Petticoat Junction: A Heartwarming Journey Through Hooterville

Hey there, let me take you back to the good old days when the world felt a little simpler. As the Hooterville Cannonball train thundered through the fictional town of Hooterville every week from 1963 to 1970, families across America gathered around their TV sets to watch Petticoat Junction. This beloved show followed the heartwarming adventures of a spunky widow, Kate Bradley, and her three beautiful daughters as they managed the Shady Rest Hotel. It was a time when wholesome entertainment ruled the airwaves, and Petticoat Junction was right at the heart of it all.

Petticoat Junction was the brainchild of the same creative team behind The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres. These shows were part of what became known as the rural revolution in television during the early '60s. "There wasn’t any violence, swearing, or anything risqué," Lori Saunders, who played the charming brunette Bobbie Jo, told Closer Weekly in a recent exclusive interview. "It was a healthy show you could watch with your kids, and that’s something we don’t see as much these days."

A Family-Friendly Set

But the family-friendly vibe didn’t stop when the cameras turned off. The cast and crew of Petticoat Junction were like a real family. "We were one of the friendliest sets around," Linda Kaye Henning, who portrayed the red-haired tomboy Betty Jo, reminisced. "We all genuinely got along, and that’s what made our work environment so special."

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Sometimes, though, the younger cast members couldn’t help but let loose and have a little too much fun. Lori Saunders remembered those hilarious moments when laughter would break out during scenes. "We were shooting a church scene once, and one of us would make another giggle, and then we’d all burst out laughing," she recalled with a chuckle. "We couldn’t stop! I think we had to do five takes that day!"

Memorable Mischiefs

Actress Lori Saunders also shared a fun memory from a promotional stop in Atlantic City. "We did a matinee and two evening shows, singing and dancing — it was a whirlwind promotion for Petticoat Junction," she said. "We were wearing these white, thigh-high boots, and by the end of the day, we were so tired of them. After the show, we took them off and dumped them into the ocean!" Can you imagine that? Such antics only added to the camaraderie that made this show so special.

Dealing with Loss

Of course, life on set wasn’t always filled with laughter. The cast also faced tough times, especially when their beloved star, Bea Benaderet, who played Kate, battled lung cancer. "She had a tough time, but she was always a consummate professional," Lori recalled. "Toward the end, we were shooting a scene, and her hand was shaking. I put my hand over hers, and that’s how we finished the scene. It was a moment that bonded us all even closer."