The Beverly Hillbillies

"The Beverly Hillbillies" is an American television sitcom that originally aired from 1962 to 1971. Created by Paul Henning, the series became one of the most popular comedies of the 1960s and is remembered for its fish-out-of-water humor, colorful characters, and catchy theme song. The show starred Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett, a poor but good-natured backwoodsman who accidentally strikes oil on his land and becomes enormously wealthy. Jed moves his family from the Ozarks to Beverly Hills, California, where their simple rural ways clash comically with the wealthy and sophisticated world around them. Irene Ryan played the feisty Granny, Donna Douglas portrayed beautiful tomboy Elly May Clampett, and Max Baer Jr. played the dim-witted but lovable Jethro Bodine. Raymond Bailey co-starred as banker Milburn Drysdale, who desperately tried to keep the Clampetts and their fortune at his bank, while Nancy Kulp played his secretary, Miss Jane Hathaway. Much of the comedy came from misunderstandings between the Clampetts and their Beverly Hills neighbors. Despite their wealth, the family remained practical, generous, and largely unimpressed by high society. "The Beverly Hillbillies" was a major ratings success and remained popular for years in syndication. Its memorable cast, theme song, and distinctive characters have made photographs, autographs, and memorabilia from the series especially popular with collectors of classic television and 1960s entertainment.