Gidget: A Hearse, a Hearse, My Kingdom for a Hearse

Gidget: A Hearse, a Hearse, My Kingdom for a Hearse
ABC
October 20, 1965
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This episode, the first of four written by John McGreevey, is I believe the first to not have John and Anne, and to have much of the action take place at school, specifically Auto Shop.  It definitely plays out differently than it would've five decades later, or even five years later.  Gidget, who still hasn't turned 16, buys a very small share in a car (the hearse of the title) and tries to prove her independence, only to decide that being feminine and manipulating boys with her "helplessness" is a better strategy.  All the men (we don't get the reactions of any women or girls, even Larue) think her interest in cars is ridiculous, and her usually supportive father tells her condescending boyfriend that women only think they want equality.  That said, I don't think the message is a straightforward sexist one, but more ambiguous.

Herb Ellis, who plays Mr. Walters the Shop teacher, would be a Detective on That Girl.  This is Joy Harmon's 2nd Gidget and Ricky Sorensen's third, although neither is memorable here.  (At least we see Mike Nader's distinctive smile on a few occasions.)