Petticoat Junction Boned the Fish When...

[TMC]

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.

[Scarecrow]

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

[Marvo301]

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.

[MichaelKeith]

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.

[Mr. Television]

The show was over after Bea died.

[McGillicuddy]

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.

[biffbronson]

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

[biffbronson]

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.

[MichaelKeith]

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!

[biffbronson]

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_Re.../warmtips.html

[MichaelKeith]

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

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

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...

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

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.

[MusicTrooper]

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

[cmulwee001]

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?