Petticoat Junction - S07 E11 - Kathy Jo's First Birthday - Part 1

Kathy Jo's first birthday has finally arrived and everyone is scattered to the winds hopin' they'll make it in time for the birthday party. Back home, Uncle Joe takes the birthday girl out on the town to pick out her present from him as Betty Jo gets things ready. Yep. Nothin' unusual here, is there? Well, Uncle Joe DID say Kathy Jo could pick out her own present, remember? heh heh heh

We gots two, count 'em, two songs in this one y'all. Yep. :-}

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Petticoat
• Junction;
• Uncle
• Joe
• Carson;
• Edgar
• Buchanan;
• Janet
• Craig;
• June
• Lockhart;
• Betty
• Jo
• Bradley
• Elliott;
• Linda
• Kaye
• Henning;
• Steve
• Mike
• Minor;
• Billie
• Bradley;
• Meredith
• MacRae;
• Bobbie
• Lori
• Saunders;
• Sam
• Drucker;
• Frank
• Cady;
• Sheriff
• Daly;
• John
• Cliff;
• Charlie
• Hanks;
• Karl
• Lucas

[cmulwee001]

Penny I just solved the puzzle. The Last episode aired 'Betty Jo's Business" actually belong right before this one. This episode picks up EXACTLY where that one left off as the opening scene here is a continuation of the last scene in that show. Now I'm more than certain that

"Last Train To Pixley" is the series 'finale' as it seems to bring semi-closure to "Petticoat Junction"

[1964nickel]

@cmulwee001 So this is ALL the puzzle pieces? Truth is I've been avoidin' makin' new playlists because I don't like how they have the episodes listed. But yep. This makes perfect sense to me. And I'm squeakin' up on the series finale myself. *sigh* It sure has been a fun ride though. :-}

[dotcomguy79]

was Kate's death ever addressed on the show????

[1964nickel]

@dotcomguy79 No it never was. But even at my age I can remember my parents explaining to me that the actress was gone. So the audience was aware of it and just took the rest in stride. Back then shows were different in so many ways. The next few years saw major upheavals in the TV industry though. This same show in a few years would have addressed it I think. Just my opinion though.

[cmulwee001]

@1964nickel Not only was it not addressed, Kate's very name wasn't even mentioned.

It was more as if Kate were never there to begin with. Not even an "In Memory of Bea Benaderet" in the credits. I know many viewers may have thought that was an insult to a talented actress, but you are right things were different then. Besides people knew that Bea had passed on, but knowing viewers didn't want to be made sad,they simply left it alone.

This was a fantasy show after all.

[1964nickel]

@cmulwee001 You hit the nail on the head. Back then shows were fantasy, everyone recognized it and no one expected more. They did acknowledge in small ways, just not by sayin' it outright - naming the baby Kathy Jo for example. Teaching Kathy Jo to swim just like Mom did. That sort of thing.

[cmulwee001]

@1964nickel CBS just messed up the sequence of the season 7 episodes for some odd reason, to a greater degree than in season 6. Only "By The Book" aired at the 'end' was out of place as it probably belonged right between "Only A Husband" and 'The Valley Has A Baby"

[cmulwee001]

@cmulwee001 I think the first 4 episodes(which were allone story arc) originally opened with the jazzy instrumental theme that plays at the end of the show, though the visuals of the train

the girls in the tower, and Kate waking up Joe were the same. However on the DVD's and in syndication the familiar vocal theme is heard.

My guess is that once Bea had passed on, THAT'S when the "It is run By Joe.. here's a Lady MD" with June now in the opening.

[cmulwee001]

@TVonthePorch Yes you may be right, that was still before June was added to the opening credits. The episode originally had the interim "It's a real friendly place come and be our guest at the Junction" However the METV showing has the Kate opening.

Why they screw around in syndication with TV themes I'll never know.

i.e. Unless I'm wrong the vocal theme that everyone knows originally wasn't used until the 5th or 6th episode..

[TVonthePorch]

@cmulwee001 I'm certain that Bea was still living at the time that episode was written and produced, a time when publicity said (even if it was becoming certain it would not happen) she would return upon her recovery. I'd put that time frame roughly around when June Lockhart's hiring was announced--just about exactly a month before Bea died.

[cmulwee001]

@1964nickel They also acknowledged it in humorous ways too, Like in 'Granny, The Baby Expert" Nearsighted Granny,mistaking Joe for Kate says "They was right about you Kate;

you and Cousin Pearl is lookalikes!" Remember that great line? Hilarious.