The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
(1959-1961)
30 minutes
Comedy / Sitcom
The saga of a young man’s indecision about life and women which aired on CBS from September 29, 1959 to September 18, 1963.
Background: Central City, 285 Norwood Street, the business location of the Gillis Grocery Store, and the residence of the Gillis family: Herbert, the owner; his wife, Winnie; and their son, Dobie. Stories relate: Dobie’s continual thoughts about the future; his running battle with his father over the prospect of acquiring work ; his relationship with his Beatnick friend, his “good buddy,” Maynard G. Krebs; and his endless romantic heartaches, most of which center around Thalia Menninger, a beautiful, greedy, self- centered young woman who struggles to improve Dobie and find him the job that will enable him to make “oodles and oodles of money” though not for her, the last hope her family has, but for her family—a sixty-year-old father with a kidney condition, a mother who isn’t getting any younger, a sister who married a loafer, and a brother who is becoming a public charge.
1961-1962: Dobie and Maynard’s experiences as army privates.
1962-1963: Completing their military service, and still undecided about life, Dobie and Maynard enroll in college . Stories depict, in addition to Dobie’s romantic misadventures, his and Maynard’s struggles to find their place in life.
Cast:
Dobie Gillis - Dwayne Hickman
Maynard G. Krebs - Bob Denver
Thalia Menninger - Tuesday Weld
Herbert T. Gillis - Frank Faylen
Winifred Gillis (Winnie) - Florida Friebus
Zelda Gilroy, the girl who schemes to win Dobie’s love - Sheila James
Chatsworth Osborne, Jr., a rich, spoiled friend - Steve Franken
Mrs. Chatsworth Osborne, Jr., his widowed mother - Doris Packer
Davey Gillis, Dobie’s brother - Darryl Hickman
Mr. Promfritt, the high school English teacher - William Schallert
Ruth Adams, the high school Math teacher - Jean Byron
Charlie Wong, the owner of Charlie Wong’s Ice Cream Parlor, the after-school hangout - John Lee
Mrs. Blossom Kenny, a member of the school board - Marjorie Bennett
Milton Armitage, Dobie’s rival for Thalia - Warren Beatty
Clarice Armitage, Milton’s mother (early episodes) - Doris Packer
Miss Burkhart, the college Anthropology instructor - Jean Byron
Mr. Promfritt, the college Biology teacher - William Schallert
Duncan Krebs, Maynard’s cousin - Michael I. Pollard
Dean Magruder - Raymond Bailey
The Osborne chauffeur - Angelo De Meo
Lt. Merriweather, Dobie’s commanding officer - Richard Claire
Also: Diana Millay, Ronny Howard, Jack Albertson, Jo Anne Worley
Music: Lionel Newman
