TIME TRAVEL
ARE YOU READY? The Canteen is about to embark on another journey back in time. If you're brave enough, climb aboard, no ticket required……we're about to take off.
Come on, hop in, watch your step ...... Let me set my control.
Buckle up. Now don't be afraid....I know how to fly this thing.......Hang on. Here we goooooooooo.......
WHOOOOOOSHHHHHHHH
Landing with the smallest of thuds. See, I’m getting better.
Let’s turn on the television and see what is on.
Do any of you remember these shows?
Batman
1/12/66 - 3/14/1968 ABC
Black and White - 30 minutes
120 episodes
From the cartoon character created by Bob Kane in 1939
(KA POW!!)
Batman Cast
Dynamic Duo
Adam West as Batman/Bruce Wayne
Burt Ward as Robin/Richard 'Dick' Grayso
Alan Napier as Alfred Pennyworth
Neil Hamilton as Commissioner James Gordon
Stafford Repp as Chief O'Hara
Madge Blake .as Aunt Harriet Cooper (1966-1967)
Yvonne Craig as Batgirl/Barbara Gordon (1967-1968)
William Dozier as Announcer (uncredited)
Holy Villians! (Guest stars)
Burgess Meredith as the Penguin
Frank Gorshin as the Riddler
Julie Newmar as Catwoman
Cesar Romero as The Joker
Liberace as Chandell
Vincent Price as Egghead
Milton Berle as Louie the Lilac
Ethel Merman as Lola Lasagne
Pierre Salinger as Lucky Pierre
Batman Theme Song
"Batman" by Neal Hefti
Batman Tidbits
Same bat time. Same bat channel!" was the standard closing.
Holy Storytelling! You should already know the tale of the masked, caped Crusader Batman (Adam West). Unlike the other caped crimefighter Superman, Batman had no super powers. This is because he was really a mere mortal named Bruce Wayne. His ward Dick Grayson (Burt Ward) assisted in him, POW, in making the bad guys go SPLAT!
As Wayne was very rich he could buy really neat crimefighting toys. Like the Batmobile and other goodies kept in his hidden batcave. You could access this from inside "Stately" Wayne Manor (as Alfred called it) in Gotham City by pressing a button in the bust of Shakespeare in the den.
Now when Police Commisioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton) needs to reach Batman, he can use the red Bat Phone on his desk or more dramtically, he can flash the bat signal which is a bat logo flashed from the top of City Hall.
Holy Camp! But none of this was played seriously. Batman was pure fun, filmed in cartoon colors.
Passings
Madge Blake died in 1969 of a heart attack, Stafford Repp in 1974 of a heart attack, Neil Hamilton in 1984 of complications from asthma, and Alan Napier died in 1988 of a stroke. Of the guests:Burgess Meredith, Cesar Romero, Liberace, Vincent Price, Milton Berle and Ethel Merman are dead.
Mr. Ed
10/1/1961 - 9/8/1965 CBS
Black and White - 30 minutes
143 episodes
Created by Mel Brooks and Leonard Stern
Mr. Ed Cast - Weel-burrrr!
Alan Young as Wilbur Post
Connie Hines as Carol Post
Allan "Rocky" Lane as Voice of Mr. Ed
Sheldon Allman as singing voice of Mr. Ed
Bamboo Harvester as Mr. Ed
Larry Keating as Roger Addison (1961-1963)
Edna Skinner as Kay Addison (1961-1963)
Jack Albertson as Paul Fenton (1961-1963)
Leon Ames as Gordon Kirkwood (1963-1965)
Florence MacMichael as Winnie Kirkwood (1963-1965)
Mr. Ed Theme Song
"Mr. Ed" by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston
A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
And no one can talk to a horse of course
That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed.
Go right to the source and ask the horse He'll give you the answer that you'll endorse. He's always on a steady course. Talk to Mr. Ed. People yakkity yak a streak and waste your time of day. But Mister Ed will never speak unless he has something to say. A horse is a horse, of course, of course, And this one'll talk 'til his voice is hoarse. You never heard of a talking horse? Well listen to this. I am Mister Ed.
Mr. Ed Tidbits
Wilbur Post (Alan Young), an architect, and his wife Carol (Connie Hines) moved into a new home. What they discovered was the previous owners had left behind their horse stabled in the barn.
What Wilbur discovered was that the horse could talk! But oh, no, he choose to talk only to Wilbur!
The star of the show was unquestionably Mr. Ed, whose voice was provided by Allan "Rocky" Lane. Mr. Ed had opinions. He could be cynical. He had his moods. A thoroughly modern horse. It was Mr. Ed's personality and his ability to get Wilbur into trouble that kept us turning in each week. (Beachy watched this show a lot)
Originally, Roger (Larry Keating) and Kay Addison (Edna Skinner) lived next door but after Keating's death, they were replaced by the Kirkwoods (Leon Ames and Florence MacMichael)
Mr. Ed Trivia (Bamboo Harvester )
He was a Palomino who weighed 1100 pounds.
Although in the show Mr. Ed was 8 years old, Bamboo Harvester was actually 11.
He was purchased for $1500.
Passings
Larry Keating died in 1963 of leukemia, Alan Lane on 1973 of bone cancer, Jack Albertson in 1981 of cancer, Leon Ames in 1993 of a stroke and Sherman Allen in 2002 of bone cancer. Bamboo Harvester died in 1970. He suffered from a number of ailments and was put to sleep.
Gilligan’s Island
9/26/1964 - 9/4/1967 CBS
Black and White (1964-1965) Color (1965-1967) – 30 minutes
98 total episodes
Gilligan’s Island Cast
Bob Denver as Gilligan
Alan Hale Jr. as Skipper Jonas Grumby
Jim Backus as Thurston Howell III
Natalie Schafer as Eunice Wentworth 'Lovey' Howell
Tina Louise as Ginger Grant
Russell Johnson as Roy 'The Professor' Hinkley Jr., PH.D.
Dawn Wells as Mary Ann Summers
Gilligan's Island Theme Song
"Ballad of Gilligan's Island" by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle, vocals by the Wellingtons
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, the professor and Mary Ann, Here on Gilligans Isle.
Note:The original theme said "and the rest" in the next to last line. Why? Because Dawn Wells and Russell Johnson didn't have it specified in their contracts yet that they would be credited up front with the rest of the cast.
Gilligan's Island Tidbits
Gilligan's Island is a show that achieved cult status through syndication. Panned by critics as silly and stupid, it only lasted three years as original episodes. But I would wager that on any given day, some station, somewhere is running Gilligan's Island.
You all know the story. A small charter boat, the S.S. Minnow sets sail from Hawaii with a Skipper (Alan Hale) and one crewman, Gilligan (Bob Denver). The passengers are the millionaire (Jim Backus) and his wife (Natalie Schafer), the movie star (Tina Louise), the farm girl (Dawn Wells) and the professor (Russell Johnson).
The Coast Guard gives them a bad weather report, they get caught in a storm and end up on an uncharted island.
Gilligan is forever scheming to get them rescued but Gilligan isn't the brightest bulb and it usually warrants a smack on the head with the Skipper's cap!
The Skipper, Gilligan and the Professor must have been slow as the boat sank because they seem to only have one set of clothes while the others change frequently. Maybe the Professor was busy saving that library of his to which he refers for his many inventions.
Public enthusiasm brought Gilligan back as three TV movies. "Rescue from Gilligan's Island" (10/14 and 10/21/1978) saved them but only briefly. They are rescued by the Coast Guard and taken to Hawaii. But months later they sail again on the Minnow II and guess what, a storm comes up and... Judith Baldwin played Ginger.
Behind the Scenes The original pilot concluded filming on November 22, 1963, the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The cast was different. Kim Smythe played Ginger and Nancy McCarthy played Bunny. Both were secretaries. John Gabriel had the professor role. Kim Smythe is the ex-wife of Denny Miller who appeared in the episode "Big Man on a Little Stick" (February 20, 1965) as one of the islands visitors, Duke WIlliams (see picture, right) and again in 1967 as Tonga in "Our Vines Have Tender Apes." .
About Gilligan's name. A first name was never used on the show. But in 1992 TBS ran this pilot and producer Sherwood Schwartz said that if Gilligan had a first name, it would have been Willie.
Sherwood Schwartz used the trick of introducing the plot and characters in the theme songs of both of his productions, Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch.
The cast did not receive residuals. In other words, they don't get paid for all those reruns.
Tina Louise didn't get along with the rest of the cast. She thought she was going to be the star and all of them supporting cast. And behaved like it.
Passings
Jim Backus died in 1989 of pneumonia, Alan Hale Jr. in 1990 of respiratory failure due to cancer, and Natalie Schafer in 1991 of cancer. Bob Denver died in 2005.
That's the end of the ride for today. Please watch your step on exiting the time machine. Now that I've shown you a few, how about you share something from your memory. Or, if one of these were your favorite show then, share a memory of the best episode for you.
Final note: All information found freely on the Internet
Footnote: Management is not responsible for the accuarcy of historical events. Management is not responsible for lost personal items in th time machine. Finders keepers. Shipping and Handling is separate. Taxes are applicable. Void where prohibited. Children under 40 must have parent's approval. When ordering have your credit card ready.
I once read some theology on the bumper of a car in front of me. It said, "If you go to hell, don't blame Jesus!" The slogan apparently was an attempt by the driver to do some evangelism. I gave him credit for trying, but I wondered if those who saw that warning felt it was put there in love. 