Gilligan's Island TV Trivia

[tv star collector]

The show's story editor, David Harmon, made sure that all of the Professor's
facts were accurate every time he did an experiment.

The first choice to play Gilligan was Jerry Van Dyke, but he was committed to
another series.

Carroll O'Connor auditioned for the part of the Skipper.

In addition to being a consummate actor, Jim Backus was also quite an author
who wrote several books with his wife Henny including "Rocks on the Roof,"
"What Are You Doing After the Orgy?" "Backus Strikes Back" and "Forgive Us
Our Digressions."

Several family members guested on the show: Henny Backus played an island
native in "Gilligan's Mother-In-Law." Patrick Denver (son of Bob Denver) played
a young Gilligan in "V for Vitamins," and Bob's wife Dreama had small parts in
the reunion TV-movies.

Raquel Welch auditioned for the part of Mary Ann but was turned down because she was too glamorous. Dawn Wells was Miss Nevada and had
participated in the Miss America pageant.

In the episode "Ghost A Go-Go," the tall ghost was played by Richard Kiel, who
played "Jaws" in several James Bond movies.

During its first season (1974-1975) on Saturday mornings, The New
Adventures of Gilligan was the No. 1 rated cartoon series.

The name "S.S. Minnow" was a pun, in reference to TV executive Newton
Minnow who had called television a "vast wasteland."

The often seen distress letters "S.O.S." are not really an aconym for any
phrase. They were designed as a sign of distress since all the letters can be
seen from any direction (even upside-down) and will still spell S.O.S.

In 1964 (when the show first aired), a night in a motel cost $6.00, a hamburger $.15, a gallon of gasoline $.26, and a plane ticket (from Los
Angeles to San Francisco) $11.43.

In the show's opening sequence, there is a minute detail which indicates that
at the time of filming, our nation was in mourning over the loss of President
Kennedy. As the S.S. Minnow departs the marina, it passes some flagpoles
and in the background you can see the American flag flying at half staff on
Nov. 26, 1963. This can be seen on the opening sequence of all black-&-white
episodes.

None of the actors on the show ever received residuals from syndication.

Alan Hale's wife Trinket told a tale of how most fans thought they recognized "The Skipper." One night, the Hales went to their favorite seafood restaurant. After they had finished eating, a fan came to their table to ask for an autograph and told Alan that as Captain Kangaroo, he was one of her favorites! Mrs. Hale said that Alan signed, "All the best, Captain Kangaroo"!

[mrs.gingerhinkley]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

In the episode "Ghost A Go-Go," the tall ghost was played by Richard Kiel, who
played "Jaws" in several James Bond movies.

No wonder he gave me the creeps!!!!

Originally Posted by tv star collector

During its first season (1974-1975) on Saturday mornings, The New
Adventures of Gilligan was the No. 1 rated cartoon series.

Really? I did not know it had such great ratings...

I've heard a rumours that the reason Ginger's hair is no longer red but.. blonde in the cartoon was because they were afraid Tina Louise would possibly sue since she wasn't doing the voice of Ginger or something along those lines...

[AB]

^ Cool!

[ph1l]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

Several family members guested on the show: Henny Backus played an island
native in "Gilligan's Mother-In-Law." Patrick Denver (son of Bob Denver) played
a young Gilligan in "V for Vitamins," and Bob's wife Dreama had small parts in
the reunion TV-movies.

I'm not trying to be picky but in the desire for accuracy Patrick Denver didn't play a young Gilligan he was there to represent Gilligan so as to make the Skipper take on gigantic proportions.

[Bonsai]

As long as we're being picky....Jerry Van Dyke was not already committed to another series. He had to make a decision whether to do GI or My Mother the Car.....and we all know what happened.

Jerry Van Dyke tells this story himself as a time that he made a dumb choice.

Of course, it kind of worked out for everyone else....could you imagine anybody but Bob Denver being Gilligan?

[mrs.gingerhinkley]

^faints.

Oh. And Raquel Welch=MaryAnn? I think not. No one could be MaryAnn 'cept Dawn!!! And the same for all the castaways!

[kooky12]

Why couldn't Raquel just be the 8th castaway ? The Mary Ann, Ginger and Raquel trio would have been cool !

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

None of the actors on the show ever received residuals from syndication.

Actualy, they did get residuals, but only for a couple of airings. I think Bob Denver said they were done being paid for by 1969.

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by mrs.gingerhinkley

I've heard a rumours that the reason Ginger's hair is no longer red but.. blonde in the cartoon was because they were afraid Tina Louise would possibly sue since she wasn't doing the voice of Ginger or something along those lines...

Tina Louise basicaly said she owned the Ginger character since it was her or something like that.

[PK]

Great blog! I have a question about one of your photo galleries- I noticed you had the opening credits to the "Farmers' Daughter" sitcom. I was wondering if you had the episodes for sale or might know where I can get them?...

[The Flying Dutchmans]

Originally Posted by gilligan fanatic

Tina Louise basicaly said she owned the Ginger character since it was her or something like that.

Wow, Thats funny that Tina is claiming ownership of the ginger character since she hated the character and blamed GI and the character for ruining her meager acting career.

[Loves Old Tv]

It wasn't that Tina Louise was claiming to own the character, but the fact that ABC and Sherwood Schwartz were afraid that she would sue them for using her likeness.