Another Memorable Role

Bob's first unforgettable role was the first beatnik on national TV,  Maynard G. Krebs, Dobie Gillis's best friend on the TV series "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis".  And Maynard still remains the most famous beatnik in history.  Bob was a school teacher and working parttime at the post office when he got to audition for the pilot for the series in 1958.   After the pilot sold, the series started shooting in February 1959.

Max Shulman created Maynard's character specifically for the TV show.  When Bob Denver asked Max why Maynard wasn't in either of the books, Shulman would only reply, "Because I wanted to sell a few copies!"

But it was Bob himself who actually fleshed out the character, mainly because the writers had no idea what beatniks were really like.  Bob researched Maynard by hanging out at college coffee houses, studying the beatniks there.  He had also played a beatnik in a college production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience.  (You might wonder how beatniks got into Gilbert and Sullivan.  They had changed the two opposing factions to advertising men in suits against the beatniks.) He has been accused many times of starting the whole hippy movement in the '60's.

Maynard lived in his own world with its own twisted logic.  His name was also illogical, the "G" stood for Walter. According to the show's creator, Maynard was named after his Aunt Walter who was married to his Uncle Edith.  His speech was full of colorful phrases such as "You rang?" and "Like, I'm getting all misty".  But Maynard G. Krebs will always be best remembered for his response whenever anyone mentioned the subject of work.  He would instantaneously shudder, and let out a plaintiff cry of "WORK!?!?"

Like Maynard, Bob Denver also loved jazz -- he "dug" Thelonius Monk and Dizzy Gillespie.  On the show, Maynard played bongos, ocarina and whatever else he could get sound from.  If there were no instruments available, he just sang scat.

During the series, a rumor started that Bob Denver as Maynard G. Krebs had recorded an album called "Like What?".   The whole thing was a myth, and never actually happened, but Bob had people offering him big money for a copy of the album.  Even here on the web the legend continues, and it's reported that the album is a highly sought after collector's item fetching thousands of dollars in mint condition.  They even show a picture of the so-called album cover.  Bob, himself, can't figure out where the picture came from. Possibly a CBS photo shoot -- but even Bob is not absolutely sure!   Maybe Bob should really record that album -- so many people think he already did!

Really Bad Poetry

In honor of Maynard, Dobie, Zelda, Milton Armitage, and the entire "Dobie Gillis" gang, we'd like to pay homage to their era of beatniks, coffee houses, and the bongo beat, by having our own "Really Bad Poetry" Contest.  This will be your opportunity to share those pearls of wisdom and let those creative juices flow.

An insightful verse comes from
 Barbara Joan Grey of Los Angeles:

"Lite"

Sometimes it's bright
But not at night
It's never heavy
Like my old Chevy
It's funny
Not a thriller
And it's how I like my Miller
Beer!
(Finger snap, finger snap, finger snap)

So start composing those Beatnik ballads, because soon you'll be able to share your creative compositions at: