Popular Culture Loved the Clampetts: Beverly Hillbillies
In the early 1960s, the nation met the Clampett family through their television sets. When wise, stoic patriarch and Tennessee hillbilly Jed shot at some local game, he accidentally struck oil (a lucky find; State of Tennessee says Tennessee’s crude oil reserves are only about “.02% of the United States’ crude oil output”). Despite living his whole life in the hills, Jed moved his family to a modern mansion in Beverly Hills. Jed was joined by feisty mother-in-law Granny, his simple-minded nephew Jethro, and his animal-loving daughter Elly May. In 1962, the Beverly Hillbillies debut, centering on Clampett’s efforts to adapt to the modern world while staying true to who they were. Despite harsh reviews from critics, within three weeks of its premier, it was the #1 show in the United States. It would hold that title for two years and be on the air for nine seasons.