Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song Written by Paul Henning

Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song

Artist: Flatt & Scruggs (Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs)

Written by: Paul Henning

The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971)

Buddy Ebsen: Jed Clampett

Irene Ryan: Daisy Moses (Granny)

Donna Douglas: Elly May Clampett

Max Baer Jr.: Jethro Bodine

Raymond Bailey: Milburn Drysdale

Nancy Kulp: Jane Hathaway

The Ballad of Jed Clampett (Excerpt)
Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed
Then one day he was shootin’ at some food
And up through the ground came a bubblin’ crude …

They Loaded Up the Truck and Moved to Beverly … Hills That Is

Donna Douglas, Irene Ryan, Buddy Ebsen, Max Baer Jr.

The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) Retro 8×12 Metal Sign

The Beverly Hillbillies

Created by Paul Henning

In 1961 Buddy Ebsen was ready to retire from show business when he was offered the patriarch role in a pilot about hillbillies who strike it rich and relocate to southern California.

The Jed Clampett role was originally conceived as a hick. Buddy Ebsen would only agree to do the show if Jed was made to appear smarter. Enter Max Baer Jr. as Jethro Bodine, master of the show’s less than brainy lines.

Veteran character actress Bea Benaderet was initially considered for the role of Granny, but producer Paul Henning deemed her too busty to portray the rugged mountaineer character he had in mind. She suggested her friend Irene Ryan. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Irene Ryan as Granny. Indeed, her screen test clinched the deal and is included as an extra on one of the show’s DVD sets.

Wholesome Donna Douglas, well known for her appearance in the classic Twilight Zone episode, “Eye of the Beholder,” rounded out the family as animal lover Elly May.

Swimming Pools … Movie Stars

Also Starring Nancy Kulp and Raymond Bailey

The Beverly Hillbillies 8×10 Glossy Cast Photo

One of the Most Popular Sitcoms of all Time

#1 Series of the Year for Two Seasons

The Beverly Hillbillies starred Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett, Irene Ryan as Daisy May “Granny” Moses, Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett, and Max Baer, Jr. as Jethro Bodine. Viewers embraced the hillbilly family who moved to upscale Beverly Hills, California after finding oil on their mountain land.

The popular sitcom was on the air for nine seasons and ranked among the top 12 most watched TV series for seven of those years. The Beverly Hillbillies was the #1 series of the year for two seasons, and several episodes are among the most-watched television episodes of all time.

The Beverly Hillbillies aired on CBS from September 26, 1962 through September 7, 1971. Filmways produced a total of 274 episodes–106 broadcast in black-and-white (1962-1965) and another 168 in glorious color (1965-1971).

Starring Irene Ryan

Daisy May “Granny” Moses

Irene Ryan Beverly Hillbillies 8×10 Photo Print

Irene Ryan as Granny Moses
How do you like yer possum … fallin’ off the bones tender, or with a little fight left in it?

Irene Ryan

She Began Performing at the Age of 11

Irene Ryan 8×10 Photo Print

Fun Fact
Without her signature Granny makeup and wardrobe, the pretty actress was seldom recognized in public.

Granny’s Beverly Hillbillies Cookbook

by Jim Clark and Ken Beck

Here’s a great gift idea for Clampett fans. Which of Granny’s specialties will they be tempted to try? Choose from Corncob Jelly, Silver Spoon Bread, Granny’s Nerve Tonic, Jest Plain Ol’ Apple Pie, Robert E. Lee Tomato Pie, Big Hollywood Agent Cheese Soup, Pot Passer Possum and Sweet Taters. As Jed would say, We-l-l-l-l Doggies!

Granny’s Beverly Hillbillies Cookbook

Jed Clampett
(Upon Being Flipped Off by an Irate Motorist)
I reckon that’s how people wave hello in Beverly Hills.

Y’all come back now, hear!

The Beverly Hillbillies

The Beverly Hillbillies 8×10 Glossy Cast Photo

Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song

MP3 Music

The Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song The Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song

Max Baer Jr.
I did so many of those jobs in real life that Jethro did on the show. I was a producer, a director and even a fry cook. I haven’t been a brain surgeon, but I’m working on it.

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