Roland MacLane Movies

In an amusing precursor to the Survivor school of "reality" broadcasting, a radio station on the mainland has set up a "Take a Dare" contest, with contestants vying for a $10,000 prize. One such contestant is George Barkley (played by future Oscar winner Strother Martin), who will win the contest if he is able to survive on a desert island, alone and unassisted, for a full week. So guess which island Barkely winds up on--and guess what happens when he meets the Castaways. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Vito Scotti, Jamie Farr, Francesca Bellini, and Argentina Brunetti guest-star as a band of gypsies who bring their caravan into Mayberry. Correctly assuming that the visitors are less than honest, Andy tells them to leave, whereupon the gypsies place a curse on Mayberry, threatening to create a drought. Armed with "inside" weather information courtesy of a well-hidden shortwave radio, the gypsies are able to coerce the gullible townsfolk into allowing them to stay-but Andy is not quite so easily hoodwinked. Written by Roland MacLane, this episode originally aired on February 21, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Gilligan (Bob Denver) is unable to convince the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.) that he has seen a ghost. Before long, however, everyone believes Gilligan's story, as the ghost goes on a full-scale haunting rampage. Fighting fire with the fire, Gilligan and company cook up a scheme to scare the spectre away for good. Richard Kiel, the towering actor best known as "Jaws" in the James Bond films, appears (or is it disappears?) as the troublesome ghost. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

There's bad news tonight when Gilligan (Bob Denver) and the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.) picking up a radio broadcast announcing that Mr. Howell (Jim Backus) has gone broke. Once they've broken the news to the Howells, the Castaways helpfully attempt to train the couple to do "real" work for the first time in their lives. But Mr. Howell is too proud to lower himself in this manner, and before long Gilligan is desperately trying to talk the ex-millionaire out of jumping off a cliff! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo) finds a shortage in the bank account, she assumes that the family is broke (actually, Herman [Fred Gwynne] has merely lent some money to Lily's brother Lester). To make ends meet, Lily lands a job telling fortunes at a gypsy tearoom. Unaware of her motives, Herman assumes that Lily has left the house to rendezvous with another man--and Grandpa (Al Lewis) helps matters not at all by trying to bring Lily back. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Wally (Tony Dow) and Eddie (Ken Osmond) get jobs parking cars at what Fred Rutherford (Richard Deacon) describes as the biggest social event of the season. Wally, of course, is up to the job, and has no trouble dealing with his wealthy clientele and their expensive vehicles. Alas, Eddie parks Mr. Rutherford's car in a restricted zone -- and when the owner returns, the car has been towed away. Nor is Eddie the only one in trouble: it seems that Wally got him the job! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beaver (Jerry Mathers) is thrilled that he's been chosen to appear on "Teen-Age Forum," a local television discussion show. On the day Beaver is scheduled to make his TV debut, his parents tune in, his friends tune in, and his teacher and principal tune in. But where's Beaver? Well, it seems that no one told him (or anyone else) that the show is taped a week in advance.... ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The world is astonished when Lumpy (Frank Bank) gets a sports scholarship for which Wally (Tony Dow) was turned down. Showing no hard feelings, Wally (Tony Dow) decides to throw a party to congratulate his friend. Under these circumstances, how will Lumpy be able to tell anyone that the scholarship board changed their mind about him when they took a good look at his grades? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

As the result of Beaver's uncharacteristically selfish behavior of late, Ward (Hugh Beaumont) decides to drill his son in the lessons of the Golden Rule. Duly chastened by Ward's words, Beaver (Jerry Mathers) promises to ever after "do unto others etc." He gets his first chance to perform a good deed when a tramp named Jeff (Frank Ferguson) shows up at the Cleaver doorstep for a handout -- but the results are not exactly what Ward had in mind. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beaver (Jerry Mathers) lands a job caddying at a posh country club. Hoping to win a bet, golfer Mr. Langley persuades Beaver to shave a couple of strokes off his game, with the promise of a five-dollar tip. Will Beaver succumb, or will his inherent integrity kick in? And here's a real shocker: the cheating Mr. Langley is played by Richard Lee Simmons, who once starred on TV as the incorruptibly honest "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon!" ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Ward (Hugh Beaumont) has two tickets to a baseball game, and asks Wally (Tony Dow) to come along. This sits not at all well with Beaver (Jerry Mathers), who is hurt, offended, and depressed that Ward has chosen his brother over him -- and never mind that Ward made his decision only after Beaver had announced plans to go out with Gilbert (Stephen Talbot). But if Wally thinks that he has remedied the situation by magnanimously handing the ticket over to Beaver, he'd better think again! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While Ward (Hugh Beaumont) and June (Barbara Billingsley) are out of town, Beaver (Jerry Beaver) and Wally (Tony Dow) are left in the care of their overindulgent Uncle Billy (Edgar Buchanan). Beav quickly learns to take advantage of Billy's freewheeling nature, even unto hatching a scheme to help his pal Gilbert (Stephen Talbot) sneak into the movies without paying. But it soon becomes obvious that even lovable ol' Billy has his limits when it comes to bad behavior. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Ward (Hugh Beaumont) is proud to learn that Wally (Tony Dow) is being rushed by his old fraternity at State University. Unfortunately, one of the State students coldly informs Wally and Eddie (Ken Osmond) that Ward's beloved fraternity is populated with "creeps." Quickly, Wally changes his mind about joining the organization -- but how to tell Ward without disappointing him? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi