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The Best Episodes of Petticoat Junction Season 1

Every episode of Petticoat Junction Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Petticoat Junction Season 1!

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The Bradley family are proud owners of the Shady Rest Hotel. Kate and her three young daughters do the job of running the hotel.

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 4 - Is There a Doctor in the Roundhouse?
    8.0/10(151 votes)

    S1:E4

    Norman Curtis, who has fallen in love with life at the Shady Rest, is still staying there for free without Kate yet knowing his true identity. He accidentally breaks the throttle handle of the Hooterville Cannonball and folks can't get to Kate's annual Shady Rest Jamboree. Norman decides to come clean about his identity. The problem is no one believes him. In fact, they all believe he's crazy. But the executive tries to make amends with a determined effort to obtain the nearly-nonexistent replacement part. Norman brings three of his friends in to help, who everyone also think are hobos. Thanks to Norman, the Jamboree is a success.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writers:Seaman Jacobs, Ed James

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  2. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 3 - The President Who Came to Dinner
    7.9/10(163 votes)

    S1:E3

    C&F W Railroad President Norman P. Curtis is incensed that ace troubleshooter Homer Bedloe utterly failed to scrap the Hooterville Cannonball. Taking matters into his own hands, he decides to do it himself, incognito. Although Curtis doesn't intend on appearing as such, he comes across to Kate and others in the valley as a hobo after he takes a tumble in a field, ripping and dirtying his suit and losing his wallet in the process. But, he has a change of heart when he experiences Kate's hospitality and kindness.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writers:Seaman Jacobs, Ed James

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  3. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 14 - Cannonball Christmas
    7.9/10(151 votes)

    S1:E14

    The Bradleys, Sam Drucker, Herby, Charlie and Floyd are decorating the Cannonball for its annual Christmas Eve trip of caroling, gift-giving and merriment around the valley. But, Homer Bedloe is determined to be a Scrooge and take possession of the train on Christmas Eve. Railroad President Norman Curtis finds out what Bedloe is up to and goes to Hooterville to stop him.

    Director:Guy Scarpitta
    Writers:Paul Henning, Mark Tuttle

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  4. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 29 - Kate the Stockholder
    7.9/10(66 votes)

    S1:E29

    Norman Curtis, President of the C&FW Railroad, is currently on vacation in Europe. He left instructions not to do anything to the Cannonball while he's gone. However, Homer Bedloe has a scheme to shut down the Cannonball for good. He hopes to do it without disobeying Curtis' orders. The plan entails Bedloe being appointed Superintendent of the Cannonball. He would then enforce an efficiency program with an impossible to meet new schedule. He expects Charley and Floyd will eventually just give up. Kate and the gang go to the stockholders meeting where she believes they've got a secret weapon to ruin Bedloe's plans.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writers:Jerry Seelen, Leo Rifkin

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  5. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 1 - Spur Line to Shady Rest
    7.8/10(226 votes)

    S1:E1

    Homer Bedloe, trouble-shooter for the C&F W Railroad, is sent by railroad president Norman P. Curtis to the little community of Hooterville to find out why a branch line doesn't connect with the main line. The branch line carries the "Cannonball" train, and is vital to the Shady Rest Hotel, run by Kate Bradley, her three grown daughters and "Uncle Joe" Carson. If Bedloe succeeds in shutting down the Cannonball, Kate faces ruin. John Ashley appears as passenger Fred.

    Director:Richard Whorf
    Writer:Paul Henning

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  6. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 10 - Bedloe Strikes Again
    7.8/10(109 votes)

    S1:E10

    The Cannonball and its primary passenger, Uncle Joe, are pelted with eggs after the Hooterville Hornets, coached by Uncle Joe, are drubbed in what may be their worst game ever. Another unexpected passenger on that run is Homer Bedloe, who is surprisingly cordial and pleasant. Uncle Joe doesn't see anything wrong with Bedloe being cordial and taking it like a man in defeat in his efforts to scrap the Cannonball. Kate on the other hand believes Bedloe is up to no good. News gets to Sam that John Fisher and Max Thornton, two bigwigs from the railroad, are coming for a surprise inspection the following day. When Kate learns this news, they have to go clean-up the Cannonball. Plus, they have to keep Bedloe preoccupied so that he won't know what they're up to. And third, they have to railroad the visiting bigwigs about how deluxe the service on the Cannonball is. Fisher and Thornton are very impressed with the service.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writers:Paul Henning, Mark Tuttle

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  7. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 2 - Quick, Hide the Railroad
    7.7/10(158 votes)

    S1:E2

    Kate uses a combination of charm, subterfuge, and wiles to prevent Homer Bedloe from catching the Hooterville Cannonball and getting to Pixley in order to initiate proceedings that would permanently terminate the train's operation. She has to keep him at the Shady Rest long enough to convince him that the Cannonball is an integral part of the valley's life. When all else fails, Kate gets Sam, the Hooterville Jack of all professions, to scare Bedloe into changing his mind.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writers:Paul Henning, Mark Tuttle

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  8. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 13 - A Night at the Hooterville Hilton
    7.7/10(104 votes)

    S1:E13

    A brochure made by Uncle Joe describing the incomparable Shady Rest Hotel of the future is accidentally mailed to The Centerville Sun Express travel columnist Gladys Stroud. In the brochure was the vision of what he hoped the hotel would one day be, including indoor ice rink, bowling alley, and swimming pool. Gladys decides to come and review the Shady Rest. Now the family has to scramble to keep her from finding out the truth and closing them down for lying. Despite their best efforts, Gladys finds out. Uncle Joe manages to sweet talk Gladys into not closing them down.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writers:Seaman Jacobs, Ed James

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  9. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 27 - The Ladybugs
    7.7/10(83 votes)

    S1:E27

    Beatlemania has hit Hooterville by storm. Uncle Joe recruits Billy, Bobbie, and Betty Joe along with their friend Sally Ragsdale to form their own band called the Ladybugs. Colonel Partridge, a booking agent, comes to the Shady Rest to see the girls in action. Partridge likes what he hears and wants to book the girls. Sally's father, Sheriff Ragsdale, comes by and says he wants his daughter to finish school and not tour the country. Uncle Joe thinks he has a way to save the group and dresses up as a Ladybug.

    Director:Donald O'Connor
    Writers:Paul Henning, Mark Tuttle

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  10. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 9 - The Little Train Robbery
    7.6/10(118 votes)

    S1:E9

    Two young men, Arthur Gilroy and Lowell Rightmeyer, are on their way to rob the bank in Pixley. They change their plans when they learn that the next day, the Cannonball, without any armed guards, will make its run from Hooterville to Pixley for the bank shipment. Arthur and Lowell decide to stay the night at the Shady Rest. Kate and the family are happy to have two polite and handsome young men stay with them. Arthur and Lowell do hold up the train the next day. But, Kate and Uncle Joe are also on the train and they recognize the masked bandits. When Arthur and Lowell learn that the bank shipment is only deposit slips, they decide to rob the Shady Rest instead. But will Kate, her family, Charley and Floyd be able to turn around Arthur and Lowell's criminal lives?

    Director:Sherman Marks
    Writers:Seaman Jacobs, Ed James

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  11. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 20 - Last Chance Farm
    7.6/10(91 votes)

    S1:E20

    Business is bad at the Shady Rest and Kate needs to make a $200 bank loan payment. Uncle Joe meets Henrietta Boswell and Gertrude Hawley, who are lost and looking for Madame Bovary's Hideaway Reducing Farm. He convinces them that the Shady Rest is the most exclusive reducing farm and charges them $200 for a week. The catch is that Uncle Joe provides them with a money back guarantee. Uncle Joe tries to hide from Kate why the women are staying at the hotel. With a rigged scale, Joe has to convince the two that the secret to weight loss is to eat whatever they want as long as it is combined with turnip greens. He also has them do what would normally be considered all his chores. Ultimately, the two women do whatever they can to find what they believe is Kate's miracle weight loss and youth secret.

    Director:Guy Scarpitta
    Writers:Harry Winkler, Hannibal Coons

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  12. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 32 - Dog Days at Shady Rest
    7.6/10(69 votes)

    S1:E32

    Kate receives a telegram from Railroad President Norman Curtis that he is sending Homer Bedloe with someone named Fred. Fred is actually Mr. Curtis' housekeeper's aged basset hound. Curtis believes Fred needs some good country air and space to re-energize himself. Curtis also hopes that Bedloe will soften his ways in the process. Bedloe comes up with the plan to "ruin" Fred and have him return to Curtis in worse shape than he arrived. That will hopefully sour Curtis' view of the Shady Rest and what it stands for. Kate figures out a way to bring back spirit to Fred and a way to break Bedloe's spirit.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writer:Andy White

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  13. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 34 - Bedloe and Son
    7.6/10(68 votes)

    S1:E34

    Homer Bedloe arrives at the Shady Rest with his son, Homer Bedloe Jr., who is as hateful and devious as his father. He even looks like his father down to the horn-rimmed glasses. Bedloe Sr.'s plan is that he wants to appear the loving and caring father, bringing his son up right. Then he will leave Jr. alone at the Shady Rest to snoop around and find a way to shut down the Shady Rest and the Cannonball for good. But Jr. comes to like everyone because he is treated with kindness and goodwill for no apparent reason.

    Director:Dick Wesson
    Writer:Dick Wesson

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  14. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 6 - Please Buy My Violets
    7.5/10(120 votes)

    S1:E6

    Uncle Joe spends Kate's money to buy cases of lousy smelling men and women's cologne to make a fast buck reselling it. The money was intended to put screens in the hotel that will keep mosquitoes from chasing away paying guests. Kate figures out a way to sell all the cologne to salesmen Mr. Blake and Mr. Gordon. The men are going to sell it as insecticide.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writer:Richard Baer

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  15. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 38 - The Genghis Keane Story
    7.5/10(64 votes)

    S1:E38

    Kate's former grade school teacher returns to Hooterville. Kate and her children reminisce how Miss Adelaide "Genghis" Keane was so strict on all the children, and she was a dreaded teacher. Kate and the girls are surprised to find that the elderly schoolteacher is no longer the tyrannical disciplinarian she used to be. They all get together to bring Miss Keane's confidence back. It doesn't take long for Miss Keane to become a disciplinarian again and Kate and the girls are beginning to regret what they did. Before Kate can confront her, Adelaide acknowledges that she has gone too far and is scaring people off. Kate finds a way for Miss Keane to be happy again.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Jack Raymond

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  16. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 8 - Kate's Recipe for Hot Rhubarb
    7.4/10(122 votes)

    S1:E8

    When Billie Jo has to come up with a fourth for her double date with Junior Hocker and Junior's visiting friend Roger Budd, Kate suggests Bobbie Jo to her. Billie Jo doesn't think Bobbie Jo would be a good fit as she knows all the boys see Bobbie Jo as a book worm instead of a fun girl. Convincing Bobbie Jo may be more difficult as Bobbie Jo admits that she just doesn't feel comfortable around boys yet. She goes on the date, but comes home early saying she just can't compete with Billie Jo. Kate tries to teach Bobbie Jo how to flatter a man the way Billie Jo does. On her next date with Roger, things go much better.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writers:Joel Kane, Dick Wesson

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  17. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 19 - Visit From a Big Star
    7.4/10(106 votes)

    S1:E19

    Uncle Joe has made a deal with Lucy Wayne, the secretary of movie star Lane Haggard, for them to stay for two weeks at the Shady Rest. Incognito as Mr. Jones, Haggard, according to Miss Wayne, needs to get some rest and relaxation away from prying public eyes. But upon their arrival, Miss Wayne believes Uncle Joe has duped her. It seems that Joe has told the entire valley about their stay. Miss Wayne also wanted no attractive women around to fall under Haggard's movie idol charms. Kate and the girls are not quite as homely as Uncle Joe described them. The problem arises that those charms do surface without Haggard realizing what he is doing. The three girls, not used to such words from a big city man, believe what he tells each of them. But, the words are just niceties which he says to every attractive female. Kate tries to protect her girls and she also tries to help the one person to who those charms really do mean something, Lucy.

    Director:Ralph Levy
    Writer:Bill Manhoff

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  18. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 21 - The Very Old Antique
    7.4/10(85 votes)

    S1:E21

    When Kate unexpectedly sees Homer Bedloe in Hooterville, she knows trouble is in store. Bedloe plans on selling the Cannonball, a seemingly one-of-a-kind antique locomotive. His buyer is millionaire retired train man and antique train aficionado, Phillip Waterhouse. Waterhouse is an old, ornery and snobbish man who generally gets what he wants. With Charley and Floyd's help, Kate hopes she can convince Waterhouse that the train is in such disrepair that it's not worth buying. Kate's plan backfires when she learns Waterhouse enjoys repairing old trains. She hopes that with the family's help, she can get through to Waterhouse the necessity of the train to the valley.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Jack Raymond

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  19. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 7 - The Ringer
    7.3/10(110 votes)

    S1:E7

    Betty Jo enters the annual Shady Rest Horseshoe Tournament and becomes the first female contestant in the tournament's history. But she experiences conflicting emotions when she finds herself with an opportunity to defeat the legendary Pixley Fats. After a talk with Kate, Betty Jo decides that winning means more to Pixley Fats than to her, because that's all he really has in life.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writer:Richard Baer

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  20. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 16 - Bobbie Jo and the Beatnik
    7.3/10(118 votes)

    S1:E16

    Bobbie Jo brings home Alan Landman, a mad-at-the-world young poet and slacker who has won her heart. Despite Bobbie Jo liking him in every respect, he dismisses her way of life. Bobbie Jo wants to prove him wrong, while deep down she wants to find out for herself if Alan is really right about how meaningless her conventional life is. The family's impression of Alan is quite dismal. Kate has to figure out a way to make Bobbie Jo come to the conclusion on her own that Alan and his life do not deserve to be romanticized.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Bill Manhoff

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  21. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 24 - Behind All Silver, There's a Cloud Lining
    7.3/10(65 votes)

    S1:E24

    Homer Bedloe is back in Hooterville trying yet again to find a way to shut down the Cannonball. He believes there must be something in the financial books since Charley and Floyd have not submitted a report in twelve years. That plan ends up being more confusing to Bedloe than it's worth pursuing. Meanwhile, Uncle Joe is given the task of digging a drainage ditch down by the tracks. He finds the lazy way to do it by advertising that guests can dig for silver down by the tracks. He figures others will do the digging for him. Bedloe decides to sell leases all along the track from Hooterville to Pixley for people to prospect for silver. In the process, all the digging will just rip up the track, leaving the train unable to run without major repairs to the track. Kate can see through Bedloe's scheme and she devises a way to outsmart him once again to keep the Cannonball running.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Martin Ragaway

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  22. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 25 - The Talent Contest
    7.3/10(68 votes)

    S1:E25

    A regional talent contest is being held in Hooterville with the winner being awarded $50 and a trip to Chicago for the television broadcast final. Kate worries that competition among the girls will affect the family. Uncle Joe has other thoughts where he wants the girls to compete their hearts out with the goal of winning. The girls agree in that they figure Kate could use the $50. With the ulterior motive of being the adult chaperon for his winning niece in going to Chicago for the final, Uncle Joe tries to convince all the credible competition not to enter the contest. Kate wants the contest to be fair and undoes all of Joe's scheming. After their performances, the girls decide they were only thinking of themselves and drop out of the competition.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writer:Dick Wesson

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  23. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 28 - The Hooterville Flivverball
    7.3/10(71 votes)

    S1:E28

    Uncle Joe gets angry at Charlie and Floyd when he is left behind by the Cannonball. He decides to start his own transport business by using Orville Miggs' "Flivverball", an old car converted into a railway car. At first the Flivverball is a success. Kate must now deal with the feuding groups before the Cannonball goes out of business.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writers:Harry Winkler, Hannibal Coons

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  24. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 33 - A Millionaire for Kate
    7.3/10(63 votes)

    S1:E33

    An old friend of Kate's from high school is coming for a visit. Kate admits that she had a crush on H.J. Grant back then. His letter implies that he is now wealthy, and is coming back to the valley on personal business. Uncle Joe, however, believes that Herbie is a con artist after Kate's money. Uncle Joe decides he needs to break up any chance of a romance between Kate and Herbie. Orville finds a newspaper article that proves Herbie is wealthy. Now Joe wants Kate to marry Herbie. But Kate and Herbie want to remain just friends.

    Director:Richard L. Bare
    Writer:Martin Ragaway

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  25. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 5 - The Courtship of Floyd Smoot
    7.2/10(118 votes)

    S1:E5

    Floyd Smoot, the conductor, is courting a woman through the mail. But, when she ends it after receiving a photo of him, he loses all confidence. Kate tries to help him think all the women from Hooterville and the surrounding area have eyes for him, but instead he gets the idea that Kate has been secretly in love with him. Kate comes up with a plan to get Flyod's mind off of her. Meanwhile, the Hooterville Hornets football team and their coach Uncle Joe are on a losing streak.

    Director:Sherman Marks
    Writers:Seaman Jacobs, Ed James

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Is There a Doctor in the Roundhouse?" is the best rated episode of "Petticoat Junction" season 1. It scored 8/10 based on 151 votes. Directed by David Alexander and written by Seaman Jacobs, Ed James, it aired on 10/15/1963. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The President Who Came to Dinner".