The Beverly Hillbillies mansion address was leaked, and fans caused a little trouble

Mrs. Kirkeby, the mansion's owner, was mourning the loss of her husband, and fans would knock on the door and ask, "Where are the Beverly Hillbillies?"

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There are many ways for a production to be filmed. It can be captured on a green screen, at a studio where there are sets or on location. The Beverly Hillbillies was filmed at Kirkeby mansion in Bel Air.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirkeby rented their beautiful home to the series for $500 a day. However, the media leaked the location, which caused fans to visit and ask about the cast, even when filming wasn't in progress. Paul Henning, the producer of the series, sat down with the Television Academy to talk about how this ultimately affected the show.

"We were asked that no one reveal the real location of the mansion, and everyone went along with us," he began. "I think it was, and I hope I'm right, TV Guide [who revealed the actual] location of the Beverly Hillbillies mansion. From that day on, these wonderful people who had given us permission to film [there] were besieged by people just driving up to the house, knocking on the door, and saying, 'where are the Beverly Hillbillies?'"

Henning revealed that Mrs. Kirkeby's husband was killed in an airplane crash and decided not to allow it to continue to be filmed at their home.

"She said, 'I hate to do this, but we can no longer have this location known because people are driving us crazy,'" Henning added. "Tourists would just drive up and annoy them, so we said it's perfectly understandable."

The show had to use stock footage after agreeing to no longer film at the mansion. Around this time, the series was transitioning to color, and the decision was a "great blow."

"It was a great blow. We were just ready to go to color, and we were preparing to go up to the mansion and reshoot all of our stock shots with color," the producer said. "That was a great blow, but we certainly couldn't blame Mrs. Kirkeby; she was kind to let us film there in the first place."

So, how did the series find a solution? They filmed at different locations. "We faked it. We shot around at various locations."

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26 Comments

JohnGrant 21 months ago
Yes that would appear very rude but how did fans get past the front gate?...was their no sign. I always wondered if the foyer and kitchen scenes were in the mansion.
JimmyD 22 months ago
I never understood why fans would invade the privacy of actors, or homeowners of shooting locations. My parents raised me better. I have paid to see and get photos with celebrities, in the proper venues.
Pacificsun 22 months ago
So MeTV also did a story about the mansion. But I'm not sure if it was the original one to which they're referring to in black and white. It would be interesting for the MeTV Staff writers to cross-reference that story with a tile on this page.

The mansion in color however, was very well known and used in other Shows (I believe). In any event whether or not TV Guide literally revealed the legal address or explained where it was. Especially in that day, guides took fans around Beverly Hills and Hollywood, showing them Big Stars homes (like Lucille Ball). And there's some story (probably through MeTV) where Ms. Ball encountered a fan on her property. But people then, would end up going through actor's garbage cans and the like. In Hollywood (Beverly Hills) there weren't many secrets.

It's changed in this day for security reasons and to be protected against obsessive fans seeking their idols.
Michael 22 months ago
But once the address was revealed, why wouod the tourists stop after filming stopped? People go to the house in A Christmas Story. Peoplevisit the Brady Bunch house even today, even though it was used only for exterior shots.
LoveMETV22 Michael 22 months ago
The Christmas Story House just went on the market again. November 14, 2022. (No price listed).
The current owner has offered tours, a museum and gift shop across the street from it for the last 16 years. I think the current owner wishes for it to remain a piece of " Americana." So he'll probably consider that when deciding who it is sold to. It'll be interesting to see.
Pacificsun Michael 22 months ago
Oh yeah. Fan/visitors figure it out just from opening credits or one-shots. They figured out Full House (they never really filmed in SF) and Too Close for Comfort (a beautiful Victorian). And the big house on the corner of a steep street for the movie Mrs. Doubtfire. Determined fans don't even need an "address."
Pacificsun LoveMETV22 22 months ago
It would be kind of fun it HGTV took it on as a project, they way they did the Brady Bunch house when they renovated.
LoveMETV22 Pacificsun 22 months ago
I don't think any renovations are required. The current owner bought it (however) many years ago and renovated the property and recreated the interior as close as possible to the movie. It has been a historical part of Cleveland, OH for quite some time. Hopefully whoever purchases the property continues the tradition.
Michael LoveMETV22 22 months ago
Isaw thatstory. Itspunded like he's selling fora lot more than he paidfor it.

There's asort of documentary, "Road Trip for Ralphie" where a couple visits some of thefiming sites. Nothing major, but fun. I watched it last year.

There's also "A Christmas Story Story" out this year. I'mwatching it right now. Not bad, elements of the original.
LoveMETV22 Michael 22 months ago
Yes, I believe he got it through an auction, many years ago .I believe the sale includes the house to the left of it ( The Bumpus House), The museum and gift shop across the street and a few other things. He certainly will not be selling it for what he got it for years ago. Hopefully whoever does buy it carries on the venture and tradition he started.
Dudlydoright LoveMETV22 15 months ago
I bought an official leg lamp online from their store, complete in a wooden crate. You could at the time also rent the house out for the night on holidays like Christmas & New Year for very high prices.
MrsPhilHarris 22 months ago
People can be very inconsiderate.
I agree, it would be very annoying.
People also flock to the Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey to see the actual
"Watcher House".
This is a very wealthy neighborhood, full of movers and shakers who work in
Manhattan, so when sightseers idle in front of the house the cops will arrive in a few
minutes and give out more tickets than when Barney Fife was manning Checkpoint
Chickie on his motorcycle.
😂 That is funny!
Pacificsun MrsPhilHarris 22 months ago
Probably ringing the family's doorbell, did it. Or blocking their driveway. AND the noise. Some sightseeing drivers used a bullhorn to announce features of the properties. My guess is, those communities now have an ordinance against unregistered traffic.
MrsPhilHarris Pacificsun 22 months ago
I can remember an episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy and Ethel got off the tour bus in Beverly Hills, and walked across the lawn of one house, which was Lucy’s in real life btw. Anyone could walk up to the door and ring the bell or look in windows. Seems crazy a celebrity would be so easy to get to back then.
Sway 22 months ago
Fans wanted a glimpse of Elly May down by the ceeement pond and a swig of granny's tonic.
Coldnorth Sway 22 months ago
And maybe get some of granny’s lye soap
LoveMETV22 Sway 22 months ago
LOL. Trivia: The ceee-ment pond only existed at General Services Studios ( one of the locations or sets used for TBH's filming), the swimming pool set was 27 inches deep, cost $20,000 to construct, and took half a day to heat for filming. (However it looks a lot deeper than 27" in episodes, maybe a bit of movie magic).
Pacificsun LoveMETV22 22 months ago
That's cool to know.

I'm guessing the Love Boat had 2 versions also. The ship of course. But for inclement weather, the alternative in studio.

In one of Columbo's episodes however, they clearly used the ship's outdoor pool. And it looked mighty 𝓒𝓗𝓘𝓛𝓛𝓨!
LoveMETV22 Pacificsun 22 months ago
They used two different ships The Pacific Princess and the Island Princess. Yes they did film on board those ships but mostly on soundstages or studios. The Pacific Princess was in operation after the series ended , however it was de- commissioned and sold for scrap about 10 years ago.
Andybandit 22 months ago
It must of been wierd having people coming to the house, from everywhere. On top of that Mrs. Kirkbey's husband passed away.
LoveMETV22 22 months ago
The Kirkeby Mansion has an interesting history, before, during and after the time it was used for
"The Beverly Hillbillies." Its published that the exterior and interiors were used in several films,
(1956) "High Society", (1960) "Cinderfella" with Jerry Lewis, (1987) "Disorderlies" and (1987) "Over the Top."
Pacificsun LoveMETV22 22 months ago
Do you think it was that mansion where MeTV wrote the story about how famous it was, and could be spotted in several productions??
LoveMETV22 Pacificsun 22 months ago
I think it's also referred to as "Bel Air Chartwell Estate" in the story MeTV did in 2019. It's the same property.
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