We all have our own favorite show from back then. Sometimes, we just spend hours watching these classics over and over just because they don’t make it like they used to before. It was the only thing we had before streaming TV, mobile phones, and gaming consoles. It was life for the whole family as they all sat around the television and bonded over characters and plots. But would you believe that there were lots of things from your favorite shows that you don't know about? We’ve summed them all up here. Let’s see if you noticed some of these hidden details. As they say, there’s more than what meets the eye.
The Real Color of The Addams Family Living Room
Since it first aired in 1964, the Addams family has been known to be one of the most influential and horrific fictional families out there. The eerie, creepy, and gothic feel was achieved with a lot of movie props complemented by the effect of b&w TV. When the set was finally photographed in color, it revealed that the room was actually filled with warm hues. In 2019, The Addams Family got a reboot in the form of an animated film, which came out in October of the same year, featuring a distinguished voice cast including Chloe Grace Moretz, Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, Nick Kroll, and Bette Midler.
This missing detail about The Golden Girls will certainly make you rewatch the show!
The Thing You Didn’t Notice about The Golden Girls' Furniture
The Golden Girls aired on NBC from 1985 up until 1992 with a total of seven seasons. Throughout that time, not a lot of people noticed that the four women only had three chairs around their roundtable. The production mentioned that even if they placed four chairs around the table, the actresses still needed to be squeezed together in order to fit into the camera frame. In 2017, Rue McLanahan, the lead actress of the show, opened up an eatery that had a Golden Girls theme to it. Unfortunately, the eatery did not last long and had to close down without even lasting a year in the market.
Find out where Monica and Rachel's door leads! Click next.
The Secret Behind the Bedroom Doors of Friends' Monica and Rachel
The hit series Friends has been debated to be one of the best sitcoms there is back in the day. The show made stars out of its talented cast members, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc. However, the show was not filmed in a real apartment or a deluxe house and their bedrooms were totally fake—including the rooms of Monica and Rachel. The entire series was filmed inside the studios of Warner Bros and in front of a live audience (hence, the laughs). Until now, Friends is still one of the most binge-watched shows. Netflix even paid $100 million just to retain its license until 2019.
This bedroom from I Love Lucy actually had a dual purpose. Any guesses?
Lucy and Ricky's Bedroom Actually Transforms
Back when TV sitcoms had a really low budget, I Love Lucy was one of the shows that knew how to budget their funds when it comes to filming. In fact, if you would pay attention, you may notice that Ricardo's bedroom was an exact replica of the Mertzes' living room. What a clever way to manage the budget. All the set designers had to do was swap some furniture and voila! In 2017, the show started their reruns on multiple TV stations including Fox's KTTV/KCOP, Hallmark Channel, and MeTV up until December 2018.
Then how about this show's bathroom scene? Find out about it on the next page.
Leave It to Beaver Didn’t Care About the Awkward Feeling
If The Brady Bunch was popular for not having a toilet in their bathroom, Leave It to Beaver was the first ever show to have a bathroom scene. During the show's run from the late '50s to early '60s, having a bathroom scene was really awkward and it was only allowed for short screen times. The producers knew that the family won’t be needing any toilet repair plumber service as they did not include one in their lavatory. Even though there was no toilet on the set, the producers weren't cheap when it comes to their episodes. Each episode's budget was estimated to be $40K—which was around $360K in 2018!
Can you actually believe that houses can also do cameos? Click next to see it for yourself.
The Bewitched House Made Cameos in Other Sitcoms
Bewitched gained instant popularity right after it started airing in 1964. It remained a hit up until its eight and final season in 1972. If you look closely, the Stephens residence in the sitcom sure looked like Jeannie and Captain Nelson’s deluxe house in the show, I Dream of Jeannie. It just so happens that both the producers from Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie rented the same house to shoot their show. However, this wasn’t the only time it appeared on television and films. It also appeared in Gidget, Hook, Line & Sinker, The Monkees, and Partridge Family. In August 2018, ABC announced that Bewitched would have its reboot.
Why didn't The Brady Bunch have a toilet inside their bathroom? Find out, next.
The Brady Bunch's Bathroom's Missing Piece
The Brady Bunch became popular in the early '70s for its story that revolves around a big blended family of six kids. At the time of its broadcast, showing a toilet on screen wasn’t a great idea as it left an awkward feeling for its viewers. The producers of the show made a decision to have a bathroom that lacks one of the most important fixtures—a toilet. This was done to avoid any complications with the viewers. It looks like the six siblings will be doing some home remodeling on the real-life Brady Bunch house as they reunite in a new HGTV show titled A Very Brady Renovation. Hopefully, they'll include a toilet.
Find out how Star Trek made history in 1968. Click next to see what happened!
Star Trek Making History
Star Trek certainly has become one of the greatest sci-fi TV series out there. Ever since its release in 1966, the Star Trek franchise has made lots of memorable scenes on TV. In an episode in 1968, they made history for filming what was widely considered to be the first interracial kiss on U.S. television. Garbed in Greek clothes, Nichelle Nichols, who plays Lt. Uhura, and William Shatner, who plays Captain James T-Kirk, shared a kiss for the episode titled Plato's Stepchildren. For fear of angering some viewers at that time, NBC insisted that their lips shouldn't touch. However, in her 1994 autobiography titled Beyond Uhura, Nichols shared that the kiss was real.
There's actually one kid who finds it difficult to throw a rock. Can you guess who?
Ron Howard Found It Difficult to Throw a Rock
Believe it or not, The Andy Griffith Show’s opening theme took some time to shoot regardless of its simplicity. During the scene, Ron Howard, who plays the role of Ronny, walks alongside Griffith and throws a rock into the lake. However, that didn’t exactly happen according to Biography.com. When the cast and crew were shooting the scene at Franklin Canyon, Ron couldn't throw the rock several times. Instead, they asked someone to throw the rock at the same time Ron makes the attempt. At the age 64, Ron Howard is now the eighth highest-grossing film director.
Find out how this crew managed to film magic scenes without any computer effects. Click next.
Behind the Scenes of Bewitched
With the level of technology back in the '60s, it was still impossible to produce the effects we see in today's modern films. The production team of Bewitched had to work manually to produce Samantha’s magic so they created a team to work as stagehands. Those simple magic tricks like tidying up when her in-laws came to visit required a lot of hands. For this scene, Elizabeth Montgomery had to stand for quite some time with her arm up while the stagehands did the work and removed all clothes, newspapers, and clutter. Sadly, the Bewitched star passed away in 1995 after ignoring the symptoms of colon cancer.
Find out where this show was meant to be located in the first place. It's quite unexpected!
The Beverly Hillbillies’ Initial Location
The Beverly Hillbillies didn’t exactly start in Beverly Hills where it was actually filmed. Initially, when director Paul Henning had the idea for the sitcom, he imagined the location to be in New York. However, it changed over time as Beverly Hills became the perfect setting for the show that everyone loved through the years. Just imagine the difference if the sitcom was shot in New York! Despite being canceled on its ninth season, its earnings continue to prosper as Paramount started to release it on DVD. The show's complete fifth season was released in October 2018.
This tiny detail on Gilligan Island's opening credits will leave pain in your heart. Click next!
The Reason Behind the Half-Mast Flag in Gilligan’s Island
It was in November 1963 when Gilligan’s Island began its filming. During the last day of filming in Hawaii, they all learned that John F. Kennedy was just assassinated. The unfortunate and historical incident was the reason behind a tiny detail in the opening credits of the very first season. If you look closely while the Minnow sails out, the United States flag is spotted at half-mast to pay respect to the fallen JFK. Unfortunately, Bob Denver, the famous actor behind the character of Gilligan, passed away as well in 2005 while he was receiving cancer treatment.
Can you actually believe that Bob Denver was not the first choice for Gilligan? Find out next.
Gilligan Role Turned Down
Actor Dick Van Dyke was initially offered to play the role of Gilligan in 1964. However, he simply turned it down. The only reason behind his decision was that he didn’t want to be part of the cast and no other explanation followed after that. Instead, he went on and appeared in movies such as Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dick Tracy, and Curious George. He obviously became more successful with this decision. In fact, he now has a net worth of $50 million. In 2018, he returned on screen for the film, Mary Poppins Returns.
This iconic singer actually attempted to audition for the role of The Joker. Can you guess who he is?
At Some Point, Frank Sinatra Wanted the Role of The Joker
Legendary music icon Frank Sinatra didn’t just win the hearts of many with his voice, he was also great at acting. Although he was better at singing, he still tried to audition for some iconic roles in films and television shows—including the role of The Joker on the show, Batman, in the late '60s. However, Cesar Romero won the part. Although we never knew who could’ve done it better, he still became very successful in music. He was even named as the best-selling artist of all time. The last actor to play the role of The Joker is Jared Leto who went home with a $7 million paycheck for the 2016 film, Suicide Squad.
The '60s Batman costume had to undergo major tweaks. See it for yourself on the next page.
Costume Tweaks
Batman star Adam West originally started with a different costume. The yellow behind the Batman emblem wasn’t in place and the ears were higher than usual. When the designers noticed this, they clipped it and made it smaller. They decided to trim it because it wouldn’t show during close-ups. Before Adam passed away in June 2017, he was still able to do voice acting gigs for Batman films, such as Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders in 2016 and Batman vs. Two-Face in 2017. These two are animated films released in DVDs.
Why did the cast wear repeated clothes in the show Bonanza? Was there a big reason? Click next.
The Reason Behind the Repeated Clothes
The only reason for the repeated costumes in the western show Bonanza is budget management. Ideally, it would cost a lot of money just to provide different costumes for all of the characters. So instead, they just wore the same thing for every episode and used it to their advantage in terms of post-production. Using the same clothing was also helpful especially for the action scenes as they would just use B-roll footages. Unfortunately, the iconic show's main cast—Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon—have all passed away.
This show actually released a Christmas album which was loved by many fans. Click next to reveal!
Western Christmas
It might be pretty unusual, but the Bonanza crew decided to release a festive album for the holiday season. So keep this in mind for the next holiday festivities as you can play their own version of Deck the Halls and Jingle Bells. The album was released in 1964 and was titled Christmas at Ponderosa. Until now, the album is still loved by many and can be streamed through music platforms like Spotify and iTunes. Better add this into your playlist and enjoy listening to it while wrapping up those Christmas gifts.
There's actually a hidden fact about the home in the sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Click next!
The Actual Nelson Home
Not many people know that the Nelson house in the sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, is actually a property of the Nelsons. Just like the cast, the house also had a recurring role in the show. All of the interior used in the set were actually based on their own house as well, so not much has changed during the filming. Up to this date, the house still exists and has gone through several renovations and remodeling. However, its creator, Ozzie Nelson, himself has passed away from liver cancer in 1975.
This cast got all its viewers wondering about his job in the show. After many years, you can actually find out about it on the next page.
The Mystery Job of Ozzie
Many fans are well aware of the fact that Ozzie from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet works as a bandleader, director, actor, and producer. However, when he made his own TV show with his family, he didn’t seem to have a fictional job or hasn’t mentioned one. This has led to several rumors, concerns, and jokes over the years. Of course, one member of the family, Ozzie’s granddaughter Tracy Nelson, cleared things up and claimed that he was, in fact, a lawyer. Sadly, Ozzie's wife, Harriet Nelson, died earlier than her husband after suffering from congestive heart failure in 1994.
This actress changed the standards of women on television. Get to know her next!
Changing the Standards
For a total of five seasons, The Dick Van Dyke Show was able to win the hearts of TV audiences and a total of 15 Emmy awards. Of course, the '60s sitcom would not have been great if it wasn’t for their talented cast. While performing some living room chores in one scene, Mary Tyler Moore was seen wearing comfortable clothes instead of formal wear. This then changed the standard of women in modern TV. Because of all of her efforts, Mary even had a statue designed to her likeness which is located in Minnesota.
However, it was also in the show where her health declined. See the story next.
The Symptoms She Ignored
Back in the '60s, The Dick Van Dyke Show was considered to be one of the greatest of its time. With a cast that boasts great talent, it's no wonder it lasted for an entire five seasons. However, in an episode of the famed sitcom, Mary Tyler Moore began experiencing bizarre feelings such as dizziness and blurred vision. Assuming it was just fatigue from all the work she’s been doing, Mary ignored the symptoms. Sadly, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She, unfortunately, passed away in 2017 from cardiopulmonary arrest caused by pneumonia at the age of 80.
Check out this famous dog actor in the '60s, up next!
Higgins, The Dog Actor
Most of the viewers of the '60s sitcom, Petticoat Junction, surely remember that the show took place in a luxury hotel. The Shady Rest Hotel was run by Kate Bradley alongside Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, Betty Joe (her three daughters), and their uncle Joe Carson. However, throughout the course of the show, their dog, Higgins, was probably the most famous member of the cast. Higgins remained with the show up until its cancellation in the '70s. Eventually, Higgins found another role and became a part of the film Benji. In 2018, Decades TV Network and Punch TV Studios started airing the b&w episodes of the show and slowly continued through with the colored episodes.
There are actually more than three children in the sitcom My Three Sons. Find out about them, next!
Wrong Info?
The TV sitcom My Three Sons gained popularity when it was aired on ABC from 1960 to 1965. However, it was then moved to CBS up until the end of their show in 1972. Throughout its long and prosperous run, not many viewers noticed that the three sons actually had two other siblings in the show. It was later known that Steven Douglas had five children—Mike, Robbie, Chip, their adopted son Ernie, and his stepdaughter, Dodie. After first reairing the entire series from May 29, 2017 to August 3, 2018, MeTV decided to continue its legacy and started airing the entire series all over again on August 6, 2018.
This next show made a leap from radio to television which the fans really loved! See it, next.
Gunsmoke Goes From Radio to Television
When the Western tv series Gunsmoke first aired in the '50s, it was in a form of a radio drama. It was then eventually turned into a TV show where James Arness portrayed the role of Matt Dillon. Their subsequent success proved that changing the media channel was better for the viewers. With a TV show, they can see actual movie props and see their favorite characters. At first, it was filmed in black and white. But by 1966, it was already filmed in color—which made a lot of fans happy. You can still catch full episodes of the show on its DVD releases. Its 13th season was released on May 2018.
Find out how the crew of this show made a horse talk! Click next to reveal.
The Talking Horse
When Mister Ed was released in the '60s, it was quite bizarre as they happened to have a talking horse in their cast. At first, many audiences were uncertain on what’s happening because the horse seemed to move its lips naturally. Apparently, when asked about it in an interview, Mister Ed star Alan Young revealed that they used peanut butter to get Bamboo Harvester’s lips to move. However, peanut butter wasn't the only thing that Bamboo was eating. Alan also revealed that he consumed a gallon of sweet tea and 20 pounds of hay every day. Sadly, Alan died in 2016 at the age of 96 while staying in a retirement home.
This show left a mark on its audience when it had an accidental shot while its lead wore a Geisha outfit.
The Accidental Shot
McHale's Navy gained popularity in the '60s as it aired for a total of 138 hours in its four seasons. The show was originally filmed in black and white as it originated from a drama film titled Seen Against the Sea. However, one particular scene was remembered by many. In the scene, captain and navy recruiter Binghamton suddenly appeared wearing a Geisha costume. Even though there was an immense round of applause coming from the audience, the show got busted when they accidentally panned the camera toward the audience and no one was clapping. In 2015, the complete series of the show was released on DVD with a total of 138 Episodes.
Find out what is the real gender of Lassie, up next!
Is Lassie a Boy or a Girl?
First aired in 1954, Lassie follows the adventures of a female dog named Lassie alongside her animal and human companions. Even though the character was a female, Lassie was played by a male dog due to some complications. When Lassie was released in the ‘50s, spaying was not a common practice and female dogs often shed a lot of fur. The producers of the show mentioned that male dogs only shed fur seasonally and they are better therapy dogs than females. You can catch the adventures of this famous dog through a DVD copy of Lassie: A Mother's Lover which was released in 2007.
Click next to reveal why this actress was initially rejected for a role in The Honeymooners.
Audrey Meadows Initially Got Rejected
Back when Audrey Meadows was auditioning for the role of Alice in the hit sitcom, The Honeymooners, she was actually rejected. The show's star, Jackie Gleason, knew that Audrey was perfect for the role. However, she was too young and too beautiful to fill the role of a working woman. Audrey figured that she needed to do something to win the heart of Jackie so she went home and removed all of her heavy cosmetics. She then hired a photographer to take her photo and immediately sent them to Jackie. Soon enough, he ended up hiring her. In 1994, she published her memoir titled Love, Alice: My Life As A Honeymooner.
Find out why many networks lost a week's revenue after a tragedy struck in 1963.
The Death of President Kennedy
When former US President John F. Kennedy met his untimely death in 1963, numerous TV networks broadcasted his funeral. Even CBS aired a two-hour special about his assassination. Other TV networks took it to the next level and covered his entire funeral and burial. CBS, NBC, and ABC had a four-day broadcast on radio and, of course, on TV. The three networks were said to have lost an estimated $225 million per day. Before JFK passed away, he made sure that the Apollo training program budget would reach $40 billion—around $331 billion in 2018.
In the 1960s, television had a great effect in the elections. Click next to see the evidence.
Television’s Effect in the Elections
In comes 1960, when the television had affected the way the politicians campaigned and also changed the outcome of the votes. John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon participated in their second presidential debate that was held on a studio. NBC studios hosted the debate in Washington D.C. and televised it for the entire nation to see. Even though the two had almost the same portfolio, Kennedy's confidence made Nixon sweat. When viewers noticed this, they started to doubt Nixon's capabilities and it greatly affected his votes. During the most recent US presidential campaign, over 84 million people watched then-candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton clash in a debate.