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.
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.
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.