Didn’t Hooterville “exist” before Petticoat Junction? I thought it was mentioned on Paul Henning’s earlier series The Beverly Hillbillies.
I haven’t watched that show in years.
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.”
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! 
You say that like it might be a bad thing.
Yeah, well you say that like it might be a good thing. :dubious:
Nothing to add re the OP, but I will say that I always liked Bobby Jo the best.
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.
Linda is credited in the IMDb (although uncredited on the telecasts) with providing the voice of Jethrine in seven episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies. She also appeared as her Petticoat Junction character on five later Hillbillies installments and one episode of Green Acres.
As others have mentioned, the water tank was the supply for the locomotive of the Hooterville Cannonball.
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]
Don’t forget that Benji was in the show. I was so young I liked the dog better than the girls.
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.
I have never been that young.
El Kabong, see post #23, above.
Whoops, missed that one. I stand corrected.
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:
Lori Saunders was Shiney
There are lots of pics in This Directory. A couple get close to showing what the water tower hid.