Summary
Summary
So, what would Mary Ann do?
As the sweet, polite, and thoughtful Mary Ann Summers from Kansas in the hit series Gilligan's Island, Dawn Wells created an unforgettable and beloved character that still connects with people fifty years from the show's debut in 1964. As the "good girl" among the group of castaways on a tiny island, she was often positioned against the glamorous and exotic Ginger Grant, played by Tina Louise, prompting many to ask: Are you a Ginger or a Mary Ann?
This book not only helps readers answer that question for themselves but also sends the inspirational and heartwarming message that yes, good girls do finish first. Part self-help, part memoir, and part humor--with a little classic TV nostalgia for good measure--What Would Mary Ann Do? contains twelve chapters on everything from how Mary Ann would respond to changes in today's culture to addressing issues confronting single women and mothers. Wells brings along her fellow characters from Gilligan's Island to illustrate certain principles, such as incorporating the miserly Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus) in a discussion on money. Anecdotal sidebars also describe fascinating facts and compelling memories from the show, as well as some trivia questions to challenge fans and followers. Illustrated with photographs from Wells's private collection, this book provides inspiring lessons from TV's favorite good girl.
Author Notes
Dawn Elberta Wells was an American actress born on October 18, 1938 in Reno, Nevada. She was a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle in 1960 with a degree in theater arts and design. She is best known for her role as Mary Ann Summers on the 1960s television show, Gilligan's Island. She appeared in numerous television shows and films. She also narrated several films. As an author, her work included, Mary Ann's Gilligan Island Cookbook (1993) written with Ken Beck and Jim Clark, and What Would Mary Ann Do?: A Guide to Life (2019), written with Steve Stinson. Dawn Wells died in Los Angeles, California on December 30, 2020 at the age of 82.
(Bowker Author Biography)