7 darn tootin' true facts about 'The Beverly Hillbillies'
The story of the Clampetts involves casinos, kangaroos, bluegrass singing stockbrokers, and millions upon millions of Americans.
Come and listen to our story 'bout a man named Jed. The tale of an Ozark family who strikes it rich, The Beverly Hillbillies was one of the true cultural phenomenons of the 1960s. Before Beatlemania, a serious case of Clampett Fever swept the nation. Jed, Granny, Jethro and Elly May became household names overnight, thanks to the sitcom's brand of corn husks, aw-shucks and tried-and-true yucks. The popularity of the series, which ran from 1962 to 1971, led to merchandising, spin-offs and the inevitable '90s remake. It also ignited cultural debates and riffed on the growing divide between rural and urban America. If it came out today, it would spark a thousand thinkpieces. But really, the secret to its success was quite simple: It made people laugh.