Sherwood Schwartz - Inside Gilligans Island: From Creation to Syndication

This book is dedicated to Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, Tina Louise, Russell Johnson, and Dawn Wells, who, as Gilligan, the Skipper, Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Howell III, Ginger, the Professor, and Mary Ann, have brought, and continue to bring, laughter and entertainment into the homes of millions of people all over the world.

This book is also dedicated to television viewers, that resolute body that continues to ignore the suggestions of critics, the blandishments of networks, the promotions of producers. They create their own favorites, their own heroes and heroines, by turning the dial, pressing a button, or simply switching off their TV sets.

In a very special way, this book is dedicated to my brother Al, with whom I often worked, and without whom I may never have become a writer at all.

And last, but most of all, it is dedicated to my wife, Mildred. It was her constant help, encouragement and reassurance that enabled me to endure the experiences youre about to read.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Schwartz, Sherwood.
Inside Gilligans Island : from creation to syndication / Sherwood Schwartz.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-7864-6368-8
1. Gilligans Island (Television program)
[1. Gilligans Island (Television program) 2. Television programs] I. Title.
PN1992.77.G53S37 2011
791.43 72 88-42513
British Library cataloguing data are available
1988 Sherwood Schwartz. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
On the front cover: The Castaways on Gilligans Island, 1979 (NBC/Photofest); background 2011 Shutterstock
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com

This book could not have been written without the invaluable help of my assistant and private secretary, Darlene Dickinson.

Thanks to Ms. Dickinsons efforts in collating memos, messages, letters, newspaper and magazine clippings of yesteryear, I was able to verify my own recollections of meetings and events as to substance and chronology.

In addition, in recent personal meetings and/or phone conferences, I was also able to substantiate this information with many of the people who worked with me during my many years on Gilligans Island.

I herewith acknowledge my thanks, alphabetically, for their help in adding many details to my own memory about specific conversations and events: Berle Adams, Rod Amateau, Jack Arnold, James T. Aubrey, Jim Backus, Bob Broder, Hal Cooper, Michael Dann, Bill Davenport, Guy Della Cioppa, Bob Denver, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Diroll, Richard Donner, Alan Hale, David P. Harmon, Larry Heath, Barry Hirsch, Dr. Fordyce Johnson, Russell Johnson, Ed Jurist, Oscar Katz, Perry Lafferty, David Lawrence, Perry Leff, Alan Levine, Bob Lewine, Tina Louise, Larry Marks, Betty Lou Peterson, Jack Petty, Charles Pomerantz, John Rich, Mike Rollens, Sol Saks, Natalie Schafer, Lou Scheimer, Al Schwartz, Lloyd J. Schwartz, Mel Shavelson, Hunt Stromberg, Jr., Pat Weaver, Dawn Wells, Ethel Winant, George Wyle.

Also, my thanks to C.B.S. and N.B.C. for their generous help with the many photographs of the Castaways and the various guest stars, visitors who managed to arrive on the island and then leavesomething the shipwrecked seven were never able to do. In specific, at C.B.S. Publicity, Martin Silverstein, Gail Plautz, and Maureen Kaplan, and at N.B.C., Leona Blair.

Would you like to know how to create, write, and produce a comedy cult classic television series? Just read this book. Its as easy as falling off a loginto a sea of quicksand filled with alligators, piranhas, rattlesnakes, network executives, agents, studio executives, stars, critics, and other deadly creatures.

Go ahead and try, but dont say I didnt warn you!

For 25 years, fans of Gilligans Island have come up to me, and theyre always smiling. So Sherwood, we must have done something right. As a writer and producer, youve given me the greatest of gifts. Youve let me try to be funny, and I thank you. I think everyone is going to love this book, and I believe theyll learn from it, too. I know I did. Oh, and one last thank you. Thank you for showing me Kauai so I could show it to my wife, Dreama.

Bob Denver

They say that imagination is the playground of the mind. Sherwood Schwartz benefited a multitude of viewers by using his imagination in creating Gilligans Island. Maybe it was broad comedy. Maybe it was farce. Maybe it was even slapstick. But all seven of us were dead serious about the nonsense which we portrayed.

Inside Gilligans Island is a mirthful collection of nonfiction! Thank you, Sherwood Schwartz, for our great fun in doing the show, and for giving me the best friend I ever had, the Skipper.

P.S. Move over, John Gunther, Inside Gilligans Island is on the book shelves.

Alan Hale

I first met the man with the Arthurian name of Sherwood Schwartz, known to some of us as Robin Hoods Rabbi, about forty years ago on the Alan Young radio show. I played the part of Hubert Updyke, a man so wealthy he had one chauffeur for left-hand turns and one for right-hand turns.

But there were even richer things in store. From Sherwoods fertile brow came a gossamer bit of fluff called Gilligans Island. I was Thurston Howell III, a billionaire so wealthy he made Hubert Updyke look like an escapee from debtors prison. I told my wife, Lovey, not to worry when we were shipwrecked, because if Thurston Howell couldnt take it with him he simply wouldnt go.

I enjoyed this book so much. Every page brought back memories of the best three years of my life. Thank you, Sherwood. You can always bank on meChase National, of course.

Jim Backus

Until I read this book I never realized the extent of Sherwoods trials and tribulations in bringing Gilligans Island to the screen. In the pilot film it was frightfully simple for the actors. We got on a boat; it sank; and there we were on a lovely tropical island! But you can read for yourself about the labor pains involvedhow the series was born, and why it remains such a success.

If ever again I find myself marooned on another one of those quaint, charming, romantic, adorable little islands, I hope I have this book with me.

Natalie Schafer

Inside Gilligans Island is a hilarious unbelievable story of what really goes on behind-the-scenes in Hollywood. Bravo Sherwood! Against incredible odds your persistence made Gilligans Island a star.

Tina Louise

I have read this Encyclopedia Schwartzica and Ive made a discovery about my friend Sherwood Schwartz. I knew from working with him that he was a fine, honorable, and loving person. But now I know that he is also one tough son of a bitch. Its a fascinating story.

Russell Johnson

Heres to the man who, with vision, talent, love, fortitude, optimism, kindness and sensitivity created, for so many people, so many hours of fun! What a joy to be a part of it and television history! Sherwood, I salute you with love, gratitude and admiration.