Camp Runamuck
Encyclopedia
Camp Runamuck is an American sitcom
which aired on NBC
during the 1965-1966 television season. The series was created and executive produced by David Swift
, and aired for 26 episodes.
, and at Camp Divine, its girls counterpart across the lake. Runamuck was run by Commander Wivenhoe (Arch Johnson), a man who couldn't stand kids, and senior counselor Spiffy (Dave Ketchum
), his assistant of sorts.
Helping them out were counselor Pruett (Dave Madden
), Doc Joslyn, and camp cook
Malden (Mike Wagner). Eulalia Divine (Hermione Baddeley
) was the owner
of the girls' camp, which was run by chief counselor Mahalia May Gruenecker (Alice Nunn
). Nina Wayne (older sister of Carol
) played Camp Divine's curvaceous counsellor Caprice Yeudleman. The competitiveness between the two camps and the incidents and accidents that would normally occur at such summer camps - missing kids, people falling into the lake, food poisoning, and so on - formed the basis of most of the show's plots.
The series was scheduled opposite CBS
's The Wild Wild West
and ABC's
The Flintstones
and struggled in the ratings. The series was finally canceled in September 1966 after one season.
but illness forced him to quit the role. In April 1966, Dell Comics
issued a Camp Runamuck comic book.
Some of the characters on that show were based on some of the names described in the song "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh
" by Allan Sherman
, including Joe Spivey.
by the BBC
on Saturday morning
s ten years after it aired in the United States. (Although this was the first network UK screening of Camp Runamuck, the series was aired by some ITV
regional stations in 1969).
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
which aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
during the 1965-1966 television season. The series was created and executive produced by David Swift
David Swift (director)
David Swift was an American film actor, writer, director and producer. He is best known for his 1967 film, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and the Disney films Parent Trap franchise.-Biography:...
, and aired for 26 episodes.
Synopsis
The series related the wacky goings-on at the titular boys' summer campSummer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
, and at Camp Divine, its girls counterpart across the lake. Runamuck was run by Commander Wivenhoe (Arch Johnson), a man who couldn't stand kids, and senior counselor Spiffy (Dave Ketchum
Dave Ketchum
Dave Ketchum may refer to:*Dave 'Thumper' Ketchum, drummer for Coney Hatch*Dave Ketchum , actor on Get Smart...
), his assistant of sorts.
Helping them out were counselor Pruett (Dave Madden
Dave Madden
Dave Madden is a Canadian-born American actor. He was born in Sarnia, Ontario, but was raised in Terre Haute, Indiana. His most famous role came in the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family in which he played the group's manager, Reuben Kincaid.- Career :Madden first gained notice as a milk-drinking,...
), Doc Joslyn, and camp cook
Cook (profession)
A cook is a person who prepares food for consumption. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Canada this profession requires government approval ....
Malden (Mike Wagner). Eulalia Divine (Hermione Baddeley
Hermione Baddeley
Hermione Baddeley was an English character actress of theatre, film and television. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Room at the Top and a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here...
) was the owner
Ownership
Ownership is the state or fact of exclusive rights and control over property, which may be an object, land/real estate or intellectual property. Ownership involves multiple rights, collectively referred to as title, which may be separated and held by different parties. The concept of ownership has...
of the girls' camp, which was run by chief counselor Mahalia May Gruenecker (Alice Nunn
Alice Nunn
Alice Elizabeth Nunn, was an American film and theatre actress. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida and died at her apartment in West Hollywood, California...
). Nina Wayne (older sister of Carol
Carol Wayne
Carol Wayne was an American television and film actress. She was best known for her many appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as the Matinée Lady.-Early life:...
) played Camp Divine's curvaceous counsellor Caprice Yeudleman. The competitiveness between the two camps and the incidents and accidents that would normally occur at such summer camps - missing kids, people falling into the lake, food poisoning, and so on - formed the basis of most of the show's plots.
The series was scheduled opposite CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West is an American television series that ran on CBS for four seasons from September 17, 1965 to April 4, 1969....
and ABC's
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
The Flintstones
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
and struggled in the ratings. The series was finally canceled in September 1966 after one season.
Production notes
Composer and bandleader Frank DeVol (who also wrote the series' theme song) played the part of Doc Joslyn in the pilot episodeTelevision pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
but illness forced him to quit the role. In April 1966, Dell Comics
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
issued a Camp Runamuck comic book.
Some of the characters on that show were based on some of the names described in the song "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh
"Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh " is a Grammy Award-winning novelty song by Allan Sherman, based on letters of complaint he received from his son Robert while Robert attended Camp Champlain in Westport, New York. The song is a parody that complains about the fictional "Camp Granada" and is set to the...
" by Allan Sherman
Allan Sherman
Allan Sherman was an American comedy writer and television producer who became famous as a song parodist in the early 1960s. His first album, My Son, the Folk Singer , became the fastest-selling record album up to that time...
, including Joe Spivey.
Cast
- Arch Johnson as Commander Wivenhoe
- Dave Ketchum as Senior Counsellor Spiffy
- Dave MaddenDave MaddenDave Madden is a Canadian-born American actor. He was born in Sarnia, Ontario, but was raised in Terre Haute, Indiana. His most famous role came in the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family in which he played the group's manager, Reuben Kincaid.- Career :Madden first gained notice as a milk-drinking,...
as Counselor Pruett - Frank De Vol as Doc Joslyn (1)
- Leonard Stone as Doc Joslyn (2)
- Mike Wagner as Camp Cook Malden
- Hermione Baddeley as Eulalia Divine
- Alice Nunn as Mahalia May Gruenecker
- Nina Wayne as Caprice Yeudleman
- George Dunn as The Sheriff
Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "Camp Runamuck" | September 17, 1965 |
| 1-2 | "Rabbits of the World Unite" | September 24, 1965 |
| 1-3 | "Fraternize" | October 1, 1965 |
| 1-4 | "I'm in Luv with Your Beautiful Limpid Eyes, But I Can't Marry You Because You're a Cow" | October 8, 1965 |
| 1-5 | "Say, You're A Bleeder Aren't You?" | October 15, 1965 |
| 1-6 | "There Not Making Hurricanes Like They Used To" | October 22, 1965 |
| 1-7 | "Turtle???" | October 29, 1965 |
| 1-8 | "Slaughter" | November 5, 1965 |
| 1-9 | "Today is Parent's Day" | November 12, 1965 |
| 1-10 | "Masquerade" | November 19, 1965 |
| 1-11 | "Spiffy Quits - Part 1" | November 26, 1965 |
| 1-12 | "Spiffy Quits - Part II" | December 3, 1965 |
| 1-13 | "Soapsuds" | December 10, 1965 |
| 1-14 | "The New Swimming Pool" | December 24, 1965 |
| 1-15 | "Wivenhoe's New Car" | December 31, 1965 |
| 1-16 | "Tomboy" | January 7, 1966 |
| 1-17 | "Look Out, Here Comes Arnie" | January 14, 1966 |
| 1-18 | "Diet" | January 28, 1966 |
| 1-19 | "Air Conditioner" | February 4, 1966 |
| 1-20 | "Food Poisoning" | February 11, 1966 |
| 1-21 | "Building" | February 25, 1966 |
| 1-22 | "Termites" | March 4, 1966 |
| 1-23 | "Peace" | March 18, 1966 |
| 1-24 | "Malden Falls in Love" | March 25, 1966 |
| 1-25 | "Senior Citizens" | April 8, 1966 |
| 1-26 | "Commander for a Day" | April 15, 1966 |
Syndication
The series aired in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
on Saturday morning
Saturday Morning
-Album credits:*All tracks produced by Ralph Sall for Bulletproof Recording Company Inc.*Executive Producer/Concept: Ralph Sall for Bulletproof Recording Company Inc.*Engineered by Peter McCabe and Larry Fergusson....
s ten years after it aired in the United States. (Although this was the first network UK screening of Camp Runamuck, the series was aired by some ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
regional stations in 1969).