Answer: Their class was held on the very top floor of the school
Even back when Gabe Kotter was a Sweathog, the classes were held on the top floor of the high school. It must have been really hot up there because the school was very old and most likely without air conditioning. So it was because the class was held there, they were named the Sweathogs.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter" (Part Two)
Answer: Kaplan
In addition to televison, Gabe Kaplan also did stand-up comedy.
INTERESTING NOTE: The group of students that Mr. Kotter taught were called Sweathogs.
From Quiz: Welcome Back
Answer: Mr. Kotter
Gabe Kaplan starred as Mr. Kotter and he and Alan Sacks both created the show.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter"
Answer: Melvyn
Mr. Kotter had not seen his brother Melvyn since he was five years old. Melvyn was now a high paid doctor.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter" (Part Two)
Answer: Hansen
Julie Kotter, nee Hansen from Nebraska, was Gabe Kotter's wife in the series. She was constantly cooking her famous tuna casserole, which was notorious and everyone hated. During the series she eventually became a secretary at the school and later a substitute teacher after Gabe was promoted to vice principal.
From Quiz: Welcome Back Kotter
Answer: Arnold Horshack
Ron Palillo played the character of Horshack. Ron was also Torchy in the "Snake Eater" series of films.
From Quiz: Welcome Back
Answer: Barbarino
Vinnie Barbarino was played by John Travolta.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter"
Answer: Marcia Strassman
From Quiz: 'Welcome Back Kotter' Trivia
Answer: Army
Mr. Kotter had been a corporal in the U.S. Army.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter" (Part Two)
Answer: Brooklyn
The series took place in Brooklyn, New York which is one of New York's five boroughs. The boroughs consist of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island AKA the borough of Richmond. Back in the day, the toughest neighborhoods were in Brooklyn.
From Quiz: Welcome Back Kotter
Answer: Juan Epstein
Juan had a note for every occasion. Usually it was signed "Epstein's Mother".
From Quiz: Welcome Back
Answer: Horshack
Arnold Horshack was played by Ron Palillo.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter"
Answer: Mr. Woodman
Later in the series Mr. Woodman became Principal and Mr. Kotter became Vice Principal.
From Quiz: 'Welcome Back Kotter' Trivia
Answer: Noriyuki Morita
Noriyuki Morita, AKA Pat Morita, paid the Sweathogs class a visit on career day. His role was Mr. Takahashi the inventor from Chicago. He was impressed with Mr. Kotter so much that he offered him a job with his company at three times his current salary. Of course Kotter didn't accept his offer.
In the early 1960's Pat had a stand-up act for which be billed himself as "The Hip Nip." Once he was doing a nightclub performance for Pearl Harbor survivors in Waikiki and apologized to them for "screwing up your harbor."
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter" (Part Two)
Answer: James Buchanan High School
The name of the high school was James Buchanan. It was the same school that Mr. Kotter attended prior to becoming a teacher. He was a founding member of the original Sweathogs in the same remedial class while he attended school there.
From Quiz: Welcome Back Kotter
Answer: Brooklyn
The opening credits always began with a shot of a sign that said "Brooklyn...Fourth largest city in America..."
INTERESTING NOTE: John Sylvester White who played the vice principal Mr. Woodman, died of cancer in 1988.
From Quiz: Welcome Back
Answer: Julie Kotter
Julie Kotter was played by Marcia Strassman.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter"
Answer: Buchanan
From Quiz: 'Welcome Back Kotter' Trivia
Answer: James Woods
James Woods played Alex Welles, who was the prissy drama teacher and led the school debate team. The Sweathogs were to debate the school team which they nicknamed the Turkeys. The topic of the debate had to do with humans being naturally aggressive. The Sweathogs were the team that said that yes, humans are naturally aggressive.
Freddie Washington was the first to speak. When the Turkeys speaker Todd offered a rebuttal, the Sweathogs antagonized him so much they he came close to physically assaulting them. The Sweathogs won the debate hands down.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter" (Part Two)
Answer: History and Social Studies
Mr. Kotter actually had a total of eight classes. He had the Sweathogs for History and Social Studies only and for homeroom first thing in the morning. Homeroom was only for a very brief time.
From Quiz: Welcome Back Kotter
Answer: Julie
Julie was played by Marcia Strassman. She went on to play guest roles on other series such as "E/R", "Baywatch" and "Third Watch".
From Quiz: Welcome Back
Answer: Epstein
Epstein's full name is Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein and he was played by Robert Hegyes.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter"
Answer: Barbarino
From Quiz: 'Welcome Back Kotter' Trivia
Answer: John Astin
John Astin from the "Addams Family" TV series played the strange, creepy, and superstitious Mr. Gore. Gore is pronounced as if there was an ay at the end of his name and not an e. The Sweathogs were in a room at the museum that was supposed to be for VIPs only but Mr. Gore let them stay anyway. He told them not to touch anything or they would risk the wrath of the Pharaoh.
Mr. Kotter, Julie Kotter, Mr. Woodman, Mr. Gore, and the Sweathogs became trapped in the room with Pugh (Pew) the mummy and all were scared. Epstein with his clowning around, got the door to open so they weren't stuck in there for the entire night.
As they were all leaving Mr. Gore said to them (I'm paraphrasing) "Mr. Kotter, Mr. Woodman was right. The Sweathogs aren't human...but then, neither am I."
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter" (Part Two)
Answer: Dingfelder
Arnold Dingfelder Horshack was the sheepish Sweathog. When he laughed, it was on the inhale and not like a normal laugh which would be more on the exhale. It sounded like he was gasping for air and was similar to a donkey braying. If Mr. Kotter asked a question in class and Horshack wanted to say something. he would put up his hand, wave it crazily, and yell out "Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!"
Mrs. Horshack's maiden name was also Dingfelder. She was played by actress Ellen Travolta who was John Travolta's oldest sibling.
Ron Palillo (nee Paolillo), who played Horshack, sadly passed away as the result of a heart attack in 2012. He was 63 years old.
From Quiz: Welcome Back Kotter
Answer: Carvelli
Carvelli was the leader of the gang in the episode "Sweatside Story". He also challenged Horshack to a boxing match in "Horshack vs. Carvelli", an episode written by Gary Shandling.
From Quiz: Welcome Back
Answer: Little Juan
Robert Hegyes, who played Epstein, was a 24 year old playing a high school student and Ron Palillo, who played Horshack, was 26 when the show started in 1975.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter"
Answer: In her bathroom
From Quiz: 'Welcome Back Kotter' Trivia
Answer: Tenth
At the beginning of the series the Sweathogs were in the tenth grade. By the end of the series they were in the twelfth grade.
Since the series took place in New York, the school system is a little different than here in the Chicago area. When I moved from New York, the high schools there were three years from grade ten to grade twelve. In the Chicago area high school is from grade nine to grade twelve.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter" (Part Two)
Answer: The cattle are dying
Arnold was definitely the class clown as well as being sheepish. He could be very endearing and disarming at times as well. To quote Arnold discussing his name: "You know, Horshack is a very old and respected name; it means 'the cattle are dying'."
From Quiz: Welcome Back Kotter
Answer: Buchanan
James Buchanan High School, apparently a fictitious school located in central Brooklyn.
INTERESTING NOTE: The actor who played Mr. Kotter went back into stand-up comedy a few years later, with a spot on the Montreal Comedy Festival.
From Quiz: Welcome Back
Answer: closet
This show only lasted for four years. In the United States, it started in 1975 and ended in 1979.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter"
Answer: Epstein's
From Quiz: 'Welcome Back Kotter' Trivia
Answer: Most Likely To Take a Life
Epstein was voted most likely to take a life. After all, he was the toughest kid in school. In later episodes Juan became more of a wiseguy than a fighter.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter" (Part Two)
Answer: Maria Teresa Angelino
Mrs. Barbarino's name was Maria Teresa Angelino Barbarino. Her husband called her Margie though. His mother's name may not have been mentioned on more than one episode.
Vinnie could be quite an idiot but was also the guy that got all the girls. If he was asked too many questions at once, or something he didn't quite get, he'd squeeze his face between his hands and blurt out "I'm so confused?"
From Quiz: Welcome Back Kotter
Answer: Gabe and John left.
Gabe Kaplan had "creative differences" with the producers, and John Travolta left to pursue a career on the big screen.
From Quiz: Welcome Back
Answer: Mr. Kotter
"Did I ever tell you about my Uncle Max" is a Mr. Kotter quote.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter"
Answer: Rubber Hose
From Quiz: 'Welcome Back Kotter' Trivia
Answer: Pedro and Sanchez
Juan mentioned that his mother had given birth eight times. Pedro and Sanchez were the only brothers mentioned. Juan also had a sister named Carmen that was mentioned and who also appeared on the show.
From Quiz: "Welcome Back Kotter" (Part Two)
