I woke up on this sunny summer day, and I was in the shower, looking at my LV Submariner with the Rubber B strap, and for some reason, I started thinking it's Flipper Friday!!! It is hard to believe that the last time we had Flipper Friday was two years ago, so hopefully this summer we will enjoy more of Flipper Friday.
It is really interesting to see how people used to speak to each other. In many ways it was a whole different world. Hap Gorman is a pretty funny dude, and one of the most interesting things about Flipper is how often Porter Ricks dives into the ocean wearing his uniform with his boots and gun ;-)
Season 1 [Episode 11 & 12: Lady And The Dolphin, Part 1 &2]
Original Air Date: December 5th & 12th, 1964
Today on Flipper Friday we get a double feature. Kind of funny episodes and it sure looks to me like Sandy is wearing a no-crown-guard Submariner on a tropical strap.
It is amazing how different the world of 1964 seems compared to the world of today. As Barbra Streisand sings: "Can it be that it was all so simple then, or has time re-written every line?" I realize the Coral Key Marine Preserve was fictional, but it sure seems cool...
This is an interesting episode of Flipper. The only Rolex observation I have is that I think Sandy is wearing that smaller Submariner on a tropical Rolex strap.
I don't know what it is about Flipper, but I love this show!!! The whole aquatic them with the speedboats and Flipper the dolphin. When I talk to readers of Jake's Rolex Watch Blog it is amazing how many of them start talking about how they love Flipper!!!
Porter Ricks, played by Brian Kelly is part Father, part GQ model, part Super-Hero, and part Cowboy, and you see him wearing his Submariner in the photo below.
This next photo is a publicity shot from Flipper in taken 1964, and it shows Porter Ricks with his younger son Bud, with Flipper Jumping out of the water.
In this episode of Flipper Friday we see Porter Ricks and his fellow warden both wearing their Rolex Submariner watches.
This episode also introduced the character of Hap Gorman, who, if you are familiar with the Festus character on Gunsmoke, is the Festus of Flipper in the first season.
In this episode of Flipper Friday I would say we definately have a 100% Positive ID (Short of a dial shot, which I hope to find in the future) on Porter Ricks Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner which appears to be a Reference 5512 or 5513.
I also noticed the other Warden who Porter Ricks has a conversation with has the same uniform and he is also wearing a stainless steel Rolex Submariner. Pretty cool that it was standard issue.
Sandy Submariner
I was watching the episode of Flipper from last week again, and I was tripping on Sandy's watch. At first, I assumed it was not a Submariner because it is not on an Oyster bracelet, and it seems smaller, but when I took a closer look, it appears to be an older 37mm No Crown Guard, Rolex Submariner. I also think I remember seeing a photo from a later season of Sandy wearing a Submariner on an Oyster bracelet.
When we zoom in and look closer, it seems to have all the characteristics of an older, and smaller Rolex Submariner. What do you think?
It appears the watch has a cyclops date lens at 3pm, but I believe that is just a drop of water since he just got out of the water. There also appears to be a drop of water at 12.
In this episode of Flipper Friday it definitely appears that Porter Ricks is wearing his stainless steel Rolex Submariner again.
In the close-up screen capture below I think we have our first positive ID or close to it. My best guess is that Porter Ricks is wearing a Rolex Submariner Reference 5512 because I think I can see four lines on the bottom of the watch.
This is just my best guess, but when I zoom in Photoshop, it sure looks like a like a confirmation to me. I assume, and hope we will eventually get a close enough shot to positively confirm with 100% certainty that Porter Ricks is wearing a Rolex Submariner, although, at this point I would say there is a 99.8% chance.
I guess this means Porter Ricks suffers from WISitus!?! Pretty Cool!!!
Last week I mentioned that if you were a kid in 1964 actually watching when this episode was originally aired, it would have probably blown your mind. The whole swimming and Scuba diving with a dolphin, childhood fantasy is amazing!!! From a historical perspective, it is interesting to note that in 1964, Scuba diving was still in its infancy and many people had no idea what it was. In the shot below of Porter Ricks saving Sandy underwater, we see him apparently wearing his Submariner again.
As always you can watch the episode by clicking the play button. If you want to watch it full screen, hit the button in the upper right hand corner once the episode starts playing. Enjoy!!!
Flipper Friday threw me a curve ball I was not expecting last week when Porter Ricks was not wearing his Rolex Submariner, but a brand I never heard of named Croton. It made me wonder if I was hallucinating about Porter Ricks wearing a Rolex Submariner to begin with? So I did some research and watched some later episodes and I confirmed (with 99%++ certainty) that he was wearing a Rolex Submariner.
Also, readers of Jake's Rolex Watch Blog have mentioned to me that they like watching Flipper. There is something so wholesome, clean-cut and cool about it. I talked with Mark yesterday and he said that he grew up watching Flipper as a kid and that it brings back great memories.
Mark also said for a kid at the time the whole theme of two boys growing up with their really cool dad and their pet dolphin was the ultimate childhood fantasy and I agree. Especially when they are towing on flipper through the ocean or as Mark pointed out, driving around in a single engine power boat.
I did notice a strange continuity error where Porter Ricks watch keeps moving back and forth from his left to right wrist which is kind of funny. It is also kind of fascinating to watch Flipper from a anthropological perspective, like examining the fashion and the way they speak and interact–like when bud tells Porter Ricks girlfriend she is twitch (never heard that before).
It is also interesting to note that when this episode originally aired 44 years ago, I was not even born yet. Even thought JFK had only been dead 11 months, this world was still a JFK kind of world–idealism and all.
In episode 3 of Flipper Friday, I came across some confusing evidence. In the screen capture below, Porter Rick looks at his watch to check the time.
In the screen capture below, instead of seeing a Rolex Submariner we see a watch brand I have never seen before named Croton. The model appears to be named the Croton, Aviator Sea Diver. (Croton sounds like Klingon to me ;-)
This new evidence brings up some interesting questions, like, did Brian Kelly's figure ever wear a Rolex Submariner? or did he just wear this watch that looked so much like a Submariner?
You see in the photo below the Croton watch looks very similar to a Rolex Submariner, but if you look closely you see the chronograph pushers.
In this episode, as seen in the photo below a scientist with a small submarine appears to be wearing a Rolex Submariner. Before I draw any conclusions, I am going to investigate more.
I plan to investigate further because it is possible that Porter Ricks character wore two different watches, although it seems illogical. I wonder because in screen captures from Season 1, Episode one, in one shot I don't see the pushers and it looks like he is wearing a Rolex Submariner.
We have also seen three other characters in the first three episodes that seriously (98%++) appear to be wearing Rolex Submariner watches. On I Spy Saturday we have direct evidence that gave us positive ID because we got a clear shot of the dial with the Rolex logo. I intend to get to the bottom of this and as they say, time will tell...
Update: I spent some more time watching future episodes of Flipper and while I have not made a 100% positive ID, I would say the evidence points to Porter Rick's wearing a Submariner. My best guess is he wore two different watches, but the only way to find out is to keep analyzing the footage until we get a positive ID, so Flipper Friday will continue.
Last Friday, I introduced "Flipper Friday" and I pointed out we would be watching each episode of Flipper in chronological order and not only examining the Rolex watches worn on the show, but also exploring the historical ramifications of the show itself.
Deconstructing Flipper
Today, I am going to go a little deeper into exploring the characters and storyline. I think this is appropriate because we are starting at the begging of the series.
It is important when trying to put Flipper in context, to remember it originally aired in September of 1964. U.S. President John F. Kennedy had only been dead 10 months and the world was still in its idealistic clean-cut, early 1960s, mod mode.
Porter Ricks character was played brilliantly by actor Brian Kelly. Porter Ricks character was the Warden of the fictional Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in South Florida. You can see Porter Ricks wearing his trademark Rolex Submariner in the photo below.
Porter Ricks character was part Andy Griffith, Part cowboy–with his boots and gun–and part almost, Jacques Cousteau. I say Jacques Cousteau because of the aquatic aspect of the show. His figure was also kind of like an athletic, super-hero, but he did not transform into a cape with leggings, he was almost always in his khaki uniform, which make him an authority figure.
Porter Ricks was also part, Father Knows Best in the relationship he has with his two sons, Sandy and Bud. You see Porter Ricks wearing his Rolex Submariner in the photo above and below.
Deconstructing Flipper make me realize as a small child growing up in the U.S., I was exposed to Rolex Submariner watches being worn on a very idealistic figure from a very young age. I don't know how much of an effect this had on me subliminally, but it is definitely worth noting.
I LOVED watching Flipper when I was a young boy. As I mentioned last week on Flipper Friday, I was about the age of the boys on the show, so I related really well to the show.
I remember thinking how cool their clothing style was. As we see in the photo below, they primarily wore slip on Vans-type-tennis-shoes with cut-off jeans and polo or hang-ten T-Shirts. This style had a very clean-cut, California, early Beach Boys vibe.
I think I was blown away as a young boy with Sandy and Bud, because, like their father Porter Ricks, they were also like young super hero's, as we see in this shot below where the brothers are scuba diving by themselves–with Flipper. In retrospect, I realize I developed a fondness for the aquatic lifestyle and probably the Rolex Submariner from watching Flipper.
It also dawned on me that it is a supreme irony, that on the show, Flipper was supposed to be a male dolphin, but in reality, Flipper was typically played by 5 different female dolphins, because female dolphins were far less aggressive than male dolphins.
In this next photo we see another character from Episode 2 wearing a Rolex Submariner.
It is interesting how–at least in episode 1 and 2–there is a recurring theme of the bad guy being a young man who made a big mistake and then profoundly apologizes for making his big mistake.
You can watch this episode by clicking on the play button below and once the show starts, you can hit the button in the upper right hand corner to make it go full screen on you computer.
Last Saturday, I added a new feature to Jake's Rolex Watch Blog named "I Spy Saturday." The idea is that every Saturday I will post, in chronological order–from beginning to end–each and every episode of I Spy so you can watch it on your computer if you choose to do so. Since I watch each episode before I post it, I will do screen grabs for all the interesting Rolex shots.
Today, I am announcing "Flipper Friday" in which we will be doing the exact same thing, except with the 1960s TV show Flipper. Flipper has a special place in my heart because when I was a young child I loved watching repeats of Flipper. I think I related to it so well because the two brothers were about my age and I thought Flipper was really cool. Dolphins to this day remain my favorite animal. I also love dolphins because they are almost always smiling. I also thought the father, Porter Ricks was also a really cool guy.
Flipper was first broadcast on NBC on September 18, 1964 and the last episode aired on April 15, 1967. Flipper revolves around the experience of a dolphin named Flipper, who was a Bottlenose Dolphin who is the wild pet and companion animal of Porter Ricks who is the Chief Warden of the fictional Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in South Florida. Flipper is also very close with Porter Ricks two sons, Sandy and Bud. Bud, the younger son is the closest to Flipper.
The show was conceived by Jack Cowden and Ricou Browning who had a great deal of experience in filming underwater and he played the monster in the hit movie The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Flipper was actually based on the 1963 movie named Flipper as well as the 1964 sequel named Flippers New Adventure.
Notice that Flipper's trainers (pictured below) are also both wearing Rolex Submariner watches.
Flipper was shot in Miami as well as in Nassau. Flipper was produced in cooperation with the Miami Seaquarium which was located on Key Biscayne in Biscayne Bay which next to Miami, Florida. Ironically, Flipper the dolphin was played by 5 different female dolphins since female dolphins are less aggressive than male dolphins. The female dolphins were unable to do the tail walk so they used a male dolphin to play that part.
Rolex Submariner Watches Abound
So what does Flipper have to do with Rolex? Porter Ricks character, played by actor Brian Kelly, wore a Rolex Submariner from the first episode which the following screen shots are from.
Flipper was a great show with great style. The mid 1960s style including slip-on Vans, Hang-Ten T-Shirts and of course, Rolex Submariner watches. Very much of a clean-cut, early Beach Boys vibe with a definite aquatic setting. There is just something so cool about the whole Submariner/Aquatic lifestyle.
As I reflect back, I realize that probably the first exposure I ever had to Rolex was watching Porter Ricks sporting his Rolex Submariner back in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Rolex Submariner watches seemed to be everywhere on Flipper. In this episode I saw stainless steel Rolex Submariner watches on at least 3 characters.
You can watch the very first episode of Flipper by clicking on the play button below. Once the show starts playing you can push the button in the upper right-hand-corner to have it play full-screen on you computer. Enjoy!!!
Smith from the German R-L-X.de Rolex Forum sent in this superb publicity shot from the original 1960s TV Show, Flipper. Flipper can be seen here with his trainers and of course they are both wearing Stainless Steel Rolex Submariners...
Come on and sing it with me!!!
They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning, No one you see, is smarter than he, And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of wonder, Flying there under, under the sea!
Everyone loves the king of the sea, Ever so kind and gentle is he, Tricks he will do when children appear, And how they laugh when he’s near!
They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning, No-one you see, is smarter than he, And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of wonder, Flying there-under, under the sea!
Actor Brian Kelly played the father Porter Ricks and Chief Warden at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in the family oriented action-adventure television program Flipper.
You can see him sporting his Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner in the first three shots. Brian Kelly was the son of former Governor of Michigan, Harry Kelly. Brian was definitely a stud as you can see.
When I was a kid I loved this Show!!! Now that I think about it the first time I ever saw a Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner was probably on this show.
After Brian Kelly retired from acting he went on to become a movie producer and was an executive producer of Blade Runner in 1982.
Kelley Sporting His Trademark Stainless Rolex Submariner
Historically Rolex has always been extremely secretive and discreet, and no journalists in the past have ever been invited "INSIDE ROLEX" to explore and report on all four Rolex Manufacturing faclities in Switzerland.
In November 2013, this changed when Rolex invited Jake to take an unprecdented journey into the heart of Rolex to learn and report on everything he witnessed and learned.
This Super-Detailed 3 Part Story is a "MUST READ" story for anybody who wants to understand what really makes Rolex tick.
