Showbiz is a tough industry, which is the reason actors, producers and even network executives need to know how to read legal documents or find someone who does. When “The Beverly Hillbillies” was canceled after nine seasons, CBS bought the rights to the show, but somehow the network didn’t renew the rights for the first 33 episodes.
Their ownership is unclear, and these episodes are now available in the public domain. That didn’t stop random people from releasing the first seasons on both DVD and VHS over the years.
Street Smarts
If you have somehow missed this fact, the term ‘hillbilly’ is not very complementary and usually refers to someone who is backward or not very smart. Although this was never really discussed on the show, Jed Clampett barely had any formal education.
Because he couldn’t attend many schools, he is not very book-smart. Fortunately, when he strikes oil, Jed Clampett uses his common sense and makes sound decisions about his newfound fortune.
From the Same Neck of the Woods
Die-hard fans of “The Beverly Hillbillies” may remember crooner Pat Boone’s appearance on the show. The pop singer played himself in one special episode. Boone happily agreed to be on the show, and had only one condition, he wanted to be from the same part of the country as Jed, Granny, and the other hillbillies.
What an enjoyable thing to see, famous singer Pat Boone Hillbilling it up with the Clampetts in front of the whole darn world. As if we needed another reason to love him.
JFK
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. America as a whole was both stunned and inconsolable after his passing. Strangely enough, the eight episodes of “The Beverly Hillbillies” that were aired after the assassination are the highest-rated episodes in television history.
It could just be a funny coincidence, but we believe that the country needed to escape the harsh reality for some simple laughs. There’s a reason it was one of the most popular shows of the decade.
Cruising
The family truck, with Granny’s chair strapped to the top, and Jethro’s grinning face behind the wheel saddled down with everything but the kitchen sink, is a well-loved part of “The Beverly Hillbillies”. While they were cruising around, the Clampett’s were on the lookout for roadkill, which they would take home and cook.
The swanky truck was owned by their cousin Pearl. She loaned it to them to help move to California after striking it rich. It was very thoughtful of her to loan them her 1921 Oldsmobile.