# Brain shakers from watching the Gilligan's Island marathon **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [July 10, 2023, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847 "2023-07-10T07:57:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/221 "2023-07-12T22:29:06Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > The island is obviously near Springfield. Just 3 hours offshore of Sandy Beach. [![](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/simpsons/images/b/b6/Sandy_Beach.jpg/) ](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/simpsons/images/b/b6/Sandy_Beach.jpg/) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/222 "2023-07-12T22:38:47Z")
Well, the trip certainly started from somewhere populated in Hawaii, so that narrows it down considerably. EDIT: Though we don’t know that it’s within three hours of populated islands. The tour was planned to be that long, but the weather obviously changed that plan. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/223 "2023-07-12T22:44:37Z")
Even as a kid I thought the Professor was smart enough to see the women as having the best assets to work with. As a Professor it was his duty to fill them with as much science as he had time for. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/224 "2023-07-12T23:27:00Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > Does anyone have any idea where the island is located? > **[Coconut Island (Oahu Island)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_Island_(Oahu_Island))** > > Coconut Island, or Moku o Loʻe, is a 28-acre (113,000 m²) island in Kāneʻohe Bay off the island of Oʻahu in the state of Hawaiʻi, United States. It is a marine research facility of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) of the University of Hawaiʻi. > In 1934–1936, Chris Holmes II, an heir to the Fleischmann yeast fortune, doubled the original 12-acre (49,000 m2) island with coral rubble, sand, and earthen landfill. He established a residence with aquaria, kennels, and aviaries for his man... > Coconut Island was used for the opening sequence of the [television program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_program) _[Gilligan’s Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilligan%27s_Island)_ Now granted, at less than half a mile off the coast of Oahu, it wouldn’t make for a plausible setting for the series. But the fact remains that Coconut Island is shown at the end of the opening credits in a way that implies that is, in fact, the island where the castaways live. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/225 "2023-07-12T23:29:53Z")
The harbor they left from was Long Beach, but that’s just lazy filmmaking. I think the island is in a time/space vortex, not entirely connected to the real world. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/226 "2023-07-13T00:27:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > The harbor they left from was Long Beach … . I believe you. The one in California? There is also one in Mississippi. Can you direct me to which episode this is disclosed. I just want to see it for my own education. How many of you all, like me, just assumed they set sail from Hawaii? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/227 "2023-07-13T02:08:27Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > I believe you. The one in California? There is also one in Mississippi. And another Long Beach in Washington State, which has a really long beach, 28 miles. [Long Beach - The Seven Wonders of Washington State](http://www.sevenwondersofwashingtonstate.com/long-beach1.html#:~:text=Contrary%20to%20the%20proclamation%20%22The,longest%20beach%20on%20a%20peninsula.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/228 "2023-07-13T13:34:15Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > Can you direct me to which episode this is disclosed. I think he means where they filmed the bit in the opening. Everywhere in the world is somewhere in southern California. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/229 "2023-07-13T14:07:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think he means where they filmed the bit in the opening. Yes, correct! (I actually thought it looked like Marina del Rey, but I guess not.) > [@Chronos](#): > > Everywhere in the world is somewhere in southern California. Yup! > [@Ynnad](#): > > How many of you all, like me, just assumed they set sail from Hawaii? Oh I did, though I couldn’t quote which episode (if any?) specifically stated that. I thought the surfer was reported as coming from Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/230 "2023-07-13T14:44:23Z")
Hawaii is much more likely because it had been in the public’s consciousness since becoming a state in 1959. Also, the _Minnow_ would have had to drift an awfully long time to travel from California to a point south or southeast of Hawaii. _ **Hawaiian Eye** _ (1959–1963) and _ **Follow the Sun** _ (1961–1962) both preceded _ **Gilligan’s Island** _ (1964–1967). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/231 "2023-07-13T14:46:46Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > > The harbor they left from was Long Beach … . > > I believe you. The one in California? There is also one in Mississippi. Can you direct me to which episode this is disclosed. I just want to see it for my own education. > > How many of you all, like me, just assumed they set sail from Hawaii? I assumed the three-hour tour started in Hawaii, but don’t remember if that was ever explicitly said in the show. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/232 "2023-07-13T15:35:18Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **Hawaiian Eye** _ Filmed in, of course, Los Angeles. 🙂 Mostly on the back lot. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/233 "2023-07-13T15:37:16Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > It’s not said on the show, but I would speculate that Ginger was only visiting Hawaii, had checked out of her hotel, took the boat trip (expecting only a three-hour tour) and was planning to fly back to the mainland that night. It’s only natural she would have her luggage with her. No cite, but I’m pretty sure I read in a companion book that Ginger jumped onto the Minnow just as it was about to set sail, to get away from some sailors who were pursuing her. In which case, she wouldn’t have had anything with her, except maybe a handbag. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/234 "2023-07-13T15:58:17Z")
**Fun Fact:** Hawaii had virtually no production facilities until filming started on _ **Hawaii Five-0** _ (1968–1980). It was a great setting, though! > **[The Hawaii Five-O Home Page](https://www.fiveohomepage.com/)** > > The Hawaii Five-O Home Page, Hawaii Five-O, Hawaii Five-0, Hawaii 5-0, Hawaii Five-O, episode reviews, episode guide, music, composers In _ **MAD Magazine** _’s satire of _ **I Spy** _, there were several seconds of location shots “to convince people the entire episode had been filmed in Hong Kong.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/235 "2023-07-13T16:29:15Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > **Fun Fact:** Hawaii had virtually no production facilities until filming started on _ **Hawaii Five-0** _ (1968–1980). It was a great setting, though! I’ve read somewhere that when _Hawaii Five-O_ ended production, there was a desire to create a new show to keep those facilities in use, and the workers employed. That was one of the factors that led to the creation on _Magnum P.I._ ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/236 "2023-07-13T16:58:21Z")
On the original pilot, I respected what they did with the two girls. It was just a more realistic performance. Show was probably better off going more cartoonish, but I respect the acting in that pilot. Dawn Wells’ Mary Ann was still more of a Daisy Maeish thing than a realistic person. John Gabriel as the original professor is the one that didn’t make a lot of sense. Too much of a stud muffin for that role. Gabriel wound up on a soap and probably had a better career anyway. I respect Tina Louise. She probably had the most realistic portrayal on the original show. She did come back for the Roseanne reunion where they were playing against type and you can tell that’s really the type of stuff she wanted to do. Like the Eva Grubb episode, she did a great job with that. I do think she had talent and you can see her light up when she was interested. But most of the rest of the cast were character actors that kind of had variations on their shtick. She really didn’t have that, and the biz can be tough sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/237 "2023-07-13T17:00:11Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’ve read somewhere that when _Hawaii Five-O_ ended production, there was a desire to create a new show to keep those facilities in use, and the workers employed. That was one of the factors that led to the creation on _Magnum P.I._ The motivation for Macgyver was that the studio had stock footage of a lot of exotic locations, and they wanted to make a show that would make use of it. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/238 "2023-07-13T17:17:48Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > Does anyone have any idea where the island is located? Its location is referenced twice that I can think of off the top of my head. First, in the episode where they make the movie, there is a scene where the Skipper tries to point out on a map where the ship left (and he does say Hawaii - part of the joke is, everybody else suggests that they show somewhere else; Mr. Howell says Fort Knox), and where it ended up. Second, in the episode with the rocket launched toward the island, a radio report announces the target’s latitude and longitude as 10 North, 140 West, which is about 1200 miles SE of Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/239 "2023-07-13T19:16:38Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > about 1200 miles SE of Hawaii That’s a bit far, episode writers!. That’s maybe a week of powered travel, much more if the Minnow just drifted. The Minnow washed up on shore the next day after the storm, didn’t it? Just reinforces that the island is not in our universe at all. But it randomly phases in and out of reality. It exists in a universe with profoundly different laws of physics. Like where breathing helium not only makes you float, but it doesn’t change your voice. And radiation gives you fantastic eyesight. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847/240 "2023-07-13T19:22:26Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Just reinforces that the island is not in our universe at all. But it randomly phases in and out of reality. It exists in a universe with profoundly different laws of physics. Like where breathing helium not only makes you float, but it doesn’t change your voice. And radiation gives you fantastic eyesight. And don’t forget the Smoke Monster! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-shakers-from-watching-the-gilligans-island-marathon/986847.md?page=13)