On Sherwood Schwartz’s 1964 sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” every character represented a different American class, and each one served a vital social function. The Skipper (Alan Hale), for instance, could be seen as a representative of the American military, while his sailing know-how provided the Island with a better understanding of their surroundings. Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) was a working-class character with knowledge of farming, but she was also a barometer of the Island’s general mood. If she was happy, then things were going well. Gilligan (Bob Denver), meanwhile, was the innocent of the island, providing a plucky spirit of survival, while also offering something like a childlike perspective to the plight of the castaways.
The itinerant actress Ginger (Tina Louise) was weirdly vital. Many feel that Ginger, because she was so glamorous, provided mere sex appeal to “Gilligan’s Island,” but one can see that she also served as something of a morale officer. As an actress, Ginger was emotionally pliable, often able to play-act desperate scenarios with her fellow castaways, allowing them to cope. She used performance as a psychiatry tool … sometimes going so far as to “play act” an actual psychiatrist. Kids may only recall Ginger’s many outfits and impeccable makeup, but she was also the Island’s counselor.
But that statement undersells the importance of Ginger’s glamour, also vital to the series. The rest of the castaways were focused on survival, while Ginger was focused on fashion and being dazzling. For Tina Louise, Ginger’s glamor was the reason so many “Gilligan’s Island” fans loved her. She was an approachable movie star, a hit of Hollywood stardom provided every week. Louise, 91, recently spoke with Forbes, and she explained that Ginger might have been the best access some people had to old-world glitz.