Customer Reviews

Petticoat Junction - The Official First Season

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I almost didn't purchase this set due to the negative comments before the release, but really wanted the 2nd half of the first season that wasn't on the other DVD set. After watching the first 8 episodes, I thought I'd let other skeptics know that these episodes are full length with Curt Massey's original music score. Also, in the episodes I've seen so far, there are no
product placements on the end credits. Don't worry, there isn't a black box
covering up that bar of soap; it's just not there. If you select special features on the main menu, you can select play all episodes with a brief intro by Linda Kaye Henning (Betty Jo) or Pat Woodell (Bobby Jo) or both of
them in some cases. Now let's not keep the Petticoat Junction fans waiting, please release the rest of the seasons in a timely manner!

Contrary to the rumor, there are no TVLand edits on the Petticoat Junction Season 1. All the episodes are about 25 minutes and 30 seconds long. Not sure what's been changed musically since they never reran this show around my area. But they didn't snip out major moments like they did on Gomer Pyle.

"Petticoat Junction" was commissioned by CBS-TV in 1963, following the success of "The Beverly Hillbillies" in the previous year. Producer Paul Henning reproduced the formula of his hit, except instead of having hicks come to the big city and lock horns with smarmy city-slickers, in "Petticoat" the city-slickers came out to the country and got charmed or bamboozled by the locals. The comedy wasn't as broad as on "Hillbillies," and the show was greatly enhanced by an ensemble cast that included great character actors such as Edgar Buchanan, Frank Cady, Charles Lane and Roy Roberts. (Old-school country music fans might also appreciate the presence of cowboy singer Smiley Burnett in the role of train engineer Charley Pratt...) "Petticoat Junction," which ran seven seasons and lasted for years in syndication during the next decade, isn't what you'd call great art, but it was a fun, well-produced show, and you might be surprised by how well it stands up, several decades later. This first collection, with five discs worth of vintage episodes, will give you a glimpse of what television comedy was like, way back in the Kennedy era. It was a simpler time, and looking back at it can be a fine tonic. (Joe Sixpack, Slipcue film reviews)

Compared to MPI Home Video, CBS/Paramount has been "movin' kinda slow" with their own Petticoat Junction DVD release. However, fans can now be very happy with this official and complete set of episodes from the non-syndicated first season. Working from 35mm material, CBS/Paramount delivers picture quality clearly superior to the MPI release (which was transferred from 16mm prints). Image brightness, contrast and overall sharpness are much improved in this set, which can't help but add to our enjoyment of the episodes.

The MPI release is still valuable for the excellent documentary "The History of Hooterville," which contains enough interesting information and varied participants (including 100-year old Charles Lane!)to justify repeat viewing.

Let's hope the entire series will be available before too long. However, if CBS/Paramount stays true to form, this release may be the only one to contain any extras. But even if that turns out to be true, simply seeing the un-edited episodes themselves, after so many years, is one of the blessings of living in the age of DVD.

I purchased the first season of Petticoat Junction and I find myself saving the final episodes I have, for times when I am really stressed out. The shows never fail to calm me down and are always a joy to watch. I also enjoyed watching the old commercials that were included as an extra feature with this set. I cannot wait for the rest of the episodes to come out, especially seasons 5, 6 and 7 with Dr. Craig, Katie Jo and Steve and Betty Jo's marriage. If you loved this series, you won't be disappointed. It is a wholesome, folksy show that you just can't find anymore.

This is an excellent DVD. I was very pleased with the MPI Ultimate Collection except that it did not include the full season. These are wonderfully restored with all original music and the full length episodes. I hope fans will buy this so we can get the second black and white season as well and hopefully even more of this great series that is hard to find. CBS has definitely learned their lesson after changing the music on the second season of "Happy Days."

Thank you Linda Kaye Henning and Pat Woodell for introducing these classic episodes. Your informative introductions elevate this series release above all other shows. One can easily tell how proud you are of this marvelous, classic series. Please release seasons 2 through 7! We have waited for over 45 years!! Bless you both.

Petticoat Junction is as good now as when my wife and I watched it as kids. The DVD's are packaged very well and the digital quality is excellent. We have started buying all the old TV shows we watched as kids. Our 10 year old is enjoying them as are we. With what little quality programing cable and satellite TV offers today but with rates going up at least once every year we are seriously considering doing away with our satellite and going with local FREE digital broadcast channels AND the DVD's of the old shows we all enjoy. The DVD's actually end up costing less than the satellite and the quality and choice is so much better.

Thank you to CBS/Paramount for FINALLY releasing the entire 1st season of Petticoat Junction on DVD! I purchased the DVD from MPI which covered the first 20 episodes, plus wonderful insights from Linda Kaye Henning, but now that the full season is available (and wonderfully remastered, I must say), you have made this longtime fan very happy!

Included are clips of the sponsor ads (featuring cast members in their characters), and a delightful two-part recollection with Ms. Henning and Pat Woodell (the original Bobbie Jo). It would have been great to have the original Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley) aboard as well to share her PJ memories.

Enjoyed all the episodes, especially the one showcasing the Bradley girls (and Sheila James of "Dobie Gillis" fame) as the "Ladybugs" - as well as the musical interludes.

This show, as well as many of the other 1960s sitcoms, was a prime example of the wholesome family-oriented comedy that is sorely lacking in today's TV offerings. Now let's have the other six seasons out - OK?

Sit down with fried chicken, corn bread and mashed potatoes and revel in the ENTIRE first season. Not a cheapie public-domain dvd you can get at the Dollar Dump, this takes even the wonderful Ultimate Collection and betters it still by having the whole first season, in order, along with long-lost actress Pat Woodell (the original Bobbie Jo) chatting it up with Linda Kaye Henning (Betty Jo) in intros to each episode, a couple of longer interviews with each, rare photos, an informative interview with creator Paul Henning... AND each episode, UNCUT, orinal theme music intact, no songs cut at all... CBS/Paramount went first class on this one. If you love Petticoat Junction, don't be left at the station, buy it today!