Cruising
The famous truck that had Granny’s chair strapped onto it was an integral part of the show. The image of the family with all of their belongings packed onto the car is quite well known, but you might have not known that the car was actually owned by cousin Pearl.
Cruising
Political Actress
Nancy Kulp played Miss Jane Hathaway, and although she was a great actress, she also had political aspirations as well as being a linguist and a teacher. After spending nine years on the show, she decided to leave in order to run as the democratic nominee fo Pennsylvania’s U.S. House of Representatives.
Political Actress
Cheap Estate
Beverly Hillbillies creator Paul Henning paid about $500 to shoot at the Bel Air mansion that was built in 1933 and named the Kirekyby Mansion. This was where the beloved titular family was shown to live on the show, and after the show’s run ended, it was sold to Jerry Perenchio.
Cheap Estate
Camera Friends Only
Buddy Ebsen, who played Jed Clampett, didn’t get along sow ell with Nancy Kulp behind the scenes. He was not a fan of her political views and even agreed to take part in a radio ad for her opponent in order to hurt her chances of winning.
Camera Friends Only
Sharon Tate’s Wig
Actress Sharon Tate appeared in several TV shows and movies during the 1960s before she was tragically murdered by the Manson Family in 1969. However, she did have a recurring role on Beverly Hillbillies as Janet Trego. She wasn’t as recognizable on the show because she wore a brunette wig.
Sharon Tate’s Wig
Strike It Rich
Just as Jed Clampett suddenly found himself a large fortune, the cast of The Beverly Hillbillies became overnight stars with newfound fame and fortune. At first, the cast brought in $25 million but by the end of the show’s run that number grew to $100 million.
Strike It Rich
Alzheimer’s Kicks In
Raymond Bailey played the banker Mr. Drysdale on the show and made quite the impact on his fans. However, during the last two seasons of the show he began showing signs of Alzheimer’s. In fact, his condition was getting more obvious in the last few episodes of the show.
Alzheimer’s Kicks In
Shady Business Dealings
Max Baer Jr. played fan favorite Jethro Bodine, Jed’s adopted nephew. He was quite business savvy and when he caught wind of the fact that a restaurant chain was using his name without his permission and CBS knew about it, he sued CBS and actually won.
Shady Business Dealings
Two for One
Max Baer Jr. had absolutely no problem throwing on a dress and a wig in order to play Jethrine, Jethro’s twin sister. However, the character was voiced by Linda Henning, daughter of show creator Paul. These bits are absolutely hilarious.
Two For One
Hidden Scandal
There was a bit of drama on the show which involved Sonny being Margaret Drysdale’s son. While there wasn’t really a problem with that, the show had mentioned that he was a Drysdale, but experts claim that his actual last name was Adonis, and the show’s writers didn’t use that name until later seasons.
Hidden Scandal
Animals on Set
You might remember the raccoon that could be found on Elly May Clampett’s back. The actress who played her had no problem working with animals, which also included critters like skunks and pigeons. There was a full time trainer on the set that help the animals on the set.
Animals On Set
Start the Day Right
One of the main sponsors of the show was Kellogg’s, and this was very apparent on the show. After the show’s theme song and credits, Jed Clampett can be seen pointing at something off-screen, and when the camera pans, you can see a billboard advertising Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.
Start The Day Right
Typecasting
Max Baer Jr., whose real name is Maximilian Adalbert, is best known for his role as Jethro Bodine. When she show came to an end, he wanted to branch out into other types of roles, but he struggled because he found that the industry wanted to type cast him into similar roles.
Typecasting
Jed Clampett’s Ballad
The show’s theme song, called “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” told the story of the family’s rags to riches story. Jerry Scoggins sang the theme song, and the music was played by Flatt and Scruggs, a bluegrass duo. When the show was first aired, the theme song reached #44 on the Hot 100 chart on Billboard.
Jed Clampett’s Ballad
Granny Moses
At this point, it’s pretty much impossible to imagine anyone but Irene Ryan playing the role of Granny. However, another actress that was considered for the role was Bea Benaderet. Ultimately, she wasn’t chosen because the show’s creators thought she was too busty, but she was a good sports about it.
Granny Moses
Made for Hillbilly Life
A lot of people remember Buddy Ebsen from his role on film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in which he played a role that was actually similar to the role of Jed Clampett. Many assume that thanks to his role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, he was offered the role on The Beverly Hillbillies.
Made For Hillbilly Life
Almost Retired
Many times in life, everything is about timing. Although Buddy Ebsen was one of the most successful actors on the show, he actually almost retired before the show went on the air. He was seriously considering leaving the entertainment industry but in the end decided to take the role on the show. We’re sure he was very happy about this decision.
Almost Retired
My Levi’s
Towards the end of the show’s first season, legendary jean company Levi-Strauss decided to take advantage of the fact that Elly May was such a popular character and that she was known for wearing jeans. In fact, the company sold more jeans in one year after she helped them out than they had in more than 100 years.
My Levi’s
The Right Name
The show was originally supposed to be called The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills, but it was then deemed to be too long. Of course, The Beverly Hillbillies has a much better ring to it. However, you can see the original title in the pilot episode.
The Right Name
Payment for a Cowboy
John Wayne is certainly the most famous cowboy of them all, and he actually made a cameo appearance in the fifth season’s episode “The Indians Are Coming.” Rumor has it that he accepted a fifth of bourbon for his work on the show.
Payment For A Cowboy
The Show Lives On
Max Baer Jr. is the only living member of the original cast. He still has dreams of opening up restaurants and casinos in Las Vegas that are Beverly Hillbillies themed. He actually already has the sub-licensing rights for slot machines and food items.
The Show Lives On
A Talented Family
Buddy Ebsen and his sister Vilma moved to Los Angeles in 1936, where they were cast in Broadway Melody, a show that was acclaimed and nominated for many awards. Buddy was poised to be a star. His sister did get some more parts after the show but she later decided to retire, have children, and open up her own dance studio.
A Talented Family
Iconic Wheels
The beloved Hillbillies family drove around in a 1921 Oldsmobile Roadster truck, which then became very famous and the one used on the show was donated to a museum in honor of the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations. It was also shipped overseas to England for some European episodes.
Iconic Wheels
Over the Rainbow
Before Buddy Ebsen played Jed Clampett, he actually had worked with the likes of Shirley Temple and Judy Garland. He was also originally cast to play the scarecrow on The Wizard of Oz, but the role was ultimately given to Ray Bolder and Ebsen played the Tin Man instead before he had to drop out after becoming ill from the aluminum dust in his makeup.
Over The Rainbow
The Man with Many Talents
Buddy Ebsen was not just a very talented actor, he was also a danger and musician. In fact, he pursued his music career after Beverly Hillbillies ended its run, releasing an album called “Buddy Ebsen Says Howdy.”
The Man With Many Talents
Timeless Beauty
Donna Douglas played Elly May Clampett, but before the show she was a beauty pageant contestant, winning Miss Baton Rouge and Miss New Orleans. When she was still in high school, she played softball and basketball.
Timeless Beauty
Not Too Old
Irene Ryan proved that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. After she successfully played the role of Granny, she was offered to play a similar role, but she declined in order to move to New York and try her hand at Broadway.
Not Too Old
Say Goodbye
Even though The Beverly Hillbillies was one of the most successful shows of its time, the CBS decided to cancel the show in 1971. CBS executive Fred Silverman said that the show had lost its appeal and was no longer a unique way to portray rural life.
Say Goodbye
Number One
When the show was first aired, it was an immediate hit. In fact, it rose to the very top of the TV slots in just three weeks. This funny show broke countless TV show records during its run.
Number One
Too Late
30 years after The Beverly Hillbillies was on TV, a movie version came out in 1993. However, it wasn’t able to replicate the show’s success. It’s likely due to the fact that so much time had passed since the show was at its peak. It was universally panned and deemed one of the worst movies ever made.
Too Late
Dr. Granny
On the show, Granny was frequently called Dr. Granny, with her full title being Dr. Granny, M.D., however she was not a real doctor. The MD actually stood for “Mountain Doctor,” as her specialty were folk remedies.
Dr. Granny
The Dinners
Even though the Clampetts came into a huge fortune, they still chose to save money when they could. That meant that they would enjoy their dinners together on their pool table. They had no need for a fancy table when they already had the pool table!
The Dinners
Fish out of Water
While the expression “fish out of water” usually refers to a person that is in a situation that makes them feel out of the ordinary, the show was often called a fish out of water since it pioneered a new genre. It stood out, but it did so in a positive way, and the expression was actually a compliment.
Fish Out Of Water
Small Town Girl
Irene Ryan was born in October 1902 and was originally from San Francisco. She died in 1973 in Santa Monica. Even though her character Granny talked about being from Limestone, Tennessee and lived a sheltered life, Ryan was a world traveler and had many pursuits that she went for throughout her life.
Small Town Girl
Best Episode
While there are varying opinions on the matter, according to TV Guide, the show’s most popular episode was “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood.” Making it onto the cover of TV Guide was quite the accomplishment, and it showed just how talented all these actresses were.
Best Episode
Hillbilly Barbie
Jed’s daughter Elly May was known for her beauty but also for preferring to play with outdoor critters rather than painting her nails. Mattel made a Barbie doll of her, but didn’t get Donna Douglas’ permission first, so she decided to sue the company even though she was flattered.
Hillbilly Barbie
Street Smart
The word “hillbilly” is often seen as a slur and refers to someone who isn’t very bright. However, despite the fact that Jed Clampett didn’t have a lot of formal education, once he did strike oil he used his street smarts and common sense to make decisions that landed him a vast fortune.
Street Smart
Same Neck of the Woods
True fans of the show might remember when Pat Boone appeared in an episode. The pop singer played himself and was thrilled to be a part of the show. His one condition to appear was to be portrayed as hailing from the same area as the rest of the hillbillies.
Same Neck Of The Woods
The Fine Print
The entertainment industry is a tough one, so often legal documents are involved with many aspects of showbiz. After the show was canceled, CBS bought the rights to the show, but the network didn’t renew the rights for the first 33 episodes, which are therefore available on the public domain.
The Fine Print
Collective Comfort
When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, it stunned the country. The eight episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies that aired after the tragic event were the highest rated in TV history, so it seemed that the show brought people together for an escape from reality through laughter.
Collective Comfort