Classic TV Theme: The Beverly Hillbillies

Critics panned this story of an Ozarks family who strike oil and move to Beverly Hills, but viewers embraced it. 'The Beverly Hillillies' (1962) shot up to #1 and kept that spot for two of its nine seasons. Buddy Ebsen and Nancy Kulp would engage in political debates during down time; when she ran for office, he endorsed her opponent. John Wayne made a cameo in one episode; his fee was a fifth of bourbon. Donna Douglas (at 30) played the 17-year-old Elly May. A Levi Strauss exec reportedly said she did more for the sales of blue jeans in one year than cowboys have done in a hundred. A top 20 show for eight years it fell out of the top 30 in season nine and was cancelled in CBS's 'rural purge'. The series had a healthy rerun afterlife; its continuing popularity would lead to a tv movie reunion and a theatrical film remake. The show's now-familiar theme song is by producer Paul Henning, sung by Jerry Scoggins with accompaniment by bluegrass performers Flatt and Scruggs.
0:00 Black and white opening titles (season one), extended version.
1:13 Black and white end credits and logo (season one).
1:55 Color opening titles (season four).
2:49 Color end credits and logo (season four).

[docadams]

The color credits here were used from 1965-68. In 1968 Nancy Kulp and Raymond Bailey were added to the opening credits. A shorter opening was used in 1970-71, the show's last year.

[CarlB_]

I watched this when it first aired in the UK (I was 10) and I loved it. Happy memories.

[ShadareaRapt]

this has been my ear worm for the past 2 days!

[clawengrantlerian]

Wait, why critics and haters don't like the classic sitcom, everyone in the world like The Beverly Hillbillies