Staged in the fictional town of Hooterville, the popular 1960s-era sitcom Petticoat Junction was based around a local lodging establishment, called the Shady Rest Hotel and the widowed woman who runs it – Kate.
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The show revolves around Kate and her three daughters Billie Jo, Betty Jo, and Bobbie Jo, along with her uncle Joe, all of whom seem to find themselves in the middle of some predicament or minor crisis. Especially Uncle Joe – who is apparently filled to the brim with various schemes to get rich.
One last goodie before bed: Jack Davis and “Petticoat Junction” (1969). You’re welcome. pic.twitter.com/nbfQYbhMra
— Tom Heintjes (@hogansalley.bsky.social on Bluesky) (@Hoganmag) November 16, 2019
With all these wild scenarios and funny twists, you’d think that someone with a wild imagination must have been behind this crazy story about a hotel situated alongside a water stop on the railroad. Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth!
Kate (Bea Benaderet) and Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) on "Petticoat Junction" pic.twitter.com/2CutdHEPcJ
— Aurora (@CitizenScreen) April 5, 2020
As it turns out, the Shady Rest Hotel and the antics befalling the characters on Petticoat Junction were all based on a real hotel – and its wide cast of character-like guests. This hotel was called the Burris Hotel in Eldon, Missouri.
49 years ago today, the final episode of Petticoat Junction aired on CBS pic.twitter.com/CfCg3E4tF4
— Gone Fishing (@KjosyGone) April 4, 2019
The Burris Hotel was known to be a “hustling, bustling” hotspot, as described by Peggy Smith Hake at the Miller County Museum. The writer of Petticoat Junction, Paul Henning, drew inspiration for the series after hearing of the tales from the Burris Hotel from his mother-in-law, whose parents were the innkeepers.
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As one of nine children who grew up at the Burris Hotel, Henning’s mother-in-law, Alice Burris, had many memories and tales of wild visitors and strangers who would come through town. It was from these stories she told that Henning was able to build an entire television series.
For seven years, Petticoat Junction entertained and delighted folks all across America with its hysterical antics and wild stories – which were all based on real people!
Listen to the show’s creator, Paul Henning, discuss how the show was created below.