The Beverly Hillbillies: A Fortieth Anniversary Wing Ding [Paperback]

Stephen Cox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2002

Come and listen to the story ’bout a man named Jed" and the rest of the colorful Clampett family, perhaps television’s most unlikely phenomenon to spring from the sixties. Hated by the critics but enthusiastically embraced by audiences around the world, to this day The Beverly Hillbillies still holds the Nielsen record for the highest rated half-hour show in the history of television. Over the years, the original television hit has inspired several highly rated network specials, an E! True Hollywood Story two-hour documentary, and even a big-screen motion picture from 20th Century Fox in 1993. Just in time to join the fortieth anniversary celebration of the classic television sitcom, The Beverly Hillbillies is filled with all the hillbilly country corn anyone could expect. Updated and expanded from the first edition, published in 1988, it is the ultimate TV book. Readers will also find hundreds of photographs, including 16 pages of color, fascinating trivia, behind-the-scenes stories, exclusive contributions from Paul Henning, the show’s creator, a list of Granny’s fixin’s, the story of the popular theme song, Elly May’s critters, Jethro’s "Double-Naught" secrets, and an introduction by 93-year-old Buddy Ebsen, who played Jed Clampett in the series. Also included are a complete episode guide, cast biographies with all the inside scoop, and highlights from guest stars (John Wayne, Gloria Swanson, Sammy Davis Jr., and others). The Beverly Hillbillies is still shown every day on cable television’s Nick at Night. This fortieth anniversary edition of the book will become a collector’s item for all who loved and love the show. There’s more here than you can shake a possum at. Sit a spell.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

STEPHEN COX is a freelance writer currently living in Los Angeles. He has written more than a dozen successful books on film and television, including The Munchkins of Oz, Here’s Johnny! The Munsters, The Addams Chronicles, The Abbott & Costello Story, Dreaming of Jeannie, and Here on Gilligan’s Isle. Cox worked closely with Buddy Ebsen as researcher and editor for the actor’s autobiography, The Other Side of Oz, in 1993.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Cumberland House Publishing; Revised ed. edition (November 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581823029
• ISBN-13: 978-1581823028
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very very thorough, April 2, 2000

By 

Mrs. Padilla (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beverly Hillbillies: From the Small Screen to the Big Screen- the Complete Guide to America's All-time Favorite Show (Paperback)

There really aren't any other books out there about "The Beverly Hillbillies," so this is probably the only one you'd be looking at anyway. But it is an excellent, thorough review with pretty much everything there is to put in a book about the show. There's chapters on each cast member, celebrity guest stars, the movies (however crummy they may have been), the creators, and a lengthy interview with Max Baer, plus an episode guide and tons of photographs. If you're a fan of "The Beverly Hillbillies," or just classic TV in gerenal, it's worth picking up.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Most Loved Sitcom of All-Time, April 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Beverly Hillbillies: A Fortieth Anniversary Wing Ding (Paperback)

The critics hated and audiences loved it. CBS only put it on the air because they had no other good sitcoms in the fall of 1962. What happened was a revolution in sitcoms. "The Beverly Hillbillies" went on to become one of the biggest hits in the history of television. It climbed to the top of the ratings faster than any sitcom in history. It is no wonder that forty years later audiences still love this show. With the exception of "I Love Lucy", not other sitcom has been so durable and successful in syndication. Thanks to Mr. Stephen Cox for writing a book about a sitcom that truly deserves such recognition. "The Beverly Hillbillies" was a runaway hit and a phenomenon. But, for me, it is simply a funny show that I don't mind watching over and over again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long live the Clampetts!, March 30, 2003

By 

Danny Forbes "dfbcountry" (New York state) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beverly Hillbillies: A Fortieth Anniversary Wing Ding (Paperback)

For anyone who is a fan of "The Beverly Hillbillies" (or is interested in TV history) this is the book for you! Steve Cox has a way of writing that makes you feel as if he is in your own living room telling you the remarkable story of the Clampetts. The book contains: fantastic black & white and color photos, behind the scenes stories, great interviews with the cast, an episode guide and a detailed history of America's favorite hillbilly family. So set a spell with Steve Cox as your guide and relive all the fun and laughter of The Beverly Hillbillies. Y'all read up now y'hear.