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Though it wasn’t always well-received by critics, The Beverly Hillbillies stands as not only one of the most popular shows of the 1960s but one of the most popular in all of television. Through nine seasons on the air, Americans loved the poor, simple antics of a family who moves to an upper-class neighborhood in Beverly Hills after making a fortune following the discovery of oil on their land. Fans still watch reruns shown in syndication to this day and it’s ranked among the top 20 most watched TV shows of all time. Want to learn a few more things about The Beverly Hillbillies? These 20 amazing facts you’ve never heard before. 1. A Lot Of Hatred and Criticism The show was among the top 20 most-watched programs on television, with a number of episodes labeled as the most-watched television episodes of all time. It even collected a total of seven Emmy nominations during its run. Despite that success, the show was not exempted from criticism and hatred. The New York Times wrote that the show was “strained and unfunny,” while Variety said it was “painful to sit through.” The worst criticism read – “If television is America’s vast wasteland, the ‘Hillbillies’ must be Death Valley.” 2. Political Strife Nancy Kulp, who played the character of Miss Jane Hathaway, secretary of Mr. Drysdale, tried and ran for office as the Pennsylvania Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives when she was 62 years old. That was after her acting career. Her Beverly Hillbillies‘ co-star Buddy Ebsen, who during the show did not get along with her, volunteered to make a radio campaign in support for Kulp’s opponent and called her “too liberal” on the air. Kulp lost the election and was bitter to him because of what he had done. 3. A Cheap Mansion Rumor was spread that the creator of the show, Paul Henning, paid $500 to film in a Bel Air mansion that the Beverly Hillbillies lived in after striking oil. That price is a top bargain compared to what he’d have to pay today. 4. The Theme Song The show’s theme song was titled “The Ballad of Jed Clampett.” It was originally sung by the country western singer Jerry Scoggins, featuring the bluegrass duo Flatt and Scruggs. The song became the show’s trademark and was also recognized for its popularity, landing up at #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962. 5. John Wayne to fight the "Injuns" On the show’s fifth season, John Wayne had a small guest appearance. On the episode titled “The Indians Are Coming,” Granny kept mentioning her hopes country star John Wayne would show up and help fight the “Injuns,” – yes, that’s Indians with an accent! Coincidentally, at the end of the episode, John Wayne actually does show up, and Granny’s dream is fulfilled. Reportedly, Wayne was happy to accept a fifth of bourbon as payment for his appearance on the show. 6. Have you seen Sharon Tate? Sharon Tate may have been most famous, being one of the victims of the Manson family killings, as well as being the pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski at the time, but she also played a recurring role on the American Hillbillies. She appeared approximately 15 times on the show in the recurring role of bank teller Janet Trego. Many fans did not recognize her at first because she’s in disguise wearing a brunette wig. 7. The Last Man Standing Max Baer Jr., who played the role of Jethro Bodine is the only remaining actor from the main cast alive. He had dreams and ambitions to create a series of Beverly Hillbillies themed hotels, restaurants, and casinos in Nevada. 8. Mattel's Doll Controversy Donna Douglas who played the character of Elly May could not really be defined as the princess type. However, this did not stop Mattel toy company from featuring her character as one of three Barbie dolls in its Classic TV Collection. In 2011, Douglas decided to sue Mattel for using her likeness without her consent on the doll. In the end, the actress ended up settling the suit. 9. How to cook Granny's Fried Possum Granny, who was portrayed by Irene Ryan, is known in the show to cook fried possum. It is true that fried possum may not sound particularly appetizing, but a lot of cooking books and recipes were inspired by Granny’s cooking, including Granny’s Beverly Hillbillies Cookbook, rated for its recipes, photographs, and character profiles. 10. Barnaby Jones Barnaby Jones was a TV detective series portrayed by Buddy Ebsen. The series was on CBS from 1973 to 1980 and it was as this character that Ebsen appeared in the 1993 movie adaptation of his famous television show – The Beverly Hillbillies. Below you can see a great clip of Ebsen's, explaining women to Max Baer Jr! 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. (Source: Definition) If you LIKE this story, please SHARE this story! RELATED: The Mansion From ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ Is The Most Expensive House In America

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