Also known as ''Crime Photographer'' Country of origin United States No. of seasons 2 Final episode date 5 June 1952 Number of episodes 57 Narrated by Ken Roberts | Composer(s) Morton Gould Original language(s) English First episode date 19 April 1951 Number of seasons 2 Created by George Harmon Coxe Producer Martin Manulis | |
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Starring Richard Carlyle (season one)
Darren McGavin (season two)
Jan Miner
John Gibson (season one)
Cliff Hall (season two)
Donald McClelland
Archie Smith | ||
Casey, Crime Photographer (also known simply as Crime Photographer) was an American crime drama that was on for only 2 seasons during the Golden Age of Television. The series ran from April 19, 1951–June 5, 1952 on the CBS Television Network. The series produced fifty-seven episodes in two seasons. It was based on the successful radio series of the same name which was based on the novels by George Harmon Coxe.
Contents
The series starred Richard Carlyle originally as the title role of Jack "Flashgun" Casey. Later, Darren McGavin would take on the title role. The series co-starred actress Jan Miner as Ann Williams, Jack's girlfriend and a fellow reporter.
Show Origins
In 1934, author George Harmon Coxe who was already known for the writer of the magazine Black Mask which was launched in 1920, created a knew character called Jack Casey who solved crimes for the police.
The character was so successful in the magazine that Coxe wrote a novel about him called Silent Are the Dead in 1942. There were also two movie made about him entitled Women Are Trouble, (1936), and Here's Flash Casey, (1938). Another Casey novel was written entitled Murder For Two in 1943. There were three more Casey novels released; Error of Judgement, (1961), The Man Who Died Too Soon, (1962), and Broken Image, (1964).
On July 7, 1943, the CBS Radio Network launched the long-running radio series called Casey, Crime Photographer, (originally called Flashgun Casey). The show was very successful. It was renamed in April 1944 to Casey, Press Photographer, and again in June 1945 to Crime Photographer. It was finally called Casey, Crime Photographer in March 1947. The radio series was cancelled on November 16, 1950. It was revived and put back on the radio as simply Crime Photographer. It was only on for a year from January 13, 1954–April 22, 1955 before being permanently cancelled.
Between the cancelation of the radio series in 1950 and the revival of it in 1954, CBS Television aired a television series for one year entitled Casey, Crime Photographer (also known as Crime Photographer).
Synopsis
Casey, Crime Photographer premiered on Thursday April 19, 1951 on CBS. For the first season, actor Richard Carlyle portrayed the title role of Jack Casey, nicknamed "Flashgun".
Casey is a reporter, specifically a photographer for the fictional newspaper, The Morning Express in New York. Casey usually reports at crimes photographing crime scenes and collaborates with the police and participates in the solving of these crimes. His girlfriend, Ann Williams, which was played by future Palmolive spokesperson and actress Jan Miner for the entire series, is also a reporter at The Express.
Every week on every episode, Casey goes to the Blue Note Café where a bartender named Ethelbert is usually always there waiting for Casey to tell him his most recent job experience and his most recent crime investigation.
The season one finale aired on August 30, 1951.
Season 2 changes
Season 2 premiered on September 7, 1951.
The major changes that occurred during the season were mainly cast related.
The biggest change in the cast was the change of the actors who played Casey. Richard Carlyle originally played Casey but in June 1951, near the end of season one, the show's executives replaced Carlyle with another popular actor, Darren McGavin. This was McGavin's first role on television.
The role of Ethelbert the bartender also changed as season two rolled around. Originally, the role of Ethelbert was played by actor John Gibson. In June 1951, along with Carlyle, Gibson was replaced by Cliff Hall who entered season two playing the role of Ethelbert.
Season two also saw the birth of a new character, Jack Lipman. Lipman was Casey's partner. Lipman was portrayed by actor Archie Smith.
Jan Miner maintained her role as Casey's girlfriend and fellow Express reporter Ann Williams.
CBS cancelled the show in 1952. Its last episode aired on June 5, 1952.
Cast
Ratings
According to TV.com, in a recent rating of the Most Popular Drama of the 1950s, is ranked number 72 on the list. The series ranked behind Lux Video Theatre which was #70.