Bea Benaderet look

[jfrancispastirchak]

This is my 3000th post!!! ;D ;D ;D

CONGRATULATIONS !!! Now, back to Bea...

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

I always felt Bea's character was like Eddie Albert's Oliver on Green Acres. Both seemed to have real-world sanity while dealing with the over the top crazy characters in Hootersville.

Born of the time-honored formula of Straight Man/Foil. With some variation, but always with impecable timing, all successful comic duos dating back to vaudeville did this. Ever flustered but almost always patient, the straight man/women threw the lines, the foil got the laughs. Abbot & Costello, Burns & Allen and Lucy & Ricky all this formula.

 

[BD Sullivan]

Bea had her original surgery at, and died the following year in Good Samaritan Hospital. That, of course, was also where Robert F. Kennedy died in June 1968 after being shot. She went back into the hospital on 9/26/68 and died 17 days later.

In the original news report about her 1967 surgery, they mention that it was "major" but euphemistically refer to it as a "respiratory ailment."

 

[larkin]

I seem to recall, that The Shady Rest is located on the tracks half way between Pixley and Hooterville. The supplies, wood, other building materials to build the Shady Rest were on the train when the freight car overturned at that location. I don't remember if it was Kate's husband or father that decided it was prophecy and decided to build the hotel there instead of Hooterville. - not near any roads only accessible by rail.
I think the barbershop, movie theatre, etc. were in Pixley. Hooterville seemed to be a hamlet of just the RR station,Sam's store and the local farms.

IIRC, the distance from the Shady Rest to Hooterville changed from time to time (continuity was never PJ's best event). In some of the second-season B & W episodes, the location of the hotel is said to be 25 miles from Drucker's.

 

[FreddyE1977]

This is my 3000th post!!! ;D ;D ;D

CONGRATULATIONS !!! Now, back to Bea...

Sorry I missed it. I've been busy Googling old pictures of Lori Saunders.

 

[jwk1979]

How large was Hooterville? Always small, compared to the big city---Pixley!

Sam Drucker was also a voice-of-reason on both PJ & GA. There was one GA episode where Oliver IIRC was exposing some sort of scam, and Drucker bought into it, despite Oliver saying something like "Sam, you, of all people...."

cd

I remember the Sam Drucker character on "Petticoat Junction" and the Sam Drucker character on "Green Acres" being two distictly different characters. The Sam Drucker on PJ came across as a level-headed, pracitcal, voice of reason, often chiding Uncle Joe for his hairbrained ideals while the Sam Drucker on GA often came across just as wacky and absurd as the rest of the Hooterville citizens, much to the chagrins of Mr. Douglas. Often, he was the only one that could makes or tails what Mr. Haney, Mr. Kimball and Mr. Ziffel were talking about and being a notery public, thought nothing of using his seal to as a nut cracker or Arnold being treated like a person instead of a pig.

 

[jwk1979]

It might take some searching, but there have been other threads where the possible location of Hooterville was discussed, and most of the discussion leaned toward it being in central Illinois or Indiana.

This is my 3000th post!!! ;D ;D ;D

Both PJ and GA went to great length not to give any details about what state they were in, much like the Beverly Hillbillies did with where the location of the Hills the Clampetts were from. Mr. Douglas would often have to go to the state capitol for something (Business, meet with the Governor or a Government offical, etc) but it was always refered to as the State Capitol, never by the name of the city. Even when they were on highway approaching the State Capitol, the sign would say "State Capitol 25 Miles" instead of name of city-25 miles. And when Mr. Douglas went to Washington, DC to meet with his Congressman/Senator, it was always refered to as the "Kangaroo State", not the actual state they lived in.

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

I remember the Sam Drucker character on "Petticoat Junction" and the Sam Drucker character on "Green Acres" being two distictly different characters. The Sam Drucker on PJ came across as a level-headed, pracitcal, voice of reason, often chiding Uncle Joe for his hairbrained ideals while the Sam Drucker on GA often came across just as wacky and absurd as the rest of the Hooterville citizens, much to the chagrins of Mr. Douglas. Often, he was the only one that could makes or tails what Mr. Haney, Mr. Kimball and Mr. Ziffel were talking about and being a notery public, thought nothing of using his seal to as a nut cracker or Arnold being treated like a person instead of a pig.

Character schizophrenia is interesting. In a slightly different context, Chrissy's character on Three's Company was observed to shift from season to seaon. Watch the re-runs; some episodes reveal her as sweet, alert and sensitive, in others she's flat (no, guys, I didn't mean it that way) California-style ditzy.

In Sam Drucker's case, we likely witnessed an obvious, though otherwise harmless writer's oversight. Chrissy's swing (now cut that out guys!) was character developement.

 

[jwk1979]

Another thing, how did The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction begin to crossover starting with The Beverly Hillbillies episode where the Clampetts come back from their castle in London and Granny gets a call from Pearl to come to Hooterville to take care of Betty Jo and Steve's baby and the classic lines "Who's Betty Jo Elliott?" "Kate Bradley's daughter" "Who's Kate Bradley?" etc. since before that time (1968) there was no mention of Petticoat Junction or anything related to that show on The Beverly Hillbillies.

It was actually a letter from Cousin Pearl, not a phone call from Cousin Pearl, since this was after Bea Benaderet had passed away. When Jed asked Granny "Who was Kate Bradley?", she started off on some story about someone else that had nothing to do with neither Cousin Pearl or Kate Bradley.

 

[Jimme]

I noticed a big change in PJ from the first season as opposed to after Green Acres went on the air. In its first season, PJ has a lot more physical comedy, with everyone doing schtick and even Bea getting bopped with things and walking into buckets of water. Kate, Uncle Joe and Bedlow seemed to do a lot more physical stuff - racing around and moving about to other venues such as restaurants, fairs, the railroad headquarters.

Maybe when Green Acres came on, it was decided it would be the show to feature the physical comedy and PJ should be more sedate.

We don't learn the physical geography of Hooterville from the first season, but we do find out Hooterville is a little hick town compared to Pixley. Kate learns this the hard way when she learns half the hotel is in Pixley, and simple cheap building code standards may be fine for a little out of the way town like Hooterville, but not in a big bustling cosmopolitan city where the they need regulations with teeth so AALLLL the people are safe, like Pixley.

We also learn that Crabwell Corners is the rich snooty town in the area. They have all the best of everything. They have a fire truck with an engine and an electric voting booth. The dogs also get professional grooming and training for dog shows there.

 

[EZway2go]

I remember the Sam Drucker character on "Petticoat Junction" and the Sam Drucker character on "Green Acres" being two distictly different characters. The Sam Drucker on PJ came across as a level-headed, pracitcal, voice of reason, often chiding Uncle Joe for his hairbrained ideals while the Sam Drucker on GA often came across just as wacky and absurd as the rest of the Hooterville citizens, much to the chagrins of Mr. Douglas. Often, he was the only one that could makes or tails what Mr. Haney, Mr. Kimball and Mr. Ziffel were talking about and being a notery public, thought nothing of using his seal to as a nut cracker or Arnold being treated like a person instead of a pig.

Character schizophrenia is interesting. In a slightly different context, Chrissy's character on Three's Company was observed to shift from season to seaon. Watch the re-runs; some episodes reveal her as sweet, alert and sensitive, in others she's flat (no, guys, I didn't mean it that way) California-style ditzy.

In Sam Drucker's case, we likely witnessed an obvious, though otherwise harmless writer's oversight. Chrissy's swing (now cut that out guys!) was character developement.

That's an interesting observation. I never paid attention before, but you're right. They're like two different characters. I recall reading somewhere that Andy Griffith's Sheriff Andy Taylor character was originally intended to be the goofball, but then they brought in Don Knotts. Imagine how different that show would've been.

BTW, speaking of Sam Drucker, Frank Cady just died last year at 96.

 

[LKellerIII]

I would call the Andy Griffith example character development, rather than two diferent versions of a character. I recall seeing the episode of The Danny Thomas Showthat introduced Sheriff Andy Taylor. Danny is driving through a small town (don't recall whether or not it was identified as Mayberry) and is caught speeding. He has to pay the fine to Andy, who (IIRC) is the Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, and every other town official. I wouldn't say "goofball" - actually, Taylor comes off as clever and smart, but Griffith played him very broadly with a very pronounced Southern drawl and exagerrated expressions.

Griffith played it similarly - though perhaps not so broadly - in the first few episodes of the show. If I had to guess what happened - Griffith and Sheldon Leonard realized that Andy should be the foil and straight man to Barney (Don Knotts) - and the "sane person in the room," so to speak. And a TV classic was born.

Another example of character development was Edith Bunker. As I remember, Jean Stapleton played Edith as a bit sarcastic and downhearted - not as lovable or energetic - in the first few episodes of All in the Family.

 

[BD Sullivan]

Another example of character development was Edith Bunker. As I remember, Jean Stapleton played Edith as a bit sarcastic and downhearted - not as lovable or energetic - in the first few episodes of All in the Family.

Plus, if you listen to her speak in the first season episodes, she often speaks in her normal voice and not the exaggerated "New Yawk" accent she became famous for,

 

[joeybabe25]

BTW, speaking of Sam Drucker, Frank Cady just died last year at 96.

Among the members of the cast of GA I think just some of the girls, Eb, and Ralph (I think she was Ralph...I always got those two brothers names confused) are still alive.

Anyone else still out there?

Joe

 

[johnbasalla]

Merideth McRae passed away in 2000 (of brain cancer, I think). All of the other "daughters" may still be with us.

 

[jwk1979]

Among the members of the cast of GA I think just some of the girls, Eb, and Ralph (I think she was Ralph...I always got those two brothers names confused) are still alive.

Anyone else still out there?

Joe
[/quote]Tom Lester (Eb) and Mary Grace Cranfield (Ralph Monroe) are the only two cast members from GA that are still living. As far as PJ, all the girls except for Meredith McCrea, along with Mike Minor (Steve Elliot) and June Lockhart ( Dr. Craig) are the only ones still living. The actor who played Orin Pike in the last season, I haven't been able to find any thing on him at all.

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

I remember the Sam Drucker character on "Petticoat Junction" and the Sam Drucker character on "Green Acres" being two distictly different characters.

Character schizophrenia is interesting. In a slightly different context, Chrissy's character on Three's Company was observed to shift from season to seaon. Watch the re-runs; some episodes reveal her as sweet, alert and sensitive, in others she's flat... California-style ditzy. In Sam Drucker's case, we likely witnessed an obvious, though otherwise harmless writer's oversight. Chrissy's swing... was character developement.

That's an interesting observation. I never paid attention before, but you're right. They're like two different characters. I recall reading somewhere that Andy Griffith's Sheriff Andy Taylor character was originally intended to be the goofball, but then they brought in Don Knotts. Imagine how different that show would've been. BTW, speaking of Sam Drucker, Frank Cady just died last year at 96.

Re Sheriff Taylor, always believed Leonard's idea to cast Griffith as sheriff was inspired by Griffith's zaney performance in "No Time for Sargents". The addition later of Barney forced the writers to morph Andy's character into that of the classic patriarchal straigth man, sometimes moody, but always patient and always in charge, the wellspring of wisdom.

Re Sam, Interesting sidenote: A few years before his own death, Frank Cady attended Eddie Albert's funeral. Albert of course was lead character "Oliver" on Green Acres.

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

Another example of character development was Edith Bunker. As I remember, Jean Stapleton played Edith as a bit sarcastic and downhearted - not as lovable or energetic - in the first few episodes of All in the Family.

Plus, if you listen to her speak in the first season episodes, she often speaks in her normal voice and not the exaggerated "New Yawk" accent she became famous for,

LKELLER & BDSULLIVAN, observations on Edith both of you made were also acknowledged on a retro TV show some years ago. Can't recall the title, although it might have been a feature honoring it's groundbreaking producer, Norman Lear.

 

[FreddyE1977]

BTW, speaking of Sam Drucker, Frank Cady just died last year at 96.

Among the members of the cast of GA I think just some of the girls, Eb, and Ralph (I think she was Ralph...I always got those two brothers names confused) are still alive.

Anyone else still out there?

Joe

Yes, Mary Grace Canfield (Ralph Monroe) and Tom Lester (Eb Dawson) are the last two surviving
Green Acres cast members. Alf Monroe (Sid Melton) passed away in late 2011.

 

[buster2]

As for Andy Griffith's portrayal of Andy Taylor: In the first season, he played Taylor more broadly because he felt that was who the character was. Griffith obviously knew Barney would be the comic foil since Don Knotts was in the show from Day One. But after watching the show for a while, Griffith felt it was better to let his character be more "Lincoln-esque", which if you think about it, he was. Like Lincoln, Andy Taylor was clever and had a great sense of humor. But he knew when not to use his humor, too. Griffith's decision made Andy Taylor more dimensional and gave some emotional scenes with Opie and Aunt Bee much better resonance. (Think of when Bee thinks about marrying a man simply because she thinks it's best for Andy and Opie. Or the scene where Andy rides Opie too hard on his grades and has to apologize for being overbearing. Andy Taylor's response in a loving and gentle way is far richer because he's not really the caraciture he was in Season One.)