Professor Roy Hinkley Is Gone. Now What?
Actor Russell Johnson left with “the little buddy – photo Gilligan’s Island
Yesterday we lost one of the icons of our time. The good professor found his way off the Island for good. The only problem? What are we supposed to do? Who knows how to fix the radio now? Or who can figure out how to get running water to our huts? So sad, so very very sad… thanks Professor, for all you did, and the hours and hours of entertainment you provided.
Maybe after looking at the hole in the boat all those years, the Professor developed 5200 after they were rescued in those later specials.
That is sad news, and shocking too.
He was the McGiver of his time.
I read the following on the web, so it must be true.
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October 27, 2012
The Professor Concedes He Knew, After The First Day, That Gilligan’s Island Was Actually A Peninsula
Bainbridge Island, WA – 87 year old Russell Johnson, who played the part of The Professor on Gilligan’s Island, has finally come forward to confirm a rumor that has been contended for years. Johnson admitted, Friday, that he was aware that Gilligan’s Island was no island at all. Five years ago, real scientists discovered that Gilligan’s Island was in fact a peninsula. Johnson has always denied that he knew of the land route to safety.
“Yes, I knew from day one that it was not an island,” confirmed Johnson. “After we were washed ashore, we all headed out to explore for escape routes. I walked across a small land mass and came upon what appeared to be an all-inclusive resort. Some [fox]hole made fun of me wearing a long sleeved Oxford shirt on a 90 degree day. I turned right back around and reported to my fellow castaways that I had found nothing. I know it was wrong. But you have to understand, I was the smartest one in that group of boobs. On the mainland I was just a nerdy guy who got bullied but after the shipwreck I was a legit scientist. And did you take a look at Mary Ann and Ginger? I finally would have a real shot with some hot women. I planned to tell everyone about the escape route later but I guess things just sort of got out of hand. The longer we were there the more desperate the women got. I am not one to kiss and tell but let’s just say I will never look at a coconut the same way again. It got a little crazy at times but I would never give up or regret my time with the fearless crew of The Minnow. I’m coming clean now because everyone needs to know that I deceived them. At this point I don’t really care about any ridicule or backlash. I’m 87 years old. Kill me. Throw me in jail. I don’t give a [shoot] anymore.”
Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on the show, responded venomously to Johnson’s admission. “I’m not that surprised really,” said Wells. “This nerd made all of these contraptions that were supposed to save us but he couldn’t even plug the hole in our [freakin’] boat. We should have known right there but we all wanted to trust each other. We were all we had. I won’t kiss and tell either but Russell’s experience with a coconut was a solo mission. Unfortunately, I witnessed the entire thing and I, too, will never look at a coconut the same way ever again. It’s the first day since Gilligan’s death that I’m glad he’s dead. We would have gone ape[shoot] over this and murdered The Professor. Not many people know this but sweet Gilligan had a personality disorder and a wicked bad temper. It’s all such a shame. Really, a shame.”
Reruns of the show continue to show up on various television outlets. Popularity, however, has dropped off considerably with viewers saying, “It just doesn’t seem as realisitic as it did before we knew some of the things we know today.”
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So there you have it. It’s a good thing he made his peace before he went to that great peninsula in the sky.
And yes, Mayer, I’ve had my meds today.
Alex: I almost chocked trying not to spit up my cherios! Too funny!
Interesting stream of consciousness , but it seems that someone pilfered a large percentage of the the paragraphs .
Surely you didn’t think I wrote that, CK? I took it straight off the web. Photo too. Cut and paste job. I didn’t want to get any of the facts wrong by paraphrasing. Besides, despite my attempts, The Professor would never return my calls for a phone interview. Of course, I was 4 at the time…
Step away from the pipe, Alex.
He had Ginger AND Maryanne. He did not want to be rescued!
Jim has it right!
Thanks to our friends at the wooden boat forum I found this link to the SS Minnow.
http://www.gilligansisle.com/minnow.html
Interesting reading and piggy backing off yesterdays blog they also have references to Johnson
Maybe Gilligan has gotten smart enough now to figure all those things out, Matt? In any event, what about the boat. I think I remember a blog you did on that a while back. What did they use as the wrecked boat?
Don
I sent a link through but it wasn’t posted yet… I think Matt needs to approve it for the site first. The site discusses the minnows and where they ate today….
thanks, Tim, Cool!
Let’s see… Alex is a runner – there is something called a “runners’ high” – I think that explains some of this, but not all… RIP Professor.
I never liked that show, and now I know why. It was the look in the Peofessoe’s eyes. He always appeared to be concealing some deep dark secret. And now the “truth” comes out, thanks to Alex, right here on Woody Boater.
Well, it was either that, or maybe the look in his eyes was caused by trying desperately not to forget his script for the next scene.
Could it be a chemical imbalance…? Get it? Professor? Chemical imbalance?
Man these slow news days sure bring out mine.
…and now we know the rest of the story. The professor had some kinky secrets.
That is a good one Floyd!
Maybe it was the girls idea?
But wait, there’s more. And I’m not making this up! Tho I am once again cutting and pasting the stuff in quotes from the www.
“GILLIGAN’S ISLAND returned to TV twice in animated form. First on ABC from 1974-77 as THE NEW ADVENTURES OF GILLIGAN and then on CBS from 1982-83 as GILLIGAN’S PLANET. In the first series, Gilligan had a pet monkey named Snubby and on the second show he had a pet alien named Bumper.”
Apparently the premise of the Planet thing is they escaped from the Island, thanks to a spaceship built by our bud The Professor, but were then marooned in space.
So he couldn’t build a boat, but he could escape earth’s gravity? Using what for fuel, exactly? Coconut oil?
Most of the TV series characters did the voices for this thing, including The Professor. Is it a stretch to assume an ancestor of Chad’s monkey played Snubby?
Man, I missed that episode.
Accualy the rest of the story is; Originaly Gilligans Island was going to be called “Lost on Gilligan’s Island”. When they screened it for the general public the episodes were not well recived as it was too dark of a story line so they turned it into a comedy instead. They dug out the script many years later and put it out as “Lost”. On the news this morning.
I thought I remebered episodes where they tried to fix the boat?
See what sitting at home in the snow and cold with a head cold will do? Ya got me lookin’ for the S.S. Minnow!
(Right click the image then click “view image” if you want to read it)
You are correct John … apparently there were several SS Minnows used in the Gilligan’s Island series. One of them, a 36-foot TollyCraft built in Kelso Washington, survived.
This early 60s Tolly appears in the opening credits for the second season of the show and, in a case of life imitating art, actually became a wreck herself in the early 2000s when Minnow’s captain piled her into a reef in the Hecate Strait, while heading southbound from Alaska.
The boat was subsequently salvaged by Scotty Taylor of Parksville on Vancouver Island. Who committed significant resources to make her seaworthy. After enjoying her for several years Taylor, sold her in 2006 to Ken Schley the owner of British Columbia’s Naniamo based Quality Foods Company.
Minnow’s new owner has continued her restoration and in addition to corporate use Quality utilizes her frequently to raise funds for various charitable causes.
By sheer coincidence Woody Boaters will have the double opportunity to survey this vintage TollyCraft and meet Mary Ann (actress Dawn Wells) at this year’s Vancouver International Boat Show, which is will take place at Vancouver’s BC Place between January 22-26, 2014.
Photo courtesy TollyCruisers Club
Correction folks the SS Minnow , as pictured above, is actually a 37-foot 1964 Wheeler Express Cruiser built in NYC.. Photo was however taken by the Tolly ( TollyCraft) Cruisers Club
A little further research suggests that the SS Minnow isn’t a 1964 Wheeler, however it could be a 1960 Wheeler or older. The attached a photo of the builders plate (from tollycruisers-com) provides no build date.
I loved that show, R.I.P. Professor. Now how the hell are we getting of this damn island!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rueben Kincaid from the Partridge Family died yesterday as well. Childhood memories disappearing. 🙁