Pistols 'n' Petticoats debuted on CBS back in 1966 and back in those days CBS was known as the rural network. With such shows as Andy Griffith, The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres, this was the network of red state America in that decade. You could forget about the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Revolution, marijuana and other drugs, on this network it's like they never existed.
Unfortunately this show which had some really good moments did not quite finish its first season due to the death of its star Ann Sheridan, the movies former 'Oomph Girl'. As ill timed a demise as ever happened in Hollywood.
For those who never saw the show it concerned a rustic family named Hanks. Ann Sheridan and her parents Douglas Fowley and Ruth McDevitt and her daughter Carole Wells. They're a family of sharpshooters with a lot of rustic charm, right in keeping with the commitment of CBS to rural entertainment. In the first episode Carole Wells has returned from the east where the family has sent her to finishing school to learn some social graces.
When sufficiently provoked however Wells could match any of her family shot for shot. The finish came off her in a crisis moment.
Another regular on the show was Gary Vinson who played the inept son of a famous lawman who inherited his job. Carole despite his klutziness had a thing for him. Just a civilian version of Captain Wilton Parmenter from F Troop.
It wasn't a great show, but it had some good comic moments. And it was the farewell gig of one of the screen's reigning beauties Ann Sheridan.
