Saturday 9: Flipper (1964)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Flipper ran for three seasons, from 1964 to 1967. Are you familiar with the show? Were you a fan? Yes. Many friends were in love with the blond brother. 1964 is historic as the year I fell in love with Paul McCartney and, though I was only six years old, I was determined to remain true to him. Still I did bow to peer pressure and watch the show. You know, so I could discuss it at recess. Reviewing the clip linked above, I'm now impressed by how hot the dad was. (It's okay; I've learned over the intervening decades that Sir Paul doesn't care one whit who I lust after.)
2) Brothers Sandy and Bud consider a bottle-nosed dolphin, named Flipper, their pet. Do you currently share your home with any animals?
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| Connie is looking at the camera, Reynaldo is sound asleep |
3) Bud and Sandy's dad was Chief Warden Porter Ricks of the fictional Coral Key Marine Preserve. In reality, the show was filmed in Miami and Key Biscayne. When were you last in the ocean? Which ocean was it? It was Christmastime. I waded into the Atlantic while visiting Henry and Reg in Key West. I've made my hotel reservation to see them for Christmas this year, but I'm worried that I won't be able to make it because of the pandemic. This makes me very, very sad.
4) There was no one single "Flipper." In close-ups, the role was played by a dolphin named Susie. While Susie was good at interacting with people, she had trouble with stunts, and sometimes a male dolphin named Clown was brought in for action sequences. Do you consider yourself more social, like Susie? Or are you more athletic, like Clown? If those are my only two choices, I'll go with Susie.
5) Without looking it up, do you know the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise? Dolphins have noses. Porpoises have more fishy faces without a prominent nose. I'm sure there are other differences, but to list them I'd have to cheat and look it up.
6) Flipper wasn't just a TV pet. He was an industry! During the show's run, Flipper comic books, coloring books and puzzles were very popular. As an adult, do you entertain yourself by reading comics, coloring, or completing jigsaw puzzles? Nope.
7) The Flipper lunchbox was also a big seller. It came with a Thermos topped with a red cup. Do you own a Thermos? Nope.
8) In 1964, when Flipper premiered, it was up against The Outer Limits and The Jackie Gleason Show. If those were your only viewing choices, would you watch the family show about the dolphin, the sci-fi anthology show, or the comedy-variety show? (Or would your rather flip through a magazine?) Flipper. Definitely Flipper.
9)
Random question -- Which would you be more comfortable explaining: how
a car engine works, the current IRS tax brackets, or the rules of
baseball? Baseball! I love that game. There's a rule that ONLY applies to my beloved Wrigley Field: if a ball lodges in the outfield ivy, the outfielder is supposed to raise his arm in the air. Then the ball is considered dead and the batter is awarded second base. If the outfielder foolishly tries to dig the ball out of the ivy, play continues and the batter will undoubtedly take an inside the park home run. Have you missed baseball this summer as much as I have? 
