Although Buddy Ebsen had a successful acting, writing, and music career after “The Beverly Hillbillies” was canceled in the early 1970s, he was considering retirement before the hit show even went on air. He was actually thinking about quitting show business just before the series went into pre-production.
It’s clear that he had a change of heart, and the first episode, named “The Beverly Hillbillies: The Clampetts Strike Oil,” premiered in 1962. The crew finished work on the pilot in December 1961, and there was no stopping after that.
Not the Critics' Choice
The long-running show was a hit for a little over nine years. Fans really connected with simple country folk making a mess of things in snooty Beverly Hills. Critics, however, simply couldn’t see the appeal. Despite the show earning seven Emmy nominations over the years, critics still found it “strained and unfunny” and “painful to sit through.”
Despite their views, no one can argue with the series’ popularity and success, making it one of the most viewed shows on television. The studio tried to recapture the magic by making a film version in 1993, but the film got awful reviews and had only moderate earnings. The original spark just wasn’t there.
Actress Turned Politician
Nancy Kulp played the role of Miss Jane Hathaway on the show as a love-starved and perpetually single woman. She was a great actress, but had many other talents, she was also a teacher, linguist and aspiring politician.
Kulp had studied to become a publicist, but after her move to Hollywood, she found herself in front of the camera and not behind the scenes. After nine years on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” she quit acting and turned to politics, and ran as the democratic nominee for the US House of Representatives for Pennsylvania.
An Inexpensive Estate
Paul Henning, the creator of “The Beverly Hillbillies”, paid $500 to shoot in a mansion in Bel Air. The estate they used is known as the Kirkeby Mansion, which was built in 1933 and surrounded by manicured lawns and a sprawling garden.
This location became known as the fancy mansion the Beverly Hillbillies lived in after striking it rich. When the show finally wrapped, the mansion was sold to TV mogul and real estate developer Jerry Perenchio. He tore down most of the house to construct an even bigger mansion and add underground parking.
Friends on Camera
Buddy Ebsen played the show’s comic lead, Jed Clampett. It turns out that Ebsen and cast mate Nancy Kulp did not have a very friendly relationship behind the scenes. Ebsen, who was not a fan of Kulp’s political views, even volunteered to help her opponent by starring in a radio ad against her.
Nancy ran as the democratic nominee for the House of Representatives in 1984 and lost to Republican Bud Shuster by a rather large margin. It was reported that Nancy was quite hurt by Buddy’s behavior and was quoted saying “He should have stayed out of it.”
Sharon Tate In A Wig
Sharon Tate, an American model and actress, played a few parts in movies and TV in the 1960s. Unfortunately, she is most widely known as a victim of the Manson Family murders in 1969. Sharon and husband, director Roman Polanski, were expecting their first child at the time of her death.
She had a recurring part on the show as Janet Trego and appeared in roughly 15 episodes. During her appearances, Sharon would wear a brunette wig to make her less recognizable.
Striking It Rich
Just like Jed Clampett’s sudden financial windfall, “The Beverly Hillbillies” quickly became a huge hit, making stars of all participants, including the actors and producers. The not-so-cleaner but warm-hearted Clampetts won America’s hearts by keeping it real and not putting it on air.
All these lovable characters hit upon a recipe for success. At the beginning of the show, “The Beverly Hillbillies” made $25 million, and at the end, the show brought in more than $100. That is quite an accomplishment and a pretty great salary!
Plagued by Alzheimer’s
The banker on “The Beverly Hillbillies” made a lasting impact on fans. Every new millionaire needs some financial advice on how to manage their money. Raymond Bailey played the financially savvy Mr. Drysdale on the popular show.
Sadly, in the last two seasons of the show, Bailey began to exhibit early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. In the last few episodes, his condition was quite apparent. Raymond Bailey was forced to quit acting not long after the show ended and passed away in 1980 at the age of 75.
Shady Business Dealings
Jethro Bodine, who played Jed’s adopted nephew on the show, was a favorite amongst fans. He was played by Max Baer Jr., as dimwitted but good hearted. In real life, he was so savvy that he managed to sue CBS and win. He actually leveled five different charges against the TV industry.
It turns out that a restaurant chain was using the actor’s name, and CBS knew about it, but for whatever reason, they never shared the information with Baer. Instead, the network made some kind of secret settlement agreement, and Baer was quoted as saying: "It's not a secret deal; we just can't talk about it."
Two for The Price of One
Max Baer Jr. had no qualms about putting on a dress and playing his character’s twin sister, Jethrine Bodine. Which is a good thing because the scenes with her were hysterical. Although he played both Jethro and his plain twin, Jethrine’s voice was done by Linda Henning.
Linda is the daughter of Paul Henning, the inventor of “The Beverly Hillbillies”. The skits are not only iconic but also side-splittingly funny. Remember, the show was still shot in black and white, which made Max Baer Jr. one of the first male actors to play a woman’s role on television.
Hidden Scandal
Allegedly, there was a bit of drama on “The Beverly Hillbillies” with Sonny really being Margaret Drysdale’s son from a previous marriage. Even though there is no real issue with this, the show always mentioned him as Sonny Drysdale, which wasn’t his last name.
Experts on the show know that Sonny’s last name was Adonis, after his father and Margaret’s first husband. It is unclear why the writers would include such a progressive twist, but not use it until much later seasons.
Animals On The Set
Your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, there really is a raccoon on her back, but she’s still smiling. Elly May Clampett was known for keeping a wide variety of animals in the hillbillies’ mansion. It’s clear from this shot, that she felt very comfortable with all sorts of critters and not just ordinary house pets. The popular show featured everything from skunks to pigeons.
But Elly May wasn’t expected to charm the beasts by herself, there was a full-time animal trainer on set named Frank Inn. He took care of the furry friends, and the cast really enjoyed having them around. Or at least the cats and dogs, not sure about the skunks and racoons.
Start Your Day Off Right
Did you know that Kellogg’s was one of “The Beverly Hillbillies” main sponsors? It doesn’t seem like they were trying very hard to hide this fact. After the opening credits and theme song, Jed Clampett is clearly pointing to something off-screen. The camera moves to show Kellogg’s Corn Flakes on a billboard.
As the theme song continues, it shifts into the famous slogan, “K-E-Double L-O-Double Good. Kellogg’s best to you”. The show’s beloved characters were brand spokespersons for many years, as seen clearly in this ad.
Typecasting
You’d be surprised to learn that Max Baer Jr.’s real name is Maximilian Adalbert. That name sure sounds fancy! Baer is most famous for his role as slow but lovable Jethro Bodine on “The Beverly Hillbillies.” But after the show wrapped, the actor felt like he was having a hard time finding other roles, especially ones where the character is something other than a good-hearted hick.
This is actually quite common in Hollywood, where actors can be pigeonholed into similar types of roles. After a number of similar opportunities, Baer decided to make a change and focused on writing, producing, and directing rather than acting.
The Ballad of Jed Clampett
The show had a catchy theme song, telling the age-old tale of rags to riches. The song was suitably titled “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” with lyrics performed by Jerry Scoggins and music by bluegrass duo Flatt and Scruggs.
Even if you don’t know every single episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies” by heart, you can probably hum along with the song about “Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.” The iconic tune even became a hit on the year the show debuted, and made it to number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Granny Moses
It's almost impossible to imagine Granny as anyone other than Irene Ryan, but initially, producers were considering experienced actress and voice sensation Bea Benaderet for the role. Astonishingly, they felt that Bea Benaderet was too large and busty to pass convincingly as roadkill-eating Granny Moses.
The seasoned actress didn’t hold a grudge and apparently even recommended Irene Ryan, who was booked instantly after her wonderful screen test. Her audition can be seen as a bonus feature on the DVD extras.
Made to Be a Hillbilly
Lovers of 60’s movies are already familiar with Buddy Ebsen from the classic film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” In the film from 1961, he plays a character very similar to Jed Clampett. Due to his work in the film, Buddy Ebsen was offered the starring role in “The Beverly Hillbillies” one year later.
Ebsen played such a great hic that this time, we didn’t even mind the typecasting. Who else could so wonderfully portray the miner turned millionaire that won over our hearts?
Almost Retired
Although Buddy Ebsen had a successful acting, writing, and music career after “The Beverly Hillbillies” was canceled in the early 1970s, he was considering retirement before the hit show even went on air. He was actually thinking about quitting show business just before the series went into pre-production.
It’s clear that he had a change of heart, and the first episode, named “The Beverly Hillbillies: The Clampetts Strike Oil,” premiered in 1962. The crew finished work on the pilot in December 1961, and there was no stopping after that.
My Levi’s
America just goes nuts for a beautiful blonde in a pair of jeans (also apparent from the successful show “The Dukes of Hazzard”.) At the end of “The Beverly Hillbillies” first season, legendary jean makers Levi-Strauss acknowledged that the gorgeous Elly May was good for business.
In an interview, A brand executive said, “Donna Douglas had done more for the sale of blue jeans in one year than cowboys had done in a hundred.”
Just the Right Name
The show was originally supposed to be called “The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills,” but stringing the whole thing together as “The Beverly Hillbillies” just works a whole lot better. The only place the initial name appears is in the pilot episode. By episode two, the title was changed for the better.
We hope whoever came up with the new title at least got a raise or a promotion! They are definitely a part of the show’s success and should be recognized for their contribution to the history of television.
Payment Fit for A Cowboy
John Wayne has basically been the first thing to pop into your head when someone says cowboy forever. Wayne did a cameo on the fifth season of “The Beverly Hillbillies”, in an episode called “The Indians Are Coming”.
The memorable scene shows Granny wishing that the famous cowboy would suddenly appear and help them fight the Indians (this was obviously a less politically correct climate). Suddenly, the infamous gunslinger does appear! The Hollywood rumor mill claims that Wayne was paid for his appearance with a fifth of bourbon. That is just plain cool.
The Show Lives On
Max Baer Jr., who played Jethro Bodine on the show, is the only member of the main original cast who is still alive today. He still has one dream he has not accomplished, regarding “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Based on the show, Baer wants to build themed restaurants and casinos across Las Vegas, Nevada.
He has managed to land sub-licensing rights for slot machines and food items, so hopefully, fans can continue enjoying the wacky characters for many years to come.
One Talented Family
Buddy Ebsen and his sister Vilma moved to Los Angeles in 1936. Both siblings were cast in a hit musical film called “Broadway Melody”. The movie went on to be nominated for three Academy Awards and won another for Best Dance Direction. It was clear that Buddy Ebsen was going to be a star.
His sister is still mostly known for “Broadway Melody,” although she did have a few more parts in other films and Broadway plays. A few years later, she retired from show business, had children, and opened her own famous dance studio.
Iconic Wheels
The hillbillies got around in a 1921 Oldsmobile 46 Roadster truck. The iconic car, which had become quite famous over the years, was donated to a museum in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial celebrations. The famous wheels were even shipped across the seas to England for some episodes that took place in Europe.
The expense was well worth it because the famous hicks wouldn’t go anywhere without their jalopy. This picture shows all of the car’s very special accessories. Our personal favorite is the horn!
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Years prior to Buddy Ebsen’s successful portrayal of Jed Clampett, the actor worked on Broadway alongside Shirley Temple and Judy Garland. Strangely enough, he began work with Garland on her most famous role in the classic movie “The Wizard of Oz” as the Scarecrow, but when Ray Bolger was cast, he was given the role of the Tin Man.
Sadly, he had an adverse reaction to the metallic makeup and had to resign from the role. Although Buddy Ebsen blamed “The Wizard of Oz” for ongoing health troubles later in life, he actually outlived all the other main stars from the film.
A Man of Many Talents
Buddy Ebsen had a natural knack for show business with his many talents. He wasn’t only an accomplished actor with dance credentials, but boy, could he sing. So the natural next step after the success of “The Beverly Hillbillies” was to find another place to let his inner hillbilly shine.
Ebsen began to put out country music songs with folksy undertones. Now it was clear; he could not only look at the part, but he could sound it too! His songs are warm and cozy and add a homey feel to the country music scene.
Timeless Beauty
Despite the major differences in hair and clothing trends since the 60s, Donna Douglas’ innate beauty has always shined through. During her high school years, Douglas was an athlete and played for both the basketball and softball teams.
Before getting her big break in show business, she was crowned Miss New Orleans and Miss Baton Rouge. Donna Douglas won pageant after pageant, and it’s not very hard to see why. Not long after she was discovered, she became widely known as Elly May Clampett.
Never Too Old
It is never too late to make your dreams a reality, something which Irene Ryan took to heart after “The Beverly Hillbillies” came to an end. Although she was best known for her role as Granny and was offered a similar role on TV soon after the show was canceled, Irene Ryan decided to decline.
Instead, she decided to move to New York and try out her skills on Broadway. Her success is a lesson for all of us that you are never too old to reinvent yourself!
Time To Say Goodbye
All good things must come to an end, even with a track record of incredible ratings and adoring fans. The network decided to cancel “The Beverly Hillbillies” in 1971 after nine successful seasons. CBS executive Fred Silverman felt that the show had lost its appeal and was no longer unique in its portrayal of rural life.
By then, the network was running similar shows like “Petticoat Junction” and “Green Acres.” Due to the popularity of these competing shows, which also portray small-town life, the Clampetts were no longer welcome.
We’re Number One!
It is almost impossible to imagine how excited the creators, actors, producers and crew became when “The Beverly Hillbillies”, which had only been on the air for three weeks, became number one in television ratings. This was the fastest rise to the number one spot in the history of television.
The wacky sitcom broke all kinds of TV records. It remained the number-one-rated show for a whopping two years and stayed in the top 20 for an incredible eight seasons. Hats off to the hillbillies!
Too Little Too Late
Almost thirty years after the release of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” a movie spinoff came out in 1993. The show was an instant and lasting hit, so the movie would probably break box office records, right? Unfortunately, that was not the case.
It could be the long break between the series and the film or having new actors play the beloved Clampetts. Regardless of the reasons, critics and audiences alike rejected the movie and declared it as one of the worst films ever. The funny thing is, we really enjoyed the campy classic.
Dr. Granny M.D.
Folk remedies are still popular in almost every home, especially when there is a need to save some money on expensive medicine. This is especially true for a real hillbilly like Granny, who went by doctor on the show.
Her full title was actually Dr. Granny M.D., but instead of standing for Medical Doctor, the initials stood for Mountain Doctor, and she was one heck of a fine physician. It seems like a lot of her advice would be better for you than a lot of fancy prescriptions we get nowadays.
What's for Dinner?
Never mind their newfound millions, the Clampetts believed in saving when they could. The family often gathered to enjoy their dinner around the pool table. Why shoulder the expense of a fancy dining table when you can use the billiard game instead? That makes some sense, we guess.
What makes things even sillier is that they decided the rhinoceros head on the wall was a billiard, and that is how the room got its name. Just when you think the Clampetts are onto something, they leave you shaking your head and laughing.
Fish Out Of Water
You’ve heard the expression like a fish out of water before. It usually means that a person is in a situation that makes them feel out of their natural element. They don’t fit in with the people or the environment, which makes them stand out, hence the expression.
“The Beverly Hillbillies” was also referred to as a fish out of water. The first television show to ever be called such, due to the fact that it invented a whole new genre. The show really stood out, but in a good way, and the use of the expression, in this case, was meant as a compliment.
Just a Small-town Girl
Actress Irene Ryan was born in San Francisco, California, on October 17, 1902, and died in Santa Monica, California, in 1973. Even though she was a native Californian, Ryan was a seasoned traveler due to her many TV, movie, radio and Broadway pursuits. Granny, on the other hand, lived a much more sheltered life.
On the show, she often talked about being born and raised in Limestone, Tennessee. These talks showed us just how good an actress Irene Ryan was because we believed every word. The way Granny talks and acts is spot on for everything her character represents.
Best Episode Ever
Though opinions still differ even today, “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” was ranked as “The Beverly Hillbillies” most popular and successful episode in all of the show’s nine seasons. The episode was considered as having directly added fans to the show and was also featured on TV Guide’s “100 Greatest Episodes of All Time” list in 1997, at number 62.
That is quite an accomplishment! The women on the show were a big part of the reason it was so great. The show would never be the same without these amazing actresses.
Hillbilly Barbie
Elly May was Jed Clampett’s beautiful daughter. Despite her beauty, she preferred playing with critters to doing her nails and other girly pursuits. Mattel still decided to make her into one of three Barbie dolls as part of their Classic TV Collection.
Although actress Donna Douglas felt flattered by the doll, she decided to sue the company for not getting her consent to produce it. The greatest issue was the use of an old black-and-white photo of her on the packaging. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court.
Street Smarts
If you have somehow missed this fact, the term ‘hillbilly’ is not very complementary and usually refers to someone who is backward or not very smart. Although this was never really discussed on the show, Jed Clampett barely had any formal education.
Because he couldn’t attend many schools, he is not very book-smart. Fortunately, when he strikes oil, Jed Clampett uses his common sense and makes sound decisions about his newfound fortune.
From the Same Neck of the Woods
Die-hard fans of “The Beverly Hillbillies” may remember crooner Pat Boone’s appearance on the show. The pop singer played himself in one special episode. Boone happily agreed to be on the show, and had only one condition, he wanted to be from the same part of the country as Jed, Granny, and the other hillbillies.
What an enjoyable thing to see, famous singer Pat Boone Hillbilling it up with the Clampetts in front of the whole darn world. As if we needed another reason to love him.
Read The Fine Print
Showbiz is a tough industry, which is the reason actors, producers and even network executives need to know how to read legal documents or find someone who does. When “The Beverly Hillbillies” was canceled after nine seasons, CBS bought the rights to the show, but somehow the network didn’t renew the rights for the first 33 episodes.
Their ownership is unclear, and these episodes are now available in the public domain. That didn’t stop random people from releasing the first seasons on both DVD and VHS over the years.
JFK
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. America as a whole was both stunned and inconsolable after his passing. Strangely enough, the eight episodes of “The Beverly Hillbillies” that were aired after the assassination are the highest-rated episodes in television history.
It could just be a funny coincidence, but we believe that the country needed to escape the harsh reality for some simple laughs. There’s a reason it was one of the most popular shows of the decade.
Cruising
The family truck, with Granny’s chair strapped to the top, and Jethro’s grinning face behind the wheel saddled down with everything but the kitchen sink, is a well-loved part of “The Beverly Hillbillies”. While they were cruising around, the Clampett’s were on the lookout for roadkill, which they would take home and cook.
The swanky truck was owned by their cousin Pearl. She loaned it to them to help move to California after striking it rich. It was very thoughtful of her to loan them her 1921 Oldsmobile.
Signals Crossed
Even these days, with emails and smartphones, wires get crossed. This was much more common in the 1960s when communication was still mostly done by mail. So, you can only imagine the mistakes TV networks had to deal with in those days. A Dutch company called NCRV aired what they believed was the last episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies” in 1966.
Although, the show was actually still immensely popular and going strong. The mistake wasn’t discovered until 1973. At that time, the show had ended and finished being broadcast all over the world. The Dutch, however, were in for a treat because NCRV then aired the missing six years of episodes.
Top Dollar
In 1962, “The Beverly Hillbillies” introduced us to Jed Clampett, a rich man who was true to himself despite receiving a massive fortune of $25 million. Taking into account inflation, that would be around $195 million dollars today.
Remember when we said that by the end of the ninth season, the Clampetts were worth more than $100 million? That would translate to about $583 million in 2017. Can you even imagine coming into that much money? Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Where can we sign up?
Duke
As we mentioned before, Frank Inn was the animal trainer on the set of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” and he was in charge of the Clampett family pet. Duke, the beloved bloodhound, was a fixture in the Clampett house. Obviously, since he had been with Jed long before he moved to California and had even been by his master’s side when they struck oil.
Talk about a man’s best friend! The way Duke’s fur folds and rolls all over is the cutest, but it also keeps him looking a bit sad and often befuddled.
Commerce Bank
It is a well-known fact that the Clampett’s kept their money at Milburn Drysdale’s Commerce Bank, on “The Beverly Hillbillies.” What is not so well known is that the bank is named after a real bank in Kansas City, Missouri.
It turns out that Paul Henning, the creator of the hit show, lived right by the bank when he was a kid and raised it up from obscurity. When you have your own hit show, you can use things from your own life, too.
Quite a Mouthful
In both movies and television shows, the names of characters are extremely important. The name gives insight into the character and helps audiences to know what to expect. Sometimes, leaving off a name makes it interesting.
It is unclear why, but the show’s creators decided to name Margaret Drysdale’s father, Lowell Fahrquar. We’re not sure how to pronounce that last name, either. Now try to say it ten times fast. But seriously, you can’t go wrong with a Smith or a Jones.
We Are Family
“The Beverly Hillbillies” ran from 1962 to 1971. The popular show had an amazing run with nine terrific seasons and a whopping 274 episodes. Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, and Donna Douglas were the only three actors to star in every single episode of the show. It seems like Jed, his daughter Elly May, and his mother, Granny, were the real backbone of the series.
Honestly, the connection between these three generations makes us a little jealous, especially in this rare photo of all three together while in character. (We suspect that Jethro was also in every episode, but the picture is still pretty great).
Jed Clampett...Writes Poetry?
Buddy Ebsen was not only an accomplished actor, he was also a published author. He released a novel called “Kelly’s Quest.” You may have missed it because the book came out years after he quit show business. The novel included a collection of poems about a young woman named Kelly and her journey through life with all its highs and lows.
Despite the fact that nine different publishers rejected him, Buddy Ebsen decided to publish the book on his own. With its unique take on life, the book reached the number 3 spot on the LA Times paperback best-seller list in 2001.
A Girl’s Best Friend
Both the original television series from the 60s and the movie remake from the 90s featured chimpanzees. As we’ve mentioned before, Elly May had a soft spot for animals. She kept two pet chimps named Skipper and Bessie.
There really is nothing cuter in the world than a chimpanzee in a cute little dress, which we believe is some shade of purple. After cats and dogs, these are probably the third cutest critters we’d want to play with on the set of “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Beauty and brains, what a combination!
Here Comes Barnaby
Now, who does this actor from the notorious 1993 Beverly Hillbillies movie remind you of? Buddy Epsen appeared in the movie, and he was still pretty darn good. However, the actor wasn’t only a household name for his starring role as Jed Clampett; he also headlined another successful series, “Barnaby Jones.” Buddy Ebsen and Lee Merriweather starred in the detective series.
The duo played a father and daughter-in-law team who ran a private investigation firm in LA. The show was quite successful and ran for seven seasons. Sadly, the legendary actor passed away at the ripe old age of 95 years old in 2003.
A Bright Idea
The original concept for the show came to creator Paul Henning in 1959 while he was traveling through the south and visiting important locations from history. The whole thing hinged on transplanting someone from the rural south smack into an upper-crust community.
His first thought was for the show to take place in New York City, but that was both complicated and expensive, and they decided to change the location to Beverly Hills. Paul Henning is also the man who brought two other hit shows to the world, “Petticoat Junction” and “Green Acres.”
Granny’s Beverly Hillbillies Cookbook
The show took Irene Ryan from a vaudeville player to a recognized Emmy Award-nominated actress. She was best known for her portrayal of Granny Clampett, and Granny had more than her share of quirks. It’s easy to recall her cooking up her famous “vittles,” such as fried opossums.
Luckily, this is not one of the recipes in her popular cookbook, but it was the inspiration for a few delicious others. The cookbook had more than recipes, it includes pictures and character descriptions from the infamous series.
Granny Delivers a Whooping
If you watch any season of the show, you can always catch Granny knocking some sense into Jethro repeatedly. The indomitable Irene Ryan admitted once in an interview that she was pleased every time hitting him was required in the script.
She also confessed that she put all her strength behind every single blow. Jethro was young and strong, but even he had to be feeling sore after more than a couple of takes!
She Was Left All Alone
Irene Ryan, who portrayed Granny on the show, felt she had no family to leave her fortune to. She had no surviving heirs, and all of her fame, glory, and essence were left to the Irene Ryan Foundation. The foundation has been providing scholarships and financial support to theater students and professionals since its establishment in 1972.
When Ryan decided to leave everything she owned to the establishment, it was because she wanted to make a statement. She wanted to emphasize her commitment and dedication to the industry and support young actors who wanted to make their dreams come true.
A Way to Master an Accent
Baer Jr took his role very seriously and came up with a creative way of mastering the accent he had on the show. Baer was born and lived for most of his life in Northern California, and he would listen to music records of Jonathan Winters and Andy Griffith before he auditioned for a part on "The Beverly Hillbillies."
This way, he could study every hidden nuance and bring Jethro's accent to perfection. He adopted a distinguished Southern style, however, that was not all. Baer worked tremendously hard on adapting to Southern body language, which is noticed by its free spirit and unrestrained ways.
Multi-Talented
Raymond Bailey was many things before becoming Milburn Drysdale on "The Beverly Hillbillies." Not only did he keep himself occupied with regular jobs to make a living, but he also held some very interesting positions. For a while, Bailey was a pineapple plantation worker, he was a merchant seaman for several years, and he was even a banker at one stage.
Through these jobs, he gained tremendous amounts of knowledge in so many different fields, which would later be implemented into the various roles he played throughout his career. Bailey's versatility as an actor and his ability to bring authenticity to his roles delivered uncompromised success during his days in Hollywood.
It Runs in the Family
Before the show was aired, Harriet MacGibbon was better known for her roles on the theater stage. She performed on Broadway in various productions and was also a talented harp player. Harriet comes from a distinguished family, which explains how she became such a huge success. Dr. Elizur Deming was her great-grandfather.
He was best known and appreciated for his work as a pioneering American psychologist and educator. His work helped to improve teaching methods and learning practices, which are still significant today. One of Deming's greatest achievements is his book "Psychology of Learning," which was published in 1922 and was used as a textbook in many institutes for years.
Made a Copyright Mistake
This next fun fact is pure unprofessionalism. Have you ever noticed that CBS is not the only one who broadcasts the show? So it turns out that a huge mistake was made after the first 55 episodes were aired. CBS owns the right to all 219 episodes, however, it doesn't for the first 55.
The copyright for those first episodes was never renewed, meaning no channel could broadcast these episodes, and CBS wouldn't have done anything about it. The first 55 episodes belong to the public, however, the remaining 219 will never be. High price to pay for unprofessional mistakes.
The 1981 TV Film
1981 was a big year for Paul Henning. He wrote and produced a movie that was based on the television show we are all here for. The movie was named "Return of the Beverly Hillbillies," a reunion of the original cast of the show.
Unfortunately for Henning, the movie was not as successful as the show because some characters were replaced by new actors, and the setting was different, too. The movie was released more than ten years after the last episode was aired, which made it difficult to relate to the loyal and dedicated audience of the original show.
Back to the Civil War
If you think that the television series was pure imagination, think again. Many parts of American History, and especially the times of the Civil War, were a huge inspiration for the show. During the 1950s, Paul Hanning, the creator of the show, traveled down south.
He tried to imagine how a family that originated from the southern states would feel if they were placed in a modernized and upgraded place. Let's say Beverly Hills. He then put two and two together and brought "The Beverly Hillbillies" to life. A, what some would say, primitive family trying to adapt to the real world.
The Writers Re-Worked Jed Actor
Buddy Ebsen had no problem playing a character who was thought to be illiterate and not of the most intelligent kind. He was familiar with the plot and was happy to play the part. To an extent. He said that when he felt the screenwriters were taking advantage of his character (and good nature), he decided he had to draw the line.
There was no way he was going to allow the production to make fun of him and make him look stupid or useless, so he made the writers of the show go back to their working table and rephrase many of the lines that had been written already.
Donna Douglas Sings Gospel
Although Donna Douglas is best known for her role as Elly May Clampett on the show, there are many facts about her other interests not too many people know about. Her character was the beautiful, naive, and animal-loving daughter of Jed Clampett, however, in reality, there was much more to her. Besides being a very talented actress, Douglas was a singer and author, too.
In 1980, she released an album called Donna Douglas Sings Gospel, which was her interpretation of one of her favorite styles in music. Her contribution to society didn't end after appearing on the show. She became an advocate for Christian ministries, and she frequently spoke at religious events.
A Swimming Pond
There are many behind-the-scenes fun facts like this next one. The Clampett family had a famous cement pond, one of the hallmarks of the show. On the show, the members of the family referred to the pond as their swimming pool, but in fact, this was not a swimming pool at all.
This was a water tank located at the CBS Studio Center in California. The creators of the pond, or swimming pool, whatever you prefer to call it, have done an amazing job, considering this was almost fifty years ago. These days, many filming locations use real swimming pools, either in various locations or in the actual filming studios.
Number One Show
"The Beverly Hillbillies" was a huge success, even by today's standards. During the airing of the first two seasons, the show ranked almost constantly as the number one show in the United States alone. Occasionally, the show had skyrocketing numbers of viewers, with more than 60 million people tuning in to some of the episodes.
It had a great impact on American pop culture and even managed to implement some phrases into the youth's vocabulary, such as "pitiful critter" and "Weeeee doggies!" Even to this day, the stereotypical portrayal of hillbillies living in extravagance in Beverly Hills remains a cultural touchstone.
A Pet Alligator
In the third season of the show, Elly May receives a pet alligator, and she names it Albert. This was not the first time Elly May brought home an animal, as she was a huge animal lover. In no time, the reptile became a source of chaos, which contributed to the show's funny and entertaining scenes.
In reality, the alligator was actually a baby caiman, which is a type of crocodile found in Central and South America. A local zoo loaned the creature the show's production because a real alligator on set would have been a safety hazard (to the cast and the premises).
Guest Stars
"The Beverly Hillbillies" had its fair share of A-list celebs star on the show. In season 6, episode 5 of the show, Raquel Welch made a grand appearance. She played a beautiful movie star named Gloria, who escaped from the paparazzi and found herself in the family's mansion.
Sammy Davis Jr honored the show with his presence in the second season, where he played himself after being invited by Mr. Drysdale to perform at a charity event. His appearance on the show added prestige and glam to the already successful show that many big names from the industry found themselves on.