"The Pruitts of Southampton" is based on a Patrick Dennis novel as well. It aired later in the 60's on ABC and starred Gypsy Rose Lee and Phyllis Diller. However, it wasn't based on a book of the same title but rather one titled "House Party". Both of these shows had the concept of characters which were "larger than life", like the sisters played by the actresses above, and like the Indian "Hawkeye" in Guestward, Ho! who sold "Indian" trinkets which were really made in Japan. These characters are somewhat like Dennis' most well-known character, Auntie Mame, who was even more outrageous because she had a full-length show to fill with herself (acutally, two, as Dennis also wrote a sequel) rather than just a half-hour (22 minute) sitcom.
Review of Guestward Ho!
