A: Network censorship. 1960s TV rules strictly forbade showing porcelain toilets on screen, so the bathroom was built without one.
60s Tv Weird Facts
What was the hidden purpose of the bumbling agent’s “shoe phone” in Get Smart?
A: A practical joke. Props crew hid a real working walkie-talkie inside to prank actor Don Adams during live takes.
What real-world agency did the creators of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. consult during production?
A: The UN. The United Nations gave permission to use the “U.N.” name provided the show didn’t make them look incompetent.
What bizarre prop did Lorne Greene keep in his pocket during Bonanza scenes?
A: A piece of string. He used it to tie off his microphone cord to stop it rustling against his heavy leather vest.
Why did Michael Landon wear elevator shoes while filming Bonanza?
A: To look taller. At 5’9″, he needed to match the height of his towering co-stars Dan Blocker (6’4″) and Lorne Greene (6’2″).
Which future Hollywood megastar was fired from Rawhide right before it was cancelled?
A: Clint Eastwood. The network let him go shortly before axing the show in 1965.
What caused the cancellation of The Munsters despite its high initial ratings?
A: The 1966 Batman series. When Batman debuted in full colour, the black-and-white Munsters lost its ratings battle instantly.
Why was the iconic theme from The Twilight Zone changed after season one?
A: Union rules. The original theme by Bernard Herrmann was deemed too expensive, so CBS switched to Marius Constant’s famous avant-garde guitar-and-bongo riff.
Which Star Trek actor’s real-life military injury was hidden by clever camera angles?
James Doohan (Scotty). He lost his right middle finger at D-Day during WWII.
Why did the main character in the 1967 series The Prisoner have no name?
To strip identity. He was known only as “Number Six” to reflect the show’s themes of totalitarian control.