T H E N I G H T W A T C H
----- -------------------
1954 - 1955
First Show: Apr 02, 1954 Last Show: Apr 21, 1955
Number Shows: 52 Audition Show: Jan 07, 1954
Series Description:
CBS brought THE NIGHTWATCH to the air for its short run on April 2,
1954. NIGHTWATCH was the first show to bring live police drama to
the air. Police Reporter Don Reed accompanied Officer Ron Perkins,
bringing with him a tape recorder to capture the action. Don Reed
actually carried a dry-cell powered reel to reel tape machine on his
back and had a concealed microphone inside a flashlight casing.
Reed went on to be one of the first traffic helicopter reporters,
and Perkins eventually was elected Mayor of Culver City.
Log Comments:
Titles describe the cases covered by the episode. Not all catalogs
showed full titles, opting for one case. Some catalogs included
show descriptions. These are below the title, indented. There was
a note in the McCoy catalog that his dates ARE correct; the broad-
casts were erratic. A five minute "uncensored" exerpt from rehersal
of show 49 was listed in a number of catalogs. Jerry Hanediges
listing included a 2 hour 1980 interview.
Chronological Log:
Date Day Num Title Avail
------------ --- --- ------------------------------------ -----
Jan 07, 1954 Thu AUD Police Recorder (Audition) yes
Apr 02, 1954 Fri 1 Nude Prowler yes
Suspect is caught completely nude
Apr 12, 1954 Mon 2 311 Southgate yes
A man is suspected of "flashing"
May 03, 1954 Mon 3 Glass Breaker yes
Break-in at service station
May 10, 1954 Mon 4 Peanut Butter, part 1 yes
First call is traffic accident
May 17, 1954 Mon 5 Shoplifter, Sidewinder, Peanut yes
Butter, part 2
May 24, 1954 Mon 6 Santa Baby, Lover yes
First call is an abandoned child
Jun 04, 1954 Fri 7 Kid Explosives yes
Teenagers involved in robbery of
movie studios.
Jun 11, 1954 Fri 8 Paper Hanger yes
Man passes a bad check, next a
suicide attempt.
Jun 18, 1954 Fri 9 Kenny Narco & Headplate yes
Narcotics investigation
Jun 25, 1954 Fri 10 Big Search, Musical Psycho yes
8 year old boy is missing
Jul 02, 1954 Fri 11 Slugger, Baby 211 yes
A woman is beating her husband's
brains out.
Jul 10, 1954 Sat 12 Hammer 211, Junk Tree yes
Hold-up by a man with a hammer
Jul 17, 1954 Sat 13 Car Winos & Floor Sleepers yes
Jul 24, 1954 Sat 14 Old Bat & Crowbar yes
Jul 31, 1954 Sat 15 Boy Go Home, Flower Pot & Glow Worm yes
Aug 07, 1954 Sat 16 Three Time Loser & Shotgun Boy yes
Aug 14, 1954 Sat 17 Old Fashioned Suicide, Talk Jack & yes
Santa Baby (repeat)
Aug 21, 1954 Sat 18 Shock yes
Aug 28, 1954 Sat 19 Weeper, Silly Sal & Hot Pants yes
Sep 04, 1954 Sat 20 Fence 447 & Western Union Raid yes
Sep 11, 1954 Sat 21 Inhalator & Jawbreaker yes
Sep 18, 1954 Sat 22 Strippers & Pix Stash yes
Sep 25, 1954 Sat 23 Motel sheets & Lock-Out yes
Oct 07, 1954 Thu 24 Pick-Up and "Who's Crazy?" yes
Oct 14, 1954 Thu 25 Triangle & Peacemaker yes
Starts with A.P.B., blonde male,
possible gun involved.
Oct 21, 1954 Thu 26 Orange Balls & Bridge Jumper yes
An alcoholic is questioned
Oct 28, 1954 Thu 27 Mississippi, Psycho 288 & Kingston yes
Drunk tries to turn in a drug
dealer
Nov 04, 1954 Thu 28 Grandma, Shoe Shine & Wife Beater yes
Elderly woman thinks her family
wants to kill her.
Nov 11, 1954 Thu 29 Kidnap yes
Woman claims someone has stolen
her child.
Nov 18, 1954 Thu 30 Child Desertion, Cabby & Kicker yes
Woman menacing people on street
with a knife.
Nov 25, 1954 Thu 31 Bleeder Safe yes
A drunken hemophiliac.
Dec 02, 1954 Thu 32 Rolling Pin & Lugar yes
A woman has beat up her boyfriend
Dec 09, 1954 Thu 33 ... title not known ...
Dec 16, 1954 Thu 34 Scum, Breastwork & Phone Burglar yes
A drunken brawl involves two
neighbors.
Dec 23, 1954 Thu 35 Goldie 211 yes
Robbery in progress at liquor
store.
Dec 30, 1954 Thu 36 Beer Can yes
Jan 06, 1955 Thu 37 ... title not known ...
Jan 13, 1955 Thu 38 Aunt Suicide yes
A family dispute
Jan 20, 1955 Thu 39 Smash, Turkey & Larry yes
Unit 56 responds to a hit & run
Jan 27, 1955 Thu 40 Polio & Fog yes
Young girl with polio is in
urgent need of oxygen.
Feb 03, 1955 Thu 41 CARE & Jug yes
Perkins & Reed bust a robbery
suspect.
Feb 10, 1955 Thu 42 Ma & Pa Heinz & Chase yes
80 yr. old couple are having a
lover's quarrel.
Feb 17, 1955 Thu 43 Bra yes
Perkins & Reed on narcotics
stake-out.
Feb 24, 1955 Thu 44 Knife, Dead boy & Get-away yes
A woman has stabbed her husband.
Mar 03, 1955 Thu 45 ... title not known ...
Mar 10, 1955 Thu 46 Bubble Gum & Baby yes
Be on the look-out for man with
explosives.
Mar 17, 1955 Thu 47 Crazy & Buy yes
Woman thinks her husband is crazy.
Mar 24, 1955 Thu 48 Whiskers & Black Eye yes
A cat is caught in a washing
machine.
Mar 31, 1955 Thu 49 Goddamn Lady & Mr. Peepers yes
Man & woman involved in brawl on
the street.
Apr 07, 1955 Thu 50 ... title not known ...
Apr 14, 1955 Thu 51 ... title not known ...
Apr 21, 1955 Thu 52 ... title not known ...
.......... related shows ...........
Bike Swipe yes
Recorded but never broadcast
Uncensored excerpts from show of yes
03-31-55, #49
??? ??, 1980 A Look Back: a 2 hour Interview yes
about the series.
References:
* "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All
Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514
* OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites:
* McCoy's Recordings, PO Box 1069, Richland, Wash. 99352
* Vintage Broadcasts, Andy Blatt, PO Box 50065, Staten Island, NY
10305
* Great American Radio, Gary Kramer, PO Box 504, Genesee, MI 48437
* AVPRO, Don Aston, PO Box 1392, Lake Elsinore, CA 92531-1392
* Jerry Haendiges Productions, Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr.,
Whittier, CA 90602
Reader Feedback:
* Max Schmid supplied some background information for the Description
section.
Other Logs or Books:
* THE NIGHTWATCH log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808 Sunset Dr.,
Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com)
Last Update: May 20, 2004
This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my
references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows may still
be protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from
authorized dealers.
The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis.
Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M.
Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).