Gilligan’s Island was a television situation comedy created and produced by the late Sherwood Schwartz. Originally produced by United Artists Television, the series aired on the CBS network. The sitcom featured Robert “Bob” Denver as Gilligan; Alan Hale, Jr. as Jonas “The Skipper” Grumby; James “Jim” Backus, as the Millionaire, Thurston Howell, III; Natalie Schafer, as his wife, Mrs. Lovey Howell; Tina Louise, as movie star Ginger Grant; Russell Johnson, as Professor Roy Hinkley; and Dawn Wells, as Mary Ann Summers. They starred as seven people on a three-hour cruise aboard the S.S. Minnow, which after a torrential thunderstorm stranded them on an uncharted desert island.
Bob Denver
Alan Hale, Jr.
Jim Backus
Natalie Schafer
Tina Louise
Russell Johnson
Dawn Wells
The series aired for three seasons from September 26, 1964, to September 4, 1967
Gilligan’s Island.
After all these years, I can still sing the original theme song:
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin’ man,
the Skipper brave and sure,
five passengers set sail that day,
for a three-hour tour,
a three-hour tour.
The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
the Minnow would be lost.
The Minnow would be lost.
The ship struck ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
with Gilligan,
the Skipper too.
The millionaire and his wife,
a movie star,
the professor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan’s Isle.
Then, there’s the ending verse, which told of how the survivors would have to stick it out until help would someday arrive to rescue them:
So this is the tale of our castaways,
they’re here for a long long time.
They’ll have to make the best of things,
it’s an uphill climb.
The first mate and his Skipper too
will do their very best,
to make the others comf’terble
in their tropic island nest.
No phone, no lights, no motor car,
not a single luxury
like Robinson Crusoe
it’s primitive as can be.
So join us here each week my friends,
you’re sure to get a smile,
from seven stranded castaways
here on Gilligan’s Isle!
The original first season theme ended with the words “the movie star…and the rest, are here on Gilligan’s Isle.”
Here is the theme from the third season that many people remember and recognize:
Thanks to Mr. Sherwood Schwartz’s creative vision of Gilligan’s Island, the world has an iconic and endearing sitcom that to this day still brings smiles to my face and joy to my heart.
The castaways, usually through the mishaps of Gilligan, were always going through some screwball comedy zany antic each week, filled with inane humor. Always, Gilligan was the brunt of their anger and frustration. Always, the Skipper would hit his Little Buddy with his skipper cap when Gilligan aggravated the castaways (well, almost all the time.)
Five passengers, along with the fearless crew, set sail for a three-hour cruise that lasted three seasons.
Yes, you had to suspend disbelief that a ship struck ground on a desert isle when much of the world’s oceans had been charted. Yes, you had to suspend disbelief that the castaways, when presented with numerous opportunities to leave the island, somehow manage to stay stranded, time after time. That with would-be rescuers, such as Wrongway Feldman, who landed on the island, but for some illogical reason, never remembered to send help back to rescue the castaways. Yes, you had to suspend disbelief that the castaways never figured out how to fashion life rafts outs of the plant and tree material on the island.
Click on photo to view Episode 20, Season 3: “Our Vines Have Tender Apes”:
But my favourite episode was “Don’t Bug the Mosquitoes”, which aired December 9, 1965. I consider it one of Gilligan’s Island’s best episodes.
In a parody of The Beatles and the “British Invasion” of Beatlemania, the music sensation “The Mosquitoes” land on the island for some much-needed rest. What they find instead are Mary Ann, Mrs. Howell and Ginger who have formed a group of their own, “The Honeybees”. Their singing reminded me of the girl groups of the ’60s: Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Marvellettes and The Supremes, as seen here:
Hey, wait a minute! Where did the castaways get the electricity to power a turn table to play that black vinyl?
Most of all, loads of disbelief was necessary where the clothes and hairstyles of the castaways never became frayed, ragged, or disheveled. (Ginger…those evening gowns, that bouffant hairdo, the makeup–girl, how did you keep it up?) Not to mention that no one lost weight.
And then there is my question: between the two, which did men prefer the most–wholesome Mary Ann, or Ginger, the sultry movie star?
But, this was Gilligan’s Island, and you tuned in to be entertained, to laugh, and to forget any troubles you had that day.
Here is an episode entitled Lovey’s Secret Admirer, from Season 3, Episode 19:
Bob Denver (Gilligan), Alan Hale, Jr. (the Skipper), James “Jim” Backus (the Millionaire), Natalie Schafer (Lovey, Millionnaire’s wife), have all departed from this world. Tina Louise (Ginger, the Movie Star), Russell Johnson (the Professor), and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), are still with us.
Episodes of Gilligan’s Island can be found here.
The Official Gilligan’s Island Fan Club can be checked out here.
There is also a Gilligan’s Island Trivia website. Click here to test your knowledge.
To Gilligan, Skipper, Mr. and Mrs. Howell, Professor, Ginger and Mary Ann. . . .
. . . .thanks for the memories.
Ann
