Although Gilligan’s Island only covered 98 episodes from 1964 to 1967 and did not win any awards, it became a favorite after going into syndication.
Created by veteran comedy writer Sherwood Schwartz, the story centered around a group of tourists aboard the SS Minnow on a three hour tour. A harrowing storm is suddenly upon them, tossing the little Minnow about until it runs aground on a deserted island. This group of different people must then find a way to survive while tolerating each other on this totally unfamiliar environment.
With a memorable soundtrack and presenting a wholesome family-friendly story that is often lacking in the latest television shows, the allure of Gilligan’s Island has endured for decades.
The cast was composed of actors Alan Hale jr. as the skipper, Bob Denver as first mate Gilligan, Dawn Wells as Mary Ann Summers, Tina Louise as the glamorous movie star Ginger Grant, Russell Johnson as shy nerdy college professor Roy Hinkley, plus Tim Backus and Natalie Schafer playing upper-class Mr and Mrs Howell.
Actor Bob Denver as star of the show Gilligan, dominates every episode as his bumbling and buffoonery affects the lives of everyone else.
A common denominator on most of the Gilligan episodes was how to find a way to get off the lost island and back to civilization, attempts which were usually either ruined by Gilligan’s forgetful bumbling or were so far-fetched they went nowhere.
Opening and closing sequences were filmed on Coconut Island at Kaneohe Bay on Oahu near Honolulu. Most filming was done at Studio City, California. The entire series of Gilligan’s Island episodes are available on DVD, even as reruns continue on cable television.
After Gilligan’s Island ended, creator Sherwood Schwartz returned a few years later with another memorable family show, The Brady Bunch.
