When Sherwood Schwartz first came up with the idea for his 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island," he was less concerned with its uncharted tropical island setting as he was with cramming people with disparate backgrounds into a situation where they couldn't leave each other. He initially liked the idea of making a workplace drama, but, he felt, that wasn't isolated enough. He eventually figured that if a varied cast of characters was stranded, alone, in a remote location, then comedy and story would naturally follow.
Schwartz developed his concept into "Gilligan's Island," wherein a tour boat captain (Alan Hale), his first officer (Bob Denver), a millionaire (Jim Backus), his wife (Natalie Schafer), a professional actress (Tina Louise), a farm girl (Dawn Wells), and a scientist (Russell Watson) take a Hawai'ian sea tour, only to be pulled off course by bad weather and stranded on a lost island in the Pacific. The series...
Schwartz developed his concept into "Gilligan's Island," wherein a tour boat captain (Alan Hale), his first officer (Bob Denver), a millionaire (Jim Backus), his wife (Natalie Schafer), a professional actress (Tina Louise), a farm girl (Dawn Wells), and a scientist (Russell Watson) take a Hawai'ian sea tour, only to be pulled off course by bad weather and stranded on a lost island in the Pacific. The series...
- 6/30/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"Gilligan's Island" may be viewed as a classic sitcom now, but when the silly series about a group of island castaways aired from 1964 to 1967, it was far from a sure bet for its home network, CBS. As Laura Morowitz writes in the book "Critiquing the Sitcom," the series was "championed by the public" yet "routinely derided by critics." Anything but a classic in its time, the series ultimately became an enduring part of TV history thanks to its seemingly endless replays in syndication. According to Morowitz, it "would come to be the most repeated series in television history."
During its original airing, "Gilligan's Island" was pushed around the prime-time schedule like brussel sprouts on a picky kid's plate. It switched time slots three times during its relatively short run and was finally canceled in 1967. Except, the cancelation of "Gilligan's Island" wasn't straightforward; by several accounts, it came after the show had already seemingly been renewed,...
During its original airing, "Gilligan's Island" was pushed around the prime-time schedule like brussel sprouts on a picky kid's plate. It switched time slots three times during its relatively short run and was finally canceled in 1967. Except, the cancelation of "Gilligan's Island" wasn't straightforward; by several accounts, it came after the show had already seemingly been renewed,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
"The Twilight Zone" may have only lasted for five seasons during its initial run from 1959 to 1964, but its legacy appears to be eternal. In addition to being revived multiple times over the decades as well as receiving the feature-length treatment from Steven Spielberg and John Landis, the original show is widely regarded as one of the greatest in television history. It's no secret that "The Twilight Zone" was the brainchild of Rod Serling, who wrote most of the episodes and doubled as its suave yet mysterious narrator. In that capacity, h delivered many classic stories that took audiences to strange and wondrous places, blending elements of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy.
However, while the immense imagination behind "The Twilight Zone" alone cements its position in the pantheon of classic TV shows, what really made it so special was its intelligence. On the series' surface, it rated as a piece of well-made escapism.
However, while the immense imagination behind "The Twilight Zone" alone cements its position in the pantheon of classic TV shows, what really made it so special was its intelligence. On the series' surface, it rated as a piece of well-made escapism.
- 8/19/2023
- by Joe Garza
- Slash Film
Hello, everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to do an installment of my Phantom Thread series, but I’m finally back on the beat and this newest entry is quite an oddball in the realm of Phantom of the Opera-related adaptations. Directed by Gene Levitt and starring the likes of Peter Lawford, Jack Cassidy, Broderick Crawford, and Jackie Coogan (who most genre fans know from his role as Uncle Fester in the Addams Family TV series), this made-for-tv movie first aired on CBS in February 1974 and features a mysterious masked entity who is stalking the backlot of Worldwide Films as the studio prepares to sell the property off to the highest bidder.
And while there’s a lot of unevenness to The Phantom of Hollywood that makes its plotting feel choppy at times, as someone who adores the history of Old Hollywood, I...
And while there’s a lot of unevenness to The Phantom of Hollywood that makes its plotting feel choppy at times, as someone who adores the history of Old Hollywood, I...
- 2/23/2021
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Skye Aubrey, a third-generation actress whose credits included the Blake Edwards-directed The Carey Treatment, The Phantom of Hollywood and a stint as a flower child opposite Milton Berle on Batman, has died. She was 74.
Aubrey died Nov. 27 of natural causes in DeBary, Florida, her family announced.
She was married to Ilya Salkind, a producer on the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, from 1976-79. Her mother was Phyllis Thaxter, who portrayed Ma Kent in the first installment of the series in 1978 after a solid career as a contract player at MGM and Warner Bros., and her father was James T. Aubrey, president of ...
Aubrey died Nov. 27 of natural causes in DeBary, Florida, her family announced.
She was married to Ilya Salkind, a producer on the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, from 1976-79. Her mother was Phyllis Thaxter, who portrayed Ma Kent in the first installment of the series in 1978 after a solid career as a contract player at MGM and Warner Bros., and her father was James T. Aubrey, president of ...
- 12/18/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Skye Aubrey, a third-generation actress whose credits included the Blake Edwards-directed The Carey Treatment, The Phantom of Hollywood and a stint as a flower child opposite Milton Berle on Batman, has died. She was 74.
Aubrey died Nov. 27 of natural causes in DeBary, Florida, her family announced.
She was married to Ilya Salkind, a producer on the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, from 1976-79. Her mother was Phyllis Thaxter, who portrayed Ma Kent in the first installment of the series in 1978 after a solid career as a contract player at MGM and Warner Bros., and her father was James T. Aubrey, president of ...
Aubrey died Nov. 27 of natural causes in DeBary, Florida, her family announced.
She was married to Ilya Salkind, a producer on the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, from 1976-79. Her mother was Phyllis Thaxter, who portrayed Ma Kent in the first installment of the series in 1978 after a solid career as a contract player at MGM and Warner Bros., and her father was James T. Aubrey, president of ...
- 12/18/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Deadline has learned that Jack Gordon, veteran MGM International Distribution President, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 16 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 90.
Gordon, born in Brooklyn, New York on March 13, 1929, was the son of Oscar winning American composer and lyricist, Mack Gordon, who had won Best Original Song for “You’ll Never Know” from the 1943 H. Bruce Humberstone movie Hello Frisco, Hello
Gordon joined MGM as an interim employee in the 16mm department shortly after returning from active U.S. Army duty in the Korean War. During his 44-year career he served under studio heads Nicholas Schenck, Dore Schary, Robert O’Brien, James T. Aubrey, David Begelman, Alan Ladd, Jr. and Frank Mancuso.
He began in the studio’s distribution department in the mid 1950’s and in 1972 he was appointed VP of MGM International. He was promoted to Evp in 1979. After MGM merged with United Artists in 1981, he became Svp of International Distribution.
Gordon, born in Brooklyn, New York on March 13, 1929, was the son of Oscar winning American composer and lyricist, Mack Gordon, who had won Best Original Song for “You’ll Never Know” from the 1943 H. Bruce Humberstone movie Hello Frisco, Hello
Gordon joined MGM as an interim employee in the 16mm department shortly after returning from active U.S. Army duty in the Korean War. During his 44-year career he served under studio heads Nicholas Schenck, Dore Schary, Robert O’Brien, James T. Aubrey, David Begelman, Alan Ladd, Jr. and Frank Mancuso.
He began in the studio’s distribution department in the mid 1950’s and in 1972 he was appointed VP of MGM International. He was promoted to Evp in 1979. After MGM merged with United Artists in 1981, he became Svp of International Distribution.
- 2/20/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Jack Gordon, who spent 44 years as a distribution and international executive at MGM, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 90.
The son of Oscar-winning composer-lyricist Mack Gordon ("At Last," "You'll Never Know," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo"), he served under studio heads Nicholas Schenck, Dore Schary, Robert O'Brien, James T. Aubrey, David Begelman, Alan Ladd Jr. and Frank Mancuso at the studio. He was critical in leading MGM's accession into pay TV and home video.
Born on March 13, 1929, in Brooklyn, Gordon joined MGM as ...
The son of Oscar-winning composer-lyricist Mack Gordon ("At Last," "You'll Never Know," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo"), he served under studio heads Nicholas Schenck, Dore Schary, Robert O'Brien, James T. Aubrey, David Begelman, Alan Ladd Jr. and Frank Mancuso at the studio. He was critical in leading MGM's accession into pay TV and home video.
Born on March 13, 1929, in Brooklyn, Gordon joined MGM as ...
- 2/20/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jack Gordon, who spent 44 years as a distribution and international executive at MGM, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 90.
The son of Oscar-winning composer-lyricist Mack Gordon ("At Last," "You'll Never Know," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo"), he served under studio heads Nicholas Schenck, Dore Schary, Robert O'Brien, James T. Aubrey, David Begelman, Alan Ladd Jr. and Frank Mancuso at the studio. He was critical in leading MGM's accession into pay TV and home video.
Born on March 13, 1929, in Brooklyn, Gordon joined MGM as ...
The son of Oscar-winning composer-lyricist Mack Gordon ("At Last," "You'll Never Know," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo"), he served under studio heads Nicholas Schenck, Dore Schary, Robert O'Brien, James T. Aubrey, David Begelman, Alan Ladd Jr. and Frank Mancuso at the studio. He was critical in leading MGM's accession into pay TV and home video.
Born on March 13, 1929, in Brooklyn, Gordon joined MGM as ...
- 2/20/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
What do Linda Blair (The Exorcist), a bunch of hungry dogs, and April Fool's Day all have in common? They are all part a bunch of horror themed titles that are finally being released to DVD through the Warner Archieve label. Titles include the April Fool's themed slasher Killer Party, the when dogs go crazy thriller The Pack, or Linda Blair's followup film after The Exorcist - Sweet Hostage. Talk about Christmas coming early this Halloween season!
From the press release:
The Phantom Of Hollywood (1974) Remastered Worldwide Films was the grandest dame of all the Hollywood studios, until small minded souls eager for quick profits started to dismantle her, dream by dream and lot by lot. Until a mysterious Phantom appears, willing to murder anyone who threatens the studio lot he calls home. Filmed on location on the glorious MGM lots as they were, in fact, being sold off and destroyed,...
From the press release:
The Phantom Of Hollywood (1974) Remastered Worldwide Films was the grandest dame of all the Hollywood studios, until small minded souls eager for quick profits started to dismantle her, dream by dream and lot by lot. Until a mysterious Phantom appears, willing to murder anyone who threatens the studio lot he calls home. Filmed on location on the glorious MGM lots as they were, in fact, being sold off and destroyed,...
- 9/22/2011
- by Big Daddy aka Brandon Sites
- Big Daddy Horror Reviews - Interviews
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