Archive-name: tv/ghost-and-mrs-muir/faq
Posting-frequency: monthly last-modified: 1999/05/05 url: http://members.xoom.com/mrsmuir/ See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge GHOST AND MRS. MUIR FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) This FAQ was created in order to answer some of the most frequently asked questions pertaining to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. This document will be posted monthly on rec.arts.tv and can also be found on the World Wide Web at http://members.xoom.com/mrsmuir/ and http://members.aol.com/macwombat/index.htm. You can also receive a copy by e-mailing Caroline Kent at caro@earthlink.net. Any questions, comments, or ideas should also be sent to the above-mentioned address. Copyright 1997-1998 by Caroline Kent. All rights reserved. 1. What is The Ghost and Mrs. Muir? 2. When did the series air? 3. But wasn't The Ghost and Mrs. Muir also a movie? 4. Who (or what) is the ghost? 5. Who is Mrs. Muir? 6. When did Captain Gregg die? 7. Was the Captain a pirate? 8. Why is the Captain haunting Gull Cottage? 9. Who can see Captain Gregg? 10. Does the Captain have any living descendants? 11. How many different names did the Captain use to describe his "beloved" nephew? 12. Did the Captain ever call Mrs. Muir by her given name? 13. Does Gull Cottage really exist? 14. I remember watching The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (known as G&MM or GAMM to fans) as a child and was so disappointed when the show was canceled by ABC. Is there any chance that the series will be revived? 15. The show sounds fascinating! I'd love to watch a few of the episodes. Is the series currently airing in syndication? 16. Have the episodes been released on video cassette? 17. G&MM was highly regarded by critics and fans alike. Did the show ever win an Emmy? 18. Is the book still in print? 19. Are there any other G&MM related books or publications available? 20. Were there any G&MM related magazine articles or interviews? 21. I recently heard a rumor that a G&MM musical is in the works. Is this true? 22. Is it true that Edward Mulhare recently passed on? 23. Is Reta Shaw still alive? 24. What about Hope Lange? Charles Nelson Reilly? And Scruffy? 25. Whatever happened to the actress and actor who portrayed Candy and Jonathan Muir? 26. Where can I find pictures of the cast members? 27. Where can I find copies of the episode scripts? 28. Is there a G&MM mailing list or Usenet newsgroup? 29. Is there any information about G&MM available on the WWW? 1. WHAT IS THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR? The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (henceforth referred to as G&MM) was a 30-minute comedy/drama television series that starred Edward Mulhare and Hope Lange. It was based upon on the 1945 novel by the same name, written by Josephine Aimee Campbell Leslie under the pseudonym of R. A. Dick. 2. WHEN DID THE SERIES AIR? The series debuted in the fall of 1968 on NBC and aired on Saturday nights. The show was canceled at the end of the season but was picked up and retooled by ABC where it aired for the 1969-70 television season on Thursday nights. Sadly, the show was canceled once again in the spring of 1970 and wasn't revived by another network. A total of fifty one-half hour segments of G&MM were produced and they are as follows (in the order that they aired): Season One: 1. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir 2. Haunted Honeymoon 3. Treasure Hunt 4. The Ghost Hunter 5. Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow 6. Vanessa 7. The Real James Gatley 8. Uncle Arnold the Magnificent 9. Way Off Broadway 10. The Monkey-Puzzle Tree 11. Captain Gregg's Whiz Bang 12. Madeira, My Dear? 13. Love Is a Toothache 14. Mr. Perfect 15. Dear Delusion 16. Dog Gone 17. A Pain in the Neck 18. Strictly Relative 19. Chowderhead 20. It's a Gift 21. Buried on Page One 22. Make Me a Match 23. Jonathan Tells It Like it Was 24. The Medicine Ball 25. Son of the Curse 26. The Music Maker Season Two: 27. The Great Power Failure 28. Centennial 29. There's a Seal in My Bathtub 30. Double Trouble 31. Today I Am a Ghost 32. Madam Candidate 33. Not So Desperate Hours 34. Medium Well Done 35. Surprise Party 36. The Firehouse Five Plus Ghost 37. Spirit of the Law 38. Puppy Love 39. Host to a Ghost 40. The Ghost of Christmas Past 41. Ladies' Man 42. Not So Faust 43. Tourist, Go Home 44. No Hits, No Runs, No Oysters 45. Dig For The Truth 46. Pardon My Ghost 47. Martha Meets the Captain 48. Amateur Night 49. Curious Cousin 50. Wedding Day?????? 3. BUT WASN'T G&MM ALSO A MOVIE? Yes. In 1945, Twentieth Century Fox bought the film rights to the novel, which had only been published in Britain at that time. The film was released in May, 1947, and starred Rex Harrison as "Captain Daniel Gregg" and Gene Tierney as "Lucy Muir." 4. WHO (OR WHAT) IS "THE GHOST?" The ghost is Captain Daniel Gregg, an irascible but charming sea captain who died prematurely and tragically one night when he accidentally kicked over the gas heater by his bedside in Gull Cottage. 5. WHO IS "MRS. MUIR?" Mrs. Muir is Carolyn Muir, a young widow and the current tenant of Gull Cottage. She has two children, Candace and Jonathan, and a wire-haired terrier, Scruffy. The family also includes Martha, the able-bodied housekeeper. 6. WHEN DID CAPTAIN GREGG DIE? November 13, 1869, according to the episode "Surprise Party." He was supposedly 39 at the time, giving his birth in 1830, according to that episode. I use the term "supposedly" because the show was rather inconsistent in their use of dates, particularly in the second season. This particular date, November 18, 1869, may or may not be accurate as is the case with his date of birth. 7. WAS THE CAPTAIN A PIRATE? Only of women's hearts, I'm afraid! We can assume that the Captain was a Naval officer as evidenced by his reference to participating in The Battle of Vera Cruz in "Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow," his naval dress uniform worn in "The Medicine Ball" and "Wedding Day?????," the quote "I can't argue with him. He's an Admiral. He outranks me," referring to Admiral Snedaker in "Chowderhead," and the long chain of command required to get Martha's brother-in-law's posting changed in "Martha Meets The Captain." 8. WHY IS THE CAPTAIN HAUNTING GULL COTTAGE? The transition from here to the over there is affected by several things including the circumstances of the person's death and his state of mind at the time prior to and at the time of death. Oftentimes, a ghost will remain near the place where his death occurred if it was a sudden or tragic passing, or near a person or place to whom he was emotionally attached. In the Captain's case, perhaps he still hangs around Gull Cottage because he spent his life savings on the place and intended it to be a home for retired seamen. He stubbornly refuses to give up ownership of the cottage because he cannot bear to entrust its care to his blundering nephew, Claymore! True romantics, however, would like to believe that Carolyn and the Captain were destined to meet and he was hanging about Gull Cottage waiting for her to show up! 9. WHO CAN SEE CAPTAIN GREGG? Children see and hear many things that adults seem to have lost the ability to experience. Ditto for animals. Jonathan was able to see the Captain from the very beginning, as was his pet dog, Scruffy. Jonathan's older sister, Candy, however, was unaware of the Captain's presence until the second season. How and when she was introduced to Captain Gregg was not explained. In the case of adults, the Captain makes his presence known only to those whom he so desires to be seen by. Claymore Gregg (unfortunately for him) is aware of the Captain's existence. Carolyn was introduced to the Captain shortly after arriving in Gull Cottage, while Martha didn't meet the Captain until much later during the show's second season. 10. DOES THE CAPTAIN HAVE ANY LIVING DESCENDANTS? One. Claymore Gregg, the town's realtor, justice of the peace, clerk, fire chief, and president of the city council is SUPPOSEDLY his great nephew. I use the term "supposedly" because the Captain adamantly denies that Claymore is related to him, being an only son of an only son and claiming never to have met his "nephew's" grandmother. 11. HOW MANY DIFFERENT NAMES DID THE CAPTAIN USE TO DESCRIBE HIS "BELOVED" NEPHEW? Over a hundred, ranging from gull-bellied, snip-headed busy-body to quivering squid with a jellied backbone. Here's the list (contributed by Rhonda Nichols, after many long hours of perusing episodes) in alphabetical order: aromatic fishmonger barnacle (four times) benighted barnacle blasted barnacle blasted ninny blasted sea slug blasted pipsqueak blasted bonehead blockhead blubberbrain buffoon (three times) chuckle-headed booby clod (three times) clumsy nit clumsy dolt conniving cipher corrupt cockleshell cowardly codfish devout coward dolt dreadful nuisance dunce (twice) dunderhead Ebenezer Scrooge failure at living fiddlebrain flotsam-faced fake fool (twice) fortunate clod Gregg pretender gull-bellied, snip-headed busy-body ill wind insignificant petty conniver jellyfish larcenous sea slug leech lilyliver (twice) lout, as welcome as an outbreak of scurvy lummox malingering bilge-blister mere pygmy miserable barnacle miserable sheep in wolf's clothing miserable wart miserable skinflint miserly squid money-gouging grub money-gouging sand shark nincompoop ninny who can be frightened by an angry termite ninny (twice) nit (twice) numbskull (twice) oaf (four times) one of a bumbling brigade one of a pitiful pair one of a misbegotten pair one with a crafty, craven, cringing hide penurious penny-pinching lease-breaker pilfering pickpocket pilfering pipsqueak pilfering pirate pinheaded pyromaniac pitiful sight with weak chin and watery eyes poor imitation with watery blood and weak flesh puny pelican quaking jellyfish quivering squid quivering bowl of blamange quivering squid with a jellied backbone quivering mass of jelly rodent scoundrel with a nickel-nursing heart scurvy swab second-rate scoundrel simpering dolt simpleton (twice) skinflint snivelling misfit spineless toad splay-footed marshmallow sponge-spined jellyfish stingy, money-grubbing, penny-pinching... stupid swab the one thing abhorred more than marriage the lesser of two evils treacherous conniver two-legged worm underhanded oaf whimpering, mewling, brittle-boned pest worthless nothing wretch The Captain also made a couple of lovely threats that are worth mentioning: "I'll dissect him bone-by-bone." "I'll impale his gullet on a marlinspike!" 12. DID THE CAPTAIN EVER CALL MRS. MUIR BY HER GIVEN NAME? Once. The Captain finally referred to Mrs. Muir as Carolyn at the end of the last-run episode of the series, "Wedding Day?????" This occurred at a particularly moving moment right after Carolyn's parents had renewed their wedding vows. The Captain, noting that the problem of how Carolyn would extricate herself from a trip to the altar with Claymore had been solved, said: "You may now consider your engagement to Claymore permanently broken." To which Carolyn replied, "Oh, I do, Captain." The Captain then, in a moment of weakness, said: "I do, Carolyn." Upon receiving a questioning look from Carolyn, he explained: "I just wanted to hear how the words sounded spoken on an occasion like this!" Double sigh! 13. DOES GULL COTTAGE REALLY EXIST? Yes, Virginia, there really is a Gull Cottage! The cottage resides in Montecito, California, shouldered between condominiums, and minus the lion statues on the porch, the ship's wheel on the balcony, and the widow's walk on the roof. Many of the interior scenes in the television series were shot in the house, and the rest were filmed at Twentieth Century Fox. 14. I REMEMBER WATCHING G&MM AS A CHILD AND WAS SO DISAPPOINTED WHEN IT WAS CANCELED BY ABC. IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT THE SERIES WILL BE REVIVED? At the current time, there are no plans to revive or create a remake of the show. However, Sean Connery is planning to do a remake of the movie version of G&MM. Mr. Connery owns the rights to make the film, which would be done by his own production company, with him cast as Captain Gregg, The movie's director Randa Haines has been quoted in "Marilyn Beck's Hollywood" column as saying she'll be making an update of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" with Sean Connery "as soon as we get a script." Haines, who directed such films as "Children of a Lesser God" and "Doctor," envisions the "Muir" remake as "a chance to explore the story from contemporary times" and hopes to have a winning screenplay soon. G&MM fans echo that sentiment, Randa! 15. THE SHOW SOUNDS FASCINATING! I'D LOVE TO WATCH A FEW OF THE EPISODES. IS THE SERIES CURRENTLY AIRING IN SYNDICATION? Yes! The series has just been revived on TVLand and will start airing in June. The Pilot episode is scheduled to air on TVLand on June 27th and again on July 3rd. Check your local listings for exact show times and airdates. 16. HAVE THE EPISODES BEEN RELEASED ON VIDEO CASSETTE? Not at this time. However, Warner Home Video has been releasing "Family TV Classics" on video, and they may be the best source to contact. If you'd like to write to them and voice your request for the release of G&MM on videocassette, their address is: Warner Home Video--Family TV Classics 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522 There are several known sources that will supply videotaped copies of the show for a fee. If you're interested in obtaining copies of any of the episodes, please contact me and I'll provide you with the sources' names and addresses. 17. G&MM WAS HIGHLY REGARDED BY CRITICS AND FANS ALIKE. DID THE SHOW EVER WIN AN EMMY? No, the show never won an Emmy. Hope Lange, however, garnered a best actress award both seasons for her portrayal as Carolyn Muir. Scruffy won a Patsy (the animal equivalent of an Emmy!) in 1970. Edward Mulhare and Charles Nelson Reilly were both nominated for the first and second season respectively, but did not win. 18. IS THE BOOK STILL IN PRINT? Yes. The novel by R.A. Dick is still in print and can be ordered by your local bookseller. The book retails for $25.95, $18.17 if ordered through an online bookseller like Amazon.com. 19. ARE THERE ANY OTHER G&MM RELATED BOOKS OR PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE? Yes. In 1968 Alice Denham released a book based upon the television series. The book was originally released in paperback form and featured a nice shot of Hope Lange (Carolyn Muir) and Edward Mulhare (Captain Gregg) on the cover. That version is currently out of print but occasionally a copy has turned up at various used bookstores or yard sales. A special reprinted hardback version, however, can be special ordered through Amazon. Com. It retails for $18.95. There is also a book available that details the making of the 1947 G&MM classic movie. Put out by the British Film Institute, it's a slim paperback that includes a lot of stills. It retails for $9.95, $7.96 if purchased through Amazon.com. Finally, there are six G&MM fanzines currently available - Above All Else, Testament, and Captain's Logs, written by Linda Mooney, Violets in the Snow and Remembrance written by Caroline Kent, and Second Chances, which was written by Laurie Bryant. There are also two books of memorable quotes uttered by that irascible sea captain, Captain Gregg - I'm a Sea Captain, Not a Plumber! - The Quotable Captain Gregg Volume One and I'm Only A Spirit, Remember? - The Quotable Captain Gregg Volume Two, both compiled by Caroline Kent. You can find more information about these stories at: http://members.aol.com/macwombat/index.htm and: http://members.xoom.com/mrsmuir/ If you'd like more information about Second Chances, email Laurie Bryant at WimpoleStreet27A@worldnet.att.net 21. WERE THERE ANY G&MM RELATED MAGAZINE ARTICLES OR INTERVIEWS? Yes. They are as follows: TV Guide - September 14, 1968 - Fall Preview Issue featuring review of the show TV Guide - Oct.19-25, 1968 - Review of the show TV Guide - Oct.26-Nov.1, 1968 - Hope Lange Cover/Interview TV Guide - Nov.29-Dec.5, 1969 - Reta Shaw Interview TV Guide - May 17-23, 1969 - Edward Mulhare Interview TV Guide - May 9-15, 1970 - Charles Nelson Reily Interview The following TV Guide covers/interviews do not pertain directly to G&MM but might be of interest to Hope Lange fans: TV Guide - March 23-29, 1963 - Andy Williams cover/Hope Lange modeling hairstyles and outfits TV Guide - Oct. 9-15, 1971 - Hope Lange/Dick Van Dyke cover TV Guide - Dec. 11-17, 1971 - James Garner cover/Hope Lange Interview TV Guide - April 22-28, 1972 - Don Rickles cover/Hope Lange Interview Issue #23 of "Epi-Log" contains a detailed summary of all G&MM episodes as well as several lovely b/w photos containing the cast members. You can order the back issue of "Epi-Log" from: Star Tech P.O. Box 456 Dunlap, TN 37327 The April 1970 (#134) issue of Mad Magazine contains a wonderful parody of the show entitled "The Ghost and The Mrs. Misses." Write to the magazine for more information about back issues. 22. I RECENTLY HEARD A RUMOR THAT A G&MM MUSICAL IS IN THE WORKS. IS THIS TRUE? Yes. Bill Francoeur has been working on writing words and lyrics to a new G&MM musical, which may actually be produced in the Fall of 1998 in Philadelphia. It's also possible that this production will be done on Broadway! The project has been in the works for about nine years, and had previously been produced in California, with a kind of musical, light comedy slant. The people currently working on it feel that they should go back to the love story, as that's what makes the story work, so seven of the songs written for the first production have been kept and the rest discarded. Producers Hal Grossman and Joel Murray are expected to meet the week of 8/11/97 with Jack Shoupe, Director of the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts (PCPA) to discuss a future workshop performance. Jack directed G&MM in another incarnation back in 1987 and has a great deal of interest in the current project. On an exciting note, Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia has expressed a great deal of interest in producing the show in the fall of '98! More details will be forthcoming as they are revealed! 23. IS IT TRUE THAT EDWARD MULHARE RECENTLY PASSED ON? Yes. Edward Mulhare, tragically and prematurely, passed on last spring, on May 24th, 1997, at his home in Van Nuys after a five-month battle with lung cancer. He was 74. 24. IS RETA SHAW STILL ALIVE? Sadly, no. Reta Shaw passed on in 1982. 25. WHAT ABOUT HOPE LANGE? CHARLES NELSON REILY? AND SCRUFFY? Hope Lange and Charles Nelson Reily are still very much alive and involved in various projects. Scruffy, however, is happily frolicking about in doggy heaven. 26. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE ACTRESS AND ACTOR WHO PORTRAYED CANDY AND JONATHAN MUIR? US Magazine did a special "Where Are They Now?" feature in the September 4, 1989 issue, which included a segment on Kellie Flanagan (Candy Muir). At that time, Kellie was living in Venice, California, and running her own videotaping company called "Strictly Video Productions," which produced everything from demo tapes for performers to documentary-type programs. Harlen Carraher graduated from the University of Southern California in 1986 where he earned a degree in civil engineering. He is currently working for the city of Los Angeles in the Department of Building and Safety. He lives in Silverlake and is engaged to be married this summer. 27. WHERE CAN I FIND PICTURES OF THE CAST MEMBERS? Jerry Ohlinger's Movie Material Store carries a large assortment of 8x10 black & white and color G&MM stills. If you write to them and enclose a SASE they'll send you a listing of what's currently available. Their address is: Jerry Ohlinger's Movie Material Store, Inc. 242 W 14th St. New York, NY 10011 Phone: (212) 989-0869 FAX: (212) 989-1660 Collectors Book Store carries several 8x10 B&W reprints on heavy stock paper. They retail for $6.00 each. Again, write to them and enclose a SASE for a current listing. Their address is: Collectors Book Store 1708 N. Vine St. Hollywood, CA 90028 (213) 467-3296 Collectors Book Store also carries an original script from the second season--"Puppy Love." The price for the script, which contains a studio cover and is the final draft, is $35.00 plus $5.00 s/h. Star World also has a few good candid's of Edward Mulhare taken in the 1980's. Their address is: Star World 6665 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90078 (213) 469-0757 Hollywood Book and Poster has five slides from which they will make prints: two are from rehearsals because Edward Mulhare is only wearing the sweater but no jacket, one is from the pilot of the Captain, very nice, and two studio shots of Hope Lange, also quite nice. Their address is: Hollywood Book and Poster Co. P.O. Box 539 Los Angeles, CA 90078 (213) 465-8764 FAX: (213) 465-0413 The Bijou Collectibles has some lovely color shots of Edward Mulhare and Hope Lange. They also have a few stills containing the children and Claymore. Their address is: The Bijou Collectables P.O. Box 201 Fullerton, CA 92632 (714) 680-8799 You can also find lots of cool pics on the "Image" page of my "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir Homepage": http://members.xoom.com/mrsmuir/ 28. WHERE CAN I FIND COPIES OF THE EPISODE SCRIPTS? Script City currently carries the scripts to the following episodes: Dog Gone Chowderhead The Medicine Ball Today I Am A Ghost Madam Candidate Medium Well Done Not So Desperate Hours Not So Faust Tourist Go Home To write for a current listing and pricing information, send a SASE to: Script City 8033 Sunset Blvd. Suite 1500 Hollywood, CA 90046 29. IS THERE A G&MM MAILING LIST OR USENET NEWSGROUP? Currently, there is no G&MM newsgroup. However, there is a G&MM e-mail loop where fans of the show can discuss the show, the characters and the actors. To join, contact Linda Mooney at MacWombat@aol.com. 30. IS THERE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT G&MM AVAILABLE ON THE WWW? Yes, there are several websites dedicated to the show. My "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir Homepage" contains lots of images from both the television show and movie, audio and video clips, a quote of the month, plus a copy of this FAQ. The URL for my website is: http://members.xoom.com/mrsmuir/ Victoria Soo has created a "Ghost and Mrs. Muir Multimedia" website that contains some wonderful video clips. The URL for her site is: http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/python/191/ Linda Mooney's "Ghost and Mrs. Muir" site contains various G&MM stills and reviews of all the series' episodes. The URL for her website is: http://members.aol.com/macwombat/index.htm You can also find information about the show and the actors at: Internet Movie Database http://www/imdb.com http://www.msstate.edu/Movies/search.html Caroline Kent caro@earthlink.net User Contributions:
[ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ]
Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: caro@earthlink.net (Caroline Kent)
Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:12 PM
|
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: