I Dream of Jeannie premiered on NBC in 1965, starring Barbara Eden as the bottle-dwelling genie and Larry Hagman as a crash-landed astronaut Tony Nelson. The show was indeed a hit, so let’s delve into some behind-the-scenes moments from one of our favorite 1960s sitcoms.
Season 1 Didn’t Have a Theme Song
The I Dream of Jeannie theme song didn’t exist until Season 2 of the show. There were a few opening options for the first season. First, there was the that showed how Jeannie and Tony met; then, the background story became a shorter black-and-white animated sequence. Finally, they added colors and the jingle we all love.
Getting Into the Bottle Wasn’t Easy
Although fitting into the bottle looked easy for Jeannie, it actually required a bit of strength. The bottle set was built on a sound stage, and Barbara had to climb an eight-foot ladder to reach the top.
Barbara’s Belly Button
Barbara Eden shares that she still gets questions about her signature belly button–bearing outfit. The 91-year-old actress explained that a reporter wrote about it, and looking for Jeannie’s belly button became a whole thing. Although she wasn’t allowed to keep the original costume, she had a replica made for herself.
Eden Was Pregnant During I Dream of Jeannie
Apart from The Lady in the Bottle, Jeannie was covered up for the first 10 episodes as Eden was pregnant in real life. The producers decided to keep her on the show and used technology to hide her pregnancy. The actress joked that she looked like a walking tent and had her son during a hiatus of the show.
A Lion Terrified Hagman on Set
In I Dream of Jeannie’s first season, one of the scenes featured a real lion. Eden thought it would be a good idea if she and Hagman got to know the guest star beforehand. “You have to stand very still and let the lion smell you,” Eden explained to Hagman. However, Hagman skipped the bonding part, and when the scene started, the lion started roaring when he saw Hagman. Eventually, he and a couple of crew members bolted off the set.
The Iconic Bottle Wasn’t Created for the Show
Jeannie’s bottle was actually a special 1964 Christmas present. Sidney Sheldon, the sitcom creator, had received one as a gift and got his inspiration for the I Dream of Jeannie bottle design. 12 bottles were painted and used while filming the show.
Putting on Jeannie’s Ponytail Took Three Hours
When transforming into Jeannie, Barbara Eden had to wear a clip-on ponytail. The hairstylist would push her bangs out to the front and braid the rest of her hair to put on the ponytail. The process would take about three hours each time to complete the look.