I think I read they didn't air it because the studio found out she was a lesbian in real life. When it was confirmed that she was really gay, she was blackballed from Hollywood. Egad!

I think I read they didn't air it because the studio found out she was a lesbian in real life. When it was confirmed that she was really gay, she was blackballed from Hollywood. Egad!

I think it is sad that things were done in that way back then. Obviously, I think Zelda is a great character. However, I am not sure a Zelda spinoff would have been successful anyway. She was funny because of her obsession with Dobie. All alone I don't know what they would have done with her. I also think removing her from the cast of Dobie Gillis in the final season was a mistake. The show was not the same without her and really lost some of it's charm. I was glad to see in the reunion movie that they were happily married...well as happy as Dobie and Zelda could be. :)

I think it is sad that things were done in that way back then. :)


Back then? It still is !! In many states even in 2010 one can still be fired from their job for being gay.

I myself know a few who had lost their job only because of the gay marriage debate such as my brother. He lost his job at a TV station in Virginia ( an NBC affiliate ) because they wanted him to "get straight" by joining Exodus International. He didn't and ended up losing his carrer over it..and this was only four years ago. Of course this happened during Virginia's vote on the issue of gay marriage.

Back then? It still is !! In many states even in 2010 one can still be fired from their job for being gay.

I myself know a few who had lost their job only because of the gay marriage debate such as my brother. He lost his job at a TV station in Virginia ( an NBC affiliate ) because they wanted him to "get straight" by joining Exodus International. He didn't and ended up losing his carrer over it..and this was only four years ago. Of course this happened during Virginia's vote on the issue of gay marriage.

I did not mean to imply that there is not still an injustice today.

...never got any farther than an unaired pilot episode produced in 1962 for CBS' consideration as a series on its 1962-'63 schedule [this "Zelda Gilroy", however, was slightly different from the one featured on "DOBIE GILLIS": she would have been a teenager attending high school, with a different "boyfriend"]. Apparently, network president (and chief programmer) Jim Aubrey found out about Sheila's sexual background, and privately declared neither she nor ANY series featuring her would EVER be scheduled on HIS network. After she became persona non grata at CBS, she was cast as a supporting player on ABC's "BROADSIDE" (1964-'65) {a "McHALE'S NAVY" spin-off}, which was her last regular TV series.

:tv:

I wonder if there's a bit of urban legend creeping into this discussion. I would be interested in hearing about what Jim Aubrey actually knew or suspected. The infamous 'too butch' line has never been attributed to a specific person as far as I know; perhaps it was spoken by Aubrey. At any rate, in 1962 how much of a 'sexual background' was a 21 year old girl expected to have...?

As far as her being blacklisted by CBS, apparently Paul Henning didn't get the memo as she was cast as the fourth member of The Ladybugs on Petticoat Junction in 1964 and made several appearances as Ginny Jennings on The Beverly Hillbillies between '64 and '67.

That is sad that she was treated like that and even sadder that people make such a big deal out of being gay or lesbian today. I'm glad it's more accepted now but I know there is still a lot of discrimination out there.

I just read that this happened to Tommy Kirk well known child actor and Disney star. He was 23 playing a teenager he had an affair and was fired when Disney found out they did let him return to do a sequel to the Merlin Jones movie.

Not sure I buy the concept she didn't get her own show because she was gay. I'm sure there were other actors at the time who were gay and starring in a series. In those days, Hollywood leaked what it wanted to, and created a whole separate identity for actors and actresses.

I wonder if there's a bit of urban legend creeping into this discussion. I would be interested in hearing about what Jim Aubrey actually knew or suspected. The infamous 'too butch' line has never been attributed to a specific person as far as I know; perhaps it was spoken by Aubrey. At any rate, in 1962 how much of a 'sexual background' was a 21 year old girl expected to have...?

As far as her being blacklisted by CBS, apparently Paul Henning didn't get the memo as she was cast as the fourth member of The Ladybugs on Petticoat Junction in 1964 and made several appearances as Ginny Jennings on The Beverly Hillbillies between '64 and '67.

Plus she did return to DOBIE GILLIS after the pilot was passed on to play out the remainder of season 4.

I saw Sheila James (Kuele) spelling of last name not quite right on a news show. She a representative of some sort in California.

I remember an episode of All in the Family where Archie and Edith go to cousins funeral and the cousins friend turned out to be her lover. The Gal actress K Callen played the lover and mentioned if people found out she could lose her job. I thought how sad she had keep the situation silent.

I wonder if the pilot is still sitting in 20th Television's vaults? :)

She got a bad deal - being tied up to pilot cost her the back-half of season 3 and most of season 4.