Dawn Wells and Tina Louise: The Gals of “Gilligan’s Island” (Ginger vs. Mary Ann)

[Credit: NBCNews.com]

It’s an age-old TV debate, along the lines of the two “Darrins” on Bewitched:

Which do you prefer on Gilligan’s Island?

“Ginger,” as played by Tina Louise, or “Mary Anne,” as played by Dawn Wells?

Louise, who is the last surviving cast member of the classic 1960s television series, portrayed the more glamorous movie-star role on the show. Wells, who passed away in 2020, presented a more “down-home,” country-girl charm.

According to IMDB.com, Wells was “a wholesome beauty with [the] comedic appeal,” born Dawn Elberta Wells on October 18, 1938, in Reno, Nevada. Her “childhood was a happy and healthy one. She and her mother grew their own fruits and vegetables in their gardens and Dawn rode horses. In her high school years, she was the class treasurer, President of the debate team, and an honor roll student. Dawn was on her way to becoming a ballerina, but her bad knees prevented her from realizing the dream. She was Miss Nevada in 1959 and went on to the 1960 Miss America Pageant. Dawn had wanted to be a doctor and enrolled in the elite Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri to study medicine, but then she discovered the Drama Club. She then transferred to the University of Washington, which was known for its Theatre Department, and…