Lori Saunders
Back, L-R: Frank Cady, Edgar Buchanan. Front: Lori Saunders, Meredith MacRae on TV's Petticoat Junction (1968)
Born
Linda Marie Hines

(1941-10-04) October 4, 1941
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1960–1980
Spouse
Bernard Sandler
​
(m. 1961)​
Children2
Meredith MacRae, Lori Saunders, and Linda Kaye Henning on Petticoat Junction (1967)

Lori Saunders (born Linda Marie Hines in Kansas City, Missouri; October 4, 1941)[1] is an American film and television actress, probably best known for her role as Bobbie Jo Bradley in the television series Petticoat Junction (1965–1970).

Television

Starring roles

Saunders played brunette middle-sister Bobbie Jo Bradley in 3 episodes of Green Acres, 147 episodes of the rural sitcom Petticoat Junction, and 7 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies. In Petticoat Junction, she took over the role in 1965 from Pat Woodell, who left the show to focus on her singing career. Co-star Meredith MacRae, who joined the show in 1966, said in a 1960s interview that she and Lori were very close, "like the Bobbsey twins", since they were both married and had each replaced another actress on the series.[2]

She played Elizabeth "Betty" Gordon, one of Mr. Drysdale's secretaries, in the last season of The Beverly Hillbillies.

In 1973–74, Saunders played Betsy on the situation-comedy western Dusty's Trail. Created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Bob Denver, the show was based on Gilligan's Island, but set in the wild west; her character Betsy was an ingénue drawn after Dawn Wells' character of "Mary Ann". Saunders quipped: "It was the same show, just no coconuts." She said it was interesting to work with Jeannine Riley, who had also starred in Petticoat Junction (as Billie Jo Bradley), but not at the same time as Saunders.[3]

In 2015, she appeared in a MeTV commercial promoting Petticoat Junction, along with fellow cast members Linda Kaye Henning and Gunilla Hutton...... plus she was in season 6 of Tales of Wells Fargo as a regular cast member.

Guest-starring roles

In her early television years, Saunders appeared five times (credited as Linda Marie Hines) as four different characters on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. She also appeared in Burke's Law, and the season four episode "The Prairie Elephant" of Rawhide (original air-date November 17, 1961). She appeared in the 1970 episode "Bringing Up Josh" of Daniel Boone, and also in the anthology series Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre.

Film

She appeared in the cult horror film Blood Bath (1966), credited as Linda Saunders. Other films include: A Day at the White House (1972), So Sad About Gloria (1973),[4] Captive (1980), The Girls on The Beach, (1965) and Mara of the Wilderness (1965, as Linda Saunders).[5]

Music

In the 1960s, Saunders released the single "Lonely Christmas", with the B-side "Out of Your Mind". The latter song was later featured on the compilation album Girls in the Garage, Vol. 02.

Saunders and her Petticoat Junction co-stars Linda Kaye Henning and Meredith MacRae released several singles in the 1960s as the singing group The Girls from Petticoat Junction, including "If You Could Only Be Me" (1968) and "Thirty Days Hath September".[6][7] Their music is compiled on the album The Girls from Petticoat Junction: Sixties Sounds.[8]

Personal life

Saunders married Bernard Sandler in 1961. They have two children. The couple campaigned against the elephant ivory trade in the 1980s.[9] As there was another "Linda" (Linda Kaye Henning) credited on Petticoat Junction, Saunders officially changed her first name to "Lori" in the fall of 1965.[5] Saunders retired from acting in 1980.

References

  1. ↑ Pilato, Herbie J. (2014). Glamour, Gidgets, and the Girl Next Door: Television's Iconic Women from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing. p 140. ISBN 978-1-58979-969-1.
  2. ↑ Lisanti, Tom (January 1, 2003). Drive-in Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-movie Starlets of the Sixties. McFarland. p. 276. ISBN 978-0-7864-1575-5. Retrieved October 21, 2003.
  3. ↑ Hofstede, David (2004). What Were They Thinking?: The 100 Dumbest Events In Television History. Back Stage Books. p. 80. ISBN 9780823084418. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  4. ↑ Albright, Brian (November 7, 2012). Regional Horror Films, 1958-1990: A State-by-State Guide with Interviews. McFarland. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-7864-7227-7.
  5. 1 2 Lisanti, Tom (May 7, 2015). Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959-1969. McFarland. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-4766-0142-7. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  6. ↑ Deaville, James, ed. (2011). Music in Television: Channels of Listening. Taylor & Francis. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-1368-2636-8.
  7. ↑ Leszczak, Bob (June 25, 2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 203. ISBN 978-1-4422-4274-6.
  8. ↑ "The Girls from Petticoat Junction: Sixties Sounds". AllMusic. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  9. ↑ Morrison, Patt (June 12, 1986). "Couple Campaigns Against the Ivory Trade: A Personal Protest to Save the Elephant". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
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