9 minor goofs you never noticed in 'Gilligan's Island'

Wait, what happened to the eighth castaway?

Look, nobody's perfect, especially Gilligan. The lovable goof taught us to be comfortable with our shortcomings. Even the sitcom's production had some minor errors here and there.

There were little continuity errors — too many to list here — and glitches with props. The soft, low-resolution images of 1960s televisions forgave a lot. The crisp, cleaned-up digital prints reveal far more. 

Sit right back and we'll take you on a brief tour of the more interesting bloopers.


1. The edge of the sky

"Two on a Raft"

Right off in the first episode, keen-eyed viewers might catch a reveal when Gilligan and the Skipper are on a raft surrounded by sharks. In the shot when the Skipper throws the sail, the false backdrop of the sky behind the water tank is visible. There are creases on the fabric, and a gap can be seen between the bottom and the water. It can pass for land, perhaps?

2. An invisible submarine

"So Sorry, My Island Now"

When Gilligan gets in the tiny Japanese submarine to seek help, he leaves the top hatch open. That's the joke. However, as Bob Denver is filming the scene, one can clearly make out his legs and feet splashing about the prop, even though he's supposed to be inside a submersible.

3. A scuba tank

"So Sorry, My Island Now"

Yep, same episode again — and, no, this is not Nessie. After Gilligan finally closes the hatch, he circles around the lagoon. We see the periscope darting around cluelessly. At points, you can catch the scuba tank of the prop man moving around the periscope. The film is sped up, so it's hard to catch.

4. Bob Denver's wedding ring

"They're Off and Running"

When did Gilligan get hitched? Early in the episode, as the Skipper and his little buddy race turtles, a wedding ring can be spotted on Gilligan's hand. Denver must have forgotten to remove it before filming.

5. The skyline of the island

"The Friendly Physician"

At the end of the episode, as the gang returns home on a small boat, buildings can be seen over the trees surrounding the lagoon. They are either studio structures or bits of the surrounding Los Angeles skyline.

6. The bubble maker

"Pass the Vegetables, Please"

No, the actors did not drink soap. At the close of the episode, as the seven sit around and eat, bubbles start flying from their mouths. In the shot when Mary Ann discovers her bubbly tummy, behind her face, you can make out what appears to be the metal clamp holding the effects hose to spit out the bubbles, or part of the machine.

7. Blink and you'll miss it

"Man with a Net"

In the episode, a lepidopterist comes to the island in search of the "Pussycat Swallowtail" butterfly. As he takes his leave, he knocks out the seven castaways. (What a guy!) They are supposed to be unconscious, but Natalie Schafer slips and opens her eyes.

8. Fruit on a wire

"Personal Magnetism"

We hate to spoil the illusion, but magic is not real. In this episode, pears and grapes float across the dinner table thanks to an invisible Gilligan. You can make out the wires used to lift the prop fruit, reflecting light up near the roof of the hut. Similarly, in the earlier "It's Magic," you can spot the wires used to levitate the table at the end.

9. The mysterious eighth castaway

Opening credits

Now this is our favorite little goof, as it opens up narrative possibilities. As the Minnow leaves port in the opening credits, when the lyrics proclaim, "Five passengers set sail that day," eight people can be counted aboard the boat. Ginger and Mary Ann sit up front. Gilligan and the Skipper stand up top. The Howells and the Professor are aft. That leaves the mysterious man piloting the boat. What ever happened to him?

SEE MORE: 22 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT 'GILLIGAN'S ISLAND'

There are more secrets in the opening credits. Plus: learn Gilligan's first name and the location of the island! READ MORE

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18 Comments

Jamie777 11 months ago
In season 2 episode 1, there is a very expensive looking ring on Tina Louise's wedding finger.
hootrs23 20 months ago
in the original pilot theme song it says a ''SIX'' hour tour not 3.
AndreaZ 27 months ago
Could these pictures be any smaller? :(
RossKardon 27 months ago
Why would Mr. and Mrs. Howell pack up all of their belongs when they only intended to be away for three hours? Since the Howells were a wealthy couple, then why didn't they just have their own yacht?
BuckeyeBeth 35 months ago
"As the Minnow leaves port in the opening credits, when the lyrics proclaim, "Five passengers set sail that day," eight people can be counted aboard the boat. What ever happened to him?"

Shhhhh.... That's Steve. Steve fell overboard during the storm. We don't talk about Steve. Its too painful and besides the Skipper doesn't want to deal with the insurance premiums.
NotAWine 40 months ago
Season 1 episode 17 minute 4 and 7 seconds a ghost runs from left to right behind Gillian & the Skipper. If you pause at just the right time it's facing the camera. It looks like a small girl but it's definitely creepy!
RobertEdwards NotAWine 38 months ago
That's the tail of one of Gilligan's arrows. Nice try!
Dario 40 months ago
The building skyline is actually Sutdio City, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. ☺️
RedSamRackham 40 months ago
* Sure there were many errors as well as inexplicable details of the sitcom. But it was just a brain candy sitcom. I still say a series finale should've ended with Maynard G. Krebs waking up from a dream! ☺
MaryO1960 48 months ago
I love reading and learning these old facts. Thanks for your research.
Trouble 48 months ago
There is no eighth castaway. The thing marked as number 5 is not a person.
Squiggy Trouble 18 months ago
It is indeed a person; it's Jim Backus. If you watch the intro closely you can see him waving.
JamesFabiano 49 months ago
We never see the eighth castaway again. He probably *&#(ing killed himself.
JHP JamesFabiano 27 months ago
no I can tell you where hes at - he is with ginger and mary ann - nothing more needs to be said:)

happy new year!!! and then Mrs Howell comes in and well...
ScaryWoody 63 months ago
The eighth person on the boat was obviously the camera guy. We never got to meet him as he was the one documenting the adventures.
DavidOsterman 64 months ago
you have to wonder, though, how many of these gaffes could be spotted on analog broadcast signal picked up on a nineteen inch black and white TV back in the 60s . . . .
JHP DavidOsterman 27 months ago
so true and another re-run of me-tv topics
Squiggy DavidOsterman 18 months ago
Fair point, but it's still fun to pick them out years later thanks to the magic of HD.
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