Throwback Thursday: The Beverly Hillbillies Visit SDC
In 1969 Silver Dollar City thrust itself from obscurity and directly into the national spotlight by playing host to one of TV’s most iconic families: The Beverly Hillbillies. Not just one, but five episodes were filmed at Silver Dollar City as part of the 8th season of the massively popular series. SDC wasn’t just a backdrop – it’s name, characters, and real life history was used in the episodes giving the park an unimaginable amount of publicity considering it’s size and relative obscurity at the time. Silver Dollar City and the Ozarks in general got a lot of love from the show because Paul Henning, the creator of the series, was actually inspired to create the show on a Boy Scout camping trip to the area in 1962.
The five episode run took the Clampet family back to “the hills” to see the Silver Dollar City Fair (SDC being portrayed as an actual Ozark town), where Granny intends to find a suitable husband for Elly May. Elly tries to show off in the fair’s competitions, but Granny’s plans get derailed when her Ozarkan arch-rival, Elverna Bradshaw, ends up competing with her instead. Several famous Silver Dollar City citizens made appearances such as Shad Heller, Peter Engler, and Chick Allen, as well as Branson icon and country singer Roy Clark.
These episodes were not the only love SDC got from the Hillbillies, as throughout the 9-season series there are numerous references to Silver Dollar City, it’s characters, and local Branson icons such as Jim Owens. Shad Heller especially got some traction on the show, even being flown out to Hollywood after the five SDC episodes to carry on as a recurring character in several more episodes. It’s said that SDC got exposure on at least twenty episodes of the show.
The result of the SDC episodes hitting the airwaves was dramatic. Attendance rose some 16% at Silver Dollar City by the following year to reach over 900,000 visitors. That’s a respectable number for a small theme park even today, and this was long before the emphasis on roller coasters and big thrill rides. Given that Silver Dollar City had trouble finding it’s footing as an attraction during the early years, it’s possible that the show marked a turning point leading it to evolve into the massive entertainment company it has created today. Roy Clark, who was just a country singer at the time, got exposed to Branson through his appearances in these episodes leading to his eventual return and setup of the Roy Clark Celebrity Theatre which also helped put Branson on the map.
DVDs of the Silver Dollar City episodes can usually be found in the Hospitality House within the park. I’m having trouble finding where you can buy DVDs online of the later seasons, so if you find a source let us know!
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- Documentary Featuring Branson Performing Families is Now on Netflix
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- Dollywood Tops Off Resort, Hints at Another Major Announcement
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- Downtown Branson Revitalization Project Begins Soon
- Final WorldFest Features Entertainment From Around the Globe
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- Fireman’s Landing has Grand Opening and Dedication
- Fireman’s Landing S&S Tower Lifted Into Place
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- Fireman’s Landing Update – Nov. 30, 2014
- Fireman’s Landing Update (Coaster Christmas)
- Hacked by rami-x99
- Harlem Globetrotters Now Performing at SDC
- Herschend Family Entertainment to Help Fill Record-Setting 500,000 Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
- Inside the SDC Costume Shop
- It’s An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City!
- Joel Manby to Leave HFEC for SeaWorld CEO Job
- Moonlight Madness
- More Markings Appear for 2017 Project
- Mysterious $10 Million Attraction Coming to Branson Strip
- National Crafts & Cowboy Festival Runs September 13 – October 28
- National Harvest & Cowboy Festival
- New Chipotle-Inspired Restaurant Coming to SDC
- New Coaster Announcement Coming August 16 – Here’s What We Know
- New Construction Markings Show Up at SDC
- New Festival of Wonder Runs April 6-30
- New Pasghetti’s Exterior Reveals Branson’s Continued Low Standards
- New Ride Prep/Culinary Arts School Update
- Old Reeds Spring Church In Jeopordy
- Original SDC Stagecoach Completes Tour, Will Return to Park This Fall
- Outlaw Run Construction Tour
- Outlaw Run Officially a World Record Holder
- Ozark Wildcat to be Torn Down, No New Plans for Site
- Packing Up the Landing
- Park & Construction Update – 7/19/09
- Park Updates and Photo Trip Report – Aug. 2011
- Park Updates and Photo Trip Report – Aug. 2012
- Park Updates and Photos – Aug. 2010
- Park/Construction Update – Sept. 28, 2009
- Parking Project Update
- Plans Revealed For New Branson Landing & Water Chute Site Attractions
- Ray Johnson, Silver Dollar City Bladesmith, Passes Away
- RiverBlast Concept Artwork
- Roadwork on 76 to Begin Later This Month
- SDC Debuts New Teaser Site For 2018 Coaster Project
- SDC Off-Season Photos – 2008
- SDC Purchases Additional Steam Trains
- SDCFans Member Featured on GAC Show Featuring Silver Dollar City
- SDCFans.com Undergoes Yet More Changes
- Silver Dollar City Announces ‘Fireman’s Landing’
- Silver Dollar City Featured on DIY Network’s Salvage Dawgs
- Silver Dollar City Hits Single Day Attendance Record
- Silver Dollar City Hosts Firefighter Event and Honors Fallen Firemen
- Silver Dollar City Introduces New Character
- Silver Dollar City Meets Attendance Expectations for 2014
- Silver Dollar City Memorial Day Weekend 2014 Trip Report
- Silver Dollar City Opening Day 2015
- Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas 2011
- Southern Gospel Picnic August 24 – September 4
- Southern Gospel Picnic Starts August 27
- Spirit of 76 Project Provides a Way Forward for Branson
- Spring Ride Days Start on March 14
- Star Spangled Summer
- The Big Reveal: Time Traveler Coming in 2018
- The Flooded Mine Celebrates 50 Seasons of Fun
- Theme Park Christmas Competition is Getting Fierce, but Silver Dollar City is Still On Top
- Three Reasons To Visit Silver Dollar City Theme Park In 2017
- Throwback Thursday: Gaslight Square
- Throwback Thursday: Jim Owens’ Float Trip
- Throwback Thursday: Runaway-Ore-Carts
- Throwback Thursday: Shanty Town
- Throwback Thursday: The Beverly Hillbillies Visit SDC
- Throwback Thursday: The Gandy Dancer
- Throwback Thursday: The Green Parking Trams
- Track Is Already Being Placed on 2018 Coaster
- USA Today’s 10-Best Website Poll Includes 2 SDC Attractions
- Violet Hensley, One of Silver Dollar City’s Oldest Musicians, Biographed in New Book
- Waterboggin/Splash Harbor Demolition
- What’s Next for the Grand Palace?
- Wild Adventures to Get Flying Carpet Ride