A Three-Hour Tour.

Another one of my all-time favorites from the 1960s is one everyone should remember. If you don’t remember this one, or never seen it, you were either in a foreign country or living in a cave lol! Gilligan’s Island was an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 26, 1964, through April 17, 1967.

Gilligan’s Island aired for 98 episodes. The first season was in black and white and aired 36 episodes. The second and third season aired 62 episodes in color. Bob Denver starred as Gilligan, the main character. Alan Hale, Jr. starred as the Skipper.

The series opened with a catchy little tune about the S.S. Minnow would be lost during the storm, and the castaways being shipwrecked. The song was recorded by a group called, “The Wellingtons,” during the first season. The second-season version sounded more like a sea shanty, and was recorded by a group called, “The Eligibles,”

The series started with a two-person crew of the skipper, and Gilligan as the first mate aboard the S.S. Minnow. There were also five passengers. Jim Backus starred as a millionaire, Thurston Howell III, and his wife, Lovey, played by Natalie Schafer. Tina Louise played a movie star in the series, and Russell Johnson stars as the professor, and Dawn Wells stars as a country girl.

They set sail for a three-hour tour from Honolulu, Hawaii, and run into a storm that shipwrecks them on an uncharted island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.

The series then follows the comic adventures of the seven castaways as they try to survive on the island. Most episodes revolve around the castaway’s conflicts, and unsuccessful attempts to escape from the island.

Their efforts to be rescued are usually thwarted by the negligence of the hapless first mate, Gilligan.

The series continues with the castaways performing various tasks, including exploring the island, trying to fix a radio transmitter, building huts for housing, and looking for food. Coconuts and bananas seemed to be a constant staple during the series.

The castaways are presented with many opportunities to leave the island, but some bumbling error committed by Gilligan, prevents them from leaving. Most episodes were very predictable with Gilligan being the culprit for the castaways not leaving.

Gilligan’s Island received solid ratings during its original run and grew in popularity during decades of syndication, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, when many stations ran the show late in the afternoon.

Although the series declined in its third season, the series was still winning its timeslot against its main competition, The Monkees, which aired at the same time on NBC. Therefore, CBS assured the producers that Gilligan’s Island would be picked up for a fourth year.

The last episode of the show aired on April 17, 1967, and ended like the rest, with the castaways still stranded on the island. It was not known at that time, that it would be the series finale, as a fourth season was expected.

However, Gunsmoke which was going to be cancelled, was picked up for another season, and ran in the timeslot of Gilligan’s Island, and as a result, the sitcom was quietly cancelled at the last minute, while cast members were on vacation. Some of the cast members had bought houses near the set, based on the producers stating there would be a fourth season. However, that did not happen.

The Cast:

Bob Denver: Died September 2, 2005, from complications of treatments for cancer following throat cancer surgery. He was 70.

Alan Hale, Jr. – Died January 2, 1990, from cancer of the Thymus. He

was 68.

Jim Backus – Died July 3, 1989, from complications of pneumonia. He

was 76.

          Russell Johnson – Died January 16, 2014, from Kidney failure. He was 82.

          Natalie Schafer – Died April 10, 1991, from Liver cancer. She was 90.

          Dawn Wells – Died December 30, 2020, from Covid-19. She was 82.

          Tina Louise – The only surviving cast member is 91. Louise was quoted as saying, “The best movie you’ll ever be in is your own life because that’s what matters in the end.”