Recently, I wrote a post about my kids' bedtime routine, and how I have begun to incorporate stories from my own life into this time with them:
Sharing the "Stories of My Life" With my Kids
A few nights ago, I was telling them about my own grandfather, who passed away when my son was very 
little. I told them that Grandpa used to pick me up from school, and feed me dinner while we watched TV together and just sort of hung out.
We watched "Gilligan's Island", "The Andy Griffith Show", "Leave it to Beaver", "Father Knows Best", and countless other programs that were no longer first-run shows, but well into their syndicated runs by the time I was born.
When I would spend the night at my grandparents' house, I watched "Hee Haw" (not willingly), "The Love Boat", and "Fantasy Island". I decided to do my best to describe some of these shows to my kids. I'm not sure that I was successful, as you will see in a minute.
Here are some of my own recaps of shows that they have NEVER seen:
The Love Boat - This was a show with a LOT of guest stars every week. It was mainly people trying to revive their careers (then I had to explain that concept). Basically, it was a giant boat (kinda like Titanic), where people randomly fell in love. I also sang the theme song to them. I am not making this up.
Fantasy Island - As I recall, this came on immediately after Love Boat back in the 70's. The show was about an unusual Spanish millionaire named Mr. Rourke who may or may not have owned his own island. He had frequent visitors to the island who wanted to have their fantasies fulfilled. His sidekick/helper was a little person named Tattoo (Tatu?) whose job it was to climb into a bell tower at the beginning of each episode and ring the bell while announcing the plane with visitors - "De plane! De plane!".
Mr Rourke's staff of beautiful Hawaiians would greet the guests with flower necklaces called leis, like they wore in "Lilo and Stitch". He always encouraged them, "Smiles, everyone! Smiles!" Mr. Rourke used his special secret powers to grant even the most unusual wishes of his guests (customers?), but it usually came with a lesson involved.
Gilligan's Island - Basically, all I had to do here was to run through the song in my head ("Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale.....") in order to give the premise. I explained that despite their best efforts, Gilligan pretty much always managed to mess things up for them so that they had to remain on the island. My wife and I have a long-standing joke about this, "Hey, remember that one episode of 'Gilligan's Island where Gilligan made a mistake that cost them a trip home?" This is the equivalent of saying, "Hey, remember that one Eminem song where he uses some swear words?"
At any rate, while I was in the middle of describing this show to them, my son interjected suddenly, "Why didn't they just drown Gilligan since they were on an island? Or maybe they could have used a giant catapult to throw him to Malaysia!"
I laughed so hard it made me cough. I often felt the same way watching Gilligan, but I realized that I hadn't made it clear that Gilligan was actually their FRIEND, despite his numerous errors.
So, I also tried unsuccessfully to describe "Happy Days" to the best of my abilities, complete (again) with theme song. How can you explain the inherent coolness of the Fonz? Of course, that was before he jumped the shark while wearing a leather jacket.
Image courtesy of http://www.stockvault.net
If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere or subscribe via email?
If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can also visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. If you're interested in social media training, visit 210 Consulting. Thanks!
Jason - I remember watching Loveboat err a few years back. :) Actually as soon as I read the name the theme song popped into my head... ~Rita
RITA - I can't read it without hearing the song in my head either. :)
I've only seen Happy Days and Gilligan's Island out of the shows that you recapped for your children, but I'm totally with your son. They should have drowned him friend or not. I'm sure this was a fun experience for you in your attempt at explaining things, but I doubt they will have any idea what you mean until you show them the reruns that I'm sure are still out there. Take care Crouch.
Jason-those were great old shows-watched most of them with my kids. When I was growing up it was Lassie, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry.
JL - Believe it or not, most of these can't be found on TV at all anymore, but I can always grab one of the seasons via Netflix. Gilligan was sort of the enemy within, wasn't he?
DONA - I watched entirely too much television, which clearly stunted my creativity, right? :)
You can still catch most of those shows on reruns if you really want to subject your kids to that. When you see those show now they are soooo cheesy! But, that's all we had. My personal favorite was Get Smart. "Missed it by that much."
CECILY - Maybe we can sit in the dome of silence with my shoe phone to watch the shows. Gilligan's Island is no longer on TV, which makes me sad.
I'm surprised that there are no reruns, I would make my children watch them when I have kids. You may be on to something there with Gilligan.
Gilligan's Island is no longer on TV, which makes me sad.
Hey Jason,
That's practically a crime! :) Please give me a call when you have a free minute.
Jason, I love the old shows....especially the theme songs. I can sing them like they were just on yesterday!
Simpler days...
When we all would wonder; what kind of trouble Gilligan will get into today?
And that Professor; he could make an atom smasher out of bamboo and palm frawns.
Those were the days...
How can you explain the inherent coolness of the Fonz?
That's easy, Mr. C. Just say Aaay while snapping your fingers, then put both thumbs up ;-)
ahh.... love boat, sung by the incredible Jack Jones!!
and I, too, have some brain cells, specifically dedicated (read: wasted) for the sole purpose of retaining the lyrics to the theme song of Gilligan's Island ... (I'm apparently a bit older than you, Mr. Crouch... since for ME, Gilligan will always be Maynard G. Krebbs, from the Dobie Gillis show)
It always irked me, that since the "perfessor" was smart enough to make a radio out of a coconut, why the heck couldn't he manage to repair a simple hole in a freaking boat!?
Jason, I am thinking like a third of my childhood. And, how many of the original shows did I watch also.
I don't really want to think about it anymore.
Bo
Jason, there's only one important eternal question that comes to mind from this post:
Ginger or Mary Anne?
Oh man, I used to love Fantasy Island, tattoo of course was my fav, I laughed out loud remembering Mr. Rourke say "smiles everyone, smiles" HA! Like he was reminding his paid workers of their customer service skills. My favorite was where Mr. Rourke gave a woman a potion that was supposed to be the fountain of youth. That was some cool stuff.
Most of the "stars" on The Love Boat I had no clue who they were, my parents would always say "oh, that's so and so...." Seems Charro was on that show alot if I recall correctly.....KM
Hey Jason! Fonz was just 'cool'--they'll understand that! Funny how those shows were so much a part of our lives and now, the quality is just not the same!
Oh, and what was wrong with "Hee hee hee, haw haw haw--HE HAW?" :-)
Surprised there were no game show mentioned. With the Game Show Network it is funny to watch some of the game shows that were on in the 50's 60's and 70's.
Try explaining shows like Sky King, Rawhide, Palladin, Wagon Train, Bachelor Father, My Three Sons, and Romper Room! I applaud your efforts, my friend. I really do. :)
Forget Sarah Palin and John McCain - there was only one true Maverick and that was James Garner.
Jason: Love this post! Memories. I loved watching those reruns of Happy Days after school. And the Love Boat, that was cool too. I used to pretend my room was a state room every Saturday night after that show. I'd take my pathetic little polka suitcase up to the door's room and be surprised when I walked in for bed. I have watched a few reruns on TV Land or somewhere in the past few years. How in the world did that ever seem cool to me?
Love watchin the old episodes on Hulu.com and TVLand.com - great fun
OH... carol... you're aging yourself (and me)... Sky King!!! (Do you remember his dog's name? bonus points if you can name the PLANE! )...
Palladin was Pernell Roberts... (later of Bonanza fame as Adam Cartwright) WITH hair!! The original teen heartthrob.
Romper Room.... "I see johnny, and carol and billy and sue, all good little doobies who know what to do" (I was sure that Miss Nancy could see right through the T.V. into my living room... (where I was sitting 3 inches from the cathode ray tube)... and was just WAITING for her to call my name.
I'll age myself too: "The Partridge Family" "Eight Is Enough" "Mannix" (man, he was cool!)
"Adam 12" "Emergency" "6 Million Dollar Man"
Gee, must have been a kid in the 70's, huh?
The shark jump was priceless. And remember the giant spider episode on Gilligan?? The 900lb spider that somehow hovered when it walk. My fondest memories is watching the three stooges on about a 10 inch black and white in the kitchen, while eating grilled cheese and tomato soup. THAT is the fealing of home. :) Oh yeah and what about the Greatest American Hero? lol
Kids are so cute, aren't they??? I remember EVERY single one of those TV shows you mentioned, Jason...and I watched them all.....
I kinda gravitated between the Fonz and Ritchy myself.....hehehehe
Each had their own "coolness"....
=-)
hmm I think i can only let you 'steal' my Austin photos......if you return my phone call! lol Are we still on for lunch? :-)
Jason- My mother did not have a television in our home. When I lived in Germany my father had a TV but there we got very few shows. I remember my dad loved Nancy Sinatra and I saw her perform, These boots were made for walking.
I remember state side, my father's parents had a TV. No one on my mom's side had one. My grandparents watched, Yee Haw so we had no choice either and I remember thinking how stupid that show was. They also watched Johnny Carson right before they went to sleep. We could hear it while we were in bed. We spent weekends with them so we got to see: Mission Impossible, The Mob Squad, Hawaii FIve0, Perry Mason, some doctor show, Batman, Bonanza and some other western.
Just this last weekend, our 20 year old son came bursting out of the bedroom, shouting, Mom, Dad, did you know Robin Williams used to be on a sitcom??? His name is Mork!!! I laughed, said yeah, Mork from Ork! Our son looked at me quizzically...what's Ork? He apparently had missed the beginning of the show.
How about the boy and the dog and boy and the horse shows? Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, My Friend Flicka, Fury.
Spin & Marty?
Sky King? I think the plane was Skybird or Songbird. something bird? Didn't care about the plane as much as the girl.
Man that brings back some memories. Happy Days was probably one of my favorite shows and I lost count of the number of times I watched Gilligan's Island. Here is another oldie - The Brady Bunch.
Amy - great call on Mork and Mindy
I will admit to singing some of the theme songs to my kids but they now just look at me and probably think dad is weired and losing it...
Yep... Sky King's plane was "songbird" (which I though was a wussy name for a plane).. but the dog's name was "shadow".
Jason - Why didn't they just drown Gilligan? Kind of a scary response, something my son might have come up with when he was little. Gilligan was the only one that you mentioned that I watched regularly. Not sure if it was because of MaryAnn or Ginger, or the teen fantasy of both. I also watched any episodes of the 3 Stooges that were on. The SciFi Channel just had a Mork and Mindy marathon over Thanksgiving. Does anyone remember that Jonathan Winters was their son, born old and growing younger? Seems like that new Brad Pitt movie might have ripped off that concept.
Jason,
Sea Hunt.
Whirlibirds.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
The Green Hornet.
NO remote-gotta get up and change the channel.
That's living.
Steve
Obeoman
The Green Hornet... does anyone recall that Kato (the green hornet's sidekick) was Bruce Lee (yes, THAT Bruce Lee!).
I see your son has developed quite a sense of humor....I wonder where he got that from?!!!
What I would not give to have the TV of our day brought back!!!!!!!!!
Wow - A lot of good memories and responses bandying back and forth here. However, to answer Brian's critical question which has been on men's minds for decades ("Ginger or Maryann?"):
Maryann - always and forever.
Jason,
Thanks for the blast from the past. I too watched these 'gems' with my grand parents. They also loved Matlock and McCloud... which I considered torture and usually read a book while they watched those two...
B
Jason,
I loved all the old shows, so unlike today with all the filth being shown. Great post that brought back good times.
Thanks for making me laugh! Can you explain to me why Wiley Coyote could never catch Road Runner because that got on my nerves as a kid as much as Gilligan?
Jason, This post cracked me up and made my day. My kids are just starting to understand the world, let alone reruns I may or may not have watched back in the day. Girls must have been different...I'm thinking Facts of Life, Growing Pains, Three's Company, and the one with Michael J Fox. (My dad always told me that he had a sister named Ima).
I'd have trouble explaining these to the kids right now, they just wouldn't appreciate it like I'd want them to. I think I'll get them warmed up with the theme songs...
Amber
I use to LOVE the two hours of Love Boat and Fantasy Island - 'da plane da plane' - Good shows (then)
Jason, OMG, I can still sing those songs in my head too! I never could decide whether I wanted to look more like Mary Anne or Ginger! I knew I didn't want to end up with a Gilligan. And, of course, I Love Lucy! LOL.
Hugs,
Deb
Jason, I am much older than you are but I remember all of these shows! I love to watch the old shows like I Love Lucy with the kids. I used to love Get Smart and I have watched that with my older son a few times. Thanks for bringing back memories!
DEB - Mary Anne. Always.
SUSAN - Glad you liked it! I need to find some of these shows on DVD, since they aren't on TV anymore.
Jason, I don't know if you remember the show Soap, with Billy Crystal. I did buy that for myself last Christmas and I still havne't sat down to watch it! I remember loving that show! And M.A.S.H... another favorite.
I used to watch "Soap" when I was a kid. Remember Benson?
I loved Benson! Do you remember Family Ties with Michael J. Fox? And Cheers?
Jason
Come on admit it...you liked Hew Haw.....Dial BR549 for Minnie Pearl, Buck Owens, and Jr. Samples. I can just see you singng along with the whole cast. ! ;O)
Susan - Surely you are kidding. Don't you remember who runs the Family Ties group here on AR? :) Go look at the photo there. I am (almost) embarrassed to admit that I wept when "Cheers" went off the air. M*A*S*H* too.
Trey - I really did like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqnm3A10m8I
Hi Jason... every time you post something about Brandon I have the urge to laugh. He's gotta be a regular source of amusement to you (and a chip off the block)!
Steve - He is the most naturally funny kid I have ever met. Sincerely. Thanks for your compliment!
You guys can fight it out all you want over Ginger or Mary Ann......
I'll take MRS. HOWELL!!
And don't diss Hee Haw.... I learned a lot about life from that show, like about
"Gloom, Despair, and Agony"
Who are you?
Here's the the riddle to my identity:
:)
Is 317 an area code perhaps? I am stumped. More hints maybe?
Jason, my first thought was Andrew, but he doesn't match with the riddle. But then, every time something funny goes on around here, with no signature, I think it's Andrew... I think he misses us and likes to sneak back now and again.
Jason, somewhere in my brain I did know about you and family ties. Did I tell you that I am not a natural brunette. Blond all the way! Lol!
If you want me to not post, I'll stop right away,
I'll disappear if you want, if that's what you say.
I don't want to be a nusiance, because you're so kind.
You have a heart of gold, and a genius mind.
Your second clue is that in the first riddle I posted, there are at least 2 ways to figure it out... if you allow for a bit of error, then there are 3. (If this is fun to you, I don't want you to figure it out too soon)
Who is Andrew, by the way? The most famous one I know is quite Frank. (There's your second or third, or fourth clue, whichever way you want to look at it).
By the way, a while back, I remember you wondering what "Footloose and fancy free" meant, and could only find a reference to the movie 'Footloose'. I think the best definition is at this link, wonderfully described to us by the great Fred Astaire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3efj8pulaEI
Sorry I had to post again, but the the term "footloose" is 1930's slang for being unmarried. (not having ones foot attached to the "ball and chain"... remember the visual references in old Warner Brothers cartoons?) "fancy free" is best explained in the previous post's video. In my search for that one, I found my favorite F. Astaire video. Here is the link. If you want to see all of the action, click on "view in high quality" right and below of the screen. (and crank up the sound, it's a bit low on this clip). I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFabjc6mFk4
Jesse Clifton perhaps?
I know Jesse Clifton. Jesse Clifton is a personal friend of mine. Sir, I am no Jesse Clifton. ;) I will not reply to your guesses unless you figure it out, then I'm preparing a special congradulatory post.
Sure, everyone can sing the theme from Gilligan's Island, but how many of you know this lesser known version? Join me as we all sing.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac2LblhxTJs
Back to the question about Ginger or Mary Ann, I had a 3 hour class (pun intended) in college on the subject. This is pretty much what the class covered. http://www.youtube.com/watchv=8wrEqsTJCmg&feature=related
My choice is still Mrs. Howell. My heart melts everytime I watch her in this clip. I mean seriously, come on.... unlimited funds, that hair, romantic voice, expressive physical movements... what could you ask for more in a woman? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hGSOjoz6Mc
Finally, I loved your reference to Fantasy Island and the "Smiles everyone! Smiles!". I fell out of my chair laughing when you reminded me of that in your blog, so I had to look that one up too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwaEydIpS0E&feature=related
Sorry for the mixup. Is there a way to edit posts? This is the link to the Ginger/Mary Ann debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wrEqsTJCmg&feature=related
I loved the links. I guess I know a few too many people on AR - I need more hints.
Who remembers Clutch Cargo... with Spinner and his dog Paddlefoot?
Alan - Wow - I really don't know that one.
ya gotta be really, really old... (like me) to know that one.. it was popular around 1960... i have a link on my blog, and a couple of photos... your post inspired me to remember it.
I think it was the precursor (not really.. but in feel) to Johnny Quest (do you remember that one?)
Neat story about reading bedtime stories and lifetime stories to your kids......of course i recognize all the shows you talked about, except for me they WERE first runs! :-)
Jason - I remember all of those shows so well. It's funny how corny and cheesy they seem now. But I still like watching re-runs... :)
My wife and I have a long-standing joke about this, "Hey, remember that one episode of 'Gilligan's Island where Gilligan made a mistake that cost them a trip home?"
This is similar to the episode of Three's Company where there was a misunderstanding...
Michael - We have that joke, too, actually. "Remember that one episode of Three's Company when there was a sexual misunderstanding?"
Jason - Is there any way you can get your son to do his own blog here on AR? The one who suggested they drown Gilligan? I like him. A lot. Ralph
And the end of your post pretty much sums up another "inside" joke...when has something or someone "JUMPED THE SHARK".
That was the end of Happy Days and stands to signify the end of.....
This was a nice trip down memory lane. But you left out The Brady Bunch and Laverne & Shirley!
Jason-
With so few quality programs on television today, I occasionally watch reruns. It's not that they are of high quality either but at least the old shows are familiar, usually funny, and you don't get embarrassed when you watch them with children. Thanks for reminding me of some that I used to watch and had forgotten about. I never cared for The Brady Bunch but Laverne & Shirley was something else!
Merry Christmas.
Jason - All we watched was reruns... Now I can't get the Gilligan's Island theme out of my mind.
I always wondered why they didn't just tie Gilligan to a chair so they could go home! But I did love the show.
Jason, I thoroughly enjoyed this blog - and the shows you mentioned, and yes, I always wanted to smack Gilligan SILLY!
I loved Mr. Roarke! The Love Boat! What a silly show. Here's a secret: I used to have a BIG crush on Fred Grandy, and I really wanted Gopher (what is it with animal nicknames...Gopher, Beaver) to hook up with Julie.
I watched all of these shows and more. What a treasured memory you have with your grandpa. I used to watch Lawrence Welk with my grandfather when I was really little.
I miss my grandfather. A lot.
Thanks for the memories. I watched all the shows too and would still once in a while. Well maybe not the Love Boat.
KAREN - We all wanted Gopher and Julie to be a couple - no secret there! :-) I also really miss my grandfather: Inspired by Heroes - My Grandpa
ROBERT - Love Boat was a silly show, I guess, but I loved it when I was a kid.
Jason - I wasn't exactly a kid, but I loved the Beverly Hillbillies. Partly because Max Baer Jr., who played Jethro, was a Sacramento boy. However, there was one other show that I loved, that stared Robin Williams. It was Mork and Mindy. I loved Mork's philosophy. . .It probably would work well in tday's world :-)