Racket Squad
Racket Squad | |
---|---|
Genre | Alexander Laszlo Herbert Taylor |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 98 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Hal Roach Hal Roach, Jr. |
Producers | Carroll Case Hal Roach, Jr. |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 23–26 minutes |
Production companies | Showcase Productions, Inc. Rabco Productions[1] |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | June 7, 1951 September 28, 1953 | –
Racket Squad is an
The format was a narrated
Synopsis
The show dramatized the methods and machinations of con men and
In the original episodes, Braddock addressed the victim in the second person, addressing the victim directly. In later episodes he narrated in the more conventional third person. Shooting was rapid, with 44 pages of script shot in two days.[2]
Production
The show originally was produced for the
Showcase Productions (Hal Roach Jr. and Carroll Case) produced the series, with James Flood as director. The writers were George C. Brown and Ed Seabrook.[4]
Three episodes were combined and released as a feature film Mobs, Inc. in 1956.[citation needed]
Guest stars
The show featured several guest stars who would achieve starring roles in future film and television roles:
- Lola Albright (Edie Hart in Peter Gunn)
- Hugh Beaumont (Ward Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver)
- Mary Castle (Frankie Adams in Stories of the Century)
- Jan Clayton (Ellen Miller in Lassie)
- Jackie Coogan (Uncle Fester in The Addams Family), billed as "John L. Coogan"
- Will Geer (Grandpa Walton in The Waltons)
- Dayton Lummis (Marshal Andy Morrison in Law of the Plainsman)
- Eve McVeagh (Mildred Fuller in High Noon; Roberta—Lucy's Hairdresser in I Love Lucy and Frances Moseby in The Clear Horizon)
- Carole Mathews (Wilma Fansler in The Californians)
- Ewing Mitchell (Sheriff Mitch Hargrove in Sky King)
- Noel Neill (Lois Lane in Adventures of Superman)
- John M. Pickard (Captain Shank Adams in Boots and Saddles)
- Gloria Saunders (The Dragon Lady in Terry and the Pirates)
- Karen Sharpe (Laura Thomas in Johnny Ringo)
- Robert Shayne (Inspector Henderson in Adventures of Superman)
- Frank Wilcox (oil executive John Brewster on The Beverly Hillbillies and Federal District Atty. Beecher Asbury in The Untouchables)
After Racket Squad, Reed Hadley starred from March 1954 to June 1955 in another
Episodes
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 13 | June 7, 1951 | August 30, 1951 | |
2 | 50 | September 6, 1951 | August 28, 1952 | |
3 | 35 | September 4, 1952 | September 7, 1953 |
Release
Alpha Video released various episodes on DVD Worldwide Distribution.
DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
---|---|---|
Racket Squad, Vol. 1 | 4 | 2003 |
Racket Squad, Vol. 2 | 4 | 2005 |
Racket Squad, Vol. 3 | 4 | 2005 |
Racket Squad, Vol. 4 | 4 | 2005 |
Racket Squad, Vol. 5 | 4 | 2009 |
Racket Squad, Vol. 6 | 4 | 2009 |
Racket Squad, Vol. 7 | 4 | 2011 |
Racket Squad Vol. 8 | 4 | 2011 |
Racket Squad Vol. 9 | 4 | 2011 |
Racket Squad Vol. 10 | 4 | 2012 |
Racket Squad Vol. 11 | 4 | 2012 |
Reception
Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
---|---|---|---|---|
1953 | Emmy Award |
Nominated | Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program[citation needed] | – |
1955 | Best Mystery or Intrigue Series[citation needed] | – |
Critical response
In a review of an episode from the second season, the trade publication Variety said that Racket Squad "adds up to fair entertainment" and noted that some members of the audience might benefit from warnings presented in the show.[4] The review added that the episode's dramatic component "was competently played".[4]
Notes
- ISBN 0809388065. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 978-0815603689. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ^ https://classictvguide.com/tvratings/1951.htm
- ^ a b c "Racket Squad". Variety. July 2, 1952. p. 24. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
External links
- Racket Squad at IMDb
- Racket Squad at CVTA