Charles Stewart Movies
- 1968
June Lockhart makes her first series appearance as Dr. Janet Craig, the new replacement for Hooterville's Doc Stuart (Regis Toomey). Upon discovering that the town now has a female MD, the menfolk are none too pleased about it--nor are their jealous womenfolk! Although Bea Benaderet) is still billed in the opening credits, the actress died a month before this episode originally aired. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Bea Benaderet (Kate Bradley) does not appear in this episode, in which Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) and husband Steve (Mike Minor) solemnly promise each other never to remove their wedding rings. Alas, Betty breaks her promise, whereupon she accidently drops her ring down the kitchen sink drain. Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) grabs his trusty wrench and tries to retrieve the ring--neglecting to turn off the water in the process! The climax of this episode, in which the entire kitchen is flooded, was the subject of a TV Guide article which offered a behind-the-scenes peek of how the flooding effect was achieved. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) is delighted when his old pal Sam Drucker (Frank Cady) decides to vacation at the Shady Rest. Brimming with anticipation, Joe arranges all sorts of sporting expeditions for himself and Sam. Unfortunately for Joe, his "old pal" would rather stay at the hotel and while away the time with the attractive Aunt Helen (Rosemary DeCamp). Bea Benaderet (Kate Bradley) does not appear in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Self-styled deputy Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) informs everyone at the Shady Rest that a bank robbery has occurred and the bandit is still at large. This information piques the interest of a new guest at the hotel (Alan Reed Sr.)--who happens to be the bank robber! It takes the combined resources of Aunt Helen (Rosemary DeCamp) and a WW2-vintage life raft to save the day and mete out justice. Bea Benaderet (Kate Bradley) does not appear in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Despite her reluctance, new mother Betty Jo (Linda Kaye Henning) agrees to out on the town with husband Steve (Mike Minor) for the first time since the birth of Kathy Jo. Self-appointed baby sitter Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) assures the couple that he'll never take his eyes off the baby. And, in his own inimitable fashion, Joe is true to his word: He brings Kathy Jo along to a poker game with the boys--and ends up in the same jail cell as the cooing infant! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Charles Lane makes his final Petticoat Junction appearance in the role of nasty railroad executive Homer Bedloe. As the last gesture in his long-running efforts to scrap the Hooterville Cannonball, Bedloe has arranged the antique train engine to be replaced by an up-to-date bus service. This time, his scheme is foiled by two drop-ins from The Beverly Hillbillies: Granny Moses (Irene Ryan) and Miss Jane Hathaway (Nancy Kulp). This is episode is a followup of sorts to the Beverly Hillbillies installment of December 18, 1968, which featured Petticoat Junction regulars Lori Saunders, Meredith MacRae and Frank Cady. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
With Kate still out of town (Bea Benaderet is not in this episode due to illness), Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) takes charge of the Shady Rest Hotel. The first order of business is to remove Mr. Clayton (Vaughn Taylor), an elderly guest who has stayed at the hotel for ages but has never paid a bill. Unfortunately, Clayton incurs the sympathy of the townsfolk, who angrily turn against Joe--who, as a result, may very well leave Hooterville for good! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Joan Blondell guest stars as Florabelle Campbell, who many years ago had been at the center of a romantic rivalry between Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) and Sam Drucker (Frank Cady). Now that Florabelle has returned to Hooterville, Joe and Sam vie for a second chance to win her heart. But thanks to the exigencies of middle-aged spread and "snow on the roof", Florabelle fails to recognize either one of her former suitors! Paul Hartman makes the first of several recurring appearances as local barber Bert Smedley; conversely, series star Bea Benaderet (Kate Bradley) does not appear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
The Bradley girls are a bit put off by a display of divided loyalty on the part of their pet dog. This causes the trio to wonder aloud just exactly which Bradley sister the dog really belongs to. Things get pretty heated, resulting in an angry walk-out--by the dog! This is the only episode in which canine star Higgins is mentioned by name (albeit only in the title). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) returns to Hooterville, still bound and determined to put the Hooterville Cannonball out of business. This time Homer has come up with a surefire scheme: He puts the entire railroad up for sale! Before long, the townsfolk have sold practically everything they own to keep the Cannonball from being taken over by wealthy dowager Mrs. Green (Lurene Tuttle). This is one of several fifth-season episodes in which Bea Benaderet (Kate Bradley) does not appear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
With Kate still "out of town" (star Bea Benaderet's illness kept her from appearing), the Shaddy Rest Hotel is taken over by her southern cousin Mae Belle Jennings (Shirley Mitchell). In characteristic fashion, Mae Belle manages to alienate everyone in town in record time. Goodness knows what fate might have befallen the Shady Rest had not Kate's sister Helen come to the rescue. This episode introduces Rosemary DeCamp in the recurring role of Aunt Helen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Bea Benaderet(Kate Bradley) does not appear in this episode, in which budding singer Billie Jo (Meredith MacRae) cuts her first record album. Billie's new agent Ted Swift (Del Moore) aggressively promotes the album with a gaudy--and fraudulent--publicity campaign centering on the girl's home town of Hooterville--whereupon the townsfolk enter into the spirit of things by inflating and misrepresenting the town's role in American history. Meredith MacRae sings "Good-bye Love". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) organizes a barbershop quartet, only to be kicked out of the group because of his off-key singing. Seeking revenge, Joe sets about to fix an upcoming talent contest so that the quartet will lose and Selma Plout's daughter Henrietta (Lynette Winter) will cop first prize. This is one of several fifth-season episodes in which Bea Benaderet (Kate Bradley) does not appear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
This is the first of several episodes in which an ailing Bea Benaderet does not appear (it is explained that her character, Kate Bradley, is "out of town"). Taking his wife Betty Jo's advice to do a bit of "apple polishing" to attract cropdusting business, Steve begins wht Millicent Marshall, attractive daughter of a prospective client--and before long, Betty wishes that she could eat her words! Millicent and Mrs. Marshall are played respectively by Joi Lansing and Frank Wilcox, who has previously appeared as "Mrs. Flatt" and "Mr. Brewster" on Petticoat Junction's parent series The Beverly Hillbillies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Future game-show host Geoff Edwards makes his first series appearance as Jeff Powers, the journalist boyfriend of Bobbie Jo Bradley (Lori Saunders). With the blessing of Sam Drucker (Frank Cady), Jeff and Bobbie become editors pro tem of Sam's newspaper, the "Hooterville World Guardian." Almost immediately, the two budding newshounds turn out a series of hard-hitting editorials--which unfortunately hit a bit too hard with the locals, hurting a lot of feelings in the process! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Although Bea Benaderet is still billed as the star of the first few episodes of Petticoat Junction's sixth season, it was purely a gesture of kindness and sentiment on the part of producer Paul Henning. Everyone in the cast knew that Benaderet was mortally ill with cancer, but this tragic information was largely withheld from the public under the actress' death on October 13, 1968. Her last series "appearance" -- which consists of a telephone voice-over -- occurs in the episode "The Valley Has a Baby," in which Benaderet's character Kate Bradley offers best wishes to her daughter Betty Jo (Linda Kaye Henning) and son-in-law Steve Elliott (Mike Minor) when their first child, Kathy Jo Elliott, is born (the infant is played this season by unbilled twin babies Barbara and Heather Whiter).
With Benaderet's departure, Edgar Buchanan is elevated to top billing in the role of lazy Uncle Joe Carson, now forced by circumstances to take over ownership of Hooterville's Shady Rest Hotel. In hopes of replicating the warm rapport between Benaderet and Buchanan, the producers introduce a new, strong-willed female character, Dr. Janet Davis (June Lockhart), in the episode "The Lady Doctor." Not unexpectedly, Janet has a tough time winning over the chauvinist males of Hooterville -- especially Uncle Joe -- but the three Bradley daughters take to Janet as if she were their surrogate mother (which, in a sense, she is!). Although Bea Benaderet's death unavoidably casts a pall over Petticoat Junction's sixth season, there are a number of very worthwhile episodes. Irene Ryan crosses over from The Beverly Hillbillies in her familiar Granny role in two chucklesome outings, "The Valley Has a Baby" and "A Cake From Granny" (which also features another Hillbillies regular, Nancy Kulp as Jane Hathaway). Veteran film favorites Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen appear as themselves in an amusing episode wherein the two actors attend Hooterville's long-overdue premiere of their silent starring feature film Wings. And in "Billie Jo and the Big Big Star," guest star Rich Little delivers dead-on impressions of Petticoat Junction regulars Edgar Buchanan and Byron Foulger (introduced this season in the role of timorous train conductor Wendell Gibbs). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
With Benaderet's departure, Edgar Buchanan is elevated to top billing in the role of lazy Uncle Joe Carson, now forced by circumstances to take over ownership of Hooterville's Shady Rest Hotel. In hopes of replicating the warm rapport between Benaderet and Buchanan, the producers introduce a new, strong-willed female character, Dr. Janet Davis (June Lockhart), in the episode "The Lady Doctor." Not unexpectedly, Janet has a tough time winning over the chauvinist males of Hooterville -- especially Uncle Joe -- but the three Bradley daughters take to Janet as if she were their surrogate mother (which, in a sense, she is!). Although Bea Benaderet's death unavoidably casts a pall over Petticoat Junction's sixth season, there are a number of very worthwhile episodes. Irene Ryan crosses over from The Beverly Hillbillies in her familiar Granny role in two chucklesome outings, "The Valley Has a Baby" and "A Cake From Granny" (which also features another Hillbillies regular, Nancy Kulp as Jane Hathaway). Veteran film favorites Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen appear as themselves in an amusing episode wherein the two actors attend Hooterville's long-overdue premiere of their silent starring feature film Wings. And in "Billie Jo and the Big Big Star," guest star Rich Little delivers dead-on impressions of Petticoat Junction regulars Edgar Buchanan and Byron Foulger (introduced this season in the role of timorous train conductor Wendell Gibbs). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edgar Buchanan, Linda Kaye, (more)
- 1967
Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) and Steve (Mike Minor) find their household budget severely strained by deficit spending. The limit comes when, having made a mutual promise to start economizing, each of the newlyweds purchases new furniture without telling the other. Once again, it falls to Kate (Bea Benaderet) to straighten out the mess. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Kate (Bea Benaderet) comes to the sad conclusion that honeymooners Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) and Steve (Mike Minor) have forgotten her birthday. In truth, the couple has not forgotten at all. The problem is that they're hoping to return from Hawaii in time for the birthday celebration in Hooterville--and thanks to a variety of foul-ups, it looks like this ain't a-gonna happen! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
When Billie Jo (Meredith MacRae) auditions as a nightclub singer, she puts on a very sexy and provocative act. In fact, Billie's behavior is so out-of-character that mom Kate (Bea Benaderet) suspects that the girl is up to no good--and makes a fool of herself trying to find out. Meanwhile, Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) proves in a disastrous fashion that she has definitely not inherited her mother's cooking skills. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Homer Bedloe (Charles Lane) has come up with a new scheme to put the Hooterville Cannonball out of commission. This time Homer arranges for bumbling Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) to be appointed General Manager of the Cannonball line. Not unexpectedly, it is only a matter of time before Joe screws up royally--but will his ineptitute be enough to derail the Cannonball for keeps? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
No sooner have the honeymooners returned to Hooterville than Steve (Mike Minor) is invited to play poker with the boys. This upsets Betty Jo (Linda Kaye), who had cancelled a singing engagement to be with her husband. The result is the couple's first serious quarrel--and matters are helped not at all when Bobby Jo (Lori Saunders) and Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) ineptly try to patch things up. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Sam Drucker's store becomes a beehive of activity when Kate (Bea Benadaret) shows up expecting a long-distance call from Betty Jo (Linda Kaye) and Steve (Mike Minor). The newlyweds are honeymooning in Hawaii, and they've promised to call as soon as they're--uh--able. Before long, practically everyone in Hooterville has crowded into the store in anticipation of the call...assuming, of course, that the call will ever get through the Valley's notoriously inefficient phone system! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Having recently come off another Filmways-produced sitcom titled The Pruitts of Southhampton, Reginald Gardiner guests in this episode as Gaylord Martindale, a pompous guest at the Shady Rest. Noting that Martindale is constantly taking notes in a small book, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) jumps to the conclusion that the man is secretly the representative of a major hotel association which has created a "Master Plan" for prestigious reservations. As a result, the Bradleys knock themselves out trying to impress and coddle Martindale--with surprising results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Kate (Bea Benaderet) is outraged when she is given a jaywalking ticket in Pixley. Rather than "pay the two dollars", Kate decides to fight the ticket in court. Unfortunately, not only does the legal system seem to be stacked against her, but also the local citizens are demanding that she pay up and shut up! Frequent Petticoat Junction guest star Parley Baer) shows up as the flustered judge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Bobbie Jo (Lori Saunders) writes a poem which ends up winning a prestigious magazine award. Naturally, Kate (Bea Benaderet) is both pleased and proud of her daughter--or at least she was pleased and proud before Bobbie began hanging around a bunch of hip-talking beatniks. (By 1967 the "beat movement" had passed and hippies were in vogue, but try telling that to the Petticoat Junction producers!) This episode was originally scheduled for March 21, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
