I'm a huge fan of "Gidget" the TV show, but I've never even seen the "Gidget" movies. Also since I'm much more familiar with Sally Field's work than Sandra Dee's, I always associate the "Gidget" role with Sally. Who do you associate with the "Gidget" role, and who do you think the general public thinks when they hear "Gidget"?

I love Sally Field's version, but I think generally most people who aren't ardent sitcom fans associate Sandra Dee with the character.

The movies were very popular at times on cable -- my co-workers circa 1991 pegged me as Moondoggie as they were aware of a girl's interest in me in the workplace, with her of course as Gidget. At that time I'd never seen any of the movies, but obviously all of them were watching on cable.

Anyway, as I said I really like Sally as Gidget, and I'm somewhat of a Deborah Walley fan and so I like the film "Gidget Goes Hawaiian."
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/3a/2a/e3/3a2ae3c66f8c131588763bc0e7d624d6.jpg
Deborah was really rockin' with long hair!

There's no question that Sally is infinitely better known, but mainly for her films. Keep in mind that until recent years, the Gidget TV show had slipped into obscurity.

The Gidget films enjoyed a lot of popularity for many years -- and there are far more film fans out there (I would argue) than fans of old sitcoms. Sandra has LONG been closely linked to the character, while Sally's TV work had remained more obscure until recently.

I don't argue that a lot of people are now unfamiliar with Sandra -- but the general public thinks of that blonde actress from years ago, when an image of Gidget pops into their heads...!

I'm much more of a sitcom fan than films, but look at internet activity. Message boards at places like IMDb tend to be dominated by film watchers.

To first answer your question, because of off and on and now constant runnings for 3 years on Antenna TV of the sadly only 39 episodes of Sally's Gidget, Sally Field wins. Big mistake that ABC cancelled it after the one season just as it picked up ratings steam during the summer in reruns. on the other hand tho sally hated the three season Flying nun, if gidget had continued we would have no flying nun.

As for TV "Gidgets" There were two, the now lost and now forgotten syndicated 80's new gidget with caryn richman who played the part with much spunk and old school fun! It needs to return to TV! In movies Gidget was played just to name a few Deborah Walley, Karen Valentine and others with each movie worse than the other going downhill. A revival movie was talked about approx 5 years ago, nothing came of it.

Now to the tragic forgotten career of my beloved Sandra Dee "Much more than a Grease song"....She originated the role in the first film, and the movie "Gidget" has been playing nearly every two weeks lately on both COZI and Movies! As of this writing it will be on at 12PM eastern on COZI on 5/9/15, so very easy to catch it, Sandra played the role as a very hyper active & over dramatic 16 year teen surfer girl would be at the time. This was 1959!

During Sandra's career (who was singer Bobby darin's wife till their late 60's divorce) was the queen of the fantasy girl next door, yet also the tease starring in many controversial movies of the day like "A Summer Place" which dealt with adult themed topics, then she played the comedic as well, always overseen by her real life abusive over bearing mother while her step dad sexually abused her in real life. To me her best work was in the 3 film "Tammy" films, Again controversy follows as Debbie Reynolds originated the role and Sandra played it in the next two follow-up films and Debbie Watson portrayed Tammy in the failed one season ABC series. (I have the entire series on DVD)

Sandra's incredible journey is lightly touched upon in Kevin Spacey's theatrical "Beyond The Sea" but Sandra has always deserved her own biographical theatrical, she passed away shortly after the release of Spaceys film, approved it, never married again after Darins death in 1973 and their son Dodd Darin lives happily holding the rights to both brillant legacies.

I love Sally Field as an actress and as a person, and in fact I own the Gidget TV show on DVD and love it! However, in my mind (I was born in 1965), Sandra Dee will always be the true (and of course, original) Gidget. Ms. Dee was a beautiful and good person who had a hard life. But she will always live on in fans hearts because of her movies.

I have to say Sandra Dee. She played the part so very well in the movie. I think it helped that she had two very good co-stars in James Darren and Cliff Robertson.

I think Sally Field is the most identified. Sandra Dee was good, but I prefer Sally Field.

I think both were great, but Sally Field just looked more the typical Beach Loving Boy Crazed teenager and played the part so well.

Absolutely Sandra Dee. I have tried to watch the Sally Field version, some of the time she is okay, but others, not so much.

I'd say Sally Field. People remember the series more than the movie, is my guess.

Caryn Richman, the 80s Gidget, was as cute as a button. But the scripts for that series stunk. That's why it has completely disappeared. It had no rerun value.