Good day, Mrs. Addie,

I made a diorama about Gardner McKay and his Tiki. I am sending you a photo of this diorama (in black and white to evoke the black and white films that were shown on my parents’ television at the time).

Attached are the pages of my article about the model, published in the magazine Bateau Model N°156 of December‌-January 2020.

Didier J.

Jo Addie replied:

Wow! Didier, that is fantastic! I am very pleased you shared that with me! I would like to post your message (in English) on our Adventures in Paradise Website, with your permission. Others will certainly want to see what you have created.

Didier then sent this:

I discover that you are passionate about the film "Somewhere in Time". Undoubtedly another meeting point between our two people, because if I have never seen this film I consider that the two most beautiful love stories ever written are those of the novels "Bid Time Return” (now titled Somewhere in Time) by Richard Matheson and, more recently , "11/22/63" by Stephen King.

Jo replied:

Didier, by all means, if you have never seen the film, please make a point to do so! I worked on the movie, myself, was friends with Christopher Reeve for 25 years before he passed and am still friends with Jane Seymour. You should know the movie had a French director, Jeannot Szwarc! I am the President of the fan society for it, INSITE, (International Network of Somewhere In Time Enthusiasts) and publish the elegant 3-times-a-year magazine for the fans. Visit the Somewhere in Time Website my husband and I authored:

www.somewhereintime.tv

Hi, Jo-- I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for the website you created for the Adventures in Paradise TV series. Rarely have I ever met anyone who remembers or who watched this series, so your site was like a breath of fresh air.

Since I was 11 when the series premiered, I was old enough to have a "pre-teen" and "teen" crush on Gardner McKay. And I've never forgotten the beautiful visions of Tahiti. Travelling there is still definitely on my bucket list.

I just so wish DVDs of the series were available since it sounds like the programs "hold up" these many years later.

Thanks again and best wishes,

E. M. Jahns

I appreciate your excitement, love and enthusiasm for ADVENTURES IN PARADISE. — Jim

I have always been a big fan of Adventures in Paradise and living in Australia mostly, I get to visit the islands regularly. My first interest in the islands was through A I P as well as Blue Hawaii and South Pacific. I actually knew James A Michener through cruising and he was nothing like I expected. A very intense man who could be fascinating and could be boring. The reason I am writing is to thank you for s great site and to find out more about the series and its effect on fans. I am writing a book on my island adventures and I thought a chapter in A I P would be great. Any info or directions you could give me would be great. I have lived in Florida and Northern California but there is nothing like the islands, Thanks, Dal

First, thank you for your website and your enthusiasm for all things "Adventures in Paradise".

As a youngster of about 10 to 12 years, in Melbourne, Australia, the series transported me to exotic and unreachable life in the Pacific Islands on the magnificent Tiki III, and engendered in me a lifelong love of sailing and appreciation of beautiful yachts.

My earnest wish is that the original episodes might be digitally remastered and made available for sale on DVD or similar digital medium.

I have seen some copies of episodes advertised for sale and all appear to receive very bad reviews as to picture and sound quality. The impression I have received is that if they were much worse, they may not be worth having.

If you are aware of any source of remastered copies on DVD I would be very pleased to receive your recommendation.

Thank you again for your efforts to preserve the history of this very special series.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Higgins

I was just sitting at my computer tonight and was thinking about some of my favorite shows and I happened on to your narrative about this show. I watched this show religiously every week. I thought Gardner McKay was the most handsome man ever. He is the only tv star I ever wrote a fan letter to, and his publicity person sent me a reply. I still have that letter. Lost track of him after the show went off the air. I did see him in the Pleasure Seekers. I am so glad I am not the only one who loved the show and him. In fact, every time I hear the Twentieth Century Fox logo music at the beginning of anything I will always remember the Adventure in Paradise theme music. Nice that you have superior taste !!!

S. Lash

I found the letter from Twentieth Century Fox. I was looking for a postmark, but found none on the envelope or the date on the letter. The letter is a form letter actually asking to join his fan club. I know if I asked my dad for the dollar, he would have laughed me out of the house. So needless to say I did not join or get his autographed picture. The only give away to the year is that postage on the letter was 2 1/2 cents. If you would like this marker of my childhood, I would be more than happy to pass it on to someone who cares and would get a smile from it. Just give me your address and I will send it. Keep doing what you love as people like me do appreciate it.

S. Lash

I live in the Virgin Islands. I believe we have the love of this show in common. How are you doing? Are you still in Illinois? I used to live in Chicago, growing up. This was the one show that I watched with my father. We both ended up owning schooners because of it.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Your in good memories.

⛩rob kunkel

My name is Geoff and I live in south Africa.
Thank you so much for the wonderful site you have put up dedicated to that AMAZING tv sitcom...."Adventures in paradise"!

I was also young when I saw the series, ( about 8 ). We had tv in Rhodesia ( now called Zimbabwe ) in the 60's, and it was the highlight of my week to sit and watch...transfixed...each episode!

That started my deep love of the islands and particularly, sailing! Unhappily, apart from a weekend sail along the coast of South Africa in a friends yacht, I have never been able to realize my dream of being able to visit those islands....how very fortunate you and your husband were to be able to visit on your 17th anniversary! The South African Rand, as well as trying to provide for a family and put children through college, has put pay to any chance of me going.

I devour anything I can on YouTube, Facebook and books about others that have made the trip and imagine myself there!!

You stated that you have a number of episodes the series? Are you going to post them or make them available to watch / sell? I would love to be able to share even just one episode to show my family where my passion for the Pacific Islands and sailing came from.

Take care and please let me know.

Many thanks once again for the amazing site!

Kind regards,

Geoff South Africa

I came across your web site by accident while doing some research on another schooner.

Reading what you had put on the site, I remembered clearly enjoying many episodes of A in P but what I did not realize until now is how much watching them has influenced my life. Like you, I saw them at a young age living in the country and had no prior knowledge of boats or that style of life portrayed in the series.

Looking back now from the age of 65 I can remember many times during my life when familiarity with that type of sailing has given me great joy and influenced what I have done and how I felt at the time. At the age of 50 and finally living near the coast, I took up sailing and have been enjoying it ever since. Every time I see a schooner similar to the Tiki, I am instantly attracted to it and get closer if I can to have a better look.

A boat that size requires a lot of upkeep and my own boat is more modest but strangely (or maybe not so strangely!) has a similar appearance.

Thank you for taking me back to a wonderful time of my life and helping me understand so much about myself.

Is it possible to get a copy of any of the episodes? I would like to see the first one because of the connection to James A Michener but I'm sure any of them would be great.

All the best,

Tom Hinton
Australia

Tom Hinton’s boat, Boomaroo

I enjoyed your web site! I have fond memories of watching AIP here in the UK in the early 60s, and of course listening to the theme tune catapults me back there.

Do you know who presently owns the rights to AIP? There is a popular TV channel here in the UK that started as a 'Mom & Pop' channel (literally) and has had enormous success showing only old movies and TV series from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. The channel is called Talking Pictures TV. I have written to them suggesting they try and screen AIP and they have accepted it onto their wish list. They must have their own research expertise, bit I daresay it would help them a lot if I could tell them who presently owns the right. Best wishes!

Regards
John Green

My name is Pam Singer. I stumbled across your website when I was feeling nostalgic about my favorite show when I was a child, Adventures in Paradise. I was trying to explain it to my husband but he had never heard of it.

I'm from a sailing family in SoCal and grew up on our boat, sailing to the Channel Islands. We kept our boat for many years at Terminal Island Marina in Long Beach (LA Harbor). Although I read an article that said that the Pilgrim was kept in Newport Harbor, when I knew her, she was moored at Southwind Marina in Long Beach, right across the channel from our marina.

I was around 10 and was absolutely in love with Adam Troy. I don't think I really realized he was an actor because I was always begging my father to take me in our dinghy over to the Pilgrim to see if "Adam" was there. 😁 Never saw him though. 😞

Anyway, just wanted to drop you a note to say I appreciated reading your website. It's nice to know there are still people out there who remember the show and the Pilgrim.

Cordially,

Pam Singer

Hi Jo,

The above photo is the only one I could find in my stash of old family photos that shows the Pilgrim. Sorry it is so old and faded. It must date from 1962 or 1963. That is my brother and I in our sailing dinghy. (Please forgive the embarrassing sun hat my mother always made me wear. 😁). My Dad took the picture from the docks at our marina, Terminal Island Marina, looking over to the Pilgrim berthed at Southwind Marina.

Pam

Hi! I just came across your website. I loved AIP as a kid growing up in Miami and the Keys and have wanted to track down any episodes I could on either video or DVD. Do you know of any that available for sale?

Thank you

Ken

p.s. Love your website Ken Hodges

Hi Jo,

I am so glad I found your website, but disappointed to learn that the episode I am searching for is also on your list.

First, some background on my situation: In the summer of 1960, I was 9 and my sister was 7, and we answered a "child extra" casting call at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles. They evidently needed some children running/playing in some background scenes. My ancestors are from the Philippines, so we fit right in as Polynesian children. Of all the children that appeared in the episode, I was given the only speaking part, and it even included some close-ups of me and my sister. Plus, I had the opportunity to work with British icons Cecil Kellaway and Elsa Lanchester, the 2 guest stars in the episode.

Episode 2 of Season 2: The Intruders (Air date: Oct 10,1960) I have been trying for years to find this episode, but without success.

We never got a call-back from the studio that summer for more "extra" work, although I wish that we had. The irony of it all is that we were never allowed to watch the show on a regular basis because it aired at 9pm -- past our bedtime. I may have watched some episodes during the summer reruns, but really can't remember.

If you ever come across a copy and it is able to be purchased, please let me know. I would be forever grateful!

Thank you! Terrie Albert

Aloha Jo!

I just saw your website for Adventures in Paradise.

OMG! I have been waiting and looking for AIP for decades. I was seven years old when that show came on and that show grabbed me like nothing else. I was growing up in California and had an uncle who reminded me so much of Gardner McKay and he had a boat and we would go out on it and I would shriek in delight and call his boat the “Tiki” which he hated – lol! (He stayed a handsome bachelor, hung out with movie stars, and still lives by the ocean.)

Then, “Adventures in Paradise” ended! I was just heartbroken. But, my dreams of going to a tropical paradise continued on.

Bam! In 1968, “Hawaii 5-0” came on TV starring Jack Lord. I was in love again – not with Jack Lord, but with Hawaii. Ok, maybe a little with Jack Lord – lol! The year the show ended in 1980, my girlfriend and I threw our flip flops and cut offs in a duffle bag and bought one-way tickets to Oahu and had the freaking time of our lives. Hawaii in color was spectacular on TV, but Hawaii for real was mystically beautiful beyond my wildest dreams. I was afraid I would be disappointed but it more than met my expectations. We stayed for months until we had to face reality and go back to the mainland and we both were going to get our stuff and move back but fate intervened and we never made it. In the meantime, I wrote Jack Lord a fan letter telling him of my love of Hawaii (I grew up in Hollywood and Burbank and had gone to school with celebrity kids my whole life but he was the only one I ever wrote to). He actually wrote a long letter back to me, sent me his signed picture and told me to come and visit him and his wife when I got to Hawaii and gave me his secretary’s phone number! We became pen pals until he passed away in 1997, from Alzheimer’s. His wife, Marie, sent me a stuffed dog I had sent to him years before, telling me he had treasured it. Jack Lord was quite an artist also, like Gardner McKay. We both had busy lives and our schedules never made it possible for me to get to meet him. When I was in Hawaii, he and his wife were in California or New York. They had a lot of making up to do because Hawaii 5-0 had been their lives for 12 years.

Now here’s the crazy part - - I had met him when I was five years old! My dad used to buy a new car for himself and my mom every six months and Jack Lord was his salesman (before he got really famous he would sell cars between movies or shows he was doing.) Having spent hours in the dealership, I remembered a tall, handsome man who would wink at me and go get a cola for me to drink while I was waiting patiently.

My great aunt had lived in Hilo, Hawaii, with her retired navy captain husband, and she would send us pictures of her arms full of more flowers than I had ever seen. She would write to us about the beauty and grace of the Big Island of Hawaii and its people. I had a new dream. I would go to the Big Island of Hawaii! But, still someday my dream was to go to Tahiti. It is the only thing left on my almost 65 year old bucket list.

I visited all of the islands in Hawaii many times, including the Big Island, and decided this was where I wanted to live someday.

Finally, at age 60, my husband and I could retire. We both dreamed of living on an island, but I convinced him to come with me to East Hawaii, here on the Big Island on the Hamakua Coast and he fell in love with it and we are now building a house on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific. We watch the cruise ships headed out from Hilo Bay to Tahiti and I told my husband that would be my final dream to be on one of those ships and my life would be complete.

You blew my freaking mind! Not only because I found someone else who even remembered the series and loved it, but I have always been a big fan of Jimmy Buffet and his songs (my favorite song ever is “Margaritaville”) which always took me to beaches and the sea and NEVER did I hear the lyrics about Gardner McKay and the Tiki! OMG! I ran and got my CD of his songs and played it over and over and there it was – how could I miss that! So thank you for that,and thank you for the website and great memories.

I would give anything for them to release AIP in color (normally I like originals in black and white but this show is different). Why they haven’t released the series is a mystery to me. They are missing a great opportunity I think.

So in the meantime, I watch the new “Hawaii 5-0” in HD and smile secretly to myself knowing it is a little closer to the real beauty of my tropical home but never will be as beautiful no matter how hard they try. Oh, and on a scale of 1-10, Gardner McKay is a 20 ---- just sayin’.

Aloha, Keko

Jo, I read your synopsis of the Great TV Show. At 24 years of age I watched this show and along with James Michener's "Tales of the South Pacific" also with National Geographic articles on Tahiti and Samoan Independence from 1962. I graduated from college in 1963 and immediately traveled to the Pacific Ocean Islands on the freighter Pioneer Surf. Leaving from New York, destination Australia. The rest of my life is truly an adventure in many of the Pacific Islands and cultures. I have written that journey and the results along with many long poems and other descriptions of my life with my Samoan "Titled" Wife while living in both Samoas and the Marianas. Please answer this note so we can both explore the magic of my adventures including the present. Fa'afetai lava (Samoan)(thank you so much)

Alton Linwood Seaver III

P.S. I would love to have a phone conversation regarding my writings and your intrigue regarding these alluring and captivating destinations.

Dear Mrs. Jo:

May you have a happy new year. I thank the Lord for your website. At last I can ask somebody about a question I have been wondering about for fifty years.

Here in Puerto Rico, TV series from USA can be watched nowadays through cable tv, internet, etc. But when I was a child, they were watched only through local tv channels, some years after the original airing date. I liked Adventures in Paradise because it was so romantic and interesting and it resembled my own island country. Its music was also very beautiful.

But one day I watched a series opening, or ending, or maybe it was a commercial or a movie, but it was about two men, like detectives, chasing another one by a sea shore, until one of the men ran faster and jumped over a wooden fence and fell down to the sand near the fugitive and handcuffed him. I could swear the music of that scene was the same of the Adventure series theme, but it sounded different. It was played in a faster rythm, with trumpets, trombones, bongoes, etc., like if it was Latin music. It was beautiful anyway. All these decades I wanted to know if I am wrong in my childhood memories or if there was a reenactment of the series with a new theme instrumentation and characters. I am confused because for years I have been searching through the internet and there is nothing that resembles what I saw.

Even if you don't have an answer, it is good for me to be able to share my question with people who love the Adventure series like me. Also what you wrote about your dream come true with your husband on a trip through Pacific waters, it was so precious.

Most respectfully, many thanks for your time and forgive my English.

Best regards,

Bibiana