The Skipper served in the Navy and fought in WWII in the South Pacific, earning
the rank of Captain. He led the navy band for 5 years aboard his ship, and was
the best poker player in all of the 7th fleet.

The Skipper met Gilligan in the navy, where Gilligan saved his life by pushing
him out of the way of a depth charge that had broken loose and was rolling down
the deck of their destroyer.

After retiring, the Skipper used his commission to buy the S.S. Minnow and began
offering 3 hour tours from Honolulu harbor. Gilligan was his first mate.

The Skipper has the hardiest appetite. He played the line on the high school
football team, and now weighs in at 220 pounds in his mid-forties. He says if
they ever get rescued, "I'll go straight to an Italian restaurant and have 8 or
10 pizzas, 6 dozen meatballs, and 2 miles of spaghetti, and then I'll have
dinner."

He is also superstitious. The Skipper has witnessed a number of peculiar
happenings with some tribal natives. He's always worried about voodoo curses and
is constantly warning Gilligan to be on guard. Typically he then falls prey to
them himself.

The Skipper is the castaway's good-natured leader. He is brave and sure, and is
always looking out for them - particularly Gilligan. He continually encourages
the castaways to work together toward what he knows will be their eventual
rescue.

Alan Hale's Lobster Barrel

"The first thing I'll do when I get back is sink my teeth into a nice juicy
steak." Skipper - 1965

Alan Hale Jr. didn't just portray the 'Skipper' on Gilligan's Island, but was also a well known owner of a restaurant called "The Lobster Barrel." His famous restaurant, which was in business for about 15 years in the 70's and 80's, was Located on Hollywood's 'Restaurant Row.' Alan often greeted customers wearing his skipper's hat just like the one he wore in the show. He would stroll through the restaurant greeting patrons, signing autograph cards and even giving away several "Captain's Hats." Folks said time after time that Alan had always shown extreme good will which made their experience much more memorable.

The Lobster Barrel is now closed and was the home of a bar called "The Shark Bar Restaurant." Not too sure why it is no longer in business, but it's still standing and you can see it at 826 N. La Cienega Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA.

Dave Cunnnigham wrote to us and said that his parents took him to eat there once when Alan Hale Jr. was there. They all had steak except for his Dad, he had the lobster. After dinner the Skipper was at the door greeting guests, and he thanked them for coming. Alan looked down at David, messed up his hair and said, "Thanks for coming little buddy!" David remembers it like it was yesterday.

It was a very nice dining experience and an elegant restaurant. There were plenty of waiters, who were in tuxedos or formal wear. They were very attentive too. When you drank out of your water glass, they were there immediately refilling it.

My father thought the waiters were a little too attentive. He said they kept an eye on us "like they were the Mafia." I didn't pick up on that, though, so maybe it was just his perception.

I had Lobster Newburg. It was delicious. I don't remember what the others had.

TV Guest Appearances

Zane Grey Theater
Whispering Smith
The Andy Griffith Show
Rawhide
Wagon Train
Maverick
The Wide Country
Empire
The Lucy Show
Perry Mason
Gunsmoke
The Wild, Wild West
Land of the Giants
Here's Lucy
Alias Smith and Jones
The Virginian
McMillan and Wife
The Littlest Hobo
The Love Boat
Simon & Simon
Growing Pains
Magnum P.I.
ALF
Murder, She Wrote
Cheyenne
Shotgun Slade
Johnny Ringo
Wichita Town
The Alaskans
The Untouchables
Bronco
Bat Masterson
Bonanza
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Annie Oakley
Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
The Range Rider
The Good Guys
Daktari
Batman
The Real McCoys

The Opening Theme Song:

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip,
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailing man,
The skipper brave and sure.
5 passengers set sail that day
For a 3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour.

The weather started getting rough,
The tiny ship was tossed,
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The Minnow would be lost, the Minnow would be lost.

The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
With Gilligan, The Skipper too,
The millionaire and his wife,
The movie star
The professor and Mary Ann,
Here on Gilligan's Isle.

The Closing Theme Song:

So this is the tale of the castaways,
They're here for a long, long time,
They'll have to make the best of things,
It's an uphill climb.

The first mate and the Skipper too,
Will do their very best,
To make the others comfortable,
In the tropic island nest.

No phone, no lights, no motor cars,
Not a single luxury,
Like Robinson Crusoe,
As primitive as can be.

So join us here each week my friends,
You're sure to get a smile,
From seven stranded castaways,
Here on “Gilligan's Isle.”

We have had numerous requests for the Skipper's hat.  Although this source does have
a similar hat, it is not EXACT.  However, if you are interested in ordering one
of these hat's, please click on this link 

Click here for Gilligan's Island Gift Gallery

Click here for The Professor's Sunken Treasures

Click here for Mary Ann's Memorabilia

The "Skipper" Jonas Grumby and Lobster Barrel section
and images compliments of
The Gilligan's Island Fan Club