Gene's Petticoat Junction

Poetry Corner

Petticoat Junction

It is a mythical place,

Located between two mythical towns,

Situated in a quiet, peaceful valley;

Where the leaves on the shade trees softly rustle

With the approach of a Summer breeze;

A place where wildflowers grow,

And you can hear the steady drone of the busy bees.

An old-fashioned steam engine shuttles back and forth

Between the two towns;

Occasionally stopping for water by a mystical hotel;

Where charming, intelligent young women enter and exit in their Summer

dresses;

And a strong-willed, determined; yet gentle mother,

Preaches and teaches;

But, mostly listens.

A place where laughter is the order of the day,

And righteousness always has its way.

Where human frailties cause people to slip and fall;

But Friendship and Love always conquer all!

Petticoat Junction.........

It exists..........somewhere.

But, there are no signs to lead you there.

Use your head and you'll go off-track;

But, follow your heart and you'll get right back.

Someday, I hope to see you there.

When we can meet and laugh and say:

"Congratulations! We finally made it to PJ!"

PETTICOAT JUNCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Shady Rest

Although it was just a hotel,

Made from nails and lumber;

It managed to enter into our hearts,

And fill them up with wonder.

Each week we would venture,

Through her welcome doors;

To meet a special group of people,

We would come to know and adore.

Yes, we knew they were just actors,

Playing their individual parts,

But, it was through "your" special magic,

That they entered into our hearts.

So, here's to you--

The Shady Rest:

Maybe not quite Heaven;

But, just maybe, the next best!

The Cannonball--A Tribute

"Come ride a little train........"

We first heard that simple refrain,

Many years ago,

When we first watched the show.

Look, here comes the Cannonball,

Slowly coming 'round the bend;

Taking us to our destination;

Taking us to our journey's end.

To Petticoat Junction,

And the Shady Rest;

To Kate and the Girls;

The ones we all loved the best!

Now, we are older--

Wiser? Maybe.

And we now know that PJ,

Was, in reality, a fantasy.

But, look here comes the Cannonball,

Welcoming us like an old true friend,

Taking us to our final destination;z

Taking us to our journey's end!

"Come ride a little train...................................."

Bea Benaderet -- A Tribute

First, there was the show.

And the show, like a wheel, had many spokes:

Spokes with names like Edgar, Frank, Smiley, Rufe

And names like Jeannine, Patricia, Linda, Gunilla,Lori and Meredith.,

But a wheel, with many spokes and no hub, can go nowhere.

Bea, you were the hub.

It was around you that the whole show revolved.

Paul Henning created the show; but you made it move.

With your wit, charm, grace and intelligence,

The show, which everyone knows as "Petticoat Junction";

But which we, your faithful followers, affectionally call PJ,

Arrived at its destination because of you.

We are your legacy, Bea.

We, all of us, are your PJ children.

And we love and miss our mother very much.

June Lockhart -- A Tribute

Pity poor June,

She was sent to the moon;

But lost her way,

And landed on PJ.

She did her best,

To fill a gap,

For the person everyone wished,

But knew, would never come back.

Some people have said,

And made it quite plain:

That after Bea's death,

PJ was never the same.

The same, no it wasn't;

As we have discussed here;

But, we still had the laughs,

And we still had the cheer.

So, here's to you, June;

You did the best we all know.

And we want to say "thankyou",

For helping our show.

---

Linda Kaye Henning -- A Tribute

 

Linda, you and I

Go back a long way:

To September 1963,

And the very first PJ.

From a Hooterville Hawk,

To a "grease-monkey" in jeans,

To a model housewife,

With "everyday dreams".

I watched you blossom;

I watched you grow;

To become, by all PJ polls,

The most popular person in the show.

With your effervescent personality,

And your vivacious smile,

You had it in your power,

To bewitch and beguile.

And that is just what you did,

This much I know:

To all the PJ fans,

Who faithfully watched the show.

So, to you Linda,

This I can say:

We will love you always:

Forever and a day!

 

---

Meredith MacRae -- A Tribute

Of Meredith MacRae,

Here's what I say:

She was the unsung heroine,

Of our beloved PJ.

First we lost sexy Jeannine;

Then, sweet Gunilla left as we all know;

But, Meredith came along nicely,

To fill the role of a "new" Billie-Jo:

Career-minded and serious;

There when needed.

Our dear Meredith made contributions,

That should not go unheeded.

So here's to you:

Meredith MacRae!

You came to PJ,

And you did things your way!

Mike Minor -- A Tribute

Mike Minor you were really

Some kind of guy.

When you came to the show,

You made the PJ girls swoon and sigh.

And the PJ girl fans?

Wouldn't you know:

You had them all wishing,

THEY could be on the show!

Now, as for us guys,

We had the girls in the water tower;

But, you gave the girl fans equality,

With that scene of you in the outdoor shower!

Yes, you were handsome,

And intelligent too!

And I know you had many a girl wishing

They could go FLYING with you.

So, here's to you Mike,

What more can I say:

You gave all the girls a reason

To watch PJ!

Lori Saunders -- A Tribute

Lori Saunders

Gives us much to ponder;

A young Missouri woman

With an urge to wander.

And wander she did,

All the way to LA;

Stopping only to become a beauty queen--

Could it have been any other way?

First she was Linda;

Then she became Lori,

When she came to PJ,

Where she was all in her glory.

Wistful and soulful;

With a comedic style,

And two dark eyes

That always sparkled and smiled.

Well, that's our Lori,

And...that's her story.

Only one thing left to say, I guess:

Thank you Lori.

Gunilla Hutton -- A Tribute

From Sweden through Texas

and then on to L.A.

She came into our hearts

When she came to PJ.

Not sexy like Jeannine;

Not cool like Meredith.

Just a warm sweet smile,

That made you hope and wish.

Back in '66

I remember it well.

When I read of her illness

A few tears fell.

Now, her "year" has ended,

And now she must go.

But. I have always wondered:

"What if she had stayed with the show?"

Gunilla, sweet Gunilla,

Your work with PJ was too quickly done;

Still, I know of one PJ fan,

Whose young heart you completely won!

So, here's to you Gunilla

Though your stay was not long.

You put smiles on our faces

And in our hearts, a song.

Patricia Joy Woodell -- A Tribute

Patricia Joy Woodell,

No--not just "Pat".

You were too complicated

For a short name like that.

With your warm; yet questioning smile,

And your dark, downcast eyes:

You were the epitome of the serious Bobbie-Jo,

Whom Paul Henning first visualized.

Patricia Woodell,

Here's a story I can now tell:

You were the first PJ girl,

Who made my heart SWELL.

Was it your raven, dark hair?

Your brooding seriousness?--I don't know.

Maybe it was that cute nod you gave,

With your credit at the end of each show.

But, that article in the TV Guide--

About you being the first to ask to leave the show--

Sure made a lot of PJ fans,

Sorry to see you go.

No, to stay on the show,

Was not in your plans;

But, if I could meet you today,

I would say: "Patricia, I understand."

Patricia Joy Woodell McDade,

This much I can tell you true:

Wherever you are in the world tonight,

Plenty of PJ hearts are there with you!

Jeannine Riley -- A Tribute

Jeannine....Jeannine,

You were every guy's dream!

When you walked into Kate's kitchen,

The kettle would boil and steam.

With your "come hither" look,

And your "yes, you may" smile,

You encouraged many guys,

To stay for a while.

Jeannine, Oh! Jeannine,

Did you know,

How many hearts you left broken,

When you left the show?

Jeannine.......Jeannine;

What will you do next?

You drove hundreds of guys crazy;

God knows what you did to the rest!

Twas The Night Before Christmas -- A PJ Story

Twas the night before Christmas,

And all through PJ,

All the PJ'ers were wishing

For a new VCR the next day.

Bea was in the kitchen,

Baking a pie--all alone,

While Higgins the dog

Chewed lazily on a bone.

Edgar was curled-up

On the couch like a cat;

Getting his rest,

For his long winters nap.

Jeannine was primping,

Getting ready for her date.

And according to the "code",

She would make her date wait!

Patricia sat quietly,

On a dining-room chair;

Studiously reading the works,

Of Aristotle and Voltaire.

Gunilla was there too,

Her heart filled with joy.

She was reading a letter,

From a special twelve year-old boy!

Linda was perplexed;

She didn't know which way to go:

Should she go play ice hockey,

Or take care of Kathy-Jo?

Mike was smiling:

He knew what he wanted to do:

He had heard that the "Joysticks" were playing

Down at the Pixley Bijou.

Lori was there,

Her heart all aglow;

She was standing directly under,

A piece of mistletoe.

Meredith was at the piano,

Playing a Christmas tune;

Occasionally, getting a nod of approval,

From June.

Suddenly, this tranquil scene

Went all awry!

As they all heard the unmistakable sound,

Of a young baby's cry!

They all ran outside,

Into the night chill.

Where they were met by Smiley, Rufe and Frank

Who had just come running up the hill.

And as they all stood,

In the cold Hooterville night.

They heard a multitude of voices start singing

A chrous of "Silent Night".

And when they had ended,

And the there was stillness in the air.

Mike began singing his rendition

Of "The Lord's Prayer".

And when he was finished,

They all returned inside quietly.

Their hearts filled with joy,

And their minds all at peace.

Now, that's how it happened;

I hope I got all the details right.

Of that strange happening at The Shady Rest,

One Christmas Eve night.

Well, that's my story;

I guess I'll end it here.

Let me just add a "Merry Christmas" to all my fellow PJ'ers,

And my wish for a very "Peaceful" New Year.

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