‘JETHRO’ DEVELOPING ‘BEVERLY HILLBILLIES’ VITTLES

‘JETHRO’ DEVELOPING ‘BEVERLY HILLBILLIES’ VITTLES

LAS VEGAS (Wireless Flash) – Actor Max Baer Jr. – who played “Jethro” on The Beverly Hillbillies – is packing up the Clampetts and moving to a grocery store near you. The actor-turned-businessman has just finalized a deal to create a line of products based on the Hillbillies characters – including lunch meats, pet food and vitamins. Although no ideas are finalized, Baer says he’s considering an Elly May line of cosmetics, jugs of Granny Clampett’s “white lightning” liquor and his own Jethro-brand pork sausages. As Max puts it: “If Jimmy Dean can do it, why not Jethro?” The Beverly Hillbillies vittles will be priced similar to inexpensive “generic” brands, and Baer expects sales will soar because of the characters’ recognizability. Baer is linking up with the Leveraged Marketing Corporation of America on the deal.

Wed 05-30-01