About Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is an American fantasy-drama anthology series produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg that aired on ABC from 1978 to 1984, following two pilot television films broadcast in 1977. Each week, a small group of guests arrives by seaplane at a lush, secluded tropical resort where, for a price, their deepest wishes and fantasies are brought to life. The island is overseen by the gracious and mysterious Mr. Roarke, a white-suited host who seems to possess powers far beyond those of an ordinary innkeeper.
The fantasies that guests request range from lighthearted and romantic to dangerous and cautionary. Roarke arranges each scenario with meticulous care, yet the experiences rarely unfold exactly as the visitors imagine. Many learn that getting what they wished for carries unexpected consequences, and Roarke often guides them toward a deeper truth about themselves before they depart. This blend of wish-fulfillment, moral lesson, and gentle supernatural mystery gave the show its distinctive tone and broad family appeal.
For most of its run, Roarke was accompanied by his diminutive, enthusiastic assistant Tattoo, whose cry of welcome from the resort bell tower became one of the most recognizable moments in American television. The series mixed glamorous guest stars, exotic settings filmed in part at the Arboretum in Arcadia, California, and self-contained stories, making it a staple of ABC's lineup. It paired naturally with the network's other Aaron Spelling anthology hit, The Love Boat, with which it shared a Saturday-night home for several seasons.