TeleTales #93…You Mean It Wasn’t A Real Hotel?

TeleTales #93…You Mean It Wasn’t A Real Hotel?

Did you know that “Petticoat Junction”, created by Paul Henning, was based on the stories told him by his wife Ruth, who had spent summers at a small hotel located near the train station in Eldon, Missouri?

Speaking of Missouri, that’s where Henning was raised, and on a camping trip near Branson, he wrote the Ballad Of Jed Clampett, and came up with the idea of “The Beverly Hillbillies”.

Henning also wrote for Fibber McGee And Molly, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Dennis Day, “The Real McCoys” and “The Andy Griffith Show”. The first show he created was the 1955 hit, “The Bob Cummings Show”. If you ever wondered if the Linda Henning that played Betty Jo Bradley was related to Paul, the answer is yes…she was his daughter.

After interviewing 1,500 women for the parts of the three sisters, he could only pick two. That’s when Bea Benaderet recommended Linda for the part of the oldest sister. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee

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9 Comments

  1. Clark Humphrey March 3, 2015

    The other two sisters were recast at least once.

  2. Anita Conrad February 27, 2015

    Thanks Dan! I always loved their petticoats as they made their dresses stand way out !!! This was popular when I was a young girl !

  3. Dan Morrison February 27, 2015

    BURRIS HOTEL IN ELDON INSPIRED “PETTICOAT JUNCTION” TV SERIES…..

    http://childofthesixtiesforeverandever.blogspot.com/2012/01/petticoat-junction_26.html

  4. Priscilla Fain Anderson February 27, 2015

    Not only were the actresses (who played the Bradley girls) beautiful, they were also very much ‘ladies.’ Don’t see much, if any, of that on sitcoms now.

  5. Don Cox February 27, 2015

    Transferred film to tape for many of this series. Thankfully, have forgotten most of them.

  6. Robert Howe February 26, 2015

    Shot at the old General Service Studios (Now Hollywood Center Studios) Spent many a day there with George Burns.

  7. Bob Paine February 26, 2015

    You too, Russell? I was madly in love with the second Bobbie Jo.

  8. Kent Ayers February 26, 2015

    I always thought that Linda Henning played the youngest sister.

  9. Russell Ross February 26, 2015

    Always had a crush on the brunette….. think her show name was Bobbi Jo?