Television in the 1960's ... Remember? Quiz

Answer: Rawhide

"Rawhide" became a Friday night staple on the CBS Network programming lineup, airing for 8 seasons from 1959 until 1966. The series aired 217 episodes and maintained mid range Nielsen Rating throughout its run. In its highest ratings year, "Rawhide" ranked sixth in 1961, with a 27.5 share of the viewing audience for the 7:30-8:30 time slot.
The series presented the stories of a group of 20-25 cowboys, known as "drovers", as they traveled from San Antonio, Texas to Sedalia, Missouri, managing a herd of about 3000 cattle.
The series starred Eric Fleming as the trail boss, Gil Favor, and a then relatively unknown actor, Clint Eastwood, as his right hand man, the ramrod, Rowdy Yates.
Episodes were usually introduced with a brief narration from Gil Favor, and ended with Favor alerting his crew to start the cattle drive after resting the herd and the drovers for the night. The episodes usually ended with Favor, or in some cases with Yates giving the command in a loud voice, "Head 'em up, move 'em out", just as the ending theme music would start to play.

"Gunsmoke" (1955), one of the longest running series in television history, attained the #1 Nielsen Ratings in 1960 and 1961. The series starred James Arness as U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, who maintained law and order in Dodge City, Kansas for 20 seasons (1955-1975) on the CBS Television Network.

"Wagon Train" (1957), topped the ratings race in 1962. The series aired for eight seasons (1957-1965), and produced 284 episodes.
The series chronicled the the trip of pioneer settlers traveling from Missouri to California, through rough and sometimes hostile territory, in a caravan of covered wagons. Ward Bond starred as Major Seth Adams, the wagon master who lead the group. During the fourth season of the series, Bond was replaced by John McIntire, as the new wagon master, Christopher Hale. Other series regulars included Robert Horton as the trains scout, Clint McCullough, and Robert Fuller as scout Cooper Smith.

"Bonanza" (1959), was another long running Western series, airing 430 episodes in 14 years. The series topped the annual Nielsen Rating for three consecutive seasons (1965, 1966, and 1967). The series centered around a Nevada rancher, Ben Cartwright (played by Lorne Greene), his three sons, Adam (played by Pernell Roberts), Eric, who was known to everyone as "Hoss" (played by Dan Blocker), and Joseph, who was known simply as "Little Joe" (Played by Michael Landon) and their efforts to maintain their huge ranch, The Ponderosa, fighting off strangers, rustlers, hostile towns people, or anybody or anything threatening the wealth and property that they worked so hard for.

Answer: Gilligan's Island

The seven shipwrecked castaways on the deserted Gilligan's Island were Jonas Grumby, the ships skipper played by Alan Hale Jr., the ships first mate, Gilligan, played by Bob Denver, a multi-millionaire industrialist, Thurston Howell, III, played by Jim Backus, his wife, socialite Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell, played by Natalie Schafer, a glamorous movie star, Ginger Grant, played by Tina Louise, a high school science professor, Roy Hinkley, played by Russell Johnson, and a farm girl from the mid-west, Mary Ann Summers, played by Dawn Wells.

The series ran on the CBS television Network for three seasons (1964-1967), producing 98 episodes.

After the series ended its run, three "Gilligan's Island" movies were made for television, "Rescue From Gilligan's Island" (1978), "The Castaways on Gilligan's Island" (1979) and "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island" (1981). Six of the original cast members returned to reprise their roles in the three movies. The only one to decline the movie roles was Tina Louise, who reportedly had numerous "creative differences" with the writers and the producers during the original run of the series. Judith Baldwin took over the role of Ginger Grant in the first two movies, and Constance Forslund played Ginger Grant in the third movie.

Did you know that:
* Carroll O'Connor tested for the role of the "Skipper", and that Jerry Van Dyke turned down the role as "Gilligan"?

* Blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield was offered and turned down the role of "Ginger"?

* Raquel Welch auditioned for the role of "Mary Ann"?

* Natalie Schafer had it written into her contract that there would be no close-up of her in the show?

"Gilligan's Island" maintained acceptable ratings during its initial run, but in syndication since the series ended, has risen to nearly cult status, enjoying renewed popularity in re-runs.

The plot of the series was easy for viewers to understand, all that was needed was to listen to the series popular theme song.

"The Ballad of Gilligan's Island"
Written by George Wyle and series creator Sherwood Schwartz

- Opening theme -

"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 sailing 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 set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle,
With Gilligan,
The Skipper too,
The millionaire, and his wife,
The movie star,
And the rest,
Here on Gilligan's Isle".
***
At the end of the first season, the lyric of the song was changed. The next to last line was changed from "and the rest" to "the Professor and Mary Ann".

- Closing theme -

"So this is the tale of the 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 the Skipper too,
Will do their very best,
To make the others comfortable,
In the tropic island nest.

No phone, no lights, no motor cars,
not a single luxury,
Like Robinson Crusoe,
As 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"
***


*** "Gilligan's Island" facts quoted from:

Internet Movie Data Base
www.imdb.com/title/tt005775/trivia

Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilligan's_Island

Lyric on Demand
www.lyricsondemand.com/tvtheme/gilliganislandlyric.html

Answer: The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show

The series aired for one season in 1968, and produced 12 episodes. The series was hosted by comedienne Phyllis Diller, and brought viewers a host of celebrity guest stars, who performed in comical skits with Diller and her cast of regular performers, popular musical acts, and a live orchestra and troupe of dancers. Guests on the first episode of the series were comic team Rowan and Martin, pop singers, Sonny and Cher, and talk show host, Johnny Carson. Many of the joke and routines of the series revolved around the recurring theme that Diller was an unattractive, frizzy-haired maniac, with a loud, distinctive laugh. In a recurring routine at the end of each show, Diller would announce and produce the celebrity appearing on the following weeks show. At the end of the first episode, Diller announced the guest star for the next week would be actor Raymond Burr, who was starring at the time in the series "Ironside". The camera panned to the rear of the studio, where Burr sat in his signature Ironside wheelchair. Burr smiled and waved to the cheering audience. Diller then commented, "Raymond, I'm so happy to have you on the show next week, I'm going to come down there and give you a great big kiss". Burr looked at Diller, contemplated his fate for a few seconds, then jumped out of the wheelchair, and ran for the exit. This was one of the funniest moments in the short history of the series.

"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (1967), was hosted by the music duo, Tom and Dick Smothers. The series aired for three seasons. Regular cast performers who assisted with comedy skits were sad faced comic, Pat Paulsen, Leigh French, and Bob Einstein, who played the recurring role on the show as Officer Judy. Einstein laster hosted his own show while using the stage name of "Super" Dave Osborne.

The Entertainers" (1964) was a variety show that aired from September, 1964, through March, 1965, on the CBS Television Network. The show was hosted by three performers, Carol Burnett, Bob Newhart, and Caterina Valente.
Celebrity guest stars performed comedy skits with hosts, accompanied by a small cast of series regular support performers. Musical numbers and dazzling dance routines were also featured on the show. During most episodes, all three host appeared on the show, and occasionally, only two, and rarely one of the host appeared in an episode. Resident performers for the series included Ruth Buzzi, Dom DeLuise, Tessie O'Shea, and John Davidson. Choreographed dance numbers were performed by The Ernie Flatt Dancers, and by the Peter Gennaro Dancers.

"The Dean Martin Show" (1965) was a very successful variety show that ran 245 episodes from 1965 until 1974, on the NBC Television Network. Popular crooner Dean Martin hosted the series, which maintain the same basic format per episode, The show opened with Martin singing two songs, usually one being a serious ballad. Martin would then sing with the weekly guest stars, often doing comical versions of hit tunes, and comedy skits involving the guest stars and his regular cast of performers. In one running routine, Martin would sing a song standing next to a piano, and through the number, would joke with his pianist, Ken Lane(co-writer of Martin's signature song), in an attempt to break the musicians concentration. Another weekly running gag was the mysterious knock on the closet door while Martin was speaking to the audience. Martin would walk over to the door, open it, and reveal an unannounced celebrity guest. Adding to the surprised reactions, in some instances, Martin himself did not know who would be on the other side of the door. The shows finale featured a production number with Martin and his guest. The music performed on the series was provided by the Les Brown Orchestra.
The cast of regular entertainers included Tom Bosley, Charles Nelson Reilly, Rodney Dangerfield, Nipsey Russell, Kay Medford, and Marion Mercer,
Martin used his signature song, "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes" (1947) as the theme song for the series.

Answer: Mister Ed

As the theme song lyric went, "A horse is a horse, of course, of course, but no one can talk to a horse, of course, that is of course unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed..."
.
Allan "Rocky" Lane was never seen on camera, but he provided the deep voice of Mister Ed, the talking horse owned by Wilbur Post (Alan Young).

The series aired for six seasons on the CBS Television Network Sunday line-up.

Mister Ed talked, but only to his owner, Wilbur, which caused a number of interesting situations over the six seasons of the show. Ed could also dial the phone, using a carrot in his teeth to dial, and made numerous phone calls.

The series also starred Connie Hines as Carol, Wilbur's wife Larry Keatings and Edna Skinner as the next door neighbors, The Addisons. After three years of living nest door to the Posts, the Addisons moved and were replaced by the Kirkwoods, played by Leon Ames and Florence Mac Michael.

Bamboo Harvester was the gold Palomino horse that portrayed Mister Ed for the run of the series.
In case you wondered how they appeared to get the horse to speak, word was that the horses trainer,Lester Hylton, was on the set, off camera, and would feed the horse with a harmless substance that had a consistency similar to peanut butter. The horse would try to remove the substance, and did so by moving his lips. The lip movement of the horse was synced up with the voice-over, and "presto", a talking horse.
Sadly, after the series left the air, Bamboo Harvester suffered a number of age related illnesses, including arthritis and kidney problems, and had to be put down in 1970. Bamboo Harvester lived to the ripe old age of 19.

Answer: The Dick Van Dyke Show

The series aired for five seasons, from 1961 until 1966, and generated 158 episodes, and one reunion special.
The series won the Primetime Emmy Award for a Comedy series in 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966. During that span, series star, Dick Van Dyke won the Primetime Emmy Award for, "Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy" both in 1964 and 1966. His co-star, Mary Tyler Moore match the accomplishment, winning as "Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy" also in 1964 and 1966. During the run of the series, it earned a total of 25 Primetime Emmy nominations, receiving 15 wins.
The series starred Dick Van Dyke as TV show comedy writer Rob Petrie, and Mary Tyler Moore as his wife Laura. Other members of the cast included Morey Amsterdam as one of Rob's writing Partners, Maurice B. "Buddy" Sorrell and Rose Marie as Sally Rogers, the female member of the writing team. Richard Deacon played Melvin "Mel" Cooley as the producer of the show Rob and his crew wrote for, and series creator, Carl Reiner as Alan Brady, the egocentric boss and star of the "Alan Brady Show". The Petrie's young son, Ritchie, was played by Larry Matthews.
The series followed the antics of the television writing staff trying to create new shows each week for "The Alan Brady Show".

Answer: Tim Conway

Tim Conway starred as the good natured, bumbling Texas Ranger assigned to Deep Wells, Texas, the quietest ranger outpost in the state. All his commanding officer wanted was to find a nice, quiet, and safe place to send Rango. They wanted to keep Rango employed and keep the Head Commander of the Texas Rangers, who happened to be Rango's father, happy.
Rango was assisted in his duties by his sidekick, an Indian scout named Pink Cloud (Guy Marks). The two managed to create almost as many small problems as they resolved. Rango's immediate boss, Captain Parmelee (Norman Adler) always wanted to get rid of Rango, but feared the nepotism and possible consequences of firing the inept lawman.

"Rango" aired on the ABC Television Network, but due to low ratings, was canceled after 17 episodes, less than a full season.

Conway's claim to fame at the time was his co-starring role as Ensign Charles Beaumont Parker on the 1962 hit comedy series, "McHale's Navy", which ran for four seasons.

Answer: Gentle Ben

"Gentle Ben" aired for two seasons. 1967 through 1969. The series consisted of 67 episodes.
The series followed the adventures of an eight year old boy, Mark Wedloe (played by Clint Howard) as he explored the Bear River Game Reserve in the Florida Everglades with his pet, friend, and companion, a tamed 650 pound American Black Bear named Ben. Mark's father, Tom (played by Dennis Weaver) was the games warden in the park reserve, where the family lived. Beth Brickell played Ellen Wedloe, Mark's mother and Tom's wife.
Also part of the recurring cast was Clint's real-life father, actor Rance Howard, who played the Wedloe's neighbor, Harry Broomhauser.

The sometime ferocious looking Gentle Ben was actually played by actor Patrick Newell, wearing a bear suit. In a more recognizable role, Newell played the role of "Mother" on the series, "The Avengers". The voice, or sounds emitted by Gentle Ben, came from musician and voice actor, Candy Candido

On "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960), a young Clint Howard had a recurring role of Leon, a child in a cowboy hat who never spoke and was always seen eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Answer: The Jackie Gleason Show

Saturday night television programming was highlighted with "The Jackie Gleason Show" (1962). In the beginning episodes of the series, it was known as "Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine", but later was changed to "The Jackie Gleason Show". As a segment in the series, comedy routines were reenacted that reportedly came from the pages of "American Scene Magazine".
"The Jackie Gleason Show" was a variety series that followed a usual format. The first three minutes of the show featured a tightly choreographed dance number performed by the "June Taylor Dancers", a group that consisted of a chorus line of attractive female dancers, performing in the tradition of the famous New York City "Rockettes" dance group at the famed Rockefeller Center. Gleason would them perform his opening monologue, in which the initial comments were directed to his bandleader, Sammy Spear, who was known for his outlandish style of dress.
Gleason and his cast of regular performers would perform comedy skits and routine with the A-list guest celebrity stars who appeared on the show. Gleason also performed as many of characters he created, such as the playboy, Reggie von Gleason, Rudy the Repairman, or the loud-mouth Charlie Bratton. Working in the neighborhood pub, Gleason portrayed Joe the Bartender, who ofter spoke to his customer (the camera) at length before bring out the bug-eyed, goofy character, "Crazy" Guggenheim, played by Frank Fontaine. Guggenheim would speak briefly in his comical voice, then regale the audience by singing a song with his smooth, mellow baritone voice.
Other regular performers appearing on the show were Sue Ann Langdon, Horace McMahon, Alice Ghostly, and the announcer for the show was Johnny Olsen.
Gleason was often referred to as "The Great One", and often during audience applause used the catchphase, "How Sweet it is".
Gleason was also known for his trademark transitions from his monologue to a comedy skit. At the end of the monologue, Gleason would ask the band for "a little traveling music". The band played a few bars of music that Gleason would dance to before advising, "And away we go".

The series ran for four seasons, from 1962 until 1966.

Answer: Car 54, Where Are You?

"Car 54, Where Are You?" was a zany comedy series that followed the antics of two uniformed New York City patrolmen, Officer Gunther Toody, played by Joe E. Ross, and Officer Francis Muldoon, as they patrolled a sector of the 53rd police precinct, in the Bronx.
Other cast members included Paul Reed as Captain Block, Hank Garrett as Officer Ed Nicholson, Nipsey Russell as Officer Anderson, Beatrice Pons as Lucille Toody, and Al Lewis as Officer Leo Schnauser.
In later years, Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis would team up as Herman and Grandpa on the series, "The Munsters" (1964).
"Car 54, Where Are You?" was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, and in 1963, Nat Hiken won for "Outstanding Writing Achievement in a Comedy".
The series title reference a question asked by the police radio dispatcher on a busy. This was explained in the lyric of the opening theme song.

"There's a hold up in the Bronx,
Brooklyn's broken out in fights.

There's a traffic jam in Harlem,
That's backed up to Jackson Heights.

There's a scout troop short a child,
Khrushchev's due at Idlewild,

Car 54, where are you?".


"Dragnet 1967" (1967), starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan, and "The New Breed" (1961) starring Leslie Nielsen and John Bernardino, were police series based in Los Angeles, California, with the characters portraying members of the Los Angeles Police Department.

"Ironside" (1967), starring Raymond Burr, used the San Francisco, California, and its police department in the storyline.

Answer: Captain Nice

"Captain Nice" (1967) lasted for one season with 15 episodes.
Williams Daniels starred as Carter Nash, a dedicated police department chemist, who by accident discovers a secret formula, that when taken, turned him into a superhero crime fighter, with the ability to fly, despite his fear of height. The only problem, the powers of the liquid formula lasted for only one hour at a time. As a superhero, Captain Nice was still a shy character, dominated by his mother, who told him which criminals he should pursue. Alice Ghostly played Carter's mother.

"Mr. Terrific" (1967) aired for one season, producing 17 episodes.
This was the story of Stanley Beamish (Stephen Strimpell), a mild-mannered gas station owner in Washington D.C., who had a duel identity as a super top secret agent for the Federal Bureau of Special Projects.
When duty called, Beamish would take a pill that gave his super strength, and the ability to fly through the air.

"Occasional Wife" (1966) ran for a single television season and aired 30 episodes.
In the storyline, Peter Christopher (Michael Callan), a junior executive with a New York based baby food manufacturer, realized that his chances of promotion were being hindered by his bachelor status. The owner of the company favored promoting married men, because he felt that they were more responsible and stable.
To address the problem, Peter made an arrangement with his upstairs neighbor, Greta Patterson (Patricia Harty), to pose as his wife at company functions. Peter lived in an apartment on the 8th floor of a Manhattan high rise residential building, Greta lived in a 10th floor apartment. Whenever Peter's boss would make an unexpected visit to his apartment (which he frequently did), Peter would race to scurry up the fire escape to the 10th floor to get Greta, and then the couple would then use the fire escape to get to Peter's apartment. In the middle was the man in the apartment on the 9th floor (Played by Bryan O'Bryne), who watch (in amusement) the activities of the couple as they rushed up and down the fire escape ladder, past his apartments window.
The humorous narration for the series was delivered off camera by legendary sports announcer, Vin Scully.

"My Mother The Car" (1965), aired 30 episodes during its single season run.
The series revolved around Dave Crabtree (Jerry Van Dyke), a devoted son who mourned the recent passing of his mother, Gladys. While shopping for a second family car, Dave came across a antique wrecked car, a 1928 Porter, that to his shock and amazement, spoke to him in the voice if his dearly departed mother. Dave realized that his mother had been reincarnated as the car. Dave purchased the antique wreck, and totally refurbished it. Dave held regular conversations with the car, and received a lot of motherly advice. Since the car would only talk to Dave, he often had trouble explaining his seemingly unusual actions to his wife, Barbara (Maggie Pierce), his family, and to a ruthless antique car collector, Captain Bernard Manzini (Avery Schreiber), who was determined to get ownership the classic vehicle, by any means necessary.
The voice of the car was provided by actress Ann Sothern.

Series star Jerry Van Dyke, turned down the title role for the series "Gilligan's Island" (1964), for the opportunity to do the series.

"My Mother The Car" by many, has been cited as the being the quintessential "Worst Television Show" ever to air in the History of Television".