what happened to original cast members of flipper

TV series (1964 - 1967)

Flipper
Title screen
Genre	Children Run a risk Drama
Created by	Jack Cowden Ricou Browning
Starring	Brian Kelly Luke Halpin Tommy Norden Andy Devine (1964) Ulla Strömstedt (1965) Flipper (various dolphins)
Country of origin	U.s. of America
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	88 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	approx. 25 minutes
Production companies	MGM Television in clan with Ivan Tors Films, Inc.
Benefactor	MGM Television
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 19, 1964 (1964-09-xix) – April xv, 1967 (1967-04-xv)
Chronology
Preceded by	Flipper Flipper's New Adventure
Followed by	Flipper – The New Adventures
Related shows	Flipper

Flipper is an American television program broadcast on NBC from September 19, 1964, until April 15, 1967.^[1] Flipper, a bottlenose dolphin, is the pet of Porter Ricks, main warden at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve (a fictional version of John Pennekamp Coral Reef Land Park in Key Largo, Florida), and his two young sons, Sandy and Bud. The show has been dubbed an "aquatic Lassie", and a considerable amount of children's merchandise inspired by the show was produced during its showtime run.

Production [edit]

The television show is an extension of the 1963 film Flipper starring Chuck Connors and Luke Halpin as Porter and Sandy Ricks, and of its 1964 sequel, Flipper's New Chance. For the second film, the producers scripted that Mrs. Ricks had died, making Porter now a single parent, with Brian Kelly taking over the role as Porter Ricks, but now as a trainee park ranger rather than a fisherman. In adapting the films to a television set series, the producers gave Porter a 2nd, younger son, Bud, portrayed by Tommy Norden, and the TV series has Porter returning permanently to the Florida Keys as the park ranger of the Coral Fundamental Marine Preserve. The producers also departed from the films in endowing Flipper with an unnatural caste of intelligence and an extraordinary agreement of human motives, behavior, and vocabulary.^[2]

The show was created, by style of the creation of the offset picture show, by Jack Cowden and Ricou Browning, the latter of whom had experience in underwater filming and underwater operation, notably every bit the monster in Creature from the Black Lagoon. In Browning's second filmed portrayal of the fauna, Revenge of the Creature, a scene showcases one of the film's shooting locations, Marineland of Florida (depicted with a fictionalized name), presenting several stunts performed by "Flippy, the Educated Porpoise", in a form of product placement. Browning also wrote the volume Flipper based on the ancient fable of Taras, a mythical founder of the Spartan city-state of the same proper name (on the declension of Italy where modernistic day Taranto is located), who was rescued from shipwreck past a dolphin sent by Poseidon, which was picked up and adjusted by famous producer Ivan Tors into the commencement Flipper film.

Filming locations [edit]

Flipper was filmed in Miami at Greenwich Studios (at the time chosen Ivan Tors Studios) at 12100 Ivan Tors Boulevard in Miami, Florida, and at Fundamental Biscayne, Florida. Nassau was an occasional location, specially for underwater footage. The show was produced in co-operation with the Miami Seaquarium, an aquarium besides located on Fundamental Biscayne in Miami.

The show used 2 different Thunderbird Iroquois boats as picture boats, a 22' model with all white upholstery and a single porthole on the sides of the cuddy for the first two seasons, and upgraded to a 23' model in the third season with two-tone upholstery and two portholes on the sides of the cuddy.^[3]

Miami Seaquarium even so presents the Flipper Show, a dolphin show in the lagoon that served as the moving-picture show location for the testify.^[4]

The Miami Seaquarium set where Flipper was filmed also served as the set of another Ivan Tors production, Gentle Ben; the house where the Ricks family lived was the same business firm used for the Wedloe family on Gentle Ben. ^{[ citation needed ]} Flipper was moved to Jimbo's Shrimp (also known every bit Jimbo's Place), located across from Miami Seaquarium, into the intendance and exercise of James "Jimbo" Luznar, Sr. Flipper lived in a pen in the cove behind Jimbo'south Shrimp.

Role of Flipper [edit]

Flipper was portrayed at first by a female dolphin named Susie, though primarily past another female, Kathy, and occasionally past other females named Patty, Scotty, and Squirt. Female dolphins were called considering they are less ambitious than males and their skins (unlike the skins of male dolphins) are usually free from scars and other disfigurations acquired in altercations with other dolphins, making their passing for the identical "Flipper" easier. The five dolphins performed all of Flipper'due south scenes except the famous tail walk, a trick they were unable to master completely. A male dolphin named Clown was brought in for scenes involving the tail walk.^[v] The famous "phonation" of Flipper was actually the doctored song of a kookaburra bird.^[vi]

Music [edit]

The testify'due south theme tune was credited to Henry Vars with lyrics past By Dunham. In France, the melody was known as "La Romance de Paris" ("The Honey Song of Paris"). The first five episodes of the second flavor featured a dissimilar version of the theme, with Frankie Randall singing new lyrics. After those episodes, the original style of the theme was brought dorsum. The background music of the long underwater sequences was inspired by Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe".

Broadcast history [edit]

Filming began in the early summer of 1964, and the beginning episode of season one was broadcast on September 19, 1964, with the series ending with the 28th episode of season 3 being broadcast on April 15, 1967, showing on NBC Saturday nights 7:30–8:00 pm, making 88 episodes in total. NBC continued broadcasts with repeats from season three until September 1967. One episode (episode iii in season one, called "SOS Dolphin") was filmed earlier in 1964 as a airplane pilot immediately after the filming of Flipper's New Adventure was completed. Brian Kelly appeared in all 88 episodes, Luke Halpin was in 85, and Tommy Norden was in 84. Afterward, reruns of the get-go two seasons aired January 1968 – June 1968, NBC, Dominicus 6:30–7:00 pm and June 1968 – September 1968, NBC, Lord's day seven:00–7:30 pm.

In its debut flavor in the 1964–65 United States network television set schedule, Flipper was a considerable ratings success, rating in the top 25, specially going up confronting the long-standing and popular The Jackie Gleason Prove on CBS. Ratings declined simply slightly in flavour two 1965–66 United states of america network television schedule buoyed past its proximity to NBC's pop new Sat night shows I Dream of Jeannie and Get Smart. Ratings brutal sharply in season three against a stiff rise in ratings for Gleason'south prove.

Characters and bandage [edit]

Animal bandage [edit]

Flipper is a bottlenose dolphin and the companion animal of the Ricks family. Flipper is an extraordinarily intelligent dolphin that helps enforce regulations in the preserve, assists Porter Ricks with rescues at sea, and keeps a watchful eye on Sandy and Bud, whom he has rescued or helped rescue from danger on numerous occasions. Flipper was portrayed by v different dolphins; the most commonly used ones were named "Kathy" and "Susie".
Pelican Pete, a pelican, who was depicted in the original movie as Sandy'south pet before he met Flipper, had a recurring role on the show, and appeared in several episodes.
Other animals appearing on the testify included a Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Spray (real name was Chobee from Okeechobee, Florida) (seen only in a few early episodes), a seal, a infant elephant, alligators, a female albino dolphin (whose infant Flipper fathered during her only advent, in the "White Dolphin" episode), and another female dolphin, introduced at the cease of the second flavor, dubbed "Lorelei" past the Ricks family unit. Lorelei became Flipper's "girlfriend".

Human bandage [edit]

Clockwise from top: Brian Kelly, Luke Halpin and Tommy Norden.

Porter Ricks: Brian Kelly fills the show's moral center with his portrayal of Porter Ricks, a loving father, conscientious authorities employee, rugged outdoorsman, and all-around good guy. Porter is a widowed father with ii sons, Sandy and Bud, and is employed every bit primary warden and park ranger at the fictional Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in southern Florida. Kelly replaced Chuck Connors (the original Porter Ricks in the commencement movie Flipper) in the second movie Flipper's New Gamble, although he was then only at park ranger preparation school. Reflecting on Porter existence single, Brian Kelly told Telly Guide (July 9, 1966): "I'm going to bring a couple of bikini girls on. I want some groovy-lookin' girls because a lot of fathers who see the show say, "Where are the chicks?". Porter's parenting fashion is firm nevertheless fun, as he involves his boys (specially the older son Sandy) in his various exciting water-borne tasks as park ranger, all the while gladly allowing Flipper to befriend his sons and help with diverse crucial rescue efforts.
Sandy Ricks: Luke Halpin plays Porter'south elderberry son, Sandy. Sandy begins flavour one as a 15-year-old outdoorsy, athletic teenager sometimes given to boyish mishaps and poor choices (although usually more responsible than his impish younger brother Bud), and ends season three equally an 18-year-old, one-time enough for adult responsibilities and duties. Sandy ofttimes accompanies his begetter on unsafe adventures and rescues at and under the sea. The character of Sandy is carried over from both the characteristic films (Halpin was the sole lead actor/character to appear in both movies and the unabridged Tv set series), where he was the one who showtime met Flipper and became his special friend. Halpin became an practiced diver, thus was able to perform the all-encompassing h2o-related scenes throughout the series, largely without stunt doubles. Halpin's role as Sandy Ricks catapulted him to the rarefied atmosphere of teen super-stardom, a status bolstered by his frequent appearances in just cutoff blue jeans showing his tanned, athletic swimmer'south build, blond hair, and model-quality telegenic looks.
Bud Ricks: Redheaded, freckle-faced Tommy Norden portrayed the younger son, Bud, a character created specifically for the TV series. He begins season one equally an impish 10-yr-old male child who has a difficult time staying out of trouble. Many episodes revolve around mistakes made by Bud, intentionally or unintentionally, and his demand to be rescued from the consequences. Bud is gullible and easily swallows the tall tales Hap Gorman feeds him. Bud is at home on or most the sea, and loves animals of all sorts. Flipper is his special companion, and he ends season iii as a 13-twelvemonth-old able to practice more than of the work that his older blood brother Sandy does.
Hap Gorman: Andy Devine appeared five times in the show's showtime season as an sometime salt and marine carpenter named Hap Gorman. Hap was something of a bungler, who tried Porter'due south patience. Hap, in the traditional vein for Andy Devine, enjoyed spinning yarns and tall tales well-nigh bejeweled maharajahs, faraway kingdoms, and exotic ports for the amusement of skeptical Sandy and gullible Bud.
Ulla Norstrand: Swedish-born actress Ulla Strömstedt appeared 12 times in the second flavour every bit Ulla Norstrand, an oceanographer whose work frequently took her to Coral Cardinal Park and Marine Preserve. She was often instrumental in enforcing the park's regulations. One of her trademarks was her miniature yellow submarine which she was often seen using in her oceanographic explorations, and which was sometimes pivotal in storylines. She was a potential dear interest for Porter Ricks, although no serious relationship was always shown to develop.
Warden Ed Dennis was portrayed by Miami thespian Dan Chandler. The recurring office of a Coral Fundamental Park game warden was created by writer Maria G. Little, who needed a sidekick to play off of Porter Ricks. Dennis performed such sidekick chores as helping observe a kidnapped Flipper and saving Porter Ricks from murderous lobster poachers. Chandler also appeared in the feature films Flipper and Flipper's New Hazard.
Sheriff, also One-time Human being Coleman, were 2 roles portrayed by role player Eric Applewhite, appearing in 5 episodes across all three seasons of the TV series. His older blood brother George Applewhite apprised the role of Sheriff in the original Flipper.

Notable guest stars [edit]

Flipper was notable for the casting of a number of invitee actors, several of whom went on to stardom in later years or had already had a stellar acting career.

John Abbott
Jean-Pierre Aumont
James Best
Martin E. Brooks
Michael Conrad
Lynda Day George
Gloria DeHaven
Doris Dowling
Barbara Feldon
Stuart Getz
Huntz Hall
Margaret Hayes
Karl Held
Betsy Jones-Moreland
Robin Mattson
Cheryl Miller
Denise Nickerson
Burt Reynolds
Martin Sheen
Julie Sommars
David Soul
Karen Steele
Bo Svenson
Marshall Thompson
Daniel J. Travanti
Diana Van der Vlis
Phil Vandervort
Wende Wagner
Jessica Walter
Dan White

Plot [edit]

The Ricks cottage at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve

The serial follows a bottlenose dolphin named Flipper that is the wild pet of Porter Ricks, a park warden, and his sons, Sandy (15) and Bud (ten). Flipper lives in a lagoon virtually the Ricks cottage at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve. With the Ricks family unit, Flipper helps protect the park and preserve and its wild inhabitants. He is besides instrumental in apprehending criminals and thugs in the park. Flipper is generally recognized by the characters in the bear witness (and the theme song) as existence a particularly intelligent and capable dolphin. Flipper is the special companion of the youngest member of the Ricks family, Bud, and several episodes characteristic Flipper rescuing Bud from dangerous situations. Flipper is able to somehow communicate through unlike chatter-like tones, head nods and shakes, and other attention-seeking antics with Sandy and Bud, and draw their (and Porter'south) attending to danger or in the direction of people needing help. Few women are in the lives of the Ricks males, just in the starting time season, Porter does have a date while Sandy falls for the girl operator of a floating zoo, who appears in iv episodes. A female oceanographer enters the series in the 2d season to add a feminine bear upon to the proceedings, simply little more than mild flirtations and fondness between Porter and her ensues. Promotional fabric for the tertiary season appear a new girlfriend for Sandy, although she simply appeared in one episode, and he has an innocently flirtatious scene with another daughter in a separate episode. The series is distinguished for its lush photography of subtropical Florida and its colorful underwater sequences.

Episodes [edit]

Cancellation and subsequent history [edit]

The last beginning-run episode of Flipper aired Apr xv, 1967. In the conclusion of a two-office episode, the characters of Sandy and Bud are written out of the show (by that time, both Halpin and Norden had grown out of their roles), as information technology is detailed how each plans to go out Coral Key — Sandy has been accustomed to the Coast Baby-sit University in Connecticut, and Bud volition be attention a individual school remedially in Massachusetts, equally bundled past their Aunt Martha. At the aforementioned fourth dimension, a new family unit (the Whitmans) moves to the area: a widowed mother (portrayed by Karen Steele) and her young son and daughter (portrayed past Stuart Getz and Chris Charney). The ii new children are depicted equally unfamiliar with maritime life, just they promptly befriend Flipper, and promise to be his new companions later on Sandy and Bud leave. Plans were made for a fourth season, revolving effectually the Whitman children taking the part of Flipper'due south guardians/playmates and their mother becoming involved in a serious human relationship with Porter. Sandy and Bud presumably would make a cameo visit in an episode or two. All this was for naught, still, every bit Ivan Tors chose not to continue to make a fourth flavour in this new format, and so NBC cancelled information technology.^[7]

Flipper has seen periodic syndication since its NBC counterfoil. The testify has aired on cablevision'south Family unit Channel, Nickelodeon, Animal Planet, Discovery Kids, in high-definition on satellite provider Voom'south Family Room channel, and on digital subchannel Antenna Tv. Nearly of the images of Flipper jumping confronting a skyline were not in the originally aired version, every bit the filming took place in an enclosed lagoon. They were filmed at the end of the series and added for syndication.^[7]

The rights to Flipper were later acquired by the Samuel Goldwyn Visitor, and in turn acquired by MGM Tv set (the company that originally produced the serial). MGM owns full rights to the series; the serial copyright is held past MGM's subsidiary Orion Pictures (whose own holdings include the Goldwyn library).

Flipper appears as a character in the Drawing Network series The Annoying Orange.

As of Nov 2016, Flipper airs as 1 of a scattering of classic Television series (alongside Ivan Tors' before series Sea Hunt) on the primarily flick-oriented digital subchannel This Boob tube.^[8] In 2017, Flipper and Sea Hunt began airing together on Light TV.

The serial was circulate in the early 1970s in the USSR, and the testify was well received by the Soviet people, both old and young akin. Likewise, it was broadcast in Romania.

Merchandise [edit]

Flipper merchandise generated for the juvenile market during the prove's first run is now scarce and collectible. Flipper vintage collectibles include lunch boxes, song books, comic books, coloring books, a Whitman novel, Big Little Books, gift spoons, Whitman frame tray puzzles, a lath game, Viewmaster reels (based on the two-function episode "Dolphin Dear"), a battery-operated "spouting dolphin" h2o toy, children'southward swim trunks with the Flipper logo, and a 1966 Bradley glow-in-the-dark watch. Dolphin Paradise is a hangame app based on the Flipper boob tube series.

Home media [edit]

Flipper received an incomplete VHS release during the 1990s under the title Flipper–Original Serial. MGM Home Entertainment (distributed by 20th Century Play tricks Home Amusement) released the commencement season on DVD on April 24, 2007. They subsequently released season two equally an eight-disc set on June 3, 2010. This is a manufacture-on-demand release, available exclusively from Amazon.com.

On August 29, 2017, Olive Films re-released the first two seasons on DVD in Region one. They also released seasons one and two on Blu-ray.^[nine] Flavor iii was released on October 31, 2017 on DVD and Blu-ray.^[10]

Awards and recognition [edit]

The Miami Seaquarium celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Flipper in belatedly 2013 with Tommy Norden and Ricou Browning participating, along with a series of commemorative events through 2014. A previous event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Flipper in 2004 was also held with Luke Halpin and Tommy Norden. Flipper was nominated for two Boob tube Land awards, in 2004 for the Idiot box Land Favorite Fauna Honour, and in 2003, for the Tv set Land Favorite Pet-Human Relationship Honour. Flipper appeared twice on TV Guide covers.

Animate being rights [edit]

Ric O'Barry, the head trainer of the Flipper dolphins (and also Halpin'south occasional stunt double^[7]), became a world-renowned animal activist after the decease of the dolphin that portrayed Flipper most often. O'Barry stars in the Oscar accolade-winning documentary The Cove, which features dolphin capture and captivity. He also wrote of his time with the Flipper films and Television series and subsequent creature-rights activism in the book Behind the Dolphin Smile.

References [edit]

^ Woolery, George W. (1985). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Role 2: Live, Film, and Record Series. The Scarecrow Press. pp. 175–176. ISBN0-8108-1651-2.
^ "Flipper - The Original Series: Flavour One". DVD Talk . Retrieved Feb v, 2011.
^ Budne, Phil. "Richard Cole 1909-2004". omc-boats.org.
^ Miami Seaquarium: Tickets Prices Coupons Discounts
^ Ric O' Barry and Keith Coulbourn, Behind the Dolphin Smile, Renaissance Books, 2000, ISBN 978-ane-58063-101-3
^ Arthur, Nicole (January 31, 2003). "Mean solar day of the Dolphin". Washington Post . Retrieved December 5, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ric O' Barry and Keith Coulbourn, Behind the Dolphin Smile, Algonquin Books of Chapel Colina, 1988, ISBN 0-912697-79-2
^ https://thistv.com/view/serial/673/Flipper%20(1964^{[ dead link ]}
^ Box Fine art, Pricing for 'Flavour 1' and 'Season ii' on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Archived September 2, 2017, at the Wayback Car
^ Flipper - First-Ever DVD and Blu-ray Releases for 'Season 3'! The final season of the archetype bear witness comes from Olive this Halloween Archived September 27, 2017, at the Wayback Machine

External links [edit]

Flipper at IMDb
Miami Seaquarium
"The Legend of Ivan Tors" documentary
Ric O'Barry: Famous "Flipper" Trainer
Interview with Ric O'Barry
Flipper Cast Members Reunite at Miami Seaquarium for the Bear witness's 40th Anniversary

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flipper_%281964_TV_series%29