TLDR: Petticoat Junction, Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies shared characters from 1965 on, and in late 1968 the Clampetts spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in Hooterville. This guide lists the key crossover episodes with air dates. Checked October 17, 2026.
Paul Henning gave CBS three rural comedies, and somewhere along the way the neighbors started borrowing each other. Oliver Douglas turns up at the Shady Rest, Sam Drucker turns up in Beverly Hills, and by 1968 Granny is courting the Hooterville storekeeper.
Nobody kept an official ledger, so this is a working guide built from episode records, with air dates. For the big picture, start with our guide to the Hooterville universe.
How Were the Three Shows Connected?
The Beverly Hillbillies premiered on September 26, 1962, and Petticoat Junction followed on September 24, 1963. Green Acres arrived on September 15, 1965, after CBS offered Henning another slot with no pilot required.
Wikipedia notes that Bea Benaderet played Cousin Pearl Bodine in 23 Hillbillies episodes before she became Kate Bradley. Read her story in our Bea Benaderet profile.
Train historian Larry Jensen says the shows were not designed to share a world, per David Krell. The crossovers came later.
The Douglases Visit Petticoat Junction in 1965
The first wave ran between Green Acres and Petticoat Junction in the fall of 1965. Green Acres premiered with “Oliver Buys a Farm” on September 15, and Petticoat Junction answered on September 21 with “The Baffling Raffle,” where Oliver and Lisa spend a night at the Shady Rest.
TVmaze lists Eddie Albert as Oliver in 12 Petticoat Junction episodes, from that raffle through “Kate Bradley, Peacemaker” on April 5, 1966. Eva Gabor appears in nine as Lisa.
Other titles include “The Good Luck Ring” on October 5, 1965, “Hooterville A-Go-Go” on November 9 and “Betty Jo Goes to New York” on November 23. Meet the couple in our pages on Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor.
Which Petticoat Junction Characters Appeared on Green Acres?
Plenty, and in the first season especially. Wikipedia counts Edgar Buchanan’s Uncle Joe Carson in 17 Green Acres episodes between 1965 and 1969.
Rufe Davis as Floyd Smoot appeared in 10, Smiley Burnette as Charley Pratt in seven, and Kay E. Kuter as Newt Kiley in 24.
Bea Benaderet’s Kate Bradley turned up in six during 1965 and 1966.
“Lisa’s First Day on the Farm” on September 22, 1965 brings Kate, Joe, Charley and Floyd to the farmhouse. In “The Decorator,” a week later, Oliver’s mother arrives on the Hooterville Cannonball.
The Bradley girls got their turn on November 9, 1966, when Eb asks Oliver for romantic advice before a date with Betty Jo in “Eb Discovers the Birds and the Bees.”
When Did Eb Dawson and Mr. Haney Visit Petticoat Junction?
TVmaze lists Tom Lester as Eb Dawson in six Petticoat Junction episodes. They run from “Young Love” on September 13, 1966 to “One Dozen Roses” on September 23, 1967.
Pat Buttram’s Mr. Haney shows up three times, in “The County Fair” on February 8, 1966, “The Other Woman” on October 11, 1969 and “A Most Momentous Occasion” on November 22, 1969. The Ziffels, including Arnold the pig, first appeared on Petticoat Junction, as we explain in our guide to Arnold Ziffel and our profile of trainer Frank Inn.
The Hooterville Play About the Hillbillies
On March 1, 1967, Green Acres put on its own homage. According to Wikipedia’s episode list, the town stages a Beverly Hillbillies play to raise money for a clubhouse, with Hank playing Jed Clampett.
The Clampetts Go to Hooterville in 1968
This is the main event, and it starts on October 26, 1968. Petticoat Junction’s “The Valley Has a Baby” that night features the Douglases, and it aired 13 days after Bea Benaderet died.
“Granny Goes to Hooterville” followed on The Beverly Hillbillies on October 30, with Uncle Joe and Sam Drucker. Three days later Granny turned up on Petticoat Junction in “Granny, the Baby Expert.”
The Beverly Hillbillies aired “The Thanksgiving Spirit” on November 27, with Hooterville characters from both other shows. TV Series Finale describes a shared dinner at the end with characters from all three series.
“The Week Before Christmas” aired on December 18, and Petticoat Junction’s “A Cake from Granny” on December 21. Then came “Christmas in Hooterville” on December 25, with the Clampetts and Jane in town.
In that one, Drysdale fires Jane over the phone and dashes to Hooterville with Elly May’s bear in tow. Granny wants to know whether Sam Drucker has proposed, according to the Christmas Specials wiki.
Why Did the Crossovers Start in 1968?
Wikipedia says Benaderet was absent for much of Petticoat Junction’s fifth season while being treated for lung cancer, and she died on October 13, 1968. June Lockhart then joined as Dr. Janet Craig.
Krell reports that the crossovers eased Lockhart’s move into the lead role. That is one historian’s view, and the timing certainly fits.
Beverly Hillbillies Episodes With Hooterville Guests After 1968
Sam Drucker stayed in the Clampetts’ orbit. TVmaze lists Frank Cady in “Drysdale and Friend” on January 1, 1969, “Sam Drucker’s Visit” on March 5, 1969 and “The Clampett-Hewes Empire” on January 7, 1970.
Wikipedia’s Beverly Hillbillies article also lists Charles Lane’s railroad man Homer Bedloe, who had plagued the Cannonball on Petticoat Junction, among the Hooterville guests. It names Hank Patterson’s Fred Ziffel as well.
How Many Crossover Episodes Are There?
There is no official count. One fan-compiled list runs past 60, but its numbering is messy and some entries could not be confirmed elsewhere.
We stuck to dates that match TVmaze, Wikipedia or both. If you spot a missing episode, tell us and we will check it.
Where Should You Start Watching?
Begin with “Oliver Buys a Farm” and “The Baffling Raffle” to see the worlds meet. Then jump to “The Valley Has a Baby” and the November 1968 Hillbillies run.
End with “Christmas in Hooterville,” which gives the cast one last holiday together. For the people behind it all, see the Petticoat Junction cast, Green Acres cast and Beverly Hillbillies cast pages.
Hooterville Crossover Episodes: Frequently Asked Questions
Did Petticoat Junction and Green Acres cross over?
Yes. Oliver and Lisa Douglas first visited Petticoat Junction on September 21, 1965, in “The Baffling Raffle,” and Petticoat Junction characters appeared on Green Acres from its premiere.
Did The Beverly Hillbillies cross over with Petticoat Junction?
Yes. In late 1968 the Clampetts visited Hooterville, and Granny appeared on Petticoat Junction in “Granny, the Baby Expert” on November 2, 1968.
What is the Hooterville Thanksgiving crossover episode?
It is “The Thanksgiving Spirit,” which aired on The Beverly Hillbillies on November 27, 1968.
What is Christmas in Hooterville?
It is a Beverly Hillbillies episode that aired on December 25, 1968, with the Clampetts and Jane celebrating in Hooterville.
Who played Sam Drucker on all three shows?
Frank Cady played Sam Drucker on Petticoat Junction and Green Acres and made guest appearances on The Beverly Hillbillies.
Who was Cousin Pearl on The Beverly Hillbillies?
Bea Benaderet played Cousin Pearl Bodine, Jethro’s mother, before she starred as Kate Bradley on Petticoat Junction.
How many Petticoat Junction episodes featured Oliver Douglas?
TVmaze lists Eddie Albert as Oliver in 12 Petticoat Junction episodes between 1965 and 1968.
Which Green Acres characters appeared on Petticoat Junction?
Oliver, Lisa, Eb Dawson and Mr. Haney all appeared, per TVmaze.
Was Granny on Petticoat Junction?
Yes. Irene Ryan appeared as Granny in two episodes in late 1968, “Granny, the Baby Expert” and “A Cake from Granny.”
When did all three shows premiere?
The Beverly Hillbillies premiered September 26, 1962, Petticoat Junction on September 24, 1963 and Green Acres on September 15, 1965.
