And this bullying? I mean, we had a bunch of kids that I’m sure you’d consider the kids you’d bully maybe. Today, everybody’s in their room with their computer, nobody knows who they’re talking to or what they’re saying. I really was raised to be a “Mary Ann” and there’s something to be said for that. You know, if you come from a bitter home, you’re listening to what’s around you. Raising me was the emphasis in their relationship. My dad would say, “I think your mother needs a washing machine… what do you think?” And then she would ask me something. My mother and father… I never heard a negative word from either of them about each other. And that’s what I talk about in the book. And I was talking to someone recently, I asked, “Why didn’t I run away? Or go out and drink with my buddies or something like that, like the kids are doing today?” And it’s because I respected my mother. And no matter where you are, it doesn’t make any difference. Where there’s legal prostitution! As far away from Kansas as you can be! But it was the morality, the manners, the work ethic, that my mother raised me with. Then I went into, Why? What is it about her? As funny as it may seem, I was raised by a Mary Ann mother. Which made me think, there is something to this character that still resonates. The grownups say that they married Mary Ann, and they have their kids with them. What led you to the writing of this book? WHAT WOULD MARY ANN DO? A GUIDE TO LIFE (TAYLOR TRADE PUBLISHING, 2014)ĭAWN: It was the fans! 80% of the men I meet say, “I married a Mary Ann.” Or, “Mary Ann would have been my partner.” You’d have to have been pretty sophisticated to say that as a young man. Well, let’s talk a bit about your new book, WHAT WOULD MARY ANN DO?. And to a one, they said you were their favorite character. THE MULE: Well, one reason I knew I was onto something with my premise is because I spoke to some female friends about the show and its longevity. Not sure anyone else could have done that.ĭAWN: That’s the reason that Mary Ann has sustained for so long. You held everything together amidst plotlines that were often preposterous. THE MULE: I just felt very strongly that you were the heart of the show. As a fan, you could see the depth of that character and it was really sweet, all the things you said. And you were just delightful then, also.ĭAWN: Well, what you wrote about me was so lovely. Pleasure to talk to you again! We met some years before in Columbia.ĭAWN: Oh, it was probably the Children’s Miracle Network thing? Dawn is seldom wanting for new projects… she’s an actress in multiple mediums, an author, a designer, a brilliant marketer, in demand for special appearances constantly and, as she says, kind of an “adventurer.” She appreciated the essay I wrote about her, and we talked quite a bit about the GILLIGAN days, as well as plenty of other topics. Throughout the chat, Dawn was charming, revealing, appreciative and fun, just the traits you would expect from the gal who created the iconic Mary Ann Summers character on GILLIGAN’S ISLAND. The following interview with Ms Wells was conducted by telephone in Fall 2015 during one of her many publicity jaunts for her latest book, WHAT WOULD MARY ANN DO?: A GUIDE TO LIFE. ( Part Two of a Two Part Series b y Kevin Renick ) Dawn Wells, circa 2014 (publicity photo)
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