When “The Beverly Hillbillies” premiered in 1962, it quickly became a comedic hit. It ran for almost nine years, entertaining audiences throughout the decade. Even after it ended, the show continued to be popular in reruns, allowing new viewers to enjoy the humor. Despite its widespread popularity, there are still many unknown facts about the series that fans might not know.
Today, we’re diving into 10 surprising facts about The Beverly Hillbillies. So sit back, relax, and let’s take a trip down memory lane.
1. It’s not entirely oil-accurate
The story of the Beverly Hillbillies is pretty simple as it’s about a guy named Jed Clampett, who was a “poor mountaineer” and struggled to put food on the table. Turns out, it hit an oil deposit, and all of a sudden, crude oil started gushing out. In fact, Oil deposits aren’t usually found near mountains because of how the geology works. They’re more commonly found in desert areas or arctic seas. So, it’s hard to believe that a mountainous region could have an oil pocket like the one in the story.
2. The Beverly Hillbillies took 3 weeks to race on the top of the ratings
The Beverly Hillbillies became a big hit in just three weeks and grabbed the number one spot on the ratings charts. That’s a big deal because it broke records that had been around for decades. And get this, it happened during a time when things were pretty tense in society. Even after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, CBS kept airing episodes and somehow managed to bring a little joy to Americans who were grieving. The show was a great mix of harmless humor and lovable characters. It was just what people needed to brighten their lives during that time.
3. The movie was snubbed by critics
The Beverly Hillbillies was a show that had its fair share of critics. Some people loved it, while others really didn’t. There wasn’t much middle ground when it came to opinions about the show.
In a 1964 interview with The Independent, the creator of the series, Paul Henning, mentioned that television critics didn’t hold back when it came to their negative reviews of The Beverly Hillbillies. They used some pretty harsh words to describe it.
Paul Henning didn’t let the critics bother him. He just kept making more episodes and ended up becoming a wealthy man. He had very little to worry about, including what people thought of his shows.
“Of course, it’s only human to smart a little under their attacks, but I don’t let them worry me,” Henning said. “Fact is, I don’t have time to worry about anything except to keep on schedule with the two programs. My wife even letters me at the office so I’ll know what’s going on at home.”
Henning saw comedy as his profession. He aimed to ignore distractions and concentrate on his main task: entertaining the audience watching from home.
“The critics today aren’t content to say they don’t like a program when it starts,” Henning said. “If it is one that gains popularity, they seem to keep snipping at it, as though seeing it high in the ratings every month annoys them.”
4. The show’s original title was lame
It seems it took the writers a few tries to find the perfect title for the show, The Beverly Hillbillies. At first, they called it The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills, but that sounded kind of boring and repetitive. The producers agreed and decided to come up with something better.
The longer title was only used in an early version of the pilot episode, which was called “The Clampetts Strike Oil.” Interestingly, we don’t know exactly who came up with the final title that we all know and love. But by the time the second episode aired, they had already changed it to The Beverly Hillbillies.
5. The urban rise killed the show
Many people might think that The Beverly Hillbillies ended because it had run its course and everyone was ready to move on. But the truth is, the show didn’t end because of any controversies or problems. It was actually a victim of something called the “rural purge” that happened in the early 1970s.
During that time, several long-running shows with rural characters and settings, especially on the CBS network, were canceled. Even though these shows still had decent ratings, they were mainly watched by older, rural viewers. Advertisers were more interested in reaching younger, urban audiences, so these shows were taken off the air as part of the “rural purge.”
6. The Clampetts is much richer than you think
When the first season of The Beverly Hillbillies premiered in 1962, Jed Clampett’s fortune was valued at $25 million. They were reportedly worth $100 million when the final episode aired.
To put it into perspective, $25 million in 1962 would be equivalent to over $200 million in today’s money. And the $100 million the family had at the end of the series would be around $750 million in today’s money, without even considering the interest earned on investments, real estate holdings, or additional business profits.
The Clampetts didn’t just have their oil field as an asset. They also owned other valuable properties. Their house, known as the Chartwell Mansion, had a rich history in Hollywood. It was built in the 1930s and was quite expensive.
7. Bea Benaderet helped Irene Ryan land a role
When it came to casting the role of Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies, veteran actress Bea Benaderet was initially considered. However, some thought her physical build was too “busty” for the part. Others say she simply turned it down due to her busy schedule with other projects. No matter what, Benaderet suggested that actress Irene Ryan take the part, instead.
And it turned out to be a great suggestion. Irene Ryan’s audition for Granny was so fantastic that the studio executives were immediately convinced she was the perfect fit. They brought her on board without hesitation. As for Benaderet, she landed the role of Cousin Pearl instead. The character of Cousin Pearl was specifically created by the show’s scriptwriter, Paul Henning, with Benaderet in mind.
8. Jed Clampett switched from a fool to a wise older man
Even though The Beverly Hillbillies playfully mocks the under-educated hillbilly stereotype, Buddy Ebsen, who played Jed Clampett, had a condition before taking on the role. He wanted his character to have a good amount of common sense to balance out his simple upbringing. So, the writers made Jed Clampett a wise and knowledgeable older man. This change meant that the character of Jethro would take on the role of the not-so-bright one.
It turned out to be the right decision because Jethro became a major source of comedy on the show. His character provided ample opportunities for the rest of the cast to create humorous situations and interact with him.
9. The show was a political hotbed off-set
Nancy Kulp played Jane Hathaway on the show and worked closely with Buddy Ebsen, who portrayed Jed Clampett. Despite spending years together on set, they weren’t exactly friends. They had very different political beliefs and didn’t shy away from debating politics. Years after The Beverly Hillbillies ended, the on-set feud would spill over into Kulp’s real-life political aspirations.
In 1984, Kulp ran uncontested as the Democratic nominee for the House of Representatives, challenging incumbent candidate Bud Shuster. Buddy Ebsen, supporting Shuster’s campaign, publicly called Kulp “too Liberal.” Unfortunately, she lost the election, receiving only 33% of the vote. The feud between Kulp and Ebsen grew and lasted for years until Kulp’s passing in 1991 due to cancer.
Before her death, Kulp and Ebsen managed to reconcile and bury the hatchet, which Ebsen expressed remorse about. The political differences that caused the rift had finally been put to rest.
10. The Clampett’s truck was donated to the Ralph Foster Museum
The truck used by the Clampetts on The Beverly Hillbillies was a 1921 Oldsmobile 43-A roadster called the “Swamp Rat.” It had its rear section removed and replaced with a truck bed. The famous Hollywood vehicle customizer George Barris, who also built the original Batmobile, discovered the truck behind a feed store in Fontana, California. For the show, four more copies of the Swamp Rat were created, but only one of them still exists today.
The original truck was donated by the series creator, Paul Henning, to the Ralph Foster Museum in Branson, Missouri. In the museum, visitors can see a letter from Henning explaining how he planned to deliver the car. Granny’s rocking chair and shotgun are also displayed in their proper spots behind the driver’s seat, adding to the authenticity of the exhibit.
