp worked with her, before.

Petticoat Junction stayed true to Paul Henning's vision for it's entire run.

While Kate's character is a major force behind the Shady Rest, Kate herself
would always (as would others) put the CANNONBALL and the good of
The Valley and their community ahead of all else.

Kate never died during the broadcast of the original 222 episodes.
Only Charlie Pratt was alluded to as no longer being around.

But, in any case, many can see how spirit of any character who was
ever a part of "The Valley" , will always be there.

For those that focus on the issue of music,
consider Paul Henning created a show that
was suppose to have music. In fact, the
first episodes which CBS bought and gave
Paul Henning the freedom to create what
ever he wanted to, have many many
references to Music being a basic part
of life in the Hooterville Valley.

EP-1 Spur Line To The Shady Rest
Uncle Joe, " We always sing after supper"

EP-2 Quick Hide The Railroad
Kate: "Nothing like music after a meal"
Kate: "All my daughters sing"
and
Kate plays an organ while
Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Betty Jo
sing in three part harmony,
The Hooterville CANNONBALL.

EP-3 The President Who Came To Dinner
Woolly Boogie Bee sung by Roy Roberts
and
Later in harmony again by the Bradley sisters.

EP-4 Is There A Doctor In The Round House
This episodes ends with a Jamboree in the hotel,
the likes of which would be a most appropriate scene
in any Broadway Musical

So, the show continued all the way until the end,
telling stories about the Hooterville Valley community.

Ed

The "Hooterville Cannonball" song was sung to the tune of "The Wreck Of The Ol' 97" I wonder if they got permission to use that melody?

The "Hooterville Cannonball" song was sung to the tune of "The Wreck Of The Ol' 97" I wonder if they got permission to use that melody?


Much thanks for this insight.

It sent me to youtube and had me questioning my original
idea that the Hooterville CANNONBALL song was based on
the MTA by The Kingston Trio.

My thoughts are that the melody is a folk melody, with
it-s earliest use being from: The Ship That Never Returned,
by Henry Clay Work in 1865. (this is on youtube)

As for getting the rights, Petticoat Junction got the
rights to use all kinds of songs from Broadway musicals
to the Beatles.

But, only the rights to air the songs, for back in the 60s
VHS and DVD re-selling of TV shows to the general public,
did not exists. NOTE: home VHS first became a consumer
based product in 1971, after the run of Petticoat Junction.

So, getting these rights today, is quite costly, and
in some cases cost-prohibitive.

Ed

I assume 1971 is a typo? Did you mean 1981?

I certainly don't agree that Kate never died. The 7th season premiere's reference to her was fleeting but powerful. It wasn't stated in so many words, but Lori was very effective in conveying the message: Mom was gone...to that place you never come back from.

I never took it that way at all. All what was said that Mom taught them how to swim in the same water tower as Kathy Jo. For all we know Kate was still alive and out of town. But that particular episode you're talking about is one of the better entries in an overall lame seventh season.
They deliberately did NOT write Kate dying into the series as the cast hard a hard enough time dealing with Bea Benaderet's death in real life. Plus it would NOT have been fitting for a lighthearted series like PETTICOAT JUNCTION. Back then sitcoms did not kill of key characters, the only exception being Margaret Williams on MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY.Charley Pratt's 'death' if that's what it was,is a different matter as he was a supporting player.

Also there was NEVER a "Kate Bradley Memorial Suite" as some people incorrectly remember. There WAS a "Millard P. Bradley Memorial Suite" Don't know who Millard was, probably Kate's Great Grandfather

I assume 1971 is a typo? Did you mean 1981?

I certainly don't agree that Kate never died. The 7th season premiere's reference to her was fleeting but powerful. It wasn't stated in so many words, but Lori was very effective in conveying the message: Mom was gone...to that place you never come back from.


1971 based on when the first consumer versions of VHS were available,
but, they were very very expensive. I got my first one in the late 70s,
oh, and some of them were 1-Inch, and not the VHS-Cassette that
everyone is use to seeing. Early 1977 Star Wars boot-legs were based
on this.

ref Kate's character, I agree with, cmulwee001,
there is more evidence that Kate is away taking care of Aunt Ruth,
than anything else.

video taping was invented in 1956 and mass marketing of VHS started
around 1976,

I leave the detailed research up to others, but this kind of basic info is
just a google click away :-)

Wrong and wrong.

The first demonstration of videotape recording was by RCA in 1953.

No VHS machine was sold in the US prior to 1977.


So how about you leave the detailed research to me.... :rolleyes:

They deliberately did NOT write Kate dying into the series as the cast hard a hard enough time dealing with Bea Benaderet's death in real life. Plus it would NOT have been fitting for a lighthearted series like PETTICOAT JUNCTION.

I disagree - the girls made it clear that Kate had passed on. There was never any instance when it was implied that there was a possibility of her return. There was one time in particular when it's obvious that Kate is being referred to as gone. While the death was not written in initially, it was clear later on.

Like any other lighthearted series, death is never dwelled upon. However, look at '60s series BH, My Three Sons and Family Affair, ALL of which had deceased parents written right into the very premise -- just as PJ did (the girls' departed father).

Wrong and wrong.

The first demonstration of videotape recording was by RCA in 1953.

No VHS machine was sold in the US prior to 1977.


So how about you leave the detailed research to me.... :rolleyes:

like I posted, it was only basic research and not detailed,

but, I did find this on the internet which seems to question your 1977 date.

The first model JVC HR-3300 was announced on 9 September 1976

I disagree - the girls made it clear that Kate had passed on. There was never any instance when it was implied that there was a possibility of her return. There was one time in particular when it's obvious that Kate is being referred to as gone. While the death was not written in initially, it was clear later on.

Like any other lighthearted series, death is never dwelled upon. However, look at '60s series BH, My Three Sons and Family Affair, ALL of which had deceased parents written right into the very premise -- just as PJ did (the girls' departed father).


ok, This is an area I have seriously researched.

It is over the top obvious, based on text of the script and the way the
episodes are presented, acted, edited, character history, etc,
that Kate, is still around and is away taking care of sick relatives.

For this there is actual script evidence that supports why Kate is gone,
where she went, and why she is staying there.

For anyone, who has ever had to care for an elderly sibling, with perhaps
a challenging medical situation, either handicapping or mental in nature,
realizes the full time commitment it takes. We do not know what is
wrong with Aunt Ruth, only that Aunt Ruth is close enough to Kate,
to have Kate leave the hotel in the hands of Uncle Joe and her
children. Perhaps, Aunt Ruth is actually Kate's sister, which would be
a good reason for Kate to make such a long commitment.

No way, does being gone mean being dead.

but

I do not have access to video versions of the episodes in question,
(not publically available in a video format)
I only have my notes, so I can not citationaly reference a specific
quote and episode time-frame to support my opinion.

How ever, everything I have written about Kate,
strongly shows her to still be around.

ok, This is an area I have seriously researched.

[snip]

but

I do not have access to video versions of the episodes in question,
(not publically available in a video format)


You mean a video format like YouTube? "seriously researched". Cool story, bro. :lol:

I didn't have an issue with June Lockhart; I liked the Janet Craig character...although the show never was the same after Bea Benadaret died.

My bigger issue was the show's insistence on pushing the Betty Jo/Steve relationship/marriage/family. They became the centerpiece of the show toward the end...and it really bogged down the pace of the program. That last season was a real stinker. Not having Betty Jo in as many scenes with the other Bradley sisters was bad and permanently damaged the show's chemistry.

The early seasons were the best, for sure. Of course, that's true for a majority of tv series.

I voted Never boned the fish. I always liked that show through all the stages. I missed Kate, but what can you do? Bea died!! I'm glad the show still went on!

I know some will disagree, but for a show that ran 7 seasons based on the premise of 3 single, attractive sisters, each old enough to marry (excluding Betty Jo early on), I think it makes a lot of sense that at least one get married at some point...! Especially when you consider that women in the south were known to get married relatively young.

(The real-life romance of Mike Minor and Linda Kaye Henning did have an effect, as normally Billie Jo would've been the one to marry Steve.)

So while I don't disagree that Billie or Bobbie should've been married first, I'll still maintain that the one marriage was pretty much necessary to keep the scripting from getting stale. I also liked the cottage, and the arrival of Kathie Jo -- a nice tribute that the baby was named for Kate.

I know some will disagree, but for a show that ran 7 seasons based on the premise of 3 single, attractive sisters, each old enough to marry (excluding Betty Jo early on), I think it makes a lot of sense that at least one get married at some point...! Especially when you consider that women in the south were known to get married relatively young.

(The real-life romance of Mike Minor and Linda Kaye Henning did have an effect, as normally Billie Jo would've been the one to marry Steve.)

So while I don't disagree that Billie or Bobbie should've been married first, I'll still maintain that the one marriage was pretty much necessary to keep the scripting from getting stale. I also liked the cottage, and the arrival of Kathie Jo -- a nice tribute that the baby was named for Kate.


Me too. I loved the addition of Steve. And that he married one of the sisters, and had little Kathie Jo (nice that they named her for her Grandma) . And their cottage was adorable! Plus at that point I found Bobbie Jo (my fav of all the sisters) at her funniest. She was such an airhead and hilarious! :D

The show never jumped the shark, BUT if I had to point out a direction where I wished it had not gone was when June Lockhart joined the cast. After Bea died they had an episode or 2 with Rosemary DeCamp as the Kate substitute role character and I thought she was excellent in this role. I would have rather Rosemary got the Kate substitute role than June. June always seemed "too smart for the room" condescending to the other characters whereas Rosemary fit right in with everyone else.

http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?971
The pilot episode clearly had the girls skinny - dipping in the water tower. Not shown.

A second season (they had the dog and Pat Woodell is still Bobbie Jo) episode, the girls and the dog are splashing about in the water tower. True enough, the girls wore modest swimming suits.

If I can spot that defect, surely others can spot some more subtle boo boos.

Bea was the STAR who really held the show together; it was never the same after she passed. May she Rest In Peace; she was such an under-rated talent—sadly it was this last show of hers that showed how really great she was. I also loved her in Burns and Allen.