List of Petticoat Junction episodes

Last updated September 16, 2024

This is a complete list of all 222 episodes of the 1963 to 1970 television sitcom Petticoat Junction . There were 74 episodes in black-and-white and 148 in color.

Nielsen ratings/TV schedule

During its first four years, Petticoat Junction was a major ratings success. However, with the departure of Kate following the third episode of season 6, the show's ratings declined continuously. Another reason was the show's new time-slot, which was Saturdays at 9:30 p.m., an extremely weak airing time.

	Episodes	Premiered	Ended	Timeslot	Seasonal rank	Overall rating
1	38	September 24, 1963 (1963-09-24)	June 9, 1964 (1964-06-09)	Tuesdays at 9:00 P.M.	#4	30.3
2	36	September 22, 1964 (1964-09-22)	June 15, 1965 (1965-06-15)	Tuesdays at 9:30 P.M.	#15 (tie)	25.2
3	34	September 14, 1965 (1965-09-14)	May 10, 1966 (1966-05-10)		#21	22.3
4	32	September 13, 1966 (1966-09-13)	May 9, 1967 (1967-05-09)		#23 (tie)	20.9
5	30	September 9, 1967 (1967-09-09)	March 30, 1968 (1968-03-30)	Saturdays at 9:30 P.M.	#35 (tie)^[1]	19.0
6	26	September 28, 1968 (1968-09-28)	March 29, 1969 (1969-03-29)		#38^[2]	19.9
7	26	September 27, 1969 (1969-09-27)	April 4, 1970 (1970-04-04)		Not in the Top 30

Episodes

Season 1 (1963–64)

All episodes in black-and-white

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
1	1	"Spur Line to Shady Rest"	Richard Whorf	Paul Henning	September 24, 1963 (1963-09-24)	001
Homer Bedloe, trouble-shooter for the C.& F.W. Railroad, is sent by railroad president Norman P. Curtis (Roy Roberts) to the little community of Hooterville to find out why a branch line doesn't connect with the main line. The branch line carries the "Cannonball" train, and is vital to the Shady Rest Hotel, run by Kate Bradley, her three grown daughters and "Uncle Joe" Carson. Kate and the girls take the train into Hooterville to shop at Sam Drucker's store. Bedloe is at the train station and can't believe the way the train is being run. Bedloe finds out that train engineer Charley Pratt is letting Betty Jo Bradley drive the train. Instead of going directly to Pixley, the train is making a several hour layover at the Shady Rest and Bedloe is furious. After everyone's had dinner, Bedloe informs them that he's from the Railroad's main office. If Bedloe succeeds in shutting down the Cannonball, Kate faces ruin. Because he fired Charley and Floyd Smoot, Bedloe tries to run the train himself so he can get to Pixley. Bedloe can't get the train started and decides to spend the night at the hotel. John Ashley as passenger Fred. Eddie Quillan as passenger Dick. Note: Bedloe is played by Charles Lane in the first of 24 appearances on the show.
2	2	"Quick, Hide the Railroad"	David Alexander	Paul Henning & Mark Tuttle	October 1, 1963 (1963-10-01)	002
Kate and the girls want to keep Homer Bedloe asleep so he'll miss the Cannonball's run to Pixley. That will prevent him from initiating proceedings that would permanently terminate the train's operation. The girls then bring Homer breakfast in bed. Bedloe is quite upset when the train leaves without him. Kate proceeds to kill Bedloe with kindness during lunch. The girls then sing for Homer. Kate has to keep him at the Shady Rest long enough to convince him that the Cannonball is an integral part of the valley's life. None of this works as Bedloe is still determined to shut the train down. The train takes off again, but this time the train car that Bedloe is in is disconnected from the engine. Bedloe then tries to pump a handcar to get to town, but that doesn't work. When all else fails, Kate gets Sam, the Hooterville Jack of all professions, to scare Bedloe into changing his mind.
3	3	"The President Who Came to Dinner"	David Alexander	Ed James & Seaman Jacobs	October 8, 1963 (1963-10-08)	004
Kate wants to go into town, but the Cannonball is two hours late. The girls wonder if Homer Bedloe was able to shut the train down. The Cannonball finally shows up. C.& F.W. Railroad President Norman P. Curtis is incensed that ace troubleshooter Homer Bedloe utterly failed to scrap the Hooterville Cannonball. Taking matters into his own hands, Norman decides to do it himself, incognito. Norman is dropped off near Hooterville by his helicopter. Norman boards the train. Curtis comes across to Kate and others as a hobo after he took a tumble in a field, ripping and dirtying his suit and losing his wallet in the process. He is surprised when the train stops on a trestle so they can go fishing. Norman starts to have a change of heart when he experiences Kate's hospitality and kindness. Uncle Joe thinks Kate is being too nice to Curtis. To pay for his keep, Kate suggests that Norman help Joe with his chores. Curtis is enjoying the simple life. He even sings a song for everyone while on a picnic. Back in the boardroom, Curtis tells them that he's leaving the Cannonball alone. Norman goes back to the Shady Rest for another relaxing visit. Eve McVeagh as Miss Hammond, Curtis' secretary.
4	4	"Is There a Doctor in the Roundhouse?"	David Alexander	Ed James & Seaman Jacobs	October 15, 1963 (1963-10-15)	005
The girls are preparing for the annual Shady Rest Jamboree. Norman Curtis, who has fallen in love with life at the Shady Rest, is still staying there for free without Kate yet knowing his true identity. He accidentally breaks the throttle handle of the Hooterville Cannonball and folks won't be able to get to Kate's Jamboree. Norman decides to come clean about his identity. The problem is no one believes him. In fact, they all believe he's crazy. But the executive tries to make amends with a determined effort to obtain the nearly-nonexistent replacement part. Norman pumps a handcar to Hooterville to make a phone call. Norman brings three of his friends in to help, General Frank Newton (Addison Richards), George Prentice (Charles Meredith) and Dave LaSalle (Douglass Dumbrille). Everyone thinks the three are also hobos. Uncle Joe listens in on the men's conversation while they're eating and Joe thinks they're all crazy. Norman and his friends get the Cannonball all fixed up. Thanks to Norman, the Jamboree is a success. Cheerio Meredith as Nettie. Mary Young as Lydia.
5	5	"The Courtship of Floyd Smoot"	Sherman Marks	Ed James & Seaman Jacobs	October 22, 1963 (1963-10-22)	006
Floyd Smoot, the conductor, is courting a woman named Camille through the mail. Meanwhile, the girls are depressed because the Hooterville Hornets football team and their coach Uncle Joe are on a losing streak. Floyd gets a letter from Camille and she ends it after receiving a photo of him in a silly toupee. He now loses all confidence. Kate tries to make him think all the women from Hooterville and the surrounding area have eyes for him and are disappointed that he took up with an outsider. Floyd is feeling a little better about himself. Sam tells Joe that the local merchants kicked in money to give Joe if he resigns from coaching. Joe wants fast running Betty Jo to play in the next game, but Kate says no. Something Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo say to Floyd leads him to believe that Kate has been secretly in love with him. Floyd asks Kate to marry him. Kate comes up with a plan to scare Floyd off of her, but it doesn't work. Kate's next plan involves the Cannonball and Floyd chooses the train.
6	6	"Please Buy My Violets"	David Alexander	Richard Baer	October 29, 1963 (1963-10-29)	003
Salesmen Mr. Blake (George Cisar) and Mr. Gordon (Phil Gordon) complain to Billie Jo about the mosquitoes in the hotel. She tells them new screens for the windows are to arrive today. When the Cannonball comes by, the screens are not on the train. Uncle Joe spent Kate's screen money to buy cases of men and women's cologne to make a fast buck reselling it. The girls mistakenly think royalty is coming to the hotel because Joe wants to introduce them to "Lord and Lady Violet", the names of the cologne. It turns out that the cologne is really lousy smelling. Kate hopes to sell the cologne at cost to Sam. A Coffee Salesman (Olan Soule) at Sam's store tells them that he tried selling the cologne when he was a kid. It smelled bad even then. Joe decides to go around Hooterville and try to sell some cologne, but has no luck. Betty Jo tells Kate that the salesmen have had enough of the mosquitoes and want to check out. The girls talk Mr. Gordon into buying the cologne. Mr. Blake says that he tried selling it but couldn't because it smelled so bad. The men are going to sell it as insecticide. Note: First appearance of Fred Ziffel (Hank Patterson). Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis do not appear in this episode.
7	7	"The Ringer"	David Alexander	Richard Baer	November 5, 1963 (1963-11-05)	007
It's time for the annual Shady Rest Horseshoe Tournament and the hotel will soon be very busy. Legendary Pixley Fats (Henry Calvin), who has won countless times, is predicted to win again. When Kate finds out how well Betty Jo can throw a horseshoe, she signs up Betty Jo to be the first female contestant in the tournament's history. Uncle Joe thinks it's an insult to the men to have a teenage girl compete. The tournament has started and Pixley Fats is doing great as usual. Betty Jo does win her first match. Things progress to where Pixley Fats and Betty Jo are in the finals. Betty Jo experiences conflicting emotions when she finds herself with an opportunity to defeat Pixley Fats. After a talk with Kate, Betty Jo decides that winning means more to Pixley Fats than to her, because that's all he really has in life. Pixley Fats congratulates Betty Jo on pitching a good game. Kate is proud of Betty Jo.
8	8	"Kate's Recipe for Hot Rhubarb"	Jean Yarbrough	Dick Wesson and Joel Kane	November 12, 1963 (1963-11-12)	008
Billie Jo has to come up with a fourth for her double date with Junior Hocker and Junior's visiting friend Roger Budd (Jack Bannon). Kate suggests Bobbie Jo to her. Billie Jo doesn't think Bobbie Jo would be a good fit as she knows all the boys see Bobbie Jo as a book worm instead of a fun girl. When Kate asks Bobbie Jo if she would like to go on a date that evening, Bobbie Jo says she would rather read. Bobbie Jo admits that she just doesn't feel comfortable around boys yet. Junior and Roger show up and Bobbie Jo is very uncomfortable. They all leave for the date, but Bobbie Jo comes home early saying she just can't compete with Billie Jo. Kate spends a lot of time and tries to teach Bobbie Jo how to flatter a man the way Billie Jo does. Kate even gets Bobbie Jo to talk guest Mr. Blake (George Cisar) into extending his stay. On her next date with Roger, things go much better. Note: Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis do not appear in this episode.
9	9	"The Little Train Robbery"	Sherman Marks	Ed James & Seaman Jacobs	November 19, 1963 (1963-11-19)	009
Two young men, Arthur Gilroy (John Wilder) and Lowell Rightmeyer (Jimmy Hawkins), are on their way to rob the bank in Pixley. They change their plans when they learn that the next day, the Cannonball, without any armed guards, will make its run from Hooterville to Pixley for the bank shipment. Arthur and Lowell decide to stay the night at the Shady Rest. Kate and the family are happy to have two polite and handsome young men stay with them. Arthur and Lowell do hold up the train the next day. But, Kate and Uncle Joe are also on the train and Kate recognizes the masked bandits. Arthur and Lowell learn that the bank shipment is only deposit slips. But, because of something Floyd says, they decide to rob the Shady Rest instead. When the boys open the safe behind the front desk there's a cat with her kittens inside. Arthur tries to be a tough guy but everyone else just goes about their business. The boys wind up staying for dinner and Kate knows they're basically good guys. Joe comes back with Trooper Benson (Norman Leavitt) and says that Arthur and Lowell are dangerous crooks. Everyone tells Benson that the boys are not criminals and didn't do anything wrong.
10	10	"Bedloe Strikes Again"	David Alexander	Paul Henning & Mark Tuttle	November 26, 1963 (1963-11-26)	010
The Cannonball is pelted with eggs and tomatoes after the Hooterville Hornets, coached by Uncle Joe, lose what may be their worst game ever. Another unexpected passenger is Homer Bedloe, who despite being hit with an egg, is surprisingly cordial and pleasant. When Kate hears that Bedloe is on the train, she gets worried. Bedloe is very friendly to Kate and she believes he is up to no good. Sam learns from Willie Trankis (William Benedict) that Bedloe has sent for John Fisher (John Hoyt) and Max Thornton (John Hubbard), two bigwigs from the railroad. They are coming for a surprise inspection the following day. Bedloe hopes the men will shut the Cannonball down. Sam is able to warn Kate about Bedloe's plan. Despite it being dark out, everyone goes to clean up the Cannonball. They even update the interior. Kate tries to keep Bedloe preoccupied so that he won't know what they're up to. Fisher and Thornton arrive and board the train. The men get very deluxe service and are very impressed. Fisher and Thornton think that Bedloe needs a different position with the railroad because he clearly was wrong about the Cannonball.
11	11	"Uncle Joe's Replacement"	David Alexander	Story by : Dick Wesson and Marty Roth Teleplay by : Marty Roth and Dick Wesson & Joel Kane	December 3, 1963 (1963-12-03)	011
Kate and the girls go to Drucker's store to pick up the pocket watch they ordered for Uncle Joe's birthday present. While there Kate, in an effort to boost clumsy Herby Bates' confidence, inadvertently offers him a job as Assistant Manager at the hotel. Now Kate doesn't have the heart to not give him the job, so she decides that she can give him some menial tasks at the hotel. Uncle Joe believes he is being put out to pasture with Herby showing up. Kate tries to explain things to Joe, but there's another misunderstanding and Joe's says he's leaving. He goes in search of another job. He gets one, telling everyone that he got a big executive job. Joe goes back to the hotel and brags about his new job. He rents a room and then brags to some of the other guests. Kate is tired of Joe's bragging and thinks he's making stuff up. Kate follows him and finds out his big job is actually mopping floors in a cafe. Kate talks Sam into hiring Joe and Billy Jo. Joe makes a lot of bad decisions at Sam's store and Sam wants to fire him. Kate and Sam figure out a way to get both Herby and Uncle Joe back to their real jobs. Kate and the girls give Joe his birthday present. Beverly Wills as Mrs. Norton. Note: Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis are credited but do not appear in this episode.
12	12	"Honeymoon Hotel"	Guy Scarpitta	Keith Fowler and Phil Leslie	December 10, 1963 (1963-12-10)	012
Uncle Joe comes up with another get rich scheme to attract guests to the hotel. Name the hotel "Honeymoon Haven" and advertise it as a wedding/honeymoon destination. Joe hopes to get Sam, the county judge, to swear him in as temporary Justice of the Peace until the next election. Sam is going away on a hunting vacation at Lost Lake. He swears Joe in and tells him to file the documentation at the County Courthouse to make it legal. A young couple named Walter Shepherd (Tommy Ivo) and Elsie Gregg are the first to take advantage of the honeymoon package deal. Joe performs the ceremony and then realizes that he forgot to file the documentation at the Courthouse. It's the weekend and the Courthouse won't be open until Monday. Joe tells Kate what happened. Kate and the others have to stall Walter and Elsie from consummating their wedding, while Joe tries to get Sam up at Lost Lake. Walter and Elsie are exhausted and disappointed. Joe and Charley finally bring Sam back and he performs the ceremony and then Walter and Elsie fall asleep.
13	13	"A Night at the Hooterville Hilton"	Jean Yarbrough	Story by : Ed James & Seaman Jacobs Teleplay by : Bill Manhoff	December 17, 1963 (1963-12-17)	015
Kate gets a letter stating that Gladys Stroud (Elvia Allman), travel columnist from The Centerville Sun Express, will be coming to the hotel. Kate has been trying for years to get Gladys to come by. Apparently something she saw in a brochure about the Shady Rest made her want to see the hotel. Kate learns from Uncle Joe that a brochure he made describing the incomparable Shady Rest Hotel of the future was accidentally mailed to Gladys. In the brochure was the vision of what he hoped the hotel would one day be, including an indoor ice rink, bowling alley, swimming pool and other luxuries. Kate wants Joe to meet Gladys at the train and tell her the truth and hopefully she won't close them down for lying. Joe can't tell her and he brings her to the hotel. Now the family has to scramble to keep her from finding out the truth. The next morning the family continues their ruse. Despite their best efforts, Gladys finds out. Uncle Joe manages to sweet talk Gladys into not closing them down. Shug Fisher as Salesman. Note: This is the first of Elvia Allman's 19 appearances on the show. Smiley Burnette appears in one scene but is not credited. Rufe Davis does not appear in this episode.
14	14	"Cannonball Christmas"	Guy Scarpitta	Paul Henning and Mark Tuttle	December 24, 1963 (1963-12-24)	014
It's Christmas Eve. Homer Bedloe tells Railroad President Norman Curtis that he knows of a train that is violating company rules. He wants to make an inspection of the train, but he won't tell Norman which train it is. The Bradleys, Sam Drucker, Herby, Charlie and Floyd are going to decorate the Cannonball for its annual trip of caroling and gift-giving around the valley. Joe and Charlie are bickering over who will play Santa. Bedloe shows up and wants the decorations taken off the train. Bedloe gives Joe a legal writ empowering him to seize and hold the train. Everyone tries to be nice to Bedloe so hopefully he'll change his mind. Norman finds out what Bedloe is up to and goes to Hooterville to stop him. Norman arrives at the hotel and Joe still thinks he's a hobo. Horman straightens out Bedloe and forces him to dress as Santa. The decorated Cannonball makes it's Christmas Eve run. Gloria Marshall as Miss Evans. Note: Linda Henning does not appear in this episode, although her voice is heard and a stand-in doubles for her. The only scene she "physically" appears in is redubbed footage from the episode "Quick, Hide the Railroad".
15	15	"Herby Gets Drafted"	Jean Yarbrough	Story by : John Elliotte Teleplay by : John Elliotte and Dick Wesson	December 31, 1963 (1963-12-31)	013
Sam tells Kate and the girls that Herbie has been drafted and leaves tomorrow. Herby is depressed because he thinks no one will miss him. Kate and the girls cheer Herby up, but then Junior Hocker just puts Herby down. The girls suggest Herby could be an astronaut. They want to throw a party for him that night. Uncle Joe decides he needs to promote Herby's future political career to the whole town. That night there's a big crowd for the party. Herby is sweet on Billie Jo and wants to spend some alone time with her. Joe interrupts them. He talks to Herby about going into politics after his stint as an astronaut. Herby is excited as he sees this as a way to capture Billie Jo's heart. After six days, Herby tells Kate he got a discharge for minor medical problems. He's worried everyone will think he's a failure. Kate finds an elaborate way for him to save face with Billie Jo and the rest of the town.
16	16	"Bobbie Jo and the Beatnik"	Jean Yarbrough	Bill Manhoff	January 7, 1964 (1964-01-07)	018
Bobbie Jo meets Alan Landman (Dennis Hopper), a mad-at-the-world young poet and slacker from New York. Despite Bobbie Jo liking him in every respect, he dismisses her way of life. After hearing how handsome he is, Billie Jo goes to see Alan. Billie Jo finds him to be very rude. Bobbie Jo brings Alan to the hotel. Knowing how Bobbie Jo feels about Alan, Kate tries to make him feel welcome. After dinner Kate arranges a poetry reading. Alan gets upset when he reads one of his poems and no one understands it. Kate has a talk with Alan. He tells her he really likes Bobbie Jo and wants to send for her when he gets to New Orleans. Kate asks if he intends to get a job and he says no. Kate wants to figure out a way to make Bobbie Jo come to the conclusion on her own that Alan and his life do not deserve to be romanticized. Alan is about to leave. Kate introduces Alan to Roger Stanley (Hugh Sanders), who is President of a dog food company. Roger says that he's offered $2000 to people in his company for a good jingle, but no one can come up with something. Bobbie Jo is surprised when Alan sells out his principals and tries to write a jingle. Turns out Roger is really a salesman and was just helping Kate out. Note: Linda Henning does not appear in this episode.
17	17	"My Daughter the Doctor"	Jean Yarbrough	Ed James & Seaman Jacobs	January 14, 1964 (1964-01-14)	016
Paul Henderson (Paul De Rolf) is teaching the girls and Junior Hocker the "Hooterville Hop". Billie Jo receives a $500 insurance endowment, which her late father set aside for his first-born to become a doctor. But Billie Jo wants to go to Hollywood to become an actress. Kate hopes that Hooterville's long time doctor, Dr. Depew, can talk Billie Jo into it. Floyd tells Kate about Dr. Depew's handsome new assistant, Dr. Clayton Harris (Adam West). Kate now believes that Dr. Harris would be the man to convince Billie Jo to turn to medicine. Kate lies and tells Clayton the Uncle Joe is sick. Kate gets Joe to play along. Kate has to stall for time because Billie Jo has left the hotel. Billie Jo finally shows up and they go back to examine Joe. Kate wants Billie Jo to assist Dr. Harris. Billie Jo faints at the first sight of blood. Clayton winds up joining everyone in doing the "Hooterville Hop".
18	18	"Hooterville vs. Hollywood"	Jean Yarbrough	Dick Wesson	January 21, 1964 (1964-01-21)	017
Billie Jo is still determined to use the $500 from her father to go to Hollywood to become a movie star. It doesn't help that Uncle Joe, who wants to go with her, is fueling her dream. Kate talks with Judge Drucker to see if she can legally prevent Billie Jo from going to Hollywood, but he advises against it. Dr. Depew (Don Beddoe) believes Kate's mistake between Dr. Harris and Billie Jo was throwing them together in a professional relationship. He thinks they should throw them together in a doctor/patient relationship. First, they have to trick Billie Jo into thinking she's sick. Dr. Depew has Dr. Harris examine Billie Jo. Dr. Harris doesn't find anything wrong with her. Dr. Depew suggests that Clayton check in on her over the next few days. Joe takes some publicity pictures of Billie Jo. Kate is disappointed that Billie Jo hasn't taken a liking to Clayton and will then want to stay in town. Kate has Sam print a fake edition of the Hooterville World Guardian to give to Billie Jo. An article in the paper makes Billie Jo decide to stay, pursue Clayton and become a doctor.
19	19	"Visit from a Big Star"	Ralph Levy	Bill Manhoff	January 28, 1964 (1964-01-28)	019
Uncle Joe has made a deal with Lucy Wayne (Joan Marshall), the secretary of movie star Lane Haggard (John Vivyan), for them to stay for two weeks at the Shady Rest. Incognito as Mr. Jones, Haggard, according to Miss Wayne, needs to get some rest and relaxation away from prying public eyes. But upon their arrival, Lucy believes Joe has misled her. It seems that Joe has told most of the valley about their stay. Miss Wayne also wanted no attractive women around to fall under Haggard's movie idol charms. Kate and the girls are not quite as homely as Joe described them. The problem arises that those charms do surface without Haggard realizing what he is doing. Joe charges some local girls to sneak a look at Lane through a window. The Bradley girls become quite taken with Lane's nice comments to them. Kate doesn't want the girls to get hurt, so she has a talk with Lane. Kate learns from Lucy that she would actually like to marry Lane. Kate finds a way to have Lane marry Lucy right there. Margaret Bert as Older Woman.
20	20	"Last Chance Farm"	Guy Scarpitta	Hannibal Coons & Harry Winkler	February 4, 1964 (1964-02-04)	020
Business is bad at the Shady Rest and Kate's only guest, Mr. Begley (Don Brodie), is leaving. Kate needs to make a $200 bank loan payment at the end of the week. Uncle Joe meets Henrietta Boswell and Gertrude Hawley, who are lost and looking for Madame Bovary's Hideaway Reducing Farm. He convinces them that the Shady Rest is the most exclusive reducing farm and charges them $100 each for a week. The catch is that Joe provides them with a money back guarantee. Joe convinces the ladies that Kate is actually 75 years old and looks as good as she does because of the hotel's program. Joe tells the women that the secret to weight loss is to eat whatever they want as long as it is combined with turnip greens. He also has them do what would normally be all his chores. Joe tries to hide from Kate why the women are staying at the hotel. He also rigs the scale to make the ladies think they're losing weight. Kate finds out what Joe has been up to and wants to tell the women the truth. Joe comes up with a way for the ladies to not believe what Kate will tell them. The two women do whatever they can to find what they believe is Kate's miracle weight loss and youth secret. They find that Kate's secret is hard work and that Joe tricked them. But they still pay because they had a great time. Note: Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis do not appear in this episode.
21	21	"The Very Old Antique"	Jean Yarbrough	Jack Raymond	February 11, 1964 (1964-02-11)	021
When Kate unexpectedly sees Homer Bedloe in Hooterville, she knows trouble is in store. Bedloe plans on selling the Cannonball, a seemingly one-of-a-kind antique locomotive. His buyer is millionaire retired train man and antique train aficionado, Phillip Waterhouse (Everett Sloane). Waterhouse and his secretary, Mr. Cassidy, arrive. Waterhouse is an old, ornery and snobbish man. With Charley and Floyd's help, Kate hopes she can convince Waterhouse that the train is in such disrepair that it's not worth buying. Kate's plan backfires when she learns Waterhouse enjoys repairing old trains. Kate gets Waterhouse and Cassidy to stop at the Shady Rest. Kate hopes to talk to Waterhouse, so Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo keep Cassidy busy. Joe tries to sell Waterhouse various items in the hotel. Waterhouse knows that Kate is going to try to talk him out of buying the train and the two exchange words. Somehow Kate gets through to Waterhouse and he decides to not buy the train.
22	22	"The Art Game"	Guy Scarpitta	Jerry Seelen & Leo Rifkin	February 18, 1964 (1964-02-18)	022
A traveling salesman guest leaves Uncle Joe a set of six paint-by-number canvases in lieu of a cash payment. Joe decides to take up painting and hopes to make money with his new venture. Joe hangs a painting up behind the front counter and everyone thinks it's bad. Mr. Cheever (Lyle Talbot), an antique dealer, buys Joe's first painting. Joe now thinks he is a new art master on his way to success. However, the dealer only wanted the valuable picture frame. Before wrapping up the painting, Joe trades the frame for one he believes is nicer. News of the painting sale spreads throughout Hooterville. People come by to see Joe's other paintings, including E. T. Gibbs (Ian Wolfe) from a local museum. Gibbs hates the paintings, which depresses Joe. Cheever comes back to get the original frame he bought. Kate comes up with a plan for Cheever to get the frame and for Joe to feel better. Olan Soule as Mr. Parks, Cheevers' assistant.
23	23	"Betty Jo's First Love"	Guy Scarpitta	Hannibal Coons & Harry Winkler	February 25, 1964 (1964-02-25)	023
Billie Jo, Bobby Jo, Paul Henderson and Roger Budd (Jack Bannon) are doing the "Hooterville Hop" in the lobby of the hotel. They learn that Betty Jo has her first crush on a boy named Orville Miggs (Jimmy Hawkins). But the object of her affections is more interested in tinkering with cars than he is in romance. As such, all Orville sees in Betty Jo is a mechanic's expert assistant. Kate doesn't want to see Betty Jo get hurt. Kate thinks he will see her in a different and more romantic light if she wears a dress and becomes a bit more feminine. Betty Jo gets upset when Orville says it was a silly idea to wear a dress to work on a car. When Kate asks how Betty Jo's day was, she starts crying. Kate has a talk with Orville, but makes no progress. Betty Jo tries a new romantic tactic, but all Orville thinks about is cars. Kate decides to throw a dance party for the girls. Joe, Charley and Floyd pretty much force Orville to agree to go. That night at the party, Joe has to force Orville to dance with Betty Jo. Betty Jo kisses Orville and is not that impressed. They decide to stay friends and work on the car.
24	24	"Behind All Silver, There's a Cloud Lining"	Jean Yarbrough	Martin Ragaway	March 3, 1964 (1964-03-03)	024
Kate wants Uncle Joe to dig a drainage ditch down by the tracks. Homer Bedloe is back in Hooterville trying again to shut down the Cannonball. He believes there must be something in the financial books since Charley and Floyd have not submitted a report in twelve years. Bedloe thinks he's found something and calls President Norman Curtis. Norman isn't interested in Bedloe's findings. Joe comes up with a plan to get guests to dig for silver down by the tracks. He figures others will do the ditch digging for him. Bedloe decides to sell leases all along the track from Hooterville to Pixley for people to prospect for silver. In the process, all the digging will just rip up the tracks. Kate figures out what Bedloe is up to. She comes up with a way to outsmart him once again. It'll keep the Cannonball running and on brand new tracks. However, Joe almost ruins it. Norman Curtis also teaches Bedloe a lesson. Glenn Strange as Hawley. Patrick Waltz as Assayer.
25	25	"The Talent Contest"	David Alexander	Dick Wesson	March 10, 1964 (1964-03-10)	025
Uncle Joe tells everyone that a regional talent contest will be held in Hooterville and at the Shady Rest. The winner will get $50 and a trip to Chicago to be on the television broadcast final. The girls want to enter, but Kate worries how competition between the girls will affect their relationships. Joe wants the girls to really try to win, hoping if one of them wins, he could go with to Chicago. The girls think that Kate could use the $50. Joe finds a way to talk any real competition into not entering the contest. Kate notices the girls starting to fight amongst themselves. She also learns what Joe has been up and wants the contest to be fair. Kate goes to talk to all the people Joe did. It's the night of the contest. After their performances, the girls decide they were only thinking of themselves and drop out of the competition. Nora Marlowe as Mrs. Whipple. Note: Bobbie Jo sings "Three Little Words," Billie Jo recites "The Raven," and Betty Jo dances to "Oh! Susanna." At the end, the girls harmonize on "The Hooterville Cannonball."
26	26	"Kate and the Manpower Problem"	Guy Scarpitta	Dick Wesson & Joel Kane	March 17, 1964 (1964-03-17)	026
An old school chum of Kates named Emily Mapes (Rosemary DeCamp) comes to the Shady Rest with her new husband Avery. Emily thinks it's time Kate was married again, but Kate says she's too busy. Emily tells the girls they need to get Kate to think about finding a man. Uncle Joe thinks that if Kate finds a man, he will lose his job. To round up some prospects to go to the Shady Rest to court Kate, the girls offer special rates to single men. The girls do bring quite a few men to stay at the hotel. Joe pretends to be the house detective and tells guest Grover Woodstock (Walter Reed) to leave Kate alone. Kate finds out from Grover what her daughters have been up to. She comes up with a plan with all the men to teach her girls a lesson. Reverend Mimms (Jess Kirkpatrick) comes by the hotel and almost ruins Kate's plan. Robert Carson as Wilbur Spriggs. Note: This was Rosemary DeCamp's first appearance on the show; she appeared again in the last six episodes of Season Five as Kate's sister Aunt Helen during Bea Benaderet's absence. Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis do not appear in this episode.
27	27	"The Ladybugs"	Donald O'Connor	Paul Henning & Mark Tuttle	March 24, 1964 (1964-03-24)	027
Beatlemania has hit Hooterville by storm. Uncle Joe recruits Billy, Bobbie, and Betty Jo along with their friend Sally Ragsdale (Sheila James) to form their own band called the Ladybugs.^[3] Kate is not happy that Joe took the bank payment to buy the Ladybug outfits for the girls. The girls and Joe try to tell Kate how rich they're going to be. Kate thinks it's all a joke. Colonel Partridge (Jesse White), a booking agent, comes to the Shady Rest to see the girls in action. Billie Jo brings in a bunch a boys who want to see the Ladybugs. The Ladybugs perform a song and the boys go wild. Partridge likes what he hears and wants to book the girls. Sally's father, Sheriff Ragsdale, comes by and says he wants his daughter to finish school and not tour the country. Uncle Joe thinks he has a way to save the group and dresses up as a Ladybug. Note: Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis do not appear in this episode.
28	28	"The Hooterville Flivverball"	Jean Yarbrough	Hannibal Coons & Harry Winkler	March 31, 1964 (1964-03-31)	028
Uncle Joe is haggling with Sam over the price of a washboard. Charlie and Floyd are ready to leave with the Cannonball. After several warnings, the Cannonball leaves without Joe. Joe walks back to the Shady Rest and is mad at Charlie and Floyd. Betty Jo shows Joe Orville Miggs' "Flivverball", an old car converted into a railway car. Joe decides to start his own transport business by partnering with Orville and using his car. The girls try to talk Joe out of his scheme. At first the Flivverball is a success. Kate refuses to feed Joe, Charlie and Floyd until they apologize to each other. They refuse. Joe smells Charlie and Floyd cooking in the Cannonball and joins them. The food is horrible. The men make up and go have a meal at the hotel.
29	29	"Kate the Stockholder"	David Alexander	Jerry Seelen & Leo Rifkin	April 7, 1964 (1964-04-07)	030
Norman Curtis, President of the C&FW Railroad, is currently on vacation in Europe. He left instructions not to do anything to the Cannonball while he's gone. However, Homer Bedloe has a scheme to shut down the Cannonball for good. He hopes to do it without disobeying Curtis' orders. The plan entails Bedloe being appointed Superintendent of the Cannonball. He would then enforce an efficiency program with an impossible to meet new schedule. He expects Charley and Floyd will eventually just give up. Vice President J. B. Giddings likes Bedloe's idea and thinks the stockholders will be happy. Bedloe arrives at the Shady Rest and gives Charley and Floyd the new rules. Bedloe is making things miserable for them and everyone at the hotel. Kate learns from Charley what Bedloe is being paid to be Superintendent. Kate and the gang go to the stockholders meeting where she believes they've got a secret weapon to ruin Bedloe's plans and have him sent somewhere else. Ned Wever as First Stockholder.
30	30	"Kate and the Dowager"	Dick Wesson	Dick Wesson	April 14, 1964 (1964-04-14)	031
Mr. Bunce (Jonathan Hole) with the bank is doing an inspection of the hotel and is not planning on extending Kate's financing. Wealthy socialite Clara Watkins (Doris Packer) checks into the hotel with her son Sonny. Sonny apparently is quite wild and has been expelled from his sixth college. Clara thinks the Shady Rest will have a calming effect on Sonny. Bunce will only extend Kate's financing if Mrs. Watkins recommends the hotel to her wealthy friends. Meanwhile, annoying Sonny is constantly chasing after Billie Jo. Clara wants the two of them to get married. While Kate wants to do what she can to please Mrs. Watkins, she has to say no to that. Clara becomes quite upset and wants to check out. Joe decides to romance Clara and she soon accepts his marriage proposal. Kate tries to talk both of them out of it, but it doesn't work. With Charley and Floyd's help, Kate comes up with a plan to save Joe. Clara reveals something that makes Bunce extend Kate's financing. Billie Jo finds a way to have Sonny chase Bobbie Jo.
31	31	"Charley Abandons the Cannonball"	David Alexander	Hannibal Coons & Harry Winkler	April 21, 1964 (1964-04-21)	032
Charley begins to believe that everyone seems too busy to spend any time with him. Floyd has started to call on the widow Sarah Lawrence. Uncle Joe has a speech he has to prepare, so has no time to go fishing with him. Kate has far too much work to do around the hotel. Betty Jo, who enjoys being Charley's co-engineer, has a date with Orville Miggs. Charley doesn't want to spend his time alone and miserable running the Cannonball. He decides to quit and move to the big city. Kate tries to talk him out of it, but Charley says he's already arranged a replacement. Kate makes up a story about Orville rushing into marriage with Betty Jo and she would like Charley to talk to him. After talking to Orville, Charley gets mad when he realizes Kate made it up. Charley picks up Bill Tuttle (Bob Hastings), his replacement. Tuttle doesn't like the care free way the Cannonball is run. When Charley realizes how much he is loved and needed, he finds a way to talk Tuttle out of staying. Note: Pat Woodell does not appear in this episode.
32	32	"Dog Days at Shady Rest"	David Alexander	Andy White	April 28, 1964 (1964-04-28)	033
Kate receives a telegram from Railroad President Norman Curtis that he is sending Homer Bedloe with someone named Fred. Fred is actually Mr. Curtis' housekeeper's old basset hound. Curtis believes Fred needs some good country air and space to re-energize himself. Curtis also hopes that Bedloe will soften his ways in the process. Bedloe tries to tell Kate he's a changed man, but she doesn't trust him. Fred is already feeling better. Bedloe wants to find a way to bring Fred back to Curtis in worse shape than when he left. Maybe that will change the way Curtis feels about the Shady Rest. Bedloe gets Joe to inadvertently frighten Fred and the dog hides under the bed. Kate now knows what Bedloe is up to. She tries to cheer Fred up with a bunch of girl dogs, but it doesn't work. Kate figures out a way to bring back spirit to Fred and a way to break Bedloe's spirit.
33	33	"A Millionaire for Kate"	Richard L. Bare	Martin Ragaway	May 5, 1964 (1964-05-05)	034
The girls are about to go on a trip to visit their Aunt Winifred and Orville has agreed to help Uncle Joe. An old friend of Kate's from high school sent a letter saying he is coming for a visit. His letter implies that he is now wealthy, and is coming back to the valley on personal business. Kate admits that she had a crush on H.J. Grant (Hayden Rorke) back then. Joe, however, believes that Herbie is a con artist. Joe overhears Kate and Herbie having a nice conversation. Joe decides he needs to break up any chance of a romance between Kate and Herbie. He invites "man crazy" Mabel Snark to come and meet Herbie. Joe even tells Sheriff Pete Ragsdale to come by. Orville finds a magazine article that proves Herbie is wealthy. Now Joe wants Kate to marry Herbie. Kate and Herbie are having a quiet dinner together. Ragsdale and Mabel show up. Joe tries to stop them from interrupting the couple. Kate and Herbie want to remain just friends. Note: Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis do not appear in this episode.
34	34	"Bedloe and Son"	Dick Wesson	Dick Wesson	May 12, 1964 (1964-05-12)	035
Homer Bedloe arrives at the Shady Rest with his son, Homer Bedloe Jr. (Steve Franken), who is as hateful and devious as his father. He even looks like his father down to the horn-rimmed glasses. Bedloe Sr.'s plan is that he wants to appear the loving and caring father, bringing his son up right. At first Kate doesn't think Bedloe has changed, but then she starts to believe that he wants the best for his son. Bedloe will then leave Jr. alone at the Shady Rest to snoop around and find a way to shut down the Shady Rest and the Cannonball for good. Jr. takes a train ride with Charley and Floyd and they stop to go fishing. He's never fished before and has a good time. Betty Jo and Bobbie Jo get Jr. to dance with them. Jr. confesses to Kate that his father wants to shut down the hotel and the train. But Jr. comes to like everyone because he is treated with kindness and goodwill for no apparent reason. Bedloe comes back and he can't believe Kate and the gang have turned his son into a nice guy.
35	35	"Local Girl Makes Good"	David Alexander	Jerry Seelen & Leo Rifkin	May 19, 1964 (1964-05-19)	036
Business executive Mary Jane Hastings (Elena Verdugo) returns home to Hooterville to receive the Chamber of Commerce award. Apparently Uncle Joe talked her into staying at the Shady Rest, because of the so called modern conveniences. When she arrives, Kate notices that everyone seems to be at her beck and call, especially the men. Kate doesn't like the effect Mary Jane has on her girls. They are now ordering Roger Budd and Phil Willis (Bart Patton) around. Kate blames Mary Jane's assistant Steve (Peter Hansen). He sets the example that whatever Mary Jane wants, she gets. Kate learns that Steve is in love with Mary Jane. Kate tells Steve he needs to stop being the ever obedient servant. But when Steve stands up to Mary Jane, she fires him. After learning that Mary Jane is in love with Steve, Kate finds a way to bring them back together. The girls learn a lesson about how to treat Roger and Phil.
36	36	"Cave Woman"	Guy Scarpitta	Story by: Richard Baer Teleplay by: Richard Baer and Joel Kane	May 26, 1964 (1964-05-26)	037
Uncle Joe wants to dig out an old cave to use as a wine cellar for the hotel. Kate receives a telegram from Brooks T. Webster (John Clarke), who wants to possibly hold a convention at the Shady Rest. He will be arriving that afternoon. Joe causes a landslide covering up the cave entrance with Kate inside the cave. Kate finds a small hole to the outside just big enough for her head. They will need Ding Woodhouse's tractor to remove all the rubble to get Kate out. But Ding's tractor needs some work done on it and won't be ready until the morning. Webster arrives and insists on dinner, but Kate isn't there to cook. To stall for time, Billie Jo throws on the charm and flirts with Brooks. But Brooks still wants to eat. Joe comes up with a plan to feed Webster and get the convention business. Joe and the girls really have to hustle to get the food to Webster. The next morning, Ding gets Kate out of the cave. Webster tells them that the final decision about the convention will be up to the President of the company, who will arrive the next morning. Note: Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis do not appear in this episode.
37	37	"Kate Flat on Her Back"	Guy Scarpitta	Joel Kane	June 2, 1964 (1964-06-02)	038
After getting out of the cave, Kate sprained her ankle which means she will be off her feet for three or four days. Now that Mr. Webster's gone, the family has to prepare for Mr. Hurley Feasel's (Barry Kelley) visit. He is the one that will decide if the convention will be held at the Shady Rest. Uncle Joe decides to make some changes to the hotel he's sure will appeal to conventioneers. He also hires Smokey Harner (Don Dubbins), a country singer and guitarist. Mr. Feasel arrives early and is not impressed with anything about the hotel. Hearing about all the new ideas, Kate believes Joe and the girls may be running the hotel better than she did. Kate recovers quicker than Dr. John Rhone (Willis Bouchey) expected. But she wants to keep her recovery a secret because she thinks everything is running smoothly and wants the family to feel good about themselves. With everything going wrong in the hotel, including Smokey signing a song that Feasel hates, Feasel leaves. The girls want to keep Kate from finding out Feasel left. They try to make it sound as though the hotel was full of conventioneers. Kate finds out the truth. But Feasel later returns for a very unusual reason. Note: Pat Woodell, Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis do not appear in this episode.
38	38	"The Genghis Keane Story"	Jean Yarbrough	Jack Raymond	June 9, 1964 (1964-06-09)	029
Kate's former grade school teacher returns to Hooterville. Kate and her children reminisce how Miss Adelaide "Genghis" Keane (Lurene Tuttle) was so strict on all the children, and she was a dreaded teacher. Kate and the girls are surprised to find that the retired elderly schoolteacher is now meek and timid. They all get together to bring Miss Keane's confidence back. It doesn't take long for Miss Keane to become a disciplinarian again. Uncle Joe tells Kate that Adelaide has been driving potential customers away. Kate and the girls are beginning to regret what they did. Before Kate can confront her, Adelaide acknowledges that she has gone too far and is scaring people off. Kate and the girls enlist some of the locals to come to a class on Monday nights. Miss Keane is happy to be teaching again and moves into town by the library. Eddie Quillan as Mort. Barbara Pepper as Ruth Ziffel. Ken Osmond as Harold Boggs.

Season 2 (1964–65)