# Petticoat Junction girls - Were they bathing in the Town's drinking water supply? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149 "2005-09-17T20:31:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/21 "2005-09-18T20:18:50Z")
Didn’t Hooterville “exist” before _Petticoat Junction_? I thought it was mentioned on Paul Henning’s earlier series _The Beverly Hillbillies_. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/22 "2005-09-18T20:31:29Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > It was water for the TRAIN! > [sub]Sounds like your market and my market showed the same episode of _That 70s Show_ last night![/sub] 😕 I haven’t watched that show in years. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/23 "2005-09-18T20:34:49Z")
To answer my own question, on episode #11 of _The Beverly Hillbillies_, a year before _Petticoat Junction_, Jazzbo Depew mentions to Jethrine Bodine that “there is a dance over in Hooterville tonight.” ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/24 "2005-09-18T21:41:12Z")
> [@astro](#): > > 😕 I haven’t watched that show in years. What a weird coincidence! Last night on the syndicated episode of _That 70s Show_, the gang was watching the opening to PJ and discussing, in great detail, the women swimming naked in the water tower with the dog. I just figured it HAD to be the inspiration to this thread! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/25 "2005-09-18T22:19:24Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Were they actually bathing (along with the dog) in the Town’s drinking water supply? You say that like it might be a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/26 "2005-09-18T22:26:49Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Were they actually bathing (along with the dog) in the Town’s drinking water supply? > [@ftg](#): > > You say that like it might be a bad thing. Yeah, well **you** say that like it might be a _good_ thing. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/27 "2005-09-18T23:21:25Z")
Nothing to add re the OP, but I will say that I always liked Bobby Jo the best. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/28 "2005-09-19T00:33:23Z")
Which Bobbie Jo: singing bookworm Pat Woodell (1963-1965) or flirty playgirl Lori Saunders (1965-1970)? I’m guessing you mean Lori Saunders, as the first two black-and-white seasons have never been in syndication. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/29 "2005-09-19T01:40:42Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Come on- that wasn’t Max Baer Jr doing a falsetto? Linda is credited in the IMDb (although uncredited on the telecasts) with providing the voice of Jethrine in [seven episodes](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0377407/) of _The Beverly Hillbillies_. She also appeared as her _Petticoat Junction_ character on five later _Hillbillies_ installments and one episode of _Green Acres_. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/30 "2005-09-19T14:00:18Z")
As others have mentioned, the water tank was the supply for the locomotive of the Hooterville Cannonball. > [@](#): > > Didn’t Hooterville “exist” before Petticoat Junction? I thought it was mentioned on Paul Henning’s earlier series The Beverly Hillbillies. Actually, I don’t think it was mentioned on _BH_ until after _Petticoat Junction_ had become established. Much closer crossover ties existed between _PJ_ and _Green Acres_, which was also set in Hooterville, and various cast members turned up on both shows. [Lisa Douglas] Eat Hootersville Rutabagas! [/Lisa Douglas] ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/31 "2005-09-19T14:04:15Z")
Don’t forget that Benji was in the show. I was so young I liked the dog better than the girls. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/32 "2005-09-19T14:09:51Z")
In the early episodes, it was only the girls that were bathing in the tower, and pulled in their clothes. The dog (with its “petticoat”) was added later. In one episode they actually showed the girls bathing inside the water tower, with a baby (one of the girls? She got married and had a kid. It mighta been hers). Of course, everyone had bathing suits on. And the water was awfully low. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/33 "2005-09-19T14:29:58Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Don’t forget that Benji was in the show. I was so young I liked the dog better than the girls. I have never been that young. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/34 "2005-09-19T16:50:37Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Actually, I don’t think it was mentioned on _BH_ until after _Petticoat Junction_ had become established. **El Kabong** , see post #23, above. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/35 "2005-09-19T20:15:21Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > **El Kabong** , see post #23, above. Whoops, missed that one. I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/36 "2005-09-20T13:33:30Z")
Oddly enough I saw a few first season episodes just recently – in syndication apparently on some odd station I never tend to watch (also pre-Joe Gannon Dragnet – wooT) and the girls were SWIMING in the trains water supply not actually bathing. Kate specifically mentions swiming to the girls as they return from the tower. Also, I always had a thing for Gunilla Hutton the first oldest daughter who later played herself, but primarily Nurse Goodbody on HeeHaw. And Lori Saunders was a true 60’s babe to be reckoned with. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149/37 "2005-09-20T14:32:41Z")
> [@ddgryphon](#): > > Oddly enough I saw a few first season episodes just recently – in syndication apparently on some odd station I never tend to watch (also pre-Joe Gannon Dragnet – wooT) and the girls were SWIMING in the trains water supply not actually bathing. > > Kate specifically mentions swiming to the girls as they return from the tower. > Also, I always had a thing for Gunilla Hutton the first oldest daughter who later played herself, but primarily Nurse Goodbody on HeeHaw. > > And Lori Saunders was a true 60’s babe to be reckoned with. You too?? From [This Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=333835&page=1&pp=50): > [@Duke of Rat](#): > > But the Betty, Bobbie, and Billie thing would work. I’d like me a little Lori Saunders/Gunilla Hutton action (Gunilla got replaced by Meredith MacCrae, she’d work, too). Lori Saunders was [Shiney](http://www.lorisaunders.com/images/photo/full/lori_still_02.jpg) There are lots of pics in [This Directory](http://www.lorisaunders.com/images/photo/full/). A couple get close to showing what the water tower hid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petticoat-junction-girls-were-they-bathing-in-the-towns-drinking-water-supply/322149.md?page=1)