"Camp Runamuck" follows the antics of a boys summer camp and its neighboring girls camp, Camp Divine, across the lake. Running Runamuck is Commander Wivenhoe (Arch Johnson) and Senior Counselor Spiffy (Dave Ketchum, "Get Smart"). Assisting the zany camp is Counselor Pruett (Dave Madden), Doc Joslyn (Leonard Stone), and Camp Cook Malden (Mike Wagner). Overseeing Camp Divine is Chief Counselor Mahala May Gruenecker (Alice Nunn) and attractive counselor Caprice Yeudleman (Nina Wayne). Tensions between the rival camp adults and summer camp incidents/mishaps are the driving force behind the sitcom. When things get out of hand, the sheriff (George Dunn) steps in to try and keep the peace. The series ran for 26 episodes across one season (1965-66) with poor reviews and ratings leading to its cancellation.
Reflecting upon the series, "Camp Runamuck" is geared for younger audiences with zany sound effects and far-fetched plot points. However, if you don't expect much and take it as it comes, its a fun, madcap show. Nevertheless, it can insult one's intelligence with the lack of believability at times (hunters thinking men in rabbit costumes are actually big rabbits, man with feathered wings mistaken for a large bird, etc.). Some episodes struggle with plot and flow, but more often than not, episodes are worthwhile watches.
The concept of the childlike summer camp antics and mischievousness carried out by adults is a nice switch that creates some truly funny moments. Camp Runamuck's penny-pinching, stern owner, Commander Wivenhoe, has a mutual dislike for children and is usually at odds with the adults, too. Spiffy is the one who keeps the camp going with schedules and solutions to problems that arise. Doc and Camp Cook Malden concoct and assist in schemes with the men. So, too, does Counselor Pruett who spends his free time dating lovely Caprice, a counselor from the rivalrous girls camp across the lake. It is run by the vengeful Mahala May who has eyes for Wivenhoe. The sheriff becomes a recurring character later in the series.
Running gags include Pruett shaking with a rattling sound effect when he thinks of Caprice, Camp Divine sending messages to Camp Runamuck via arrow that damages something of the men's each time, and Wivenhoe's chest whistling when agitated after having swallowed a whistle early in the series. Aside from the absurdity, there are two episodes that have some heart. In the two-parter "Spiffy Quits", the senior counselor learns a lesson on appreciation. In "Malden Falls in Love", Malden learns a lesson on love.
This series is all about the wacky adults that run the two camps, as the campers are relegated to background action and talking points. Norton does appears in a number of episodes as a minor character, and has a large role in "Wivenhoe's New Car". A second episode that centers around a camper is "Tomboy", starring a young Maureen McCormick. In the latter third of the series, the campers almost disappear entirely with them leaving to start four consecutive episodes. A theme of the series is that the adults have a childlike mentality. It's very appropriate that the series ends with an episode where the men wonder if they can truly outsmart the boys.
