The Beverly Hillbillies was an American television sitcom about the Clampett family, who struck oil on their land in the Ozarks and moved to Beverly Hills, California. This comedy received snooty reviews from critics but became essential family viewing and lasted from 1962 to 1971, accumulating seven Emmy nominations.

We believe the Ozark Bar-B-Q in Glendale, California, capitalized on the program’s popularity. There’s the stereotypical hillbilly lolling around on a log at the top of the menu cover and deliberate mis-spellings, all reminiscent of the television program.

It’s rare to find a barbecue menu and this one is done with a sense of humor.

A whole dinner cost $1.25 to take out.

In 1958, due to increased consumer demand for individual telephone numbers, telephone companies began phasing out old exchange names and replacing them with numbers. These telephone exchanges are still remembered in band leader Glen Miller’s famous song PEnnyslvania 6-500 and Elizabeth Taylor’s movie BUtterfield-8.

Ozark Bar B Q still has CI – short for Citrus – as its telephone exchange. This was phased out in 1963 so we believe this menu was from shortly before that date.

Courtesy Private Collection.