Whenever “Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees” reverberated from TV sets throughout American neighborhoods in 1966, excited youngsters settled themselves before the screen awaiting a half-hour of madcap episodes about four hopeful rock ‘n’ roll singers who lived in a Malibu beach house. Until it ended in 1968, the NBC hit show was long on fun, singable songs and even won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy.

At the end of 400 auditions for the new TV series, four young men emerged to become childhood’s newest heroes, the Monkees. The cast, chosen for their personalities and musical ability, consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork. Dolenz had starred in the “Circus Boy” series, Jones had performed in the British production of “Oliver!” and Nesmith, who rode a motorcycle, had recorded earlier under another name.