Celebrity Birthday: Micky Dolenz + ‘Monkees’ Fun Facts

Happy 68th birthday (March 8) to Micky Dolenz, the singer-drummer of the group The Monkees. Most of us remember him most fondly from the Monkees television series which aired from September 1966 to March 1968. In the years since the series ended, Dolenz and other members of the group have revealed things about the show including the comparison of The Monkees to The Beatles.

• While it's true the Monkees television series was inspired by the Beatles Movie 'A Hard Day's Night,' Dolenz says there was a significant difference between the two. The Beatles were always portrayed as superstars where the Monkees were a poor struggling band just trying to survive.

• While Dolenz had previous acting experience and his Monkees character was based loosely on his real persona, the producers had to hire someone to teach all the the young actors in the show improvisational comedy.

• Because the show was loosely scripted, some of the episodes would come up short so they would have to find things like candid interviews or screen tests to make up the difference.

• The Screen Gems set where the show was shot was also used by the Three Stooges for some of their short films. Several of the props used in the Monkees television show are also in Three Stooges films.

• Dolenz once admitted there was an aspect of the show that may not have made it past the censors had they realized it. There was no adult supervision or role models associated with the young musicians. (They did have Mr. Schneider, the mannequin, though).