Bea Benederet - from Petticoat Junction to Gertrude Gearshift

Benederet was a familiar face and voice on radio and television. She was Mrs. Carstairs on Fibber McGee and Molly, Principal Eve Goodwin on The Great Gildersleeve, Mrs. Anderson on A Day in the Life of Dennis Day, and Iris Attebury on My Favorite Husband - all roles that we have listened to and loved in our years with old radio shows. One of her most versatile roles on radio, though was that of telephone operator Gertrude Gearshift on The Jack Benny Show, which provided some of the most hilarious moments on that program.

Later, Benederet would become a staple as the wise and motherly Kate on Petticoat Junction, a far cry from Gertrude and the others on radio. She also was Pearl Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies.

Here is a LINK to an episode of the Benny program in which Gertrude Gearshift appears. Go to the 14:00 mark to hear her.