Summer Fun: Remembering Gilligan’s Island

The Professor and Mary Ann Weren’t in the Opening Credits

During the entire first season of Gilligan’s Island, the opening credits ended with a photo of Ginger as the theme song went “movie star…and the rest.” Unfortunately “the rest” didn’t include the Professor and Mary Ann.

Louise, who played Ginger Grant (the movie star), had it in her contract that she would be the last name listed in the opening credits. When the show was renewed, Denver fought to add Russell and Dawn to the opening credits because the Professor and Mary Ann were important cast members. This lead to an argument over Louise’s contract, where Denver threatened that his contract said he could put his name anywhere in the credits he wanted, so he could easily take Louise’s coveted closing spot. An agreement was quickly made.