# Jed Clampett was not "shootin' at some food" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025 "2020-01-26T23:03:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/21 "2020-01-27T12:04:12Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > So does anyone know the scoop here on how this inconsistency came to be? Was the “shooting” origin story originally planned and then changed after the theme song was written? We’re talking about a 1960s sitcom in an era that regarded such shows as transitory entertainment. Consistency is a bit much to expect of such shows. I doubt that anyone involved in the making of _Beverly Hillbillies_ thought people would still be talking about the show 20 years later, let alone in years beginning with 2. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/22 "2020-01-27T13:00:19Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > … > > So does anyone know the scoop here on how this inconsistency came to be? Was the “shooting” origin story originally planned and then changed after the theme song was written? Yes, that was the ONE aspect of the BH documentary that always troubled me! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/23 "2020-01-27T13:41:37Z")
I… Sorry. I was looking for the thread about packing three months worth of clothes for a 3-hour cruise. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/24 "2020-01-27T13:59:08Z")
The opening song is not in the original episode. Perhaps it was a pilot which sometimes a pilot varies from the rest of established canon. Are there references to the original episode, how they got rich, in later episodes? From the original episode it is very clear that the Clampeds knew that the swamp contained a lot of oil for some time, but thought that oil a nuance that reduced it’s value and even that animals avoid that place\* that would even would cost them to get that pumped out. - When someone asked Granny if they could wildcat that area, Jed asked Granny why did you let him do that, their ain’t no wildcats there, it’s too loaded with oil. Jed finally understand the value and he is rich sometime after he sole the swamp for what Jed assumes was for $25 to $100 depending on the amount of oil. Not understanding till Pearl explains those are in million dollars. So no the song does not match, however I could accept the pilot then needing to change things to match as the episodes develop. ---
**Author:** ![Smitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Smitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smitty)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/25 "2020-01-27T14:27:36Z")
Considering that the whole family had [Improbable Aiming Skills](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ImprobableAimingSkills) to the point where shooting flies sitting on a fence post isn’t “sportin’” (they only shoot them as they are coming in for a landing), it is doubtful that a shot from Jed would miss the “food” and hit the ground instead. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/26 "2020-01-27T15:00:25Z")
Actually, I think the most improbable feature of the story is that the oil company actually paid that much money for the oil rights. They knew they were dealing with a ignorant yokel who had no idea of the value of his property. I’m sure they could have gotten it for a couple of hundred bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/27 "2020-01-27T15:01:34Z")
> [@Smitty](#): > > Considering that the whole family had [Improbable Aiming Skills](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ImprobableAimingSkills) to the point where shooting flies sitting on a fence post isn’t “sportin’” (they only shoot them as they are coming in for a landing), it is doubtful that a shot from Jed would miss the “food” and hit the ground instead. it probably went through the food into the ground. Possum won’t stop many bullets. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/28 "2020-01-27T16:36:54Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > it probably went through the food into the ground. Possum won’t stop many bullets. its also probable that “shootin at some food” is simply the hunting aspect and that he found the oil field while doing so. It does not require that the shot itself cause the oil to bubble forth. he was out shootin at some food (he was out hunting) when up from the ground come a bubbling crude (he discovered the oily swamp) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/29 "2020-01-27T18:02:19Z")
> [@simster](#): > > its also probable that “shootin at some food” is simply the hunting aspect and that he found the oil field while doing so. It does not require that the shot itself cause the oil to bubble forth. > > he was out shootin at some food (he was out hunting) > when up from the ground come a bubbling crude (he discovered the oily swamp) But again, that’s not really consistent with what the opening shows. We see Jed aiming his rifle and he shoots. Then we see a close up of some swamp vegetation and a black liquid starts bubbling up from one spot. The surrounding water is clear and the size of the black area is only a few inches, based on the size of the visible cattails. Then back to Jed as he looks surprised and curious and squints at what he’s seeing. Then back to the oil which has now expanded a bit but is still less than a foot wide. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/30 "2020-01-27T18:21:49Z")
My problem with the show opening is it shows Jed apparently missing a deer at relatively short range. Later in the series, it shows Jed and Jethro shooting flies on the wall of their estate from over 100 yards away. If he’s that good, he should have hit the deer he was shooting at, and thus not caused the bubbling oil to come into play… ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/31 "2020-01-27T18:42:04Z")
thanks for the earworm:mad: ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/32 "2020-01-27T19:00:24Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I just saw this part. He actually rushes in to tell Granny that Jethro is approaching and is driving a car, which causes everyone to panic and take cover since Jethro is apparently the worst driver in the world, and Jethro does indeed crash the car into the Clampett’s chicken coop. The helicopter bit was a little earlier, where the Clampetts think the helicopter bringing the oil executives is some monstrous creature and try to shoot it down. > [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > something \<= “… without a care” > Rolls \<= camel > IIRC Thank you veddy much. Nitpick: I’m _almost_ certain it was “loaded up the Rolls”, with the joke being that Abdul was so “poor” he could only afford a Rolls Royce. But at my age where manufactured memories are commonplace (and unsettling) I remain open to more correction. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/33 "2020-01-27T19:11:29Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > But again, that’s not really consistent with what the opening shows. We see Jed aiming his rifle and he shoots. Then we see a close up of some swamp vegetation and a black liquid starts bubbling up from one spot. The surrounding water is clear and the size of the black area is only a few inches, based on the size of the visible cattails. Then back to Jed as he looks surprised and curious and squints at what he’s seeing. Then back to the oil which has now expanded a bit but is still less than a foot wide. The visual was trying to make the song more accurate/interesting to the ‘Rich Folk’ who had no idear what huntin and finding oil would be like without a bit of misadventure and action. It makes it more of an “action” of Jed than a happenstance. Its far more interestin’ for old Jed to ‘shoot and find oil’ than to “stumble upon it while lookin’ for vittles.” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/34 "2020-01-27T19:37:25Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > The opening song is not in the original episode. Perhaps it was a pilot which sometimes a pilot varies from the rest of established canon. Are there references to the original episode, how they got rich, in later episodes? > > From the original episode it is very clear that the Clampeds knew that the swamp contained a lot of oil for some time, but thought that oil a nuance that reduced it’s value and even that animals avoid that place\* that would even would cost them to get that pumped out. > > - When someone asked Granny if they could wildcat that area, Jed asked Granny why did you let him do that, their ain’t no wildcats there, it’s too loaded with oil. > > Jed finally understand the value and he is rich sometime after he sole the swamp for what Jed assumes was for $25 to $100 depending on the amount of oil. Not understanding till Pearl explains those are in million dollars. > > So no the song does not match, however I could accept the pilot then needing to change things to match as the episodes develop. This Wiki article has an interesting tidbit. > **[The Ballad of Jed Clampett](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Jed_Clampett)** > > "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" is the theme song for the television series The Beverly Hillbillies and the later movie of that name, providing the introductory story for the series. The song was composed by Paul Henning, and recorded first by bluegrass musicians Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, with Jerry Scoggins singing. The single phono-album version, released for radio and retail sale, merges both the beginning and ending lyrics of the theme song of the television series. The beginning theme comp... The early episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies went into public domain before the song “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” did. So the song was sometimes edited out of those episodes in reruns. And they sometimes added sponsored verses promoting products such as Winston cigarettes and Kellogg cereals. > **[The Beverly Hillbillies theme song once had extra verses to promote cereal...](https://www.metv.com/stories/the-beverly-hillbillies-theme-song-once-had-extra-verses-to-promote-cereal-and-cigarettes)** > > What rhymes with "Kellogg's"? ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/35 "2020-01-27T20:04:15Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Jed finally understand the value and he is rich sometime after he sole the swamp for what Jed assumes was for $25 to $100 depending on the amount of oil. Not understanding till Pearl explains those are in million dollars. Jed said they were going to pay him in a new kind of dollar. When he said “million dollars” Pearl fainted. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/36 "2020-01-27T20:27:43Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Where WERE the Clampetts from? Kaintucky? The Ozarks? > ) The author based the story on his relatives from the Missouri Ozarks. In the tv show they were from Tennessee. In the movie they were from Arkansas apparently so they could joke about “Cousin Bill”. BTW, the truck from the tv show is at a [museum in Branson](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/14355). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/37 "2020-01-27T21:21:03Z")
Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee converge on the Mississippi. Clan Clampett could be spread throughout the region. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/38 "2020-01-28T00:21:59Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > We’re talking about a 1960s sitcom in an era that regarded such shows as transitory entertainment. Consistency is a bit much to expect of such shows. > > I doubt that anyone involved in the making of _Beverly Hillbillies_ thought people would still be talking about the show 20 years later, let alone in years beginning with 2. And it had to more or less carry the story line and you know, _ **rhyme.** _ No one expected it would get scrutinized like the 2nd amendment 60 years later. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/39 "2020-01-28T00:41:16Z")
It’s about time somebody got to the bottom of this. May be just the thread we need to pull to bring the Illuminati down. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025/40 "2020-01-28T00:47:10Z")
My take on the BH sitcom is some producers were looking for a “fish out of water” concept that would be accepted without TOO much suspension of disbelief. Some poor, ignorant hillbillies would become inexplicably rich and move to an impossibly upper-class Beverly Hills Mansion. Hilarity ensues. Everything else is just backstory to explain the premise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jed-clampett-was-not-shootin-at-some-food/847025.md?page=3)