Who Knew? The 'Love Boat' Was The Final Cruise For Many Guest Stars - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-18-2011, 11:20 PM

Final TV appearance of Bob Crane

Robert Cummings' last performance

Walter Slezak's final filmed acting performance

Ethel Merman in her final performance

Dan Rowan's last TV performance

Greer Garson's final filmed performance

Last film project for Anne Baxter

http://sharetv.org/shows/the_love_boat/trivia

mstewart · 05-08-2011, 09:15 PM

Allen Ludden's final appearance - he was ill with cancer when him and Betty did the show about the horse together. You can look at Allen and tell he was dying.

Marvo301 · 05-09-2011, 12:33 AM

I think one of the things that made the Love Boat so enduring was the opportunity to see so many old movie stars, TV stars, and singers who were late in their careers. So it's not surprising that so many stars took their final bow on the Pacific Princess!

1960'sTVfan · 08-23-2011, 08:41 PM

The Love Boat is famous for the vast array of guest stars that appeared in the episodes. It was one of those shows that had three or four story lines going on in each episode, so it wasn't a dull show that's for sure. The episodes tend to have wild swings in mood, one moment is funny and the next is serious. Sometimes I think it goes a little over the top. I prefer the first two seasons, after that not so much. I haven't got around to buying DVD's yet, I might get them if I find a good deal at a low price.

Big3sCompanyFan · 09-06-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Final TV appearance of Bob Crane

Robert Cummings' last performance

Walter Slezak's final filmed acting performance

Ethel Merman in her final performance

Dan Rowan's last TV performance

Greer Garson's final filmed performance

Last film project for Anne Baxter

http://sharetv.org/shows/the_love_boat/trivia

LOL..I've not heard of any of those people except Bob Crane and Ethel Merman and that's only because of Airplane!

Guy Incognito · 01-03-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Final TV appearance of Bob Crane

Robert Cummings' last performance

Walter Slezak's final filmed acting performance

Ethel Merman in her final performance

Dan Rowan's last TV performance

Greer Garson's final filmed performance

Last film project for Anne Baxter

http://sharetv.org/shows/the_love_boat/trivia

Actually makes perfect sense in a morbid sort way: it was easy work (with few demands) for decent money, you got a free luxury cruise out of the deal, and I'm sure those older stars were treated like royalty while they were on set. Not a bad going-away present, and beats sitting around a nursing home or hospital waiting for the inevitable.

Big3sCompanyFan · 01-03-2012, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy Incognito

Actually makes perfect sense in a morbid sort way: it was easy work (with few demands) for decent money, you got a free luxury cruise out of the deal, and I'm sure those older stars were treated like royalty while they were on set. Not a bad going-away present, and beats sitting around a nursing home or hospital waiting for the inevitable.

You mean they went on an actual cruise??

I thought it was all done in studio?

ThomasE · 01-18-2012, 11:11 PM

It was on a cruise ship. The vacationers were invited to be extras for scens on the episodes.

Schmoopie · 01-19-2012, 07:24 AM

Interesting... didn't know that!

Regulus · 01-19-2012, 08:16 AM

I read somewhere that Princess Cruises was on the verge of going out of business (In the period after the war to the late 1970s a lot of cruise lines went out of business, their Trans-Ocean Business was gobbled up by the airlines, which suffered as badly as the Railroads did). when the Producer supposedly walked in their office and asked them permission to use their ships for The Love Boat. He offered them a large (7-digit) sum of money "Up Front" and that bought the cruise line some time, then when the show came out people associated them with the TV Series and the line went from rags to riches.

An executive for one of the Railroads said something about the decline of Passengers, saying "We thought we were in the Railroad Business when we should have realised we were actually in the TRANSPORTATION Business."

I cannot help but thing what would have happened if the Railroad and Passenger Ship businesses realised what was happing to them and they decided to go for the Airline Business themselves. I see myself flying to New Mexico this year on Santa Fe Airlines instead of Frontier Airlines!

Big3sCompanyFan · 01-20-2012, 05:13 AM

At least they didn't drown like they did on that stupid Italian cruise ship!

jehobden · 02-14-2012, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus

I read somewhere that Princess Cruises was on the verge of going out of business (In the period after the war to the late 1970s a lot of cruise lines went out of business, their Trans-Ocean Business was gobbled up by the airlines, which suffered as badly as the Railroads did). when the Producer supposedly walked in their office and asked them permission to use their ships for The Love Boat. He offered them a large (7-digit) sum of money "Up Front" and that bought the cruise line some time, then when the show came out people associated them with the TV Series and the line went from rags to riches.

An executive for one of the Railroads said something about the decline of Passengers, saying "We thought we were in the Railroad Business when we should have realised we were actually in the TRANSPORTATION Business."

I cannot help but thing what would have happened if the Railroad and Passenger Ship businesses realised what was happing to them and they decided to go for the Airline Business themselves. I see myself flying to New Mexico this year on Santa Fe Airlines instead of Frontier Airlines!

That explains why the railroad transportation business never picked up, when your only tv model was Supertrain!

jehobden · 02-14-2012, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Final TV appearance of Bob Crane

Robert Cummings' last performance

Walter Slezak's final filmed acting performance

Ethel Merman in her final performance

Dan Rowan's last TV performance

Greer Garson's final filmed performance

Last film project for Anne Baxter

http://sharetv.org/shows/the_love_boat/trivia

The Love Boat may have been Dan Rowan's last acting performance, but I last remember seeing him on tv, with Dick Martin, on NBC's 60th anniversary show, aired in May 1986. He last appeared on The Love Boat, according to IMDB, in 1982.

Coffeecup · 08-20-2016, 09:26 PM

I always liked shows that had a variety of celebrities. Love Boat, Fantasty Island, Murder She Wrote. Are there any shows that do that today?

04-18-2011, 11:20 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Who Knew? The 'Love Boat' Was The Final Cruise For Many Guest Stars Final TV appearance of Bob Crane Robert Cummings' last performance Walter Slezak's final filmed acting performance Ethel Merman in her final performance Dan Rowan's last TV performance Greer Garson's final filmed performance Last film project for Anne Baxter http://sharetv.org/shows/the_love_boat/trivia
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05-09-2011, 12:33 AM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	I think one of the things that made the Love Boat so enduring was the opportunity to see so many old movie stars, TV stars, and singers who were late in their careers. So it's not surprising that so many stars took their final bow on the Pacific Princess!
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01-18-2012, 11:11 PM	#8
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	It was on a cruise ship. The vacationers were invited to be extras for scens on the episodes.
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01-19-2012, 07:24 AM	#9
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Interesting... didn't know that!
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01-19-2012, 08:16 AM	#10
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	I read somewhere that Princess Cruises was on the verge of going out of business (In the period after the war to the late 1970s a lot of cruise lines went out of business, their Trans-Ocean Business was gobbled up by the airlines, which suffered as badly as the Railroads did). when the Producer supposedly walked in their office and asked them permission to use their ships for The Love Boat. He offered them a large (7-digit) sum of money "Up Front" and that bought the cruise line some time, then when the show came out people associated them with the TV Series and the line went from rags to riches. An executive for one of the Railroads said something about the decline of Passengers, saying "We thought we were in the Railroad Business when we should have realised we were actually in the TRANSPORTATION Business." I cannot help but thing what would have happened if the Railroad and Passenger Ship businesses realised what was happing to them and they decided to go for the Airline Business themselves. I see myself flying to New Mexico this year on Santa Fe Airlines instead of Frontier Airlines!
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05-08-2011, 09:15 PM	#2
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	Allen Ludden's final appearance - he was ill with cancer when him and Betty did the show about the horse together. You can look at Allen and tell he was dying.

08-23-2011, 08:41 PM	#4
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,087	The Love Boat is famous for the vast array of guest stars that appeared in the episodes. It was one of those shows that had three or four story lines going on in each episode, so it wasn't a dull show that's for sure. The episodes tend to have wild swings in mood, one moment is funny and the next is serious. Sometimes I think it goes a little over the top. I prefer the first two seasons, after that not so much. I haven't got around to buying DVD's yet, I might get them if I find a good deal at a low price.

01-20-2012, 05:13 AM	#11
Big3sCompanyFan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Posts: 2,493	At least they didn't drown like they did on that stupid Italian cruise ship!

08-20-2016, 09:26 PM	#14
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	I always liked shows that had a variety of celebrities. Love Boat, Fantasty Island, Murder She Wrote. Are there any shows that do that today?