Gidget () is a fictional character created by author

Frederick Kohner Friedrich Kohner (September 25, 1905 – July 7, 1986), credited professionally as Frederick Kohner, was an Austrian-born novelist and screenwriter, both in Germany and the U.S.. He is best known for having created the "Gidget" novels, which ins ...

(based on his teenaged daughter, Kathy) in his 1957 novel, ''Gidget, the Little Girl with Big Ideas''. The novel follows the adventures of a teenaged girl and her surfing friends on the beach in Malibu. The name Gidget is a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsmidget".''Gidget''(2001) by Frederick Kohner, Berkley Publishing Group, New York, NY (first edition 1957) Following the novel's publication, the character appeared in several films, television series, and television movies.

Novels

The original ''Gidget'' was created by

in his 1957 novel ''Gidget, The Little Girl with Big Ideas'' (reprinted numerous times under the shortened title ''Gidget'', by which it is more widely known), written in the first person and based on the accounts of his daughter Kathy (now

Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman (born January 19, 1941) is the real-life inspiration for the fictional character of Franzie (nicknamed Gidget) from the 1957 novel, ''Gidget: The Little Girl with Big Ideas'', written by her father Frederick Kohner. Early ...

) of the

surf culture Surf culture includes the people, language, fashion, and lifestyle surrounding the sport of surfing. The history of surfing began with the ancient Polynesians. That initial culture directly influenced modern surfing, which began to flourish ...

Malibu Point Malibu may refer to: Places * Malibu, California, a United States city **Malibu High School ** Malibu Lake **Malibu Creek * Malibu, British Columbia, a locality in Canada * Baja Malibu, a beach in Rosarito Beach Municipality, Baja California, Mex ...

. The novel was published by Putnam. Kohner, a prolific screenwriter with one

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

nomination, published seven sequels to this novel, five of them original novels: *''Cher Papa'' (1959) *''The Affairs of Gidget'' (1963) *''Gidget in Love'' (1965) *''Gidget Goes Parisienne'' (1966) *''Gidget Goes New York''(1968) Kohner also wrote two

novelization A novelization (or novelisation) is a derivative novel that adapts the story of a work created for another medium, such as a film, TV series, stage play, comic book or video game. Film novelizations were particularly popular before the advent of ...

s adapted from films of the same titles, based on original stories by Ruth Brooks Flippen. *'' Gidget Goes Hawaiian'' (1961) *''

Gidget Goes to Rome ''Gidget Goes to Rome'' is a 1963 Columbia Pictures Eastmancolor feature film starring Cindy Carol as the archetypal high school teen surfer girl originally portrayed by Sandra Dee in the 1959 film ''Gidget''. The film is the third of three Gidg ...

'' (1963)

Frederick Kohner

Kohner, a Czechoslovakian Jew, worked in the German film industry as a screenwriter until 1933 when he emigrated to Hollywood after the Nazis started removing Jewish credits from films. Over the coming decades, Kohner and his wife Franzie raised their two daughters by the beach, while he toiled as a screenwriter for Columbia Pictures. As his children grew into American teenagers, he noticed that his daughter Kathy in particular was drawn into a very specific, regional, contemporary slice of American teenaged culture – the surf culture. Surfing was a then-minor youth movement that built its foundation around a sport, love of the beach, and jargon that must have proved a challenge to an Eastern European immigrant. The details fascinated Kohner, who was empathetic with his daughter's feminist intention to participate in a "boys-only" sport. A book was conceived and Kathy became her father's muse as he delved into the surfing world with his daughter as his guide. Over a six-week period, Kohner wove the stories she told into a novel, which he titled upon completion with her nickname, Gidget. In the original novel, Gidget gives her name as follows:

"It's Franzie," I said. "From Franziska. It's a German name. After my grandmother."

She does not give us her last name. In subsequent novels, her name is Franzie Hofer. In the films in which she appears, following World War II, her name is changed to a more English-sounding Frances Lawrence, and the names of some other characters are changed, as well. In the 1960s television series (episode 16, "Now There's a Face"), Gidget gives her full name as Frances Elizabeth Lawrence. Kohner also wrote other novels about the experiences of different teenaged girls, including ''The Continental Kick'', ''Mister Will You Marry Me?'', and ''The Gremmie'', as well as nonfiction books such as the biographies ''

Kiki of Montparnasse Alice Ernestine Prin (2 October 1901 – 29 April 1953), nicknamed the ''Queen of Montparnasse'' and often known as ''Kiki de Montparnasse'', was a French Model (art), model, nightclub singer, chanteuse, actress, memoirist and painter during ...

'' and ''The Magician of Sunset Boulevard''.

Films

Kohner sold the movie rights to Columbia Pictures (through the William Morris Agency) for $50,000, then giving five percent of this to his daughter Kathy. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the character Gidget (the prototypical beach bunny) was adapted for three films, all directed by Paul Wendkos and released by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

: * '' Gidget'' (1959), starring Sandra Dee (screenplay by

Gabrielle Upton Gabrielle Cecelia Upton (born 16 December 1964), an Australian politician, is the member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Vaucluse for the Liberal Party since 2011. Upton is currently serving as the Parlia ...

) * '' Gidget Goes Hawaiian'' (1961), starring

Deborah Walley Deborah Walley (August 12, 1941May 10, 2001) was an American actress noted for playing the title role in ''Gidget Goes Hawaiian'' (1961) and appearing in several beach party films. Early years Walley was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Ice ...

* ''

'' (1963), starring

Cindy Carol Cindy Carol (born Annette Carol Sydes, October 11, 1944, in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress. She was credited as Carol Sydes before her starring role as Gidget in ''Gidget Goes to Rome'' (1963). Personal She was born to Thomas ...

The first film also featured a young Yvonne Craig and

Tom Laughlin Thomas Robert Laughlin Jr. (August 10, 1931 – December 12, 2013) was an American actor, director, screenwriter, author, educator, and activist. Laughlin was best known for his series of ''Billy Jack'' films. He was married to actress De ...

, long before Laughlin became known as Billy Jack and Craig as

Batgirl Batgirl is the name of several superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, depicted as female counterparts and allies to the superhero Batman. Although the character Betty Kane was introduced into publication in ...

and her alter-ego

Barbara Gordon Barbara Gordon is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. The character was created by television producer William Dozier, editor Julius Schwartz, writer Gardne ...

in the final season of ''

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...

''. Although the later two films were billed as sequels to the first, little attempt was made at continuity other than in the plot. Only James Darren, playing Gidget's boyfriend

Moondoggie Moondoggie is a fictional character created by Frederick Kohner in his 1957 novel '' Gidget, The Little Girl with Big Ideas''.''Gidget'' (2001) by Frederick Kohner, Berkley Publishing Group, New York, NY (first edition 1957) He appears as a pri ...

, has the same major role in all three films. For '' Gidget Goes Hawaiian'', some scenes from the first film were reshot with the new cast, to be used as flashbacks.

Television

In 1965, the character was adapted for television in the Screen Gems sitcom series '' Gidget'', starring

Sally Field Sally Margaret Field (born November 6, 1946) is an American actress. She has received many awards and nominations, including two Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film F ...

.''Gidget: The Complete Series'

(2006).

VD set VD may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''The Vampire Diaries'' * Ivan Vdović (1960–1992), Serbian drummer * Veni Domine, a Swedish metal band * Vicious Delite, a metal band featuring Ratt's Stephen Pearcy Holidays * Valentine's Day, a ...

New York: Sony Pictures. Don Porter, who had played Gidget's father in "Gidget Goes to Rome", reprised the role for the show. The series reintroduced Larue, a timid, awkward girl who often accompanied Gidget on her zany escapades, and an older married sister Anne Cooper (Ann Cooper in the novels), both of whom had appeared in the original 1957 novel, but were absent from the motion pictures. In 1969,

Karen Valentine Karen Valentine (born May 25, 1947) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as young idealistic schoolteacher Alice Johnson in the ABC comedy drama series ''Room 222'' from 1969 to 1974, for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award f ...

starred as Gidget in the telemovie ''

Gidget Grows Up ''Gidget Grows Up'' is a 1969 American made-for-television comedy film directed by James Sheldon with stars Karen Valentine, Edward Mulhare and Paul Petersen as well as alphabetically listed special guest stars Warner Anderson, Bob Cummings, Nina ...

'', freely adapted from the 1968 novel ''Gidget Goes New York'', but also functioning as a sequel to the 1965 sitcom series. In 1972, another telemovie was made, titled ''

Gidget Gets Married ''Gidget Gets Married'' is a 1972 American made-for television comedy film produced by Screen Gems for ABC. It was written by John McGreevey, directed by E.W. Swackhamer and starred Monie Ellis as Gidget. Plot Now that Jeff has completed his ...

'', in which Gidget finally married longtime boyfriend Moondoggie. Monie Ellis played the title role. This incarnation of Gidget is unique in that it gives Moondoggie's real name as Jeff Stevens. In the novels, the other telemovies and ''The New Gidget'', he is Geoffrey H. Griffin (the middle initial is mentioned ''only'' in the first novel); in the Hollywood films and the sitcom ''Gidget'', he is Jeffrey Matthews. Later that year,

Hanna-Barbera Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to c ...

produced a 60-minute animated feature for television, ''Gidget Makes the Wrong Connection'', with

Kathy Gori Kathy Gori (born March 19, 1951) is an American voice actress, radio personality and screenwriter. Biography She was born in San Francisco, California. Gori co-wrote two original feature comedies, ''And Spaulding Gets Nothing'' for Walt Disne ...

as the voice of Gidget. It was broadcast as part of the Saturday-morning series '' The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie''. In 1985, a follow-up of the 1965 sitcom series was launched with the telemovie ''

Gidget's Summer Reunion ''Gidget's Summer Reunion'' is a 1985 American made-for-television adventure comedy-drama film produced by Columbia Pictures Television that aired in syndication on June 1, 1985. It was written by Robert Blees and George Zateslo, directed by Br ...

'', starring

Caryn Richman Caryn Richman is an American actress and singer who is best known for her role as Gidget in the TV series, ''The New Gidget'', which evolved out of her lead role in the 1985 television movie ''Gidget's Summer Reunion''. She played Elena Dekker ...

as a grown version of the character played by Sally Field. This was followed by a sitcom series ''

The New Gidget ''The New Gidget'' is an American sitcom sequel to the original 1965–66 sitcom ''Gidget''. It aired in syndication from September 15, 1986, to May 12, 1988. The series was produced by original ''Gidget'' series producer Harry Ackerman and was la ...

'', which ran for two seasons, 1986–1988.

Stage

In 2000,

Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola (; ; born April 7, 1939) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the major figures of the New Hollywood filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Coppola is the recipient of five A ...

staged a musical adaptation of ''Gidget'' with a cast of students from the Orange County High School for the Arts, calling it "sort of a ''

Catcher in the Rye ''The Catcher in the Rye'' is an American novel by J. D. Salinger that was partially published in serial form from 1945–46 before being novelized in 1951. Originally intended for adults, it is often read by adolescents for its themes of angst ...

'' for girls". Coppola wrote the book and cowrote the score with John Farrar, and Krysta Rodriguez played Gidget. In 2007, Terry McCabe and Marissa McKown adapted a stage play ''Gidget'' from Kohner's 1957 novel. It was performed at City Lit Theater in Chicago in May and June 2007, directed by Marissa McKown and starred Sabrina Kramnich as Gidget.

Gidget timeline

* 1941 Kathy Kohner born. * 1956 Kathy Kohner learns to surf and is nicknamed "Gidget". * 1957 ''Gidget, the Little Girl with Big Ideas'' published. * 1959 Motion picture '' Gidget'' released, ''Cher Papa'' published. * 1961 Motion picture '' Gidget Goes Hawaiian'' released, novelization ''Gidget Goes Hawaiian'' published. * 1963 ''The Affairs of Gidget'' published, motion picture ''

'' released, novelization ''Gidget Goes to Rome'' published. * 1965 ''Gidget in Love'' published, sitcom series '' Gidget'' first airs. * 1966 ''Gidget Goes Parisienne'' published, sitcom series '' Gidget'' canceled. * 1968 ''Gidget Goes New York'' published. * 1969 Telemovie ''

'' airs. * 1972 Telemovie ''

'' airs, animated feature ''Gidget Makes the Wrong Connection'' airs. * 1985 Telemovie ''

'' airs. * 1986

dies, sitcom series ''

'' airs. * 1988 Sitcom series ''

'' canceled.

In popular culture

The Brunettes The Brunettes were an indie pop or twee pop group from New Zealand formed in 1998 to 2009. The band consists of core members Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield, with additional contributions from part-time members such as Ryan McPhun and Chel ...

have a song titled "Too Big for Gidget".discography from Brunettes home page

Notes

The Real Gidget
essay by Deanne Stillman about Kathy Kohner Zuckerman

(interview with Zuckerman, ''

Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'', September 16, 2005
Successful Women
(interview with Zuckerman), ''Jewish Woman'', Summer 2003
Review of the DVD
containing the three Gidget films.

of many telemovies including ''Gidget Grows Up''.
Gidget (character)
at IMDb {{Gidget Characters in American novels of the 20th century Literary characters introduced in 1957 Fictional surfers Comedy film characters Sitcom characters Female characters in literature Female characters in film Female characters in television