Although most long-running series inevitably undergo cast changes, few have been overhauled as profusely as Petticoat Junction, seen Saturday nights on CBS (9:30, Ch.8). That program is now in its sixth year and has been tapped for a seventh. Only one of the four girls on the TV Showtime cover are members of the original troupe, however. Shown are (from top, clockwise), June Lockhart, Lori Saunders, Linda Kaye Henning and Meredith MacRae - but only Miss Henning is the veteran member. She is the daughter of creator-producer Paul Henning, which could explain some of her loyalty.In 1963, Petticoat starred Bea Benedaret, Edgar Buchanan, Miss Henning, Jeannine Riley and Pat Woodell. The latter two left the series after a few years and have had little TV work since. Lori Saunders and Gunilla Hutton were the next set, but the pairing was short-lived, for Miss Hutton was replaced by Meredith MacRae the following season.
The addition of June Lockhart was made last fall when Bea Benedaret became fatally ill and was unable to continue with the series. Unlike the girls, who took over the roles vacated by the others, Miss Lockhart appears as a new character on the series.
Petticoat's "old guard" also made news last year. Two of the stars - Miss Henning and Mike Minor - got married to each other on the series and in real life. Minor is the son of Don Fedderson, producer of the Family Affair and My Three Sons series.
Although Petticoat is a once-weekly program, viewers are seldom without some reminder of the Hooterville folks during the week. Many of the characters from that program, Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres exchange visits - a situation made possible because the same production company and much of the key production staff is responsible for all three. This blatant inbreeding was culminated last Thanksgiving eve when the casts of each assembled on TV for a holiday dinner with the Beverly Hillbillies. I wonder who brought the potato salad?
By Tom Weigel