Ghost and Mrs. Muir FAQ
Caroline Kent
Archive-name: tv/ghost-and-mrs-muir/faq
Posting-frequency: monthly
last-modified: 1999/05/05
url: http://members.xoom.com/mrsmuir/
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 ca...@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 WimpoleS...@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 MacW...@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
ca...@earthlink.net