Network: CBS
Episodes: 222 (half-hour)
Seasons: Seven
TV show dates: September 24, 1963 – April 4, 1970
Series status: Cancelled/ended
Performers include: Edgar Buchanan, Linda Henning, Bea Benaderet, Lori Saunders, Mike Minor, Meredith MacRae, Jeannine Riley, Pat Woodell, June Lockhart, Smiley Burnette, Rufe Davis, Gunilla Hutton, Frank Cady and Charles Lane.
TV show description:
Widow Kate Bradley (Bea Benaderet) runs the Shady Rest Hotel, the only boarding house in the small rural town of Hooterville.
Helping Kate is her lazy Uncle Joseph “Joe” P. Carson (Edgar Buchanan) and her three beautiful daughters; Betty Jo (Linda Kaye), Bobbie Jo (Pat Woodell, later Lori Saunders), and Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley, later Gunilla Hutton and Meredith MacRae).
When not running the hotel or becoming entangled in her daughters’ lives, Kate is at odds with Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane), the vice-president of the C.&F.W. Railroad. Bedlow is intent on closing down the sole steam-engine train to Hooterville and putting its staff out of work; engineer Charley Pratt (Smiley Burnette) and conductor Floyd Smoot (Rufe Davis).
Later in the series, handsome crop duster Steve Elliott (Mike Minor) marries Betty Jo and the two have a baby together.
When Kate passes away, her sister Helen (Rosemary DeCamp) briefly helps run the hotel. Later, hotel resident and town physician Dr. Janet Craig (June Lockhart) is on hand to bring stability to the hotel.
The series is a spin-off of The Beverly Hillbillies and spawned Green Acres (which also takes place in Hooterville). Characters from each of the three shows appeared on the others. Amiable general store owner Sam Drucker (Frank Cady) is often seen on both Acres and Junction.
More about:
Petticoat Junction
