more retro rewinds

“Petticoat Junction”

(Weekday mornings on Decades; streaming on IMDb TV, Roku, Tubi, Hoopla, Classix, Redbox, Pluto TV): Paul Henning was also responsible for this 1963-70 “country cousin” of the “Beverly Hillbillies” that was set at the Shady Rest Hotel, which was run by Kate Bradley (Bea Benederet), her three daughters and her Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan). Cast came and went over the show’s seven-season run, including several actresses playing the daughters. But Benederet’s death in 1968 marked the beginning of the end.

“Green Acres”

(Weeknights on MeTV; streaming on Amazon): A spinoff of “Petticoat Junction,” this Henning-produced 1965-71 sitcom put a reverse spin on the rural-to-city premise of “Beverly Hillbillies,” casting Eddie Albert as Oliver Douglas, a Manhattan lawyer who decides to chuck urban life and move to the country burg of Hooterville, much to the dismay of wife Lisa (Eva Gabor). Also a solid ratings performer during its six-season run, it like its Henning siblings fell victim to the “rural purge” axe in 1971.

“Mayberry R.F.D.”

(Streaming on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play): Andy Griffith’s decision to leave “The Andy Griffith Show” prompted this 1968-71 spinoff that, much like its predecessor, followed a father/son relationship in this case that of widower farmer Sam Jones (Ken Berry) and his offspring Mike (Buddy Foster). It enjoyed strong ratings during its three seasons but ...

“Hee Haw”

(Streaming on Sling TV): Country music and corn-pone humor against the backdrop of fictional Kornfield County were the hallmarks of this variety series, which ran on CBS from 1969 to 1971 before enjoying a long life in syndication. Hosted by country artists Buck Owens and Roy Clark, the series was a showcase for the genre’s stars of the day, including Tammy Wynette, Chet Atkins, Loretta Lynn, Roy Acuff, George Jones, Charley Pride and Merle Haggard.