Here on Gillis’ Island

Inside jokes abound as Dwayne Hickman, fondly remembered by baby boomers as television’s Dobie Gillis, appears in Sunday’s CBS movie, “Surviving Gilligan’s Island,” an inside look at the making of one of TV’s most enduring series. He’ll be joining his old co-star, Bob Denver, who played a beatnik on “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” and later won fame as goofball castaway Gilligan. (Can’t get that catchy theme song out of our heads: “ The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed. If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost, the Minnow would be lost ... “)

Hickman, who was a CBS executive for 10 years, plays one in the TV movie. The network suit hates “Gilligan’s Island” and spouts off lines such as this: “What we need is a real hit ... like ‘Dobie Gillis.”’

Hickman’s resume includes roles in such 1960s film fare as “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini.” In real life, he’s an accomplished artist. His oil paintings will appear at Art Expo in San Francisco in early November. He’s also participating in a celebrity art exhibit Nov. 15-18 at the Assistance League of Los Angeles to raise money for the Actors’ Fund of America.

No to Smoke Signals

There are many ways to communicate, but Erik Estrada isn’t interested in sending smoke signals. The former “CHiPs” star has filed a $1.5-million lawsuit against a Texas company called Smoke Signal Communications. Estrada claims the telecommunications firm exploited his likeness after canceling an endorsement deal.

Estrada says in court papers that he gave written notice revoking permission to use his “name, likeness, image, voice or photograph” after the 1998 deal for radio, print and television ads ended earlier this year.

Estrada’s L.A. Superior Court suit, filed Tuesday, claims the company continued to capitalize on Estrada’s “valuable right of publicity, a property right with substantial commercial value.” Besides monetary damages, Estrada is asking the court for a restraining order and attorney fees. A representative for the company could not be immediately reached.

No to Fire

Actor Fyvush Finkel celebrated his 79th birthday Tuesday on the set of the David E. Kelley television show “Boston Public” with a cake from other cast members. But there were no candles to blow out.

Studio security is so tight in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks that a production staffer checked with the fire department, which nixed the idea of lighting so many candles on a crowded sound stage, Finkel’s publicist said.

Imagine

Incense and John Lennon tunes wafted over a colorful crowd of devoted fans who gathered Tuesday evening in front of the Capitol Records building in Hollywood to remember what would have been the slain musician’s 61st birthday. More than 100 people converged around a large cardboard peace symbol encircled by 61 cupcakes.

The shrine was the work of Santa Monica peace activist Jerry Rubin and his friends. Rubin (no relation to the 1960s activist of the same name) has organized vigils on Lennon’s birthday and the anniversary of his death nearly every year since the musician was gunned down outside New York’s famed Dakota apartment building on Dec. 8, 1980.

Speaking as the sun set Tuesday, which also marked Sean Lennon’s 26th birthday, Rubin encouraged fans to carry on John Lennon’s quest for peace.

“Tonight, even under these most trying times, when our nation and this planet is really being threatened ... John Lennon’s ‘Give Peace a Chance’ message needs to be heard even stronger and louder today,” Rubin told the crowd--some wearing graying ponytails, wire-rimmed glasses and T-shirts adorned with Lennon lyrics.

As Rubin directed fans to sign an oversized birthday card he plans to send to Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow, Dennis Garling was on his hands and knees diligently polishing Lennon’s star on the Walk of Fame. It’s a task the Simi Valley medical supply salesman committed to about 12 years ago. Every other weekend, he washes away candle wax and other remnants of fan worship. Garling said, “It’s my way of commemorating and acknowledging what [Lennon] represents.”

Slim Shady Single

Rapper Eminem is officially single. The real Marshall Mathers III’s divorce from wife Kim became final Tuesday in Michigan, according to E! Online. He’ll pay $1,000 a week in child support, share custody of 5-year-old daughter Hailie Jade and honor other terms of a settlement reached in March--among them, giving Kim $475,000 in cash to buy a new house.

The Royal Watch

Prince Andrew will pay tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks during a visit to New York later this week.

Buckingham Palace announced the four-day visit, during which the 41-year-old prince will place a wreath at a shrine to Britons killed in the attacks, visit the American Red Cross and go to church.

He will also ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, near the ruins of the World Trade Center, sayeth the palace.

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Times staff writers Gina Piccalo and Louise Roug contributed to this column. City of Angles runs Tuesday-Friday. E-mail: angles@latimes.com.