20 Facts About ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ You Probably Didn’t Know

By K. Gitter
7 years ago

11. TV Ratings Hit

Despite criticism, the show was a huge success. Only three weeks on air, it hit the first spot in TV ratings, gaining the reputation of the fastest rise to the number 1 spot in TV history. It then managed to stay there for a record-breaking two seasons and maintained its position in the top 20 for eight seasons, only dropping down during its last year on the air.

12. His Role Ruined Him

American actor Maximilian Adalbert “Max” Baer Jr. played the character, Jethro Bodine. Baer believed that by playing the role he limited himself to the opportunity of playing other types of characters, therefore killing his entire acting career. He played other minor characters over the years, but following Hillbillies, he mainly stuck to writing, producing and directing films.

13. Every Beginning Has Its Own End

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The success and reputation of the show were indisputable. However, in 1971, Fred Silverman, CBS executive, claimed there was too many “rural” type shows being aired on the network at the time and the network was concerned about becoming type cast for that niche market. And the show was canceled and came to its end.

14. All the Way to the Bank

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A show’s high TV ratings mean more sponsors and more bucks. By taking a closer look at the Clampett fortune from start to finish, a growth from $25 million to $100 million by the end, is no laughing matter!

15. A Rejected Novel Finds Its Glory

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After Buddy Ebsen, who played the character of Jed Clampett, retired from his acting career, he started to write a novel and called it Kelly’s Quest. It’s a collection of poems revealing the story of a young girl’s journey through joy and heartbreak to learn important lessons about love and life. Ebsen approached nine publishers but all declined to publish it. Because of these rejections, the actor decided to publish it himself. The novel made it to number 3 on the Los Angeles Times paperback best-seller list in 2001.

16. From the Scratch

The idea for the show came about when Paul Henning was on a trip through the South, visiting Civil War sites with his mother-in-law in 1959. The concept was based on the notion of taking someone from the rural South and placing them in the middle of a modern, more sophisticated community. The plan was to set the series in New York, but because of initial cost considerations, the location was changed to Beverly Hills.

17. The Jalopy

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It is not an actor but it played an integral role in the series: the 1921 Oldsmobile Model 46 Roadster. Paul Henning donated the car to the museum in May 1976 for its Bicentennial celebrations. In 1967, the beaten up car made it across the ocean for a selection of episodes that were filmed in England. The truck was dismantled after some Clampett adventures in the U.K.

18. Movie Adaptation

The Beverly Hillbillies movie was released in 1993. However, it was not as successful as the original series. It was criticized not just by critics but also by fans. Perhaps it had to do with different actors playing the well-established roles and characters of the hillbilly clan. The film itself was criticized for failing to capture any of the charm of the original series, even being called “one of the worst movies of this or any year.”

19. The Best Episode

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The episode “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” is the show’s most successful episode. It gained more attention and more fans started to watch the series. That episode was ranked number 62 on TV Guide‘s 100 Greatest Episodes Of All Time in 1997 – The only episode of the series included on the list.

20. Inspired Walt Disney’s “Silly Symphonies” Animation

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Buddy Ebsen, playing the Hillbillies’ Jed Clampett, was a successful actor/dancer who worked in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in films with the likes of Shirley Temple and Judy Garland. His willowy dance moves were actually used as inspiration for Walt Disney’s animated Silly Symphonies.

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