The evolution of the Bradley girls on 'Petticoat Junction'

"Come ride the little train that iis rolling down the track to the junction (Petticoat Junction).

Forget about your cares it's time to relax at the junction

Do you recall these lyrics to the theme song from the television series that aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970 until i was cancelled along with The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres due to the "Rural Purge."

The action takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley (Bea Benaderet),her uncle Joe Carson Edgar Buchanan).

"Lot's of curves yu bet and even moore when you get to the junction Petticoast Junction.

There were curves along the railway and the song also referred toKate's thre shpely teenage daughters, Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Betty Jo Bradley. During th series run the Bradly girls were portrayed by six different actresses.

The name Petticoat Junction came from the fact that the Bradley sisters would go skinny dipping in the water tower and leave their petticoats/aka slips hanging over the side. Petticoats were worn so no one could see your underwear but young women to day don't use them and older femals cannit find them in stores.

The Shady Rest was based on a real hotel run by the grandmother of Ruth Henning, the wife of show producer Paul Henning. Their daughter Linda Kaye Henning is the only actress to portray the youngest girl, Betty Jo Bradley, during the series run.

Episodes were based on stories Ruth told Paul about her childhood at the family hotel. Betty Jo was a tomboy who loved softball, and her nickname was "Shortstop." She was a great mechanic and even drove the Hooterville Cannonball train.

There were 2 actresses to play Bobbie Jo, the middld child, who was a bookworm and at times came across as ditsy. The first actress to portray Bobbie Jo Bradley was Pat Woodell. Lori Saunders replaced Woodall in 1965, and she also portrayed Bobbie Jo in 3 episodes of Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies.

Three actresses were in the role of Billie Jo the oldest daughter. The first was Jeannine Riley, not be confused with Jeannie C Riley, who became famous with her hit song Harper Valley PTA. Jeannie was a regular on the comedy series Hee Haw.

The second Billie Jo Bradley was Gunilla Hutton, who also went on to have a role in Hee Haw. The third and final Billie Jo was Meredith McCrae, whose parents were actors Gordon and Sheila McCrae. Actress Sharon Tate was considered for the role, but producers said she lacked confidence.

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An interesting fact about the Bradley girls is that Linda Kaye Henning, who remained as Betty Jo through the entire series, was a redhead. Both women who portrayed Bobbie Jo were brunettes, and all 3 Billie Jo's were blonde. The reason for this was never explained.

Billie Jo was named for their late father, William Bradley. If she had been a boy, she would have been named William Jr. All three girls had the middle name Josephine, and Uncle Joe said they were named in honor of him.

Each of the three Bradley siblings fell for Steve Elliot ( Mike Minor). Hee and Billie Jo officially dated and Bobbie Jo had a crush on him. He realized he was in love with and married Betty Jo. They named their daughter Cathy Jo. Minor and Henning married in real time but later divorced.

Petticoat Junction can currently be seen on MeTV and the Roku streaming service. Meredith MacRae is the only one of the Bradley sisters who is deceased. She passed away on July 14, 2000.