MovieChat Forums > The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) Discussion > How did Jethro find the way to Beverly H...

How did Jethro find the way to Beverly Hills?

posted 8 years ago by tinkerbell_jonna
15 replies | jump to latest

Anyone find it unbelievable that Jethro got the whole family to Beverly Hills without getting them totally lost? Its hard to believe that he could read any kind of map, I KNOW he could read a little bit, but reading a map can be hard. I wish the pilot episode had focused on their trip to California, like I wonder if the Clampettes stopped in any towns to spend the night, I wonder if they stopped to eat in cafes along the way?

They could have focused on getting settled in the mansion in the second episode.

[–] MrBuzzcut 8 years ago

He was a boy genius!

[–] FlushingCaps 8 years ago

Your idea might well have been a good one. Probably, they figured most of the people they'd meet and have difficulties with in one way or another would be just like the situations they plan to set up in California.

As for finding their way, they surely could have asked at any gas station, and been directed to Route 66--presumably the route they took, as it went right through Missouri and would have been the easiest route from whatever part of the Ozarks they were coming from. Once you were on it, you just needed to follow the signs directing you west.

Why don't we just shoot 'em down and be through with it?

[–] tinkerbell_jonna 8 years ago

Honestly I THINK it could have been a good 3 episode pilot. The FIRST episode could have dealt with the Clampetts striking oil at the cabin, the second episode could have dealt with their trip, and then the third episode could have finally been about them getting settled in the mansion.

I've always heard a rumor that there was a lost episode BEFORE what is shown as the pilot, that actually contains the scene of Jed striking the oil and running in to tell Granny ~like we actually see on the opening~ and not running in to tell her that Jethro is about to hit the cabin in the truck ~like in the B*W openings~

I have a grandmother who watched the show when it originally aired and she says she remembers this episode, she said she remember when Jed runs in to tell Granny, that Jed and Granny watch as the oil gushes out of the ground.

[–] ministerwithoutportfolio 8 years ago

Interesting post. I think I have a vague memory of that as well. Unless it was a flashback episode.

The only thing I have to add is that the Clampett's were very friendly and could have cajoled virtually anyone along the way into giving them directions. Yes it would have been a good plot is people in Joplin Oklahoma City etc. when they stop and meet at the diners would ask for directions… cannot believe a family that claims they struck oil and are going West to live in a mansion in Beverly Hills

[–] rockmail 8 years ago

There's no way that the oil company man would have let them get lost, they were too important. I'm not sure if Mr Drysdale knew them by then, but he wouldn't have lost them either.

Ther weird part is why they didn't take the train or an airplane. They knew about them and were filthy rich. The truck would have been easily shipped out to them. In fact I doubt that they would have thought of that truck as less no distance transportation.

[–] tinkerbell_jonna 8 years ago

Apparantly at this point they didn't know what an airplane was. Granny thought the helicopter was a bird which flew over and when the guy was describing an airfield, they all thought he was crazy.

[–] steely3000 8 years ago

I guess there is stuff (as we learn later) that is important to the family (like a spinning mill, churn, etc) that the Clampetts wouldn't trust to be shipped. So they took it on the truck. And yes I assume Mr. Brewster gave Jethro good directions on how to get to the mansion; Jethro could read signs and numbers, so he could certainly find the place just by those.

But yeah, I know it was part of the plot, but that truck lasted a loooong time, put in many more miles than it would be made for.

[–] davebuffalo (3442) 4 years ago

Mr. Drysdale probably mailed them written directions. Jed was the brains of the family and he probably navigated.

[–] KinkyInk (1694) 3 years ago

Jethro was a double-naught spy. I'm sure he managed.

[–] liscarkat (18373) 3 years ago

Reading a map might be hard for people today, but in the early 1960s everyone knew how, and it was easy. Even Jethro could have done it.

[–] JosephQCat (706) 3 years ago

Back then it was not everybody's mission in life to be a wise guy. So when the Clampett's stopped along the way they probably got good but simple directions along the way. They probably got lost at times but promptly got back on course. The better question is how did that under powered truck make it through the Rocky Mountains from the Ozark's?

[–] liscarkat (18373) 3 years ago

Reading maps wasn't difficult for pre-internet people. They were used to it.

[–] strntz (12225) 2 years ago

Plus, the rest of the family was with him - I'm sure between the map and just asking for directions whenever they stopped for gas would get them there.