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Bourbon Street Beat

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Bourbon Street Beat
Created byCharles Hoffman
StarringRichard Long
Andrew Duggan
Arlene Howell
Van Williams
Theme music composerMack David and
Jerry Livingston
ComposersJack Halloran, arranger
Michael Heindorf
Howard Jackson
Frank Perkins
Paul Sawtell
Bert Shefter
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes39 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerWilliam T. Orr
ProducersCharles Hoffman
Harry Tatelman
Jerry Davis
Oren W. Haglund (Production manager)
Gordon Bau (make-up)
Production locationCalifornia
EditorJames C. Moore
Running time60 minutes
Production companyWarner Bros. Television Division
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseOctober 5, 1959 (1959-10-05) –
July 4, 1960 (1960-07-04)
Related

Bourbon Street Beat is a private detective television series that aired on the ABC network from October 5, 1959, to July 4, 1960, starring Richard Long as Rex Randolph and Andrew Duggan as Cal Calhoun, with Arlene Howell as detective agency secretary Melody Lee Mercer and Van Williams as Kenny Madison.[1] Reruns continued until September 26, 1960.[2]

Randolph and Calhoun — Special Services was based in the Absinthe House, a nightclub on the title street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The firm's telephone number was EXpress 7123. The show's theme, "Bourbon Street Beat", was composed by Mack David and Jerry Livingston.[3]

Characters

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Calhoun and Randolph were co-owners of the detective agency Randolph and Calhoun, Special Services. Melody Lee Mercer was their receptionist, and Kenny Madison was an assistant to the owners. The Baron played piano in the city.[4]

Cast

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Main Cast: Andrew Duggan, Arlene Howell, Van Williams and Richard Long in Bourbon Street Beat

Richard Long as Rex Randolph[2]
Andrew Duggan as Cal Calhoun[2]
Arlene Howell as Melody Lee Mercer[2]
Van Williams as Kenny Madison[2]
Eddie Cole as The Baron (twelve episodes)
Tommy Farrell as Jay O'Hanlon (seven episodes)
Nita Talbot as Lusti Weather (four episodes)

Guest stars

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The following are among the many guest stars on the single season of Bourbon Street Beat:

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Taste of Ashes"Leslie H. MartinsonStory by : Howard Browne,
Teleplay by : Charles Hoffman & Al C. Ward		October 5, 1959 (1959-10-05)
Rex Randolph discovers his partner has died, the police dismiss the case as a simple suicide, but Randolph is convinced far more is at stake. Working his way through the social elite of Pelican Bay he does uncover a truth no one expected and picks up a new partner for his business along the way.
2"Mourning Cloak"James V. KernSig HerzigOctober 12, 1959 (1959-10-12)
Rex gets a strange note care of his office assistance requesting he come out to an old run down plantation house. It becomes obvious very quickly something is very wrong at the house especially when former employees turn up dead.
3"Torch Song for Trumpet"Leslie H. MartinsonJim Barnett & Leo TownsendOctober 19, 1959 (1959-10-19)
Cal is asked by a young lady, Cindy Roberts to investigate how her previous lover Kip Kiley had been released early from jail and refuses to have anything to do with her. What Cal discovers is far more complex and involves the whole existence of the club scene on Bourbon Street.
4"Woman in the River"Leslie H. MartinsonLuther DavisOctober 26, 1959 (1959-10-26)
When police refuse to search for a young man's missing girlfriend, Rex and Cal agree to help him locate her. Guest star: Mary Tyler Moore.
5"Girl in Trouble"Reginald Le BorgJohn Hawkins & Ward HawkinsNovember 2, 1959 (1959-11-02)
Cal sets out to prove an old friend is innocent of murder and becomes convinced that the killing is somehow gangland related. With Russ Conway (actor).
6"Tiger Moth"James V. KernMarie BaumerNovember 9, 1959 (1959-11-09)
7"Secret of Hyacinth Bayou"Andre de TothStory by : Kenneth Perkins,
Teleplay by : William Spier		November 16, 1959 (1959-11-16)
8"Invitation to a Murder"Richard LeBorgStephen LordNovember 23, 1959 (1959-11-23)
9"Mrs. Viner Vanishes"Paul HenreidIrving ElmanNovember 30, 1959 (1959-11-30)
10"Light Touch of Terror"William J. Hole Jr.A.J. CarothersDecember 7, 1959 (1959-12-07)
11"The Golden Beetle"Reginald LeBorgWilliam SpierDecember 14, 1959 (1959-12-14)
12"The Black Magnolia"Reginald LeBorgEarl BaldwinDecember 21, 1959 (1959-12-21)
Guest star: Mary Tyler Moore.
13"Portrait of Lenore"Robert GordonStory by : Milton Geiger,
Teleplay by : Milton Geiger & Charles Hoffman		December 28, 1959 (1959-12-28)
14"Kill With Kindness"William J. Hole Jr.Marie BaumerJanuary 4, 1960 (1960-01-04)
15"Inside Man"Leslie H. MartinsonStory by : Ivan Goff & Ben Roberts,
Teleplay by : Howard Browne		January 11, 1960 (1960-01-11)
16"Find My Face"Paul HenreidMichael Plant[7]January 18, 1960 (1960-01-18)
17"Knock on Any Tombstone"William J. Hole Jr.Story by : Sig Herzig,
Teleplay by : Sig Herzig & Charles Hoffman		January 25, 1960 (1960-01-25)
18"Key to the City"James V. KernStory by : Jim Barnett,
Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis		February 1, 1960 (1960-02-01)
19"The 10% Blues"William J. Hole Jr.Story by : Hugh Benson & Dick Nelson,
Teleplay by : Stephen Lord		February 8, 1960 (1960-02-08)
Guest star: Bill Erwin
20"Melody in Diamonds"James V. KernDoris GilbertFebruary 15, 1960 (1960-02-15)
21"The House of Ledezan"William J. Hole Jr.Story by : David Evans,
Teleplay by : Michael Cramoy & David Evans		February 22, 1960 (1960-02-22)
22"Target for Hate"Leslie H. MartinsonStory by : Richard Matheson,
Teleplay by : Richard Matheson & William L. Stuart		March 7, 1960 (1960-03-07)
23"The Missing Queen"Paul HenreidDorothy B. Hughes, Doris Gilbert and James Patrick O'NeillMarch 14, 1960 (1960-03-14)
24"Neon Nightmare"William J. Hole Jr.Dean RiesnerMarch 21, 1960 (1960-03-21)
Guest star: Randy Stuart as Beejay.
25"Wall of Silence"Charles R. RondeauSam RossMarch 28, 1960 (1960-03-28)
26"Twice Betrayed"William J. Hole Jr.Story by : Howard Browne,
Teleplay by : William Bruckner		April 4, 1960 (1960-04-04)
Guest stars: Tyler McVey and Judson Pratt.
27"Swamp Fire"Robert B. SinclairStory by : Edward Wellen,
Teleplay by : Sig Herzig & Dean Riesner		April 11, 1960 (1960-04-11)
Guest star: Tony Young as Prosper Gamillon.
28"If a Body"Leslie H. MartinsonStory by : Irving Elman,
Teleplay by : Charles Hoffman & Irving Elman		April 18, 1960 (1960-04-18)
29"Six Hours to Midnight"Charles R. RondeauStory by : Richard Bluel,
Teleplay by : Lee Loeb		April 25, 1960 (1960-04-25)
30"Last Exit"Leslie H. MartinsonStory by : Douglas Heyes,
Teleplay by : W. Hermanos		May 2, 1960 (1960-05-02)
31"Deadly Persuasion"Charles R. RondeauBerne Giler & W. HermanosMay 9, 1960 (1960-05-09)
32"Suitable for Framing"Leslie H. MartinsonStory by : Gerald Drayson Adams,
Teleplay by : W. Hermanos & Charles Hoffman		May 16, 1960 (1960-05-16)
33"False Identity"William J. Hole Jr.Story by : David Goodis,
Teleplay by : W. Hermanos		May 23, 1960 (1960-05-23)
34"Green Hell"Charles R. RondeauStory by : Tom Gries & Al C. Ward,
Teleplay by : W. Hermanos & Al C. Ward		May 30, 1960 (1960-05-30)
35"Ferry to Algiers"William J. Hole Jr.W. HermanosJune 6, 1960 (1960-06-06)
36"Wagon Show"Robert B. SinclairStory by : Hugh Benson,
Teleplay by : W. Hermanos		June 13, 1960 (1960-06-13)
Guest star: Brad Johnson as Michael Reynard.
37"Interrupted Wedding"William J. Hole Jr.Story by : Laszlo Gorog,
Teleplay by : Laszlo Gorog & W. Hermanos		June 20, 1960 (1960-06-20)
Guest stars: Patrick McVey as John Crane and Randy Stuart as Betty Jane Robinson.
38"Reunion"William J. Hole Jr.Story by : Nelson Gidding,
Teleplay by : W. Hermanos		June 27, 1960 (1960-06-27)
39"Teresa"William J. Hole Jr.Story by : Whitman Chambers,
Teleplay by : W. Hermanos		July 4, 1960 (1960-07-04)

Production

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Bourbon Street Beat was broadcast on Mondays from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time.[2] Most of the show was filmed in California, but ABC purchased a half-interest in the Absinthe House in New Orleans to provide a local angle.[8] William T. Orr was the executive producer, and Charles Hoffman was the producer. William Hole was the director.[9]

Cars used in episodes

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  • Cal Calhun's 1951 Chevrolet 'Styleline DeLuxe' Convertible
  • Kenny Madison's 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible with optional removable hardtop (certain episodes)
  • Rex Randolph's 1959 Oldsmobile 98 Convertible

References

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  1. ^ Hyatt, Wesley (2015). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. pp. 101–102. ISBN 978-1-4766-0515-9. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (9th ed.). New York: The Ballantine Publishing Group. pp. 172–173. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  3. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2015). The Television Crime Fighters Factbook: Over 9,800 Details from 301 Programs, 1937-2003. McFarland. pp. 11–12. ISBN 978-1-4766-1143-3. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  4. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 113. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  5. ^ Lisanti, Tom (May 7, 2015). Drive-in Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-Movie Starlets of the Sixties. McFarland. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-7864-9342-5. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Lisanti, Tom (May 20, 2015). Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Biker, Beach, and Elvis Movies. McFarland. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-4766-0116-8. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  7. ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 November 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Screenwriters: Michael Plant". Filmink.
  8. ^ Campanella, Richard (March 5, 2014). Bourbon Street: A History. LSU Press. ISBN 978-0-8071-5507-3. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  9. ^ "This Week — Network Debuts & Highlights". Ross Reports. October 5, 1959. p. 105. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
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