Rudy Bond's

Television Appearances

Descriptions of shows in quotes, followed by (TT), were taken with permission from Alex McNeil's "Total Television", the most complete book on TV programming I've ever seen.

I have quite of few of these digitized, some were converted from VHS tapes, some were found in internet archives. All the episodes with an asterisk before the name are the ones I have not yet acquired.

STARLIGHT THEATER

"Starlight Theatre' is a 30-minute American television anthology series of romantic stories on CBS from April 2, 1950, to October 4, 1951. 49 episodes aired. In 1950-1951 it alternated with 'The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'."

"Before You Came Along", appeared 7 pm Thursday, November 30, 1950. The Bodericks are a middle-aged couple facing a marital crisis. Helen, insecure about her plain looks, flies off the handle when George tells her about running into an old girlfriend. He goes to visit his old flame Margie and is upset to find she doesn't remember him as fondly as he does her. In fact, she thinks he's someone else entirely. This episode was directed by Yul Brynner. Rudy was billed as "Johnny". Cast included Wendy Barrie as Margie, Barbara Baxley as Helen, and Frank Albertson as George.

 THE PHILCO TELEVISON PLAYHOUSE "This live dramatic series featured original stories and adaptations of novels, plays, etc., during its eight-year run. This episode ran during the third season, when, the television plays were adaptations of plays, novels, dramas, etc., by known and unknown authors."

"Night at the Vulcan", appeared Sunday August 26, 1951. When an actor is murdered backstage, the cast of the production become the suspects, seems the actor had plenty of enemies. Cast included Rudy Bond, Patricia Breslin, Jerome Cowan, Bruce Gordan, William Prince, Stephen Elliott and Polly Rowles. It was written by Written by Ngaio Marsh and Thomas Phipps

. SUSPENSE Suspense was an anthology drama series, filmed in New York, about people in situations where their lives or the lives of a loved one were in danger. Suspense was adapted from a long-running radio program. Episodes began with a ominous off-camera voice announcing, "And now, a tale well calculated to keep you in...Suspense!" It aired on CBS from 1 March 1949-17 August 1954. It had no regular host, or regular cast.
"The Moving Target", appeared Nov. 11, 1952, and was based on a true story. An athlete, Peter Darvas (played by Jamie Smith) is selected to represent the Communist country of Hungary in the Olympics, and is warned that his elderly father will be held 'as collateral' so he does not contemplate trying to escape to the West during the Games. However, when he finds out his father has died, he attempts to keep this a secret from his Communist watchdog Zevich (played by Joseph Anthony) to give him a chance to defect. Rudy played "Stephan", who trained Peter to be an excellent sharpshooter. Also co-starring were Irma Jensen and Wolfe Barzell.

To see photos, click SUSPENSE

THE WEB This anthology featured live dramas that were based on stories written by members of the Mystery Writers of America, each lasting a half hour. It aired from 4 July 1950-1 October 1957 (on CBS television from July 1950 through September 1954 and then on NBC television for four months in 1957.)

* "Night Fare" appeared March 21, 1954, with a cast including Rudy Bond, Ray Walston, Michael Ingram, Robert Emhardt, Daniel Keyes, Tom Gorman and Arthur Batamides. In this episode, a taxi driver with a drunk for his fare suddenly finds himself involved in an international plot.

 ELGIN TV HOUR This was a dramatic anthology series that aired 5 October 1954-14 June 1955 on ABC.

* "Hearts and Hollywood", appeared November 30, 1954, and starred Gertrude Berg as Bessie and Robert Strauss as Sid Roth. Rudy was billed as "Nate". The play was directed by Daniel Petrie, who later directed Rudy in other vehicles as well. Other guest stars included Mikhail Rasumny as Berman, Nita Talbot, Norman Feld as Morton, Lenka Peterson as Marge, Betty Walker as Mrs. Lewis, Dora Weissman as Mrs. Perlman and Frank Overton as Ad Man

JUSTICE

Another live series. The stories were about the lawyers for the Legal Aid Society of New York, and were taken from their actual files. NBC, April 8, 1954-March 25, 1956.

Rudy was in two episodes.

* "The Firebug" appeared 8:30-9 pm Thursday, Oct. 28, 1954. Gary Merrill and Dane Clark were regulars on the show that season. Rudy was billed as "Phil". Also appearing in the episode were Harry Townes and Janet Ward.

"Flight From Fear" was telecast 10:30-11 pm Sunday, Oct. 16, 1955. William Prince was a regular on the show that season. Rudy was billed as "Sloan". Also appearing in that episode were Biff McGuire, Cameron Prudhomme, Jack Warden and Peg Feury.

To see a photo, click JUSTICE

DANGER

Live psychological and murder mystery dramas, and one of the first U.S. television dramas to make effective use of background music. Series ran 1950-55.

* "Death Trap" was shown on January, 1955. A bookish youngster uncovers a homicide plot while on a hunting trip in the northern wilds. Cast included Rudy Bond, Chris Gampel, Ford Raineyu, Joseph Walsh, Michael Conrad and Russell Hardie..

WINDOWS

A 30-minute dramatic anthology series, aired live from New York City on CBS, that was a summer replacement for "Person to Person" in 1955.

* "Arcade" was shown 10:30-11 pm on August 13, 1955. It was based on a short story, "The Dwarf", by Ray Bradbury, written for TV by Arnold Schulman. TV Guide's description: "The fat man who owns the arcade's House of Mirrors has found out how to stand up against the customers' wisecracks. He pretends he really looks as tall and thin as he appears in one of his distorting mirrors." Rudy Bond was billed as "Ralph". Other cast members: Melvin Berger - Bigelow; Patricia Smith - Ann; Alan Leaf - Ruggs; Bert Freed - Carney; and Anna Berger - May.

STAR STAGE

This dramatic anthology series of two-act plays appeared on NBC every Friday night, but lasted only a year (Sept. 9, 1955-Sept. 7, 1956.)

* "Trumpet Man" was shown 9:30-10 pm on Oct. 21, 1955. A musician tries to make a comeback after his drinking almost loses him is wife and career. It starred Gary Merrill. Rudy was billed as "Sid Griffin"

STUDIO ONE

"Studio One was one of the oldest, and most highly acclaimed, of the several dramatic anthology series that comprised television's "Golden Age.""(TT)
This CBS hourly drama anthology was a remarkable success, lasting almost ten years (7 November 1948-29 September 1958). Many of the shows were excellent performances of classic literary works. Thousands of actors/actresses performed during its run of almost 500 plays, and some of the greatest talents (both acting and directing) graced the television screen. And, except for its final season, the show was broadcast live from New York.

Rudy was in three episodes, one of them a two-parter.

"Dino" (have on tape) appeared 10-11 pm on Jan. 2, 1956. Sal Mineo played Dino, who feels that his adoring kid brother is his only ally. The older boy has just been released from reform school. He's sullen and uncooperative with his family and his guidance counselor. And Dino knows that if he returns to his life of crime, his brother will be with him. Rudy played Dino's father, "Mr. Manetta"), and the show also starred Ralph Meeker, Dort Clark and Pat de Simone.
To see photos, click DINO

* "The Open Door" was telecast 10-11 pm on Oct. 15 that year. This story is about a young man (Skeets Chase, played by Albert Salmi) who believes the whole world is against him. He thumbs a ride, gets into an argument with the driver, and as a result, receives a 90-day jail sentence. To his surprise, he is offered a job as counterman in a diner near the jail while serving his job. Rudy was billed "Eccles". Also appearing were Marian Brach as Donna, Robert Simon as Butch, Harry Bellaver, Lonny Chapman, Truman Smith, Harold Winston and Janice Mars.

"The Defender" (have on tape). Part 1 was telecast on Feb. 25, 1957, and Part 2 on March 4, 1957. This dramatic production takes place in a courtroom during a murder trial. The father and son team defending the accused butcher shop delivery boy Joseph Gordon (Steve McQueen) are having a major crisis; the father Walter Preston (Ralph Bellamy) is sure accused is guilty, and is not giving his best to the defense; the son (William Shatner) feels he is innocent, but even more, feels that the defendent should get the best defense possible because that is what it means to be a defense attorney. Rudy played "Peter D'Agostino", a witness during the trial, and also the accused's boss. Prosecuting attorney was played by Martin Balsam, and the Judge by Ian Wolfe.
If you'd like to see photos of this production, click Defenders.

 PONTIAC PRESENTS PLAYWRIGHTS 56 "Fred Coe produced this dramatic anthology hour, which shared a slot on Tuesdays with Armstrong Circle Theater; it was also known as The Playwright Hour. NBC, 4 October 1955-19 June 1956."(TT)
9:30-10:30 pm time slot. The shows were all adapted from the works of famous authors.


* "adam & Evening" was telecast March 3, 1956. Adam is a lonely, middle-aged widower constantly made fun of by his fellow workers. Afraid to face people, he has withdrawn so much from society that his only friend is his pet cat. Cast members included Nehemiah Persoff, Estelle Winwood and Lori March. Rudy was billed as "Jerry"

 GOODYEAR PLAYHOUSE "Produced by Fred Coe, Goodyear Playhouse was an hour-long dramatic anthology series which, together with several other high-quality shows, comprised television's so-called "Golden Age," an era of original teleplays, usually broadcast live. Goodyear Playhouse came to the air 14 October 1951 and shared a Sunday slot first with Philco Television Playhouse (until 1955), then with The Alcoa Hour. During the 1956-57 season, Goodyear and Alcoa also alternated with The Dinah Shore Show and The Bob Hope Show."(TT)
The show originated in New York, and (like Studio One) spotlighted excellent performances by some of the profession's greatest talents. NBC. Last show 22 September 1957.

Rudy was in four shows.

* "The Primary Colors" was broadcast June 3, 1956, 9-10 pm. The plot: This is a drama of a middle-aged art teacher, her mother and how a youthful artist affects their lives. Ada Temple is a faded spinster who earns a meager living for herself and her aged mother as an art teacher in a small Southern town. A little light comes into her life when 19-year old Ben Gennaro, shows remarkable promise as an artist. Ada becomes emotionally attached to the boy without realizing it. When Ben tells her he can no longer take his free art lessons from her because his father disapproves and he has to get a job after school to help out at home, Ada insists on finding him a job herself so he can come for his art lesson every night on his supper hour. She asks a bachelor friend of hers who has a store to give Ben a job, which he does. The friend, Porter, has been romantically interested in Ada for years, but she will not pay any attention to him. Ada's mother, Mrs. Temple, reproaches her daughter for spending so much time on the young 19-year old art student Ben and not accepting Porter's invitations to go out. Ada has a rude awakening when one night Ben does not appear for his art lesson but instead goes to the movies with Betty Sue, a girl his own age. Ada first learns about it from Betty Sue's mother Cora and then Ben calls her from the movies to say he is sick. Ada is furious. Ben comes to see Ada after the incident and tells her he lied because he felt like Ada wanted more out of him than just his art lessons. He tells her that he felt like he belonged to her. She tells him that she hadn't intended for him tog et this impression and that she doesn't want this to interfere with his art lessons -- that she still wants to help him with his art, but that he is free as to any other entanglements. After Ben leaves, Ada's mother, who has been eavesdropping as usual, tells her she wants to go to the movies and she is going to call Porter up to ask him to take both of them. Ada finally gives in and begins to see herself as she really is for the first time. When Porter comes and invites her to a dance for the following week she accepts. Rudy was billed as "Porter Lockman". Other cast members included Judith Evelyn, Cathleen Nesbit, Tom Carlin, Ruth White, and Carolyn Lee.

Note: Rudy was paid $500 for this role.

* "County Fair Time" appeared July 15 that year. The plot: A small town girl risks a dull but secure future for excitement and romance. The County Fair and Arthur, a young salesman, reach a small Missouri town together. With them come gaiety and an avenue of escape from a humdrum existence for 23-year old Lugene who is engaged to an older man. She is as attracted by Arthur's talk of distant places as she is by the lights, the music and the sound of the fair. When morning comes, Lugene is deeply in love with Arthur, who felt the same way the night before, when he asked Lugene to marry him and leave town with him. Arthur is quickly brought back to reality, however, by another salesman who reminds him of his duty to his father and the girl from home that he has gone with for five years. Arthur leaves without telling Lugene. Lugene is stunned when Billy tells her that Arthur has left. Billy wants Lugene to leave town on his money as he does not think Lugene will be happy married to the older man. Lugene tells Billy he is right -- she is not going to marry the older man but she will be all right. She refuses to take Billy's money. Billy leaves to become a baseball player and Lugene returns to work at the restaurant as usual. Rudy was billed as "Frank". Other cast members included Anthony Franciosa, Patricia Barry, Ruth McDevitt, Richard Morse, Ford Rainey, Guy Raymond, Mary Doyle, Gene Cross and Slim Jackson.

Note: Rudy was paid $350 for this role.

* "Nobody's Town" appeared Jan 27, 1957. The plot: In a small Western town, a store owner's raw courage enables him to stand up to four sadistic killers invading the town, bent on a reign of terror. Jason Robards Jr had his first starring role as the man of courage. Rudy Bond, Andrew Duggan, Frank Overton, George Maharis, Haywood Hale Brun, Russell Collins, Augusta Dabney and John Shellie were the other cast members.

* "The Littlest Little Leaguer" appeared Aug 25, 1957. The plot:: Sven year old Benjamin Hauptmann is a prime prospect for "The $64,000 Question." He beats his grandfather 29 times in a row at chess, writes letters to the editor of scientific journals and always gets reportcards marked "extraordinary." Mother is worried because he seems disinterested in fresh air and sunshine. His father takes him to see a baseball game (Dodgers versus Phillies), and his grandfather predicts the kid will see it as another mathematical exercise, but the boy comes home a baseball addict. He tries out for the Little League team unsuccessfullly. He goes to the baseball field to make believe he is a big league pitcher and is spotted by Dodger Sal Maglie (played by the real baseball player), who accompanies the boy home. The neighborhood kids see this and he becomes a big shot among the small fry. The story ends with his father telling him that he can be a budding nuclear scientist, but there is no reason he can't be a 7-year old boy too. Cast: Rudy Bond; Peter Lazer as Benjamin; Nehemiah Persoff and Vivian Nathan as his parents; Jacob Kalish as his grandpa.

THE U.S. STEEL HOUR

"Another of television's high-quality dramatic series, The U.S. Steel Hour was sponsored by United States Steel and produced under the auspices of the Theatre Guild, a group of show business people that was organized in the 1920's and which brought a radio show, The Theatre Guild of the Air (also sponsored by US Steel), to the airwaves in 1945. The televison version of the show began eight years later, in the heyday of TV's "Golden Age,", and lasted ten years. (27 October 1953-21 June 1955, ABC; 6 July 1955-12 June 1963, CBS.) Broadcast live from New York, the hour show was seen biweekly, alternating with the Motorola TV Hour and The Elgin TV Hour on ABC, and with the Armstrong Circle Theater and The 20th Century-Fox Hour on CBS."(TT)
This show brought high quality Broadway productions to the television audience.

"Bang The Drum Slowly" (have on tape) appeared Monday Sept. 26, 1956, 10-11 pm. Rudy played "Dutch", coach of a baseball team. The action centered on three players, Paul Newman, Albert Salmi and George Peppard, and all of the performances in that live performance were fantastic. The show was so powerfully moving, so well done, that years later it was one of the handful to be re-released in 1981 as a special series entitled "The Golden Age Of Telvision". A movie was made of it in the 70's, but as far as I'm concerned, the live television version was far superior. To see photos, click DRUM
WATCH BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY ON YOU TUBE by clicking here: Bang the Drum Slowly

THE ETERNAL LIGHT

This was a show with a religious theme airing on NBC's daytime lineup.

* "Start With The World" appeared Dec. 25, 1956, and included Rudy billed as "Reb Wolf".

THE BLUE MEN

This was a never-aired pilot, from 1958, for the television show which appeared later named Brenner. It was centered on an undercover vice squad. Rudy Bond played Styles. Edward Binns was Roy, James Broderick was Ernie, John Fiedler was Bax, and Joseph Sullivan was Capt. Laney.

*This half hour pilot can be watched on YouTube: The Blue Men

TRUE STORY

The "True Story" TV series ran from 1957 to 1961. It was a half-hour drama anthology series that aired on NBC, and featured a variety of stories based on real-life events. The show was hosted by Kathi Norris, and Jan Miner played Constable Gregson. The series offered viewers a glimpse into various true narratives, often focusing on themes of romance, drama, and human interest.

* "No Vacation" appeared April 13, 1957, and was written by by Earl Hamner Jr. Cast included Rudy Bond, Martin E. Brooks and David White.

PLAYHOUSE 90

"Generally regarded as the most ambitious of television's dramatic anthology series, Playhouse 90 presented a ninety-minute drama each week during its first three seasons. It was broadcast as a series of specials during the 1959-60 season, and reruns were aired in 1961. More than one hundred plays were presented, many of them live, including some of TV's best-known original works."(TT)
Many of the scripts were written by Rod Serling, and the caliber of the other writers, directors, and performers was always high. CBS, 4 October 1956-18 May 1960

* "Portrait Of A Murderer" was telecast 9:30-11pm Thursday Feb. 27, 1958. This was based on a real murder case, and the script is based on remarks by the real murderer after his convictions. These remarks, taped, were eventually played over the radio network to an astonished audience. Tab Hunter plays handsome 29-year old Donald Bashor, who leads an exemplary life during the day, and is a respected member of the community. But at night a change comes over him and he frequents bars in another neighborhood. After commiting a robbery, he is apprehended by police who do not suspect that he may also be connected with two recent murders. Rudy was billed as the "Bartender". Other cast members included Geraldine Page as Florry, Elizabeth Patterson as Mrs. Finch, Frank London as Jackie, Ned Glass as Charlie, Barbara Turner as Sandra, Sid Clute as Mr. Cooney, Richard Bisutti as Bobby, Donald Foster as the Psychiatrist, Joe Perry as the Records Officer, Almira Sessions as the Murdered Woman, Edwin Jerome as the Judge, and Jules Maitland as the Interviewer..

To see photos, click PORTRAIT

ADVENTURE AT SCOTT ISLAND

CBS began a show called Harbourmaster on Sept. 26, 1957. Barry Sullivan played the harbormaster who ran a boat repair business on an island that had been settled by his family many generations back. Other regulars included Paul Burke, Nina Wilcox, Michael Keens and Evan Elliott. At the end of the year, CBS dropped the show. ABC picked it up and started running it on Jan. 5, 1958 with a new name, Adventure at Scott Island. The final show was 29 June 1958.

* "Path Of The Hurricane" aired 8:30-9 pm Sunday Mar. 23, 1958. The dam-keeper of the Saugatuck reservoir, above the village, has built himself a home in the path of the dam sluice way, and when the water rises in the reservoir, the gates must be opened....but the dam keeper refuses to do so, because it means destroying his house. Rudy plays the dam-keeper, "Eben Purvis". Elaine Aiken was Nan, and James C. Kelly was Walters.

 KRAFT TELEVISION THEATRE "Kraft Television Theatre best epitomizes television's Golden Age, an era when live, often original dramas were the rule, not the exception."(TT)
650 plays were presented on this show, and it won top ratings and many awards during its long run. It was so well received that it was almost a Wednesday night institution! And yes, it was sponsored by Kraft foods, who went all out, sparing no expense for high quality. 7 May 1947-1 October 1958, NBC; 15 October 1953-6 January 1955, ABC.

* "Fifty Grand" aired 9-10 pm April 30, 1958, and starred Ralph Meeker as Jack Brennan, a champion prize-fighter. (It was based on a story written by Ernest Hemingway.) It has been a long hard fight to retain his championship, but he is now getting old and losing his zest for fighting. He is scheduled to defend his title, and decides to make a bet against himself, throw the fight, and thus win enough to retire from the ring. Rudy was billed as "Soldier Bartlett". Also in the cast were Fred J. Scollari, Janet Ward and Ralph Dunn.

* "Cop Killer" aired 9-10 pm July 9, 1958, in a teleplay adapted from the novel by George Bagby. A cop is killed on duty, reportedly while breaking up a gambling ring. When the investigation focuses on one particular suspect, the precinct captain wants to immediately charge the man with murder. However, a detective investigating the case begins to suspect that the dead officer wasn't quite as squeaky-clean as he was being made out to be. Cast included Rudy Bond, Edward Binns, Fred J Scollay, Paul Hartman, Richard Bright, Harold Gary, John McQuade, Anne Meara, Fred Kareman, Frank Downing, Gino Ardito, Peter Turgeon and Robert Sinclair.

 THE INVESTIGATOR The Investigator was a summer replacement series that ran on NBC every Tuesday night, 8-9pm, from 3 June 1958-2 September 1958. It was broadcast live, and in color.

Jeff Prior (played by Lonny Chapman) is a hip private detective who learned his skills from his retired newspaperman father, Lloyd (played by Howard St. John. Jeff dug up the facts and then worked with his father to bring the culprit to justice.

* In an episode on 10 June 1958, Jeff Prior is hired to find out why a former gangster, now a legitimate businessman, is in danger of being murdered by one of his friends...most of who are cronies from his past. Jack Klugman played the reformed gangster Selko, Rudy was "Max", Parker McCormick as Gladys and Shepperd Strudwick as Charlie Redman. Other supporting actors included Sidney Armus, John Fiedler, Jerry Gordon, Eva Gerson and Metro Welle.

NEW YORK CONFIDENTIAL

Lee Cochran (played by Lee Tracy) is a newspaper reporter who is always poking his nose in where it isn't wanted. It wasn�t based on the movie by the same name, but both the movie and this show were based on the same book. This series was filmed in The Bronx, and ran a half hour each Saturday evening throughout 1959.

* �Law Is For Suckers aired March 11, 1959. When a young car thief is killed, the police enlist his sister's help in capturing the rest of his gang. Co-starring along with Rudy were Mary Sinclair and Gregory Morton.

NAKED CITY

"There are eight million stories in the naked city; this has been one of them," was said at the end of the 1948 film, "Naked City", and the series, which began Sept. 30, 1958, used that line every week. It began as a half-hour police drama on ABC every Tuesday, and included regulars John McIntire, James Franciscus, Suzanne Storrs, Harry Bellaver and Horace McMahon. The show went off the air for a year after the Sept. 1959 episode, and returned as a full hour series Oct. 1960 until Sept. 11, 1963.

Rudy was in two episodes.

"And A Merry Christmas To The Force On Patrol" (have on tape) aired 9:30-10pm Tuesday Dec. 23, 1958. An officer is stabbed in a Christmas Eve liquor store stakeout with Muldoon, and Halloran is called in to hunt for one of the robbers, who escaped. The other thief refuses to disclose their hideout until he hears that his partner, his younger brother, was wounded before escaping. Rudy was billed as "Lt. Daniels." Other guest stars included Michael Strong as Det. Hal Pereleman, Robert Blossom as Quint Butcher, Frank Sutton as Marco Butcher, Richard Kranold as Det. Dutton, Mary Boyland as Marie, John McIntire as Lt.Dan Muldoon and James Little as Sgt. Max Higgins.

"The Bloodhounds" (have on tape) aired at that day/time May 26, 1959. The plot centers around trying to find a little girl who may have been kidnapped, using two lost bloodhounds. Rudy was billed as "Lt. Springer." Other guest stars included Phyllis Hill as Jane Whitmore, Byron Sanders as Charles Whitmore, Janice Manzo as Lynn Whitmore, Richard Kronold as Det. Dutton, James Little as Sgt. Max Higgins, James Franciscus as Det. Jimmy Halloranm and Louis Nye as The Drunk.
To see photos from both Naked City episodes, click CITY

And this, some time in the summer of 1959

DEADLINE

Deadline is a 1959-1961 American television drama series that re-enacted famous newspaper stories from the past. Hosted and narrated by Paul Stewart

Rudy was in one episode, sometime in 1959" "Checkmate"Police and reporters try to break a man suspected of having murdered a 15-year-old girl. cRudy Bond played Lt. Bill Frazer. Cast members included Arthur Storch as George Manners, Michael Constantine as Russ, John Kellogg as Ed Montgomery and Irene Dailey as Elaine Manners.

To see a photo, click CHECKMATE

 BRENNER CBS had an interesting concept when Brenner aired June 6, 1959. Edward Binns played a career police officer who had risen to the rank of Detective Lieutenant. His son, played by James Broderick, followed in dad's footsteps as a new rookie patrolman. As you can imagine, at times there was quite a difference in viewpoints between father and son.
"The series was based on "The Blue Men," a police drama broadcast on Playhouse 90."(TT)
The final show was telecast Sept. 13, 1964.

Rudy was in one episode:
* "The Thin Line" aired on June 19, 1961. Rudy was billed as "Stiles". Following his father's plan to break up a numbers racket, Ernie meets a young woman who takes him to a gambling game. Other cast members: Tim Herbert and Lew Herbert as Dice Players, George Hall as Court Clerk, Walter Kincella as Judge, Flora Elkins as Dolores, Joseph Sullivan as Captain Laney and John Fiedler as Bax.

To see a photo, click BRENNER

 THE PLAY OF THE WEEK This great show aired on independent networks (PBS) with such a wide variety of plays adapted for television. The writers varied from Ibsen, Shakespeare, Euclides to Tennessee Williams, Eugene O'Neill, Lorca, and the actors were just as talented and varied as the plays they appeared in. It ran from October 12, 1959 to May 1, 1961.

* "The Power And The Glory" aired October 19, 1959. The plot: A cynical catholic priest is sent to Mexico to preach. It's the 30's and Mexican government sees the church as competition. They send a secret agent to assassinate the priest. During an anti-clerical purge in one of the southern states of Mexico, he is hunted like a hare. Too human for heroism, too humble for martyrdom, the little worldly "whisky priest" is nevertheless impelled towards his squalid Calvary as much by his own compassion for humanity as by the efforts of his pursuers.
The cast: Rudy had a small role but I haven't been able to locate the name of his character. James Donald - The Priest; Peter Falk - Mestizo; John Alderson - Miguel; Val Avery - Police Chief; Ronald Long - Tench; Scottie MacGregory - Maria; David J. Stewart - Governor's Cousin. Also in the cast, Alfred Ryder.

 DIRECTIONS '66 Directions was a religious program airing every Sunday morning from Nov. 13, 1960 until March 25, 1984.

* "The 11th Man" aired March 20, 1966. During World War II, an American soldier is decorated for killing 10 of the enemy. Later, while on leave in Paris, he accidentally kills a civilian in a brawl. Rudy was billed as "Captain", and the cast included James Coco, James Olson, Roy Poole, James Karen and Burt Brickerhoff.

THE UNTOUCHABLES

Beginning Oct. 15, 1959, ABC telecast a show which TV Guide described with the words, "In practically every episode a gang leader winds up stitched to a brick wall and full of bullets, or face down in a parking lot (and full of bullets), or face up in a gutter (and still full of bullets), or hung up in an ice box, or run down in the street by a mug at the wheel of a big black Hudson touring car." Robert Stack played Elliot Ness, the head of of the Treasury Dept. in the 1930's, trying to clean up crime in Chicago. Bruce Gordon played the notorious Frank Nitti. Two other regulars on the series were Abel Fernandez and Nick Georgiade. And Walter Winchell narrated the shows. The final episode was telecast Sept. 10, 1963, although a new version of the show did air as a syndicated series 1992-94.

"The Butcher's Boy" (have on tape) appeared 9:30-10:30 pm Tuesday March 12, 1963. World War I hero Philip Hedden (John Larkin) and his former sergeant have organized an army of their own - an extortion ring that offers "protection" to butchers. Some of other series regulars that season included Paul Piscerni and Steve London. Rudy was billed as "Gus Ducek". Other guest stars were Francine York and Frank Sutton.
To see photos, click Untouchables

 MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS was a local Philadelphia show introducing the TV audience to people in the community.
* The episode appearing Feb 17, 1962 was all about the Neighborhood Players, with tales of alumni such as Rudy Bond and Arthur Penn, as well as excerpts from two stage offerings.

EMPIRE (REDIGO)

NBC first began telecasting this western series (not to be confused with the shortlived situation comedy by the same name in 1984), on Sept. 25, 1962. It was called Empire because it was set on a huge ranch (half a million acres!) in New Mexico which had its hand in oil, mining, lumber, cattle, sheep, and horses, not to mention crops. Regulars included Richard Egan, Terry Moore, Anne Seymour and Ryan O'Neal. In Sept. 1963, production of the show ceased, but ABC took over and showed re-runs of Empire until Sept. 6, 1964.

"Convention" (have on tape) aired 8:30-9:30 pm Tuesday May 14, 1963. This was the final episode of this series. Regulars that season also included Charles Bronson and Warren Vanders. Rudy was billed as "Sam Callison". Also appearing that episode were Alan Hale Jr, Anne Helm, Diane Brewster, Jean Willes, L.Q. Jones, William Bramley and Robert Anderson. For photos from that show, click here: Empire
ARMSTRONG CIRCLE THEATRE From 1950-1963, Armstrong Circle Theatre was one of the major dramatic anthology series of television's "Golden Age". ACT featured many original dramas and dealt with such sensitive subjects as mental illness and racial intolerance, occasionally alternating with spoofs and comedies. Many of these dramas were based on real life events, in 1957 ACT alternated weekly with The U.S. Steel Hour. Many movie actors and actresses got their start here.

* "Five Kilos Of Junk"aired March 13, 1963. In this docu-drama, two undercover agents for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics break a drug-smuggling ring. Rudy was billed as "Agent Zurlo", James Dimitri played Agent Roselli, Frank Marth played Gaffney, and Wesley Addy played Smith.

ARREST AND TRIAL Beginning Sept. 15, 1963, ABC tried an entirely new type kind of series.
"A ninety-minute crime show, with half the show spent catching the crook and half spent convicting him. With Ben Gazzara as Sergeant Nick Anderson; Chuck Connors as Public Defender John Egan..."(TT)
Other regulars included John Larch, Roger Perry, Noah Keen, Joe Higgins and Don Galloway. The series ended Sept. 6, 1964.

"The Best There Is" (have on tape) aired February 16, 1964. Egan's refusal to defend a suspected murderer angers his old law teacher, a once famous lawyer who ignores his failing health and comes out of retirement to take the case. Rudy was billed as "Placido Sanchez". Other guest stars include Arthor O'Connell as Andrew Sheridan, Merry Anders as Joyce, Adam Roarke as Sgt. Kelliher, Ken Lynch as Det. Lt. Tom Handley, Steve Brodie as Ed Floyd, Marianna Hill as Dolores Lucio and Alejandro Rey as Rudy Sanchez.
If you would like to see photos from this show, click Arrest

THE DEFENDERS

"This high-quality series about a father-and-son defense team attracted much controversy, as well as much critical acclaim, during its four-year run. The show regularly dealth with such sensitive issues as euthanasia, abortion, blacklisting and civil disobedience. Even more atypical was the fact that the defenders occasionally lost a case. The show starred E.G. Marshall as Lawrence Preston, Robert Reed as his Ivy League Son Kenneth Preston."(TT)
It was based upon a 1957 episode of Studio One entitled "The Defender." This was my favorite show while it was on, and I hated to see it go off the air. 16 September 1961-9 September 1965, CBS.

* "The Hidden Jungle aired Dec. 1, 1962. Indicted for first-degree murder, a former mental patient (Carroll O'Connor) faces conviction - and execution - on circumstantial evidence. Rudy Bond played Mr. Thompson. Also starred Brenda Vaccaro as Shirley Thysen, Jean Stapleton as Mrs. Larsen, and Frank Overton as the District Attorney.

"The Sixth Alarm" aired 9-10 pm Saturday May 23, 1964. Miles Conn, played by Martin Hulswit, puts the torch to one of his father's warehouses. Howerver, one of the employees, "Cy Wright" (played by Rudy) gets the blame, because he had been arrested previously for arson.. Other guest stars included Hershel Bernardi as George Conn, Simon Oakland as the District Attorney, Frank Campanella as the Fire Chief, and Marian Seldes as Lillian Conn.

If you'd like to see a photo from this show, click here: THE DEFENDERS

 THE NURSES * "The Third Generation" aired Feb. 7, 1963. Someone's former nursing teacher, elderly Charlotte Pope (played by Cathleen Nesbitt), is a better nurse than patient - she refuses to remain bedridden and insists on going back to work. The cast regulars were Shirl Conway, Zina Bethune and Edward Binns. Rudy played "Thomas Ross", a tragic, long-unemployed father of five who wanted to vanish so that his family could qualify for welfare payments. Other guest stars included Lenka Peterson as Emily Ross, Jeanne Barr as Miss Sakenski, Joanna Miles as Miss Kelly, Peg Murray as Miss Stewart, Joan Croyden as the Landlady and Julie Hirsch as Miss Coleandar.

* "The Witch Of The East Wing" aired Dec. 19, 1963. Irma Downey (Elaine Stritch) is the witch of the East Wing. She's a bully of a nurse who treats her patients as if they were 12-year olds. Rudy played "Joe Frisky", a patient who refuses to stay in bed. Other guests stars included Tom Bosley as Clarence, a diabetic who wants to sneak out for food, Martin Sheen as Carl, a tough boy who won't take medicine, and Dan Morgan as Hegelman whose spirit she has already broken.

*NOTE: This show evolved into THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES...see the following entry.

 THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES On Sept. 27, 1962, CBS began airing an excellent medical drama entitled The Nurses, with cast regulars Shirl Conway, Zina Bethune and Edward Binns. It focused on the lives (both professional and personal) of two nurses working in a large city hospital (it was filmed in New York.) In 1964, two male doctors (played by Michael Tolan and Joseph Campanella) joined the staff, and the title of the series was changed to The Doctors and The Nurses. CBS. The final episode aired Sept. 7, 1965.

* "The Outpost" was telecast 10-11 pm Tuesday Nov. 10, 1964. Dr. Alex Tazinski (Michael Tolan) tries to get his father Mr. Tazinsky (Jack Albertson) to sell the family business---a drugstore in a neighborhood run by drug addicts and hoods. Rudy Bond played Herman. Other cast members included Edward Binns as Dr. Anson Kiley, Hilda Simms as Miss Ayres, Shirl Conway as Liz Thorpe, Zina Bethune as Gail Lucas, Joseph Campanella as Dr. Ted Steffen, Ralph Dunn as Harry, Richard Dysart as Ralph, and Ben Yaffee as Dave.

N.Y.P.D.

On Sept. 5, 1967, ABC began a police drama called NYPD (not to be confused with NYPD Blue, began in 1993 on the same network.)
"Filmed on location in New York, N.Y.P.D. was produced by Talent Associates and was filmed with the cooperation of the real N.Y.P.D., the New York Police Department. The half hour show starred Jack Warden as Detective Lieutenant Mike Haines; Frank Converse as Detective Johnny Corso; and Robert Hooks as Detective Jeff Ward."(TT)
The final episode aired Sept. 16, 1969.

"The Witness" (have on tape) aired 9:30-10 pm Tuesday Nov. 21, 1967. Converse and Warden do everything they can to clear Hooks, who is suspected of a mob connection, because a grand jury witness under Hooks' protection has been killed by a hit-and-run driver, played by Rudy, who was billed as "Skolnick". Other guest stars included Donald Davis, James Coco, Nicholas Caster, and Denise Nicholas.

"Candy Man" (have on tape) aired Feb. 11, 1969. Rudy played "Mr. Paresi", who was very much against the fact that a rehabilitation home for ex-drug addicts was in his neighborhood. Other guest stars included James Earl Jones as Candy Lateen, Jeff Chandler as Chickie Williams, William Devane as John, Tom Aherne as Dugan, Fred Dennis as Frank, Seth Allen as Herbie, Tom Aldredge as Mr. Mahoney, Matthew Cowles as Joe Czernak and Bette Henritze as Mrs Czernak.

To see photos, click NYPD

 MCMILLAN AND WIFE NBC Mystery Movie had several alternating shows. McMillan and wife premiered here on Sept. 29, 1971, and the following year it moved to Sundays.
"It starred Rock Hudson in his first dramatic role on television as Stewart McMillan, Commissioner of Police in San Francisco. Susan Saint James co-starred as his wife, Sally McMillan, who usually became involved in her husband's cases."
Also regulars for the first five seasons were John Schuck and Nancy Walker. For the final year, St. James, Shuck and Walker left the series, and the name of the show was shortened to "McMillan". The final episode was Aug. 21, 1977.

"Buried Alive" aired 8:30-10:30 pm Sunday Nov. 10, 1974. Mac (Rock Hudson) enlists his wife's help to investigate the murder of his old friend, an intelligence agent. Since the man may have been doing top secret work, Mac tries to solve the crime without police involvement. Rudy was billed as "The Proprietor". Other guest stars include Donna Mills as Laura Rainey, Barry Sullivan as Walt Harmon, Larry Pennell as Agent Cushing, Jos� Feliciano as Rico Martinez, Don Keefer as Selwyn, and M. Emmet Walsh as Officer Ames.

 To see a photo, click MCMILLAN and scroll down the page

THE SECRET WHITE HOUSE TAPES, aka THE WHITE HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS

* This docu-drama, appearing in the USA on NBC, re-created the scandal that occurred during the Nixon Administration. Rudy played John Mitchell, Harry Spillman was Richard Nixon, Jon Terry was Haldeman, Glenn Kezer was Ehrlichman, Russell Horton was John Dean, Scott Ricketson was Ziegler, and Dolph Sweet played Henry Peterson. It was first shown in 1974 on CBC in Canada shortly before Nixon resigned, and WNAC in Boston shortly after his resignation. Then it was shown on network television in early October that year.

PETROCELLI

A rather different legal drama began on NBC on Sept. 11, 1974. Tony Petrocelli, played by Barry Newman, was a big-city criminal lawyer from the East who moved to the Southwestern US and set up a law practice (in cattle country!) (In 1970, Barry created this role in a movie called The Lawyer.) Often he would take cases even the client could not afford to pay him. Other regular cast members were Susan Howard, Albert Salmi and David Huddleston.

* "By Reason Of Madness" aired 10-11pm Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1974. Petrocelli is baffled by his client, a woman who admits to killing her husband simply because he was humming a melody that annoyed her --- and yet she insists that she was perfectly sane at the time. Rudy was billed as "Dr. Starnberg", and other guest stars included Lynda Day George as Vickie Richardson, John Vernon as Barney Majors, Loretta Swit as Ella Knox, James MecEachin as Dr. Herb Shoate and Rory Calhoun as Edgar Richardson.

To see photos, click Petrocelli

The final episode aired March 3, 1976.

KOJAK

On Oct. 24, 1973, CBS introduced us to police Lt. Theo Kojak, played by Telly Savalas, a tough, stubborn, streetwise cop who did things his way. "Who loves ya, baby" became a catch phrase, and Kojak with his lollipops soon became a part of the American image.
"Savalas first played the role in a 1973 TV-movie, "The Marcus-Nelson Murders"....the movie was based on the Wylie-Hoffert murders which occurred in 1963."(TT)
Other regular cast members included Dan Frazer, Kevin Dobson, George Savalas (Telly's real-life brother), and from 1974-77, Vince Conti and Mark Russell.

Rudy was in two episodes.

"Where Do You Go When You Have No Place To Go" aired 9-10 pm Sunday Dec. 12, 1976. Joe Arrow (played by Stephen Macht), a Mohawk Indian (and recently fired ironworker), desperate for an audience with a construction kingpin, breaks into his former boss's apartment to beg him for his job back. He's mistaken for a burglar, a scuffle breaks out and he ends up killing him. Rudy was billed as "Ben", and other guest stars included Blair Brown as Stella, Maureen Anderman as Assistant DA Lockman, Charles White as Reilly, Martin Rudy as Albert Beck and Patricia Mauceri as Yolanda.

"Justice For All" aired 10-11pm Saturday Jan. 7, 1978. Kojak has been recruited to be lead investigator for a powerful law firm--great salary and benefits. His involvement with a series of deaths due to "hot smack" leads him to believe the offer has strings. A young man who has bankrolled the drug operation is represented by the firm, and his father has bribed a lower echelon dealer to confess ($150,000 per year in prison). Kojak decides to remain on the force because of his sense of justice. Rudy was billed as "the Janitor", and becomes a major witness in identifying a drug dealer who is responsible for the deaths of seven people because of bad heroin. Other guest stars included Charles Aidman as Tom DeHaven, Michael Cavanaugh as Sonny Canavere, Sammy Williams as Billy Spender, Peter Hobbs as Kyle Becker and George Wyner as Asst. DA Linnick.

The series ended April 15, 1978. But beginning 1989, Telly reprised his Kojak role for several ABC Mystery Movies.
To see photos, click KOJAK

QUINCY, M.E.

On October 3, 1976, this show began as one segment of the revolving "NBC Sunday Mystery Movie", but proved so popular, it became a weekly show early the next year.
"Jack Klugman starred as Dr. Quincy, a medical examiner for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Quincy's intense curiosity about his cases often led him to discount his initial impressions. After ordering additional tests and doing some independent investigative work, he was able to shed new light on matters."(TT)
This was a very popular show, another one of my favorites. The last regular episode was shown Sept. 5, 1983.

"A Blow To The Head...A Blow To The Heart" (have on tape) aired 10-11 PM Friday Sept. 23, 1977. After a championship bout a young boxer collapses and dies. His wife thinks that it wasn't an accident and asks Quincy, a friend of her husband's trainer and the coroner on call, to see if he can find out how he really died. Once Quincy has completed the autopsy he begins to wonder if the woman is right, there is certainly something that does not seem to be quite right with the death, something that is made even more certain when Quincy is approached by 4 thugs who tell him in no uncertain terms that he better hurry up and make his report. Rudy was billed as "Yancy". Other guest stars include Moses Gunn, Nehemiah Persoff, Lynne Moody, Randy Shields, Gloria Manon, Norman Alden and Rodney Hoston.
To see photos, click QUINCY

ROCKFORD FILES

This was another of my favorite shows, first aired by NBC on Sept. 13, 1974. Jim Rockford, played by James Garner, was a private eye. The show began shortly after he got out of prison (for a crime he had not committed. He was later proven innocent,) and this probably was the reason for his own focus: he usually took cases that the police considered closed, often turning up new evidence that proved the innocence of the supposed guilty party. (As you can imagine, he was not popular with most of the police.) Other regular cast members were Noah Beery Jr (as Jim's dad), Joe Santos, and Stuart Margolin. The final episode aired July 25, 1980.

"The Attractive Nuisance" (have on tape) aired 9-10pm Friday, Jan. 6, 1978. The plot centers on what happens when Jim's father decides to open a restaurant with a partner...who turns out to be a onetime mob figure who wants to use the restaurant as a front to sell stolen auto parts; and someone who was spying on him sues him after falling from his trailer roof. Regular cast members that season also included Gretchen Corbett and James Luisi. Rudy was billed as "Bennie" (an FBI agent.) Other guest stars included Victor Jory as Eddie LaSalle, Ken Lynch as Vince Whitehead, Dick Balduzzi as Don Silver, Hunter von Leer as Skip Spence, John Morgan Evans as Vinnie, Jess Nadelman as Bruce Weinstock, Jeanne Fitzsimmons as Joy Silver, Joey Tornatore as Sid, Paul Sorenson as Inspector Claybourn, Jerome Guardino, Joseph Della Sorte as Dave Young, Will Gill Jr. as an FBI agent, and Richard Doyle as a Paramedic. To see photos, click ROCKFORD

 BARETTA There had been a TV show called Toma, a police show taking place in New York and starring Tony Musante. When Tony decided to leave the show, at first they picked Robert Blake to be his replacement. But then they realized that a brand new show would work even better, so they moved the setting to California, called the character Tony Baretta, and premiered it Jan. 17, 1975 on ABC. Baretta, as a streetwise cop with a unique style, was an instant hit. (I vividly remember the scenes where he played around with Fred, his pet cockatoo.) Other regulars included Edward Grover, Tom Ewell, Michale D. Roberts and Chino Williams. The final episode aired June 1, 1978.

* "The Gadjo" aired 10-11pm Thursday Mar. 30, 1978. The plot: Baretta's partner is scorned by his Gypsy parents after he refuses to perform a ceremonial atonement for killing his brother in a shoot-out. Rudy was billed as "Volga", and other guest stars included Angela Clarke as Mrs. Volga, Rene Enriquez as Meyer, Patricia Hyland as Anne, Claudio Martinez as Bano, Panchito Gomez as Emile, Robert Viharo as Rodriguez and Jesse Aragon as Joe.

AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL

ABC produced a wonderful series of special programs for children, and as you can see by the name, they came on just in time for the kids to watch when they came home from school.

"A Special Gift" (have on tape) aired Oct. 24, 1979. It is the story of Peter, growing up on his father's farm, but who has dreams of a career in ballet. You can imagine the conflict with his father, and the difficulty he has keeping it secret from his school friends. It received several awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award. Stephen Austin is the young man. Rudy is billed as "Dr. Schultz"

He acted in over 100 television shows. Some of these include:

BIG STORY (sometime in 1949-57, NBC)
MARTIN KANE, PRIVATE EYE (sometime in 1949, NBC)
TREASURY MEN IN ACTION aka FEDERAL MEN (sometime in 1950-55, ABC)
THE BIG VALLEY (most likely 1968-69)
COLUMBO (sometime in 1971-77, NBC)
BARNEY MILLER (sometime in 1975-82, ABC)
I have not been able to verify the specific episodes of these shows yet.

I also remember him on a medical show...not sure if it was BEN CASEY or DR KILDARE.
He played a patient who refused to stay in his bed, so to get him to stay there,
they tied him down...with thread!

zanestein@zanestein.com