Tina Louise would have picked Manhattan over Gilligan's Island

Oops! Looks like Tina Louise would have rather been stranded somewhere else.

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If Tina Louise could choose where to be stranded, she would have picked New York. Louise was one of the many stars from the hit '60s series, Gilligan's Island, where she played the role of Ginger Grant.

Louise may have been shipwrecked on an island, but she still had her New York attitude. As a native of New York, Louise always had it at the back of her mind. 

She would even take trips to Manhattan during breaks and hiatus on Gilligan's Island

In a 1965 interview with The Cincinnati Enquirer, Louise talked about her love for the city and how it inspired her in more than one way. 

"New York is my hobby," she said. "I dig the streets, the people and the theater. And I get all charged up. I love the movement, the electricity and the charm of the city."

She said she would fly back to California when she needed to recuperate. Louise's character on Gilligan's Island was also from New York and was a movie star. 

According to the interview, her day started at 6:30 a.m. and she would arrive at the studio by 7 a.m., and remain on set for about 12 hours.

Louise said she had a reputation for being aloof while on set, but she didn't see it that way. She said she would keep her nose buried in books and magazines, and didn't have the image most people believed her to have.

Despite her busy life in Hollywood, she always found time to go home to New York. After a few years of show business under her belt, and with the success of Gilligan's Island, Louise started to settle down. 

"I liked dressy things when I lived in New York," she said. "Now all I think about is comfort. I never wear a girdle anymore, and I rarely wear high heels or anything else constricting. My favorite color is orange because it goes with my hair."

New York always had a special place in Louise's heart, and we are sure that New York always had a spot for her. 

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11 Comments

dmarkwind 12 months ago
The way this article relies on a 1965 interview and frequently uses past tense ("New York always had a special place in Louise's heart"), I had to check IMDB to make sure she hadn't passed away! Happy to see she's still the last surviving member of the original cast.
Runeshaper 13 months ago
New York has a special place in my heart too. After living there for 30 years and working in the city for about 9, I was glad to be out LOL
Mblack 13 months ago
Burt Bacharach is dead. No tv star, but I bet artists on Ed Sullistone performed his songs.

I was once in San Jose, I thought it was closer to LA than SF
Coldnorth 13 months ago
IMO Ginger never looked like she liked the role she played. I think she would wanted to play a younger much younger Mrs Howell. With a much younger Mr Howell. I didn’t like Ginger as much as the other castaways
dmarkwind Coldnorth 12 months ago
I disagree. I’ve read a lot of accounts of how Natalie Schaeffer only took the job for a free trip to Hawaii, and how Tina Louise didn’t get along with her castmates and came into the show with mistaken ideas about her character. Even if those stories are all true, I have to give both ladies credit for their professionalism in front of the camera. They both apparently fulfilled their acting obligations and managed to portray fully-engaged characters with heart, humor, and functioning relationships with the other characters. In the show, neither gives any hints of any misgivings or strain behind the camera. It certainly wasn’t Shakespeare (most of the time), but that sounds like the definition of good acting!
Coldnorth dmarkwind 12 months ago
I’m always open to see other’s point of view. It’s just an opinion and we all have those. Natalie Shaffer played a good role. I loved how Thurston always doted on her. I love Gilligan Island but stand by my my option that Ginger didn’t look happy.
Andybandit 13 months ago
I agree. I would not to be stranded on an island.
Pacificsun 13 months ago
OMH, that's almost Sixty years ago with all those years ahead of her. And money in her pocket from GI.

Studios helped to promote the image of their prominent actors. She was known for fashion and glamor. There's no reason the interview didn't fit her to a "T." Glad she mentioned the Theater which seemed natural. And the vitality of MYC in general. How fortunate to earn the resources to go back home, and back to her adopted second home of opportunity.

I enjoyed the story, and always the first hand references in the print articles themselves. Thank you MeTV Staff writers!
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