Flipper is an American television program first broadcast on NBC from September 18, 1964 until April 15, 1967. Flipper, a Bottlenose Dolphin, is the companion animal of Porter Ricks, Chief Warden at fictional Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in southern Florida, and his two young sons Sandy and Bud. The show was created by Jack Cowden and Ricou Browning, a man with extensive experience in underwater filming and underwater performance, notably as the monster in The Creature from the Black Lagoon. A considerable amount of juvenile merchandise inspired by the show was produced during the first-run. The show has been dubbed an "aquatic Lassie". Ricou Browning (born February 16, 1930) is an American film director, actor, producer and underwater cinematographer and action specialist. ... Brian Kelly (February 14, 1931 – February 12, 2005) was an American actor best known for his role as Porter Ricks, the father of two sons on the television series Flipper. ... Luke Halpin Luke Halpin (born 1947) is an American film and television actor. ... Tommy Norden (born September 25, 1952 in New York City) is an American actor. ... For the Emmerdale actor, see Andy Devine (actor). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article is about the television network. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... A television program (US), television programme (UK) or simply television show is a segment of programming in television broadcasting. ... The word broadcast can refer to: Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals. ... This article is about the television network. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Binomial name Montagu, 1821 Bottlenose Dolphin range (in blue) The Bottlenose Dolphin is one of the most common and well-known dolphins. ... PET, see PET. A pet or companion animal is an animal that is kept by humans for companionship and enjoyment, rather than for economic reasons. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... Film poster for Creature from the Black Lagoon Creature from the Black Lagoon is a genre-making 1954 horror film. ... Lassie was a American television series which originally aired from 1954 to 1974. ...

Production

The television show is an adaptation of the 1963 film Flipper starring Chuck Connors and Luke Halpin as Porter and Sandy Ricks, and its 1964 sequel, Flipper's New Adventure, where Brian Kelly took over the role of Porter. In adapting the films to a television series, the producers made Porter a single parent and gave him a second son named Bud. The producers departed yet again from the films in endowing Flipper with an unnatural degree of intelligence and an extraordinary understanding of human motives, behavior, and vocabulary. A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... For other uses, see Adaptation (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Flipper is an American feature film (1963) written by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden, and directed by James B. Clark. ... Chuck Connors (April 10, 1921 – November 10, 1992) was an American actor and a professional basketball and baseball player. ... Luke Halpin Luke Halpin (born 1947) is an American film and television actor. ... Flippers New Adventure is an American feature film (1964) written by Art Arthur, and directed by Leon Benson, based on characters created by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden. ... The eye is an adaptation. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... It has been suggested that Baby mama be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Son (disambiguation). ... The primary role of a television producer is to coordinate and control all aspects of production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking. ... Look up flipper in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Cetacean intelligence denotes the cognitive capabilities of the cetacean order of mammals and especially the various species of dolphin. ...

Filming locations

Flipper was filmed in Miami at Greenwich Studios, (as Ivan Tors Studios), 12100 Ivan Tors Boulevard, Miami, Florida, USA. Nassau was an occasional location. The show was produced in cooperation with Miami Seaquarium, an aquarium located on Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida.

Role of Flipper

Flipper was played mainly by a female dolphin named Susie, and occasionally by other females named Patty, Kathy, Scotty and Squirt. The five dolphins performed all of Flipper's thespian chores except the famous tail walk, a trick they were unable to master completely. A male dolphin named Clown was brought in for scenes involving the tail walk.^[1] The famous "voice" of Flipper was actually the doctored song of a Kookaburra bird. Female dolphins were chosen because females are less aggressive than males and their skins (unlike the skins of male dolphins) are usually free of disfigurations acquired in altercations with other dolphins. The dolphins used on the show were trained by Richard O'Barry. Look up flipper in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Dolphin (disambiguation). ... Species Dacelo gaudichaud Dacelo leachii Dacelo novaeguineae Dacelo tyro For other uses, see Kookaburra (disambiguation). ...

Music

The show's theme tune was credited to Henry Vars with lyrics by William "By" Dunham. In France the melody was known as "La Romance de Paris" ("The Love Song of Paris"). The words to the Flipper theme: Henryk Wars (real name Henryk Warszawski, 1902, Warsaw - 1977, USA) was a Polish and later American pop music composer. ...

They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning,
No-one you see, is smarter than he,
And we know Flipper lives in a world full of wonder,
Lying there under, under the sea!
Everyone loves the king of the sea,
Ever so kind and gentle is he,
Tricks he will do when children appear,
And how they laugh when he's near!
They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning,
No-one you see, is smarter than he,
And we know Flipper lives in a world full of wonder,
Lying there under, under the sea!

The first five episodes of the second season feature a completely different recording of the theme, sung by Frankie Randall, with different lyrics:

We call him Flipper, Flipper, you'll see him smilin'
Right from the start, he'll play it smart.
Beware of Flipper, Flipper, he's such a lover,
You will discover when he steals your heart!
When you're feelin' sad, when you're feelin' blue,
He'll make you glad, yes, that's what he'll do,
And what he can do you'll never believe,
For he's got tricks up his sleeve!
Beware of Flipper, Flipper, he's such a lover,
You will discover when he steals your heart!

The background music of the long underwater sequences was inspired by Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe. Maurice Ravel. ... Longus was a Greek sophist and romancer, and author of Daphnis and Chloe. ...

Broadcast history

Initially the show was broadcast September 1964 - September 1967, NBC, Saturday 7:30-8:00 pm. Later, reruns of the first two seasons aired January 1968 - June 1968, NBC, Sunday 6:30-7:00 pm and June 1968 - September 1968, NBC, Sunday 7:00-7:30 pm.

Characters and cast

Animal cast

Flipper

• Flipper. Flipper is a wild dolphin and the companion animal of the Ricks family. Flipper is an extraordinarily intelligent dolphin who helps enforce regulations on the preserve, assists Porter Ricks with rescues at sea, and keeps a watchful eye on Sandy and Bud.
• Pelican Pete. A pelican named Pete, depicted in the original movie as Sandy's pet before he met Flipper, had a recurring role on the show and appeared in several episodes.
• Additional animal cast members. Other animals appearing on the show included a chocolate brown dog named Spray (seen only in a few early episodes), a seal, a baby elephant, alligators, a female albino dolphin (whose baby Flipper fathered during her only appearance, in the "White Dolphin" episode); and another female dolphin, introduced at the end of the second season, dubbed "Lorelei" by the Ricks family. Lorelei became Flipper's "girlfriend".

For other uses, see Dolphin (disambiguation). ... PET, see PET. A pet or companion animal is an animal that is kept by humans for companionship and enjoyment, rather than for economic reasons. ... For other uses, see Pelican (disambiguation). ... A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a TV series, who is not a main character, but appears from time to time during the series run. ... Families Odobenidae Otariidae Phocidae Pinnipeds (fin-feet, lit. ... Genera and Species Loxodonta Loxodonta cyclotis Loxodonta africana Elephas Elephas maximus Elephas antiquus † Elephas beyeri † Elephas celebensis † Elephas cypriotes † Elephas ekorensis † Elephas falconeri † Elephas iolensis † Elephas planifrons † Elephas platycephalus † Elephas recki † Stegodon † Mammuthus † Elephantidae (the elephants) is a family of pachyderm, and the only remaining family in the order Proboscidea... For other uses, see Alligator (disambiguation). ... Albinism is a genetic condition resulting in a lack of pigmentation in the eyes, skin and hair. ...

Human cast

Porter Ricks (Brian Kelly)

• Porter Ricks. Brian Kelly fills the show's moral center with his portrayal of loving father, conscientious government employee, rugged outdoorsman, and all-around good guy Porter Ricks. Porter is a widowed father with two sons, Sandy and Bud, and is employed as Chief Warden at fictional Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in southern Florida. Porter's friend and co-worker, Warden Dennis (Dan Chandler) appears in a recurring role on the show. Although Porter is single, he has few female companions. In the first season, for example, he dates a woman who makes one appearance and is never seen again. Brian Kelly told TV Guide (July 9, 1966): "I'm going to bring a couple of bikini girls on. I want some groovy-lookin' girls because a lot of fathers who see the show say, "Where are the chicks?""

Sandy (Luke Halpin) and Bud Ricks (Tommy Norden)

• Sandy Ricks. Luke Halpin plays Porter's elder son Sandy, a mid-to-late teen adolescent sometimes given to boyish mishaps and poor choices yet old enough for adult responsibilities and duties. Sandy often accompanies his father on dangerous adventures and rescues at sea. The character of Sandy (as well as the actor) is carried over from the feature films, where he was the one who first met Flipper and became his special friend.
• Bud Ricks. Redheaded, freckle-faced Tommy Norden played Porter Ricks's younger son Bud, a boy who had a difficult time staying out of trouble. Many episodes revolve around mistakes made by Bud, intentionally or unintentionally. Bud is gullible and easily swallows the tall tales Hap Gorman feeds him. Bud is at home on or near the sea and loves animals of all sorts. Flipper is his special companion.

Hap Gorman (Andy Devine)

• Hap Gorman, Veteran film, radio, and television character actor Andy Devine had a recurring role in the show's first season as an old salt and marine carpenter named Hap Gorman. Hap was something of a bungler who tried Porter's patience. Hap, in the traditional vein for Andy Devine, enjoyed spinning yarns and tall tales about bejeweled maharajahs, faraway kingdoms and exotic ports for the amusement of skeptical Sandy and gullible Bud.
• Ulla Norstrand. Swedish-born character actress Ulla Stromstedt had a recurring role during the second season as Ulla Norstrand, an oceanographer whose work frequently took her to Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve. She was often instrumental in enforcing the park's regulations. One of her trademarks was her miniature yellow submarine she was often seen using in her oceanographic explorations, and which was sometimes pivotal in storylines. She was a potential love interest for Porter Ricks, although no serious relationship was ever shown to develop.

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Brian Kelly (February 14, 1931 – February 12, 2005) was an American actor best known for his role as Porter Ricks, the father of two sons on the television series Flipper. ... Brian Kelly (February 14, 1931 – February 12, 2005) was an American actor best known for his role as Porter Ricks, the father of two sons on the television series Flipper. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a TV series, who is not a main character, but appears from time to time during the series run. ... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Luke Halpin Luke Halpin (born 1947) is an American film and television actor. ... Tommy Norden (born September 25, 1952 in New York City) is an American actor. ... Luke Halpin Luke Halpin (born 1947) is an American film and television actor. ... Tommy Norden (born September 25, 1952 in New York City) is an American actor. ... For the Emmerdale actor, see Andy Devine (actor). ... For the Emmerdale actor, see Andy Devine (actor). ...

Plot

The Ricks cottage at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve

The series follows a Bottlenose Dolphin named Flipper who is the wild pet of Porter Ricks, a park warden, and his sons Sandy and Bud. Flipper lives in a lagoon near the Ricks cottage at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve. With the Ricks family, Flipper helps protect the park and preserve and its wild inhabitants. He is also instrumental in apprenhending criminals and thugs in the park. Flipper is the special companion of the youngest member of the Ricks family, Bud, and several episodes feature Flipper rescuing Bud from dangerous situations. There are few women in the lives of the Ricks males but Porter does have a date in the first season while Sandy meets the girl operator of a floating zoo. A female oceanographer enters the series in the second season to add a feminine touch to the proceedings. Promotional material for the third season announced a new girlfriend for Sandy, although she only appeared in one episode. The series is distinguished for its lush photography of subtropical Florida and its colorful underwater sequences.

Cancellation and subsequent history

The last first-run episode of Flipper aired April 15, 1967.

Flipper has seen periodic syndication since its NBC cancellation. The show has aired on cable's Family Channel, Nickelodeon, Animal Planet, Discovery Kids, and satellite provider Voom's Family Room channel in high-definition. Most of the images of Flipper jumping against a skyline not in the originally aired version, as the filming took place in an enclosed lagoon. They were filmed at the end of the series and added for syndication.^[2] In the television industry (as in radio), syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast programs to multiple stations, without going through a broadcast network. ... For other uses, see Cancellation (disambiguation). ... Cable TV redirects here. ... This article is about the TV channel. ... Animal Planet, launched in 1996, is a cable and satellite television network co-owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. ... Discovery Kids Channel is a digital cable television channel, owned by Discovery Communications (see Discovery Channel) with programming for education of children. ...

The rights to Flipper were later acquired by Turner Entertainment, with distribution rights being acquired by the Samuel Goldwyn Company, and in turn acquired by MGM Television (ironically, the company that originally produced the series). Turner (now a Time Warner division) and MGM now share ancillary rights. Turner Entertainment Company was established August 4, 1986 to oversee Turner Broadcastings film library after its acquisition of MGM/UA. In addition to the studio, Turner got its library, which included all of MGMs films, Warner Bros. ... The Samuel Goldwyn Company was an independent film company founded by Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. ... MGM Television Entertainment logo MGM Television (first known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television, and later MGM/UA Television) is an American television production/distribution company that was launched in 1955 and a subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. ... Time Warner Inc. ...

Reception

Merchandise

Vintage Flipper board game

Flipper merchandise generated for the juvenile market during the show's first run is scarce and collectible. Flipper vintage collectibles include: lunch boxes, song books, comic books, coloring books, Whitman novel, Big Little Books, souvenir spoons Whitman frame tray puzzles, a board game, Viewmaster reels, and a battery-operated "spouting dolphin" water toy. A collectible (or collectable) is typically a manufactured item designed for people to collect. ... For the Marilyn Manson single, see Lunchbox (single). ... Song book, a book containing lyrics and/or notes for songs. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... A coloring book is a type of book containing line art for a reader to add color to, with crayons, colored pencils, or similar implements. ... This is a page about the company Western Publishing. ... Big Little Books began in 1932, published by the Whitman Publishing Company in Racine, Wisconsin. ... Also known as Location Spoon A souvenir spoon is a decorative spoon used to signify or hold a memory of a place or event, or to display as a trophy of having been there, thus also a classical memento from pilgrimage sites; they are often in more fancy materials and... This is a page about the company Western Publishing. ... A puzzle undone, which forms a cube Puzzle cube; a type of puzzle For other uses, see Puzzle (disambiguation). ... A shelf of board games. ... View-Master reels from a German Karl May-movie. ...

DVD release

MGM/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released the first season on DVD on April 24, 2007. 20th Century Fox logo Fox Plaza, the company headquarters. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Awards and recognition

The Miami Seaquarium celebrated the 40th anniversary of Flipper in 2004 with Luke Halpin and Tommy Norden participating. Flipper was nominated for two TV Land awards: in 2004 for the TV Land Favorite Fauna Award and, in 2003, for the TV Land Favorite Pet-Human Relationship Award. Flipper appeared twice on TV Guide covers. The killer whale show at the Miami Seaquarium starring Lolita. ... TV Land (originally Nick at Nites TV Land) is an American cable television network launched April 29, 1996. ... TV Guide is the name of two North American weekly magazines about television programming, one in the United States and one in Canada. ...

List of episodes

See also

• Flipper (1963 film)
• Flipper's New Adventure
• Flipper (1995 TV series)
• Flipper (1996 film)
• Cetacean intelligence
• Child actors
• Marine life
• Biscayne Bay
• Ivan Tors
• Underwater photography
• Dolphinarium

Flipper is an American feature film (1963) written by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden, and directed by James B. Clark. ... Flippers New Adventure is an American feature film (1964) written by Art Arthur, and directed by Leon Benson, based on characters created by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Flipper is a 1996 remake of the 1963 Flipper, starring Elijah Wood. ... Cetacean intelligence denotes the cognitive capabilities of the cetacean order of mammals and especially the various species of dolphin. ... The term child actor is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion the latter is also called a former child actor. ... Marine biology is the study of animal and plant life within saltwater ecosystems. ... Biscayne Bay separates Miami on the mainland from Miami Beach on the barrier islands of the Atlantic Ocean coast of Florida. ... Ivan Tors (born Budapest, Hungary June 12, 1916 - June 4, 1983) was in his life an animal trainer, playwright, screenwriter, radio writer and film and television producer. ... Pink Anemonefish hiding in tentacles Underwater photography is the process of taking photographs while underwater. ... Dolphinarium is a great aquarium for dolphins. ...

References

• TV Guide. July 8, 1966.

is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Flipper at the Internet Movie Database
• Brian Kelly Fan Club
• Interview with Ric O'Barry
• The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity
• Flipper Cast Members Reunite at Miami Seaquarium for the Show's 40th Anniversary
• Ric O'Barry:Famous "Flipper" Trainer