Elliott Lewis Movies

Jack Sheldon guest stars as Ronnie Colman, latest beau of the Bradley girls' longtime nemesis Henrietta Plout (Lynette Winter). His name notwithstanding, Colman is not a movie star but instead the owner of a cropdusting business. In her efforts to advance Ronnie professionally, Henrietta's mother Selma (Elvia Allman) resorts to dirty trickery to put the boy's chief rival, Steve Elliott (Mike Minor), out of business. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Don Ameche guest stars as George, the deceptively charming uncle of Steve Elliott (Mike Minor). No sooner does Uncle George arrive in Hooterville than he lives up to his reputation as a grade-A troublemaker, inadvertently leaving dissension and hurt feelings in his wake. Former series regular Rufe Davis briefly returns to his old role as engineer Floyd Smoot, substituting for the ailing Byron Foulger (Wendell Gibbs). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

An old land deed reveals that feckless game warden Orrin Pike (Jonathan Daly) is legal owner of Hooterville Valley. This news comes a tad late to Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan),who has just banished Orrin from the Shady Rest. Now Joe must do a quick 180-degree turnaround and pull off the biggest suck-up job in history to get back into Orrin's good graces! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When Floyd (Rufe Davis) retires as conductor-engineer of the Hooterville Cannonball, his successor turns out to be the notoriously lazy Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan). To the surprise of one and all, Joe proves to be super-efficient at his new assignment; unfortunately, he also drives everyone crazy by rigidly adhering to the CF&W Railroad's timetable. Unfortunately, the train company is looking for a quick tax write-off--and what could be quicker than selling the Cannonball? This episode includes clips from the earlier installments "The Valley Has a Baby" and "The Santa Claus Special". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Greg Mullavey guest stars as Jerry Roberts, the latest boyfriend of Billie Jo Bradley (Meredith MacRae). Quite taken by Jerry, Bobbie Jo (Lori Saunders) hopes to persuade him to marry her sister--and as a result everyone at the Shady Rest smothers the poor boy with hospitality! Interestingly enough, Meredith MacRae and Greg Mullavey would later marry in real life--the second couple matched up by Petticoat Junction (the first, of course, was Linda Kaye Henning and Mike Minor). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When game warden Orrin (Jonathan Daly) is seen buying a ring, everyone in Hooterville assumes that he's poised to propose to Bobbie Jo (Lori Saunders). However, Orrin is merely running an errand for shy, marriage-minded mountaineer Merlin Ferguson. This episode marks the TV acting debut of former LA Rams defensive tackle Merlin Olsen, who went on to star in his own series Father Murphy and Aaron's Way. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Bradley girls hope that a family camping trip will end the hostility between Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) and game warden Orrin Pike (Jonathan Daly). Unfortunately, being in even closer proximity than usual serves only to make matters worse. All this changes, however, when a hungry bear arrives on the scene, with Uncle Joe as the likely "lunch". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of a two-part story, baby Kathy Jo receives a most unusual birthday present: A chimpanzee who likes to pick pockets. As the story progresses, the chimp makes a shambles of the Shady Rest, prompting Kathy's parents Betty Jo (Linda Kaye Henning) and Steve (Mike Minor) to demand the simian's removal. But Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) has grown fond of the chimp, and goes to great lengths to avoid sending him back to his original owner. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) is in hot water again, this time for catching far more than the legal limit during a fishing trip. All that can save Joe from jail is for someone to step forward and vouch for his "good character"--and who in Hooterville is willing to risk committing perjury? This episode introduces Jonathan Daly as Orrin Pike, bumbling game warden and erstwhile boyfriend of Joe's niece Bobbie Jo (Lori Saunders). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Orrin Pike (Jonathan Daly) hopes to prove himself a worthy game warden by nabbing a pair of livestock poachers. Unfortunately the two crooks turn out to be a couple of nasty motorcycle bums--and poor Orrin isn't a fighter, he's a poet. One of the villains is played by a young Harry Dean Stanton, here billed as Dean Stanton so as not to be confused with actor Harry Stanton, who is cast as the sheriff (Clear as mud??) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Upset that baby daughter Kathy Jo is taking up so much of Steve's time, Betty Jo (Linda Kaye Henning) insists that Steve (Mike Minor) take her on a second honeymoon. The couple returns to their own cottage, where they must not only put up with a lack of utilities but also the crafty duplicity of local realtor Mr. Haney (Pat Buttram in his familiar Green Acres) role. Worse still, the cottage is invaded by a pair of annoying newlyweds and a couple of bums named--now get this--Stanley and Oliver. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Singer Rudy Vallee guests in this episode as H.A. Smith, a powerful industrialist who has journeyed from Erie, Pennsylvania to repay his long-ago benefactor--none other than Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan). Smith has come Hooterville to offer Joe the opportunity to become a millionaire many times over. But Joe is both confused and suspicious: He has never been in Erie in his life--and he certainly has never met anyone named H.A. Smith! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi