Of all the actors who were regulars on Petticoat Junction, Smiley Burnette was probably the biggest star. From the 1930's through the 1950's, Smiley was hugely popular as a B-movie western sidekick in dozens of films. He was also a talented singer-songwriter. He had essentially retired in the 50's before Paul Henning lured him back on screen to play engineer Charley Pratt. This is one of the few episodes where Charley takes center stage, and was one of our last chances to see what made Smiley Burnette such a popular star. This is one of my favorite episodes of the series, and Smiley is marvelous! In addition to his comic and musical skills, we also see his dramatic acting skills in a few scenes. The whole cast is excellent, with special mention to the scenes between Smiley and Bea Benaderet, Rufe Davis, and Jimmy Hawkins. This is Petticoat Junction at its best; sentimental without being cloying, showcasing humor, music, and heart. Sadly, Smiley passed away in 1967 at the young age of 55, and the show was never quite the same without him.