After watching quite a few "Petticoat" episodes last week, it got me wondering why there's a lot more singing on "Petticoat" than on the other shows in the Hooterville universe. And why does it tend to be easy listening/MOR (or rock in the case of the Ladybugs) instead of the country/bluegrass you would associate with the setting of the show?

I loved when they had sing alongs around the piano!!!

It was because of the cast. Pat Woodall, the original Bobby Jo had a great singing voice. In fact she eventually left the show to pursue a music career. Linda Kaye Henning could sing. Meredith Macrea could sing. Rufe Davis and Smiley Burnett could sing. Mike Minor could sing. With so many cast members who could sing it was just natural that music and singing would play a significant part in the show.

It was because of the cast. Pat Woodall, the original Bobby Jo had a great singing voice. In fact she eventually left the show to pursue a music career. Linda Kaye Henning could sing. Meredith Macrea could sing. Rufe Davis and Smiley Burnett could sing. Mike Minor could sing. With so many cast members who could sing it was just natural that music and singing would play a significant part in the show.


;) :)

In keeping with the old-fashioned feel of the series' surroundings, and the hotel in particular, the singing harkens back to an earlier era when families would gather around the piano in the evenings. Of course we now tend to gather around the TV or other electronics.

I will say too that The Beverly Hillbillies did have its share of music at times, including Flatt & Scruggs, Pat Boone, and Roy Clark -- but sometimes it was part of the comedy, like Jethrine at the piano or Pearl's yodeling. Or Jethro's "Bodinaphone" electronic-washtub invention, electrocution resulting ("cut the juice!") -- with a band that included a gorilla (already having a "hit song"). PJ's songs tended not to be comical, with some exceptions (some Pratt/Burnette songs, Rufe Davis/Floyd Smoot doing sound effects, etc.).

Some claim that PJ was "ruined" by "all of that singing" later on, but music was always a part of the show -- including Kate at the piano.

In keeping with the old-fashioned feel of the series' surroundings, and the hotel in particular, the singing harkens back to an earlier era when families would gather around the piano in the evenings. Of course we now tend to gather around the TV or other electronics.

I will say too that The Beverly Hillbillies did have its share of music at times, including Flatt & Scruggs, Pat Boone, and Roy Clark -- but sometimes it was part of the comedy, like Jethrine at the piano or Pearl's yodeling. Or Jethro's "Bodinaphone" electronic-washtub invention, electrocution resulting ("cut the juice!") -- with a band that included a gorilla (already having a "hit song"). PJ's songs tended not to be comical, with some exceptions (some Pratt/Burnette songs, Rufe Davis/Floyd Smoot doing sound effects, etc.).

Some claim that PJ was "ruined" by "all of that singing" later on, but music was always a part of the show -- including Kate at the piano.


I loved when Charlie and Floyd sang "Steam cinders and smoke"! :)

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I would be one to agree that the singing, esp. in the latter years of PJ DID ruin the show. Esp. that bleeting that Mike Minor would do. He seemed like if he were in the 1940's maybe his cheap imitation of Dick Haymes might have been popular, but in the '60's it was just further evidence how out of touch the series had become with the rest of America.

I still love the show even in those last years when it became more a dramedy than sitcom but that singing is the worst. Fortunately I watch it on DVD now and I can fast forward thru the unlistenable warbling that goes on more and more often as the series aged. Thank you FF button!:)

I do agree though that Floyd and Charlie's musical numbers were very entertaining, love that train sound effect.;)

I loved when Charlie and Floyd sang "Steam cinders and smoke"! :)

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Me too!

I would love to be on the Cannonball singing Christmas carols with the Hooterville residents!!! That was beautiful with the train all decorated!!! I'm glad METV showed that ep tonight!!!

I would love to be on the Cannonball singing Christmas carols with the Hooterville residents!!! That was beautiful with the train all decorated!!! I'm glad METV showed that ep tonight!!!
I watch this episode on DVD every year at Christmas time!

I watch this episode on DVD every year at Christmas time!

That was a great ep.!!! Besides all the festive singing I liked the part where Bobbie Jo kisses Eb under the mistletoe in Sam's store, then he falls over the display of cans and knocks them down, and says "I've been kissed"!!! :D than Kate kisses Sam, and he does and says the same as Eb! :lol: That's cute!!! ;)


And that cute cow Floyd and Charlie were delivering as a gift, decorated for Christmas!!! :)

That was a great ep.!!! Besides all the festive singing I liked the part where Bobbie Jo kisses Eb under the mistletoe in Sam's store, then he falls over the display of cans and knocks them down, and says "I've been kissed"!!! :D than Kate kisses Sam, and he does and says the same as Eb! :lol: That's cute!!! ;)


And that cute cow Floyd and Charlie were delivering as a gift, decorated for Christmas!!! :)
I love that one of the farmers in Hooterville was giving his wife a cow for Christmas.(If Floyd ever remembers to drop it off from the train!) And then Floyd has to milk the cow before they can start decorating the train!!

I love that one of the farmers in Hooterville was giving his wife a cow for Christmas.(If Floyd ever remembers to drop it off from the train!) And then Floyd has to milk the cow before they can start decorating the train!!


Poor Floyd. He was kind of confused in this ep. because Charlie was impatient with him and kept yelling at him!!! :( :D

It was because of the cast. Pat Woodall, the original Bobby Jo had a great singing voice. In fact she eventually left the show to pursue a music career. Linda Kaye Henning could sing. Meredith Macrea could sing. Rufe Davis and Smiley Burnett could sing. Mike Minor could sing. With so many cast members who could sing it was just natural that music and singing would play a significant part in the show.

Sometimes it looks like they are either promoting a song as a possible hit with radio airplay and others as if that's what they want to try to do.

Were any of these songs ever released as singles for radio airplay?

Sometimes it looks like they are either promoting a song as a possible hit with radio airplay and others as if that's what they want to try to do.

Were any of these songs ever released as singles for radio airplay?
I don't know if any songs were ever released for Radio airplay but after the episode in which Uncle Joe turned the girls (along with Sherrif Ragsdale's daughter played by Sheila James) into "The Ladybugs" a female version of "The Beatles" the girls apeeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in character as "The Ladybugs"!

I liked when they sang "Shine on harvest moon"!

I think it may be useful to remember, that the elder cast, either remember or went through the days of vaudeville. If an actor could not sing and dance, that was the end of their entertainment career. Probably the oldest exception I can conjure was John Wayne, but that is another matter. Most of the younger cast, considering a lot of the music at the time, was not inspirational, with the exception of having ear muffs handy.