Petticoat Junction Sitcom: Do you think Kate was a spanker?
 

Has anyone ever watched the '60s sitcom Petticoat Junction? Do you
think the mom, Kate Bradley, was a spanker? Kate seemed rather
strict, but then you could see she had a soft side too. In my
opinion, I think she was a spanker but only on occasion. I remember
an episode where the youngest daughter, Betty Jo, went up in a plane
to prove she could fly it. When Betty Jo landed, Kate said, "I don't
know whether to give you a hug or take you to the woodshed!". Kate
settled for the hug. In some of the early episodes there are times
when Kate would swat Betty Jo on the backside.

The three girls really respected their mother. You could feel the
respect when you watched the show. There was such a big deal about
"defying mom". I'm not sure what implement Kate would have used. I
want to think she probably either used a switch, a wooden spoon,
possibly a small hairbrush, or maybe just her hand. They lived in a
rural area, and a lot of people in rural areas use switches to
discipline their kids. I can easily see Kate cutting a switch. I can
also see her swatting them with a spoon or her hand. Not sure about
the hairbrush, but she might have kept something in her purse for when
they went out in public if they acted up.

I've not seen nearly all the episodes, and already I'm finding
spanking threats and references. In one episode Uncle Joe tells Kate
that he's "gonna turn Betty Jo over his knee and womp her with a
hairbrush!". When Kate asked for what, Uncle Joe says it's because
she signed her name up for the horseshoe contest, a traditionally all-
male event. When Kate tells Uncle Joe Betty Jo didn't do it, Uncle
Joe says "well, someone did and they're gonna get womped!!". Since
Kate was the one who signed her up, Kate says "Well then, you get your
hairbrush, and I'll meet you in the basement. I never did like
getting womped in public." That was hilarious!! In another episode
Kate threatens an old man with a spanking because he has been spoiled
all his life. He is refusing to eat his food, and Kate tells him "If
you don't sit down and eat your food I'm going to turn you over my
knee and spank the daylights out of you!!" He minds Kate. It's so
funny.

There was another episode where Uncle Joe was missing something like a screw driver or hammer from his tool box. He assumed it was one of the girls and gathered them together to find out which of them had taken it. He told them, "Which ever one of you took my hammer is going upstairs for a taste of the hairbrush."

Just then Kate walked in from the other room with his hammer in her hand. She said, "Here! I took your hammer, do you want me to go upstairs for a taste of the hairbrush?"

I might be mistaken about this, but I believe Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies had some of the same writers. I know there was some connection because there were several episodes where the characters from Petticoat Junction appeared on the Beverly Hillbillies, and vice versa. And there were probably more spanking references on the Beverly Hillbillies than any show in the history of TV.

I forgot to mention an episode I saw the other night. Betty Jo is practicing for a public speaking contest at school. Right when Uncle Joe walks in Betty Jo loses her voice. She accuses him of being a jinx. Kate comes in to see what all the fuss is about. Betty Jo keeps saying that Uncle Joe is a jinx and becomes a little disrespectful. Kate has enough of it and warns Betty Jo, "If you keep saying that not only will you lose your voice but also your sitting capacity!!". Betty Jo hushes up immediately. She must have known from previous experience that Kate meant business. That was a very good scene.

Betty Jo was always my favorite. Quite a cutie back in the day. In real life, she was the producer of "Petticoat Junction's" daughter, Linda Kaye Henning. Her dad, Paul Henning, produced that show, along with "Green Acres."

I love Petticoat Junction and watch it regularly.

kerate volunteering for a spanking from Uncle Joe is one of the sexiest scenes ever! Watch it over and over on Youtube