The huge success of the first two Beatles (see entry under 1960s—Music in volume 4) films, A Hard Day's Night (1964; see entry under 1960s—Film and Theater in volume 4) and Help (1965), prompted producers Bob Rafelson (1933–) and Bert Schneider (c. 1933–) to try duplicating the form on television (see entry under 1940s—TV and Radio in volume 3). They envisioned a show built around a real rock and roll (see entry under 1950s—Music in volume 3) band whose members would play themselves. Like the Beatles films, each show would feature minimal plot, a great deal of dashing around (called "romp" by the producers) by the characters, and the group's songs as part of the soundtrack. The result was The Monkees.

The band consisted of Englishman Davy Jones (1945–) and Americans Peter Tork (1942–), Micky Dolenz (1945–), and Mike Nesmith (1942–). At first, none of the boys except Nesmith could play any musical instrument. Instead, they...