Gilligan’s Island (1964 – 1967): Louise vs. Cast
When a three-hour boat tour goes awry and the tourists are stranded on an island, they work together to stay alive and build high-tech gear out of coconuts in search of rescue. This simple premise made Gilligan’s Island a hit with audiences at its premier in 1964. Tina Louise (“Ginger”) had troubles from the onset. Her manager implied she would be the star of the television show, a tale of a famous actress lost on an island with supporting characters. She was irate to find she was clearly one of the supporting characters. Louise reportedly wanted a higher profile in the show. She kept to herself, often sitting alone during breaks. But in all fairness, the cast never indicated an open hostility with her, just a cool distance. Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann in the series, credits Louise for teaching her a good deal about acting and camera angles.