Shannon (1961 TV series)

For the 1981 CBS crime drama starring Kevin Dobson, see Shannon (1981 TV series).

1961 American TV series or program

Shannon

Genre| Crime drama
Created by| John Hawkins
Directed by| Fred Jackman, Jr.
Starring|

* George Nader
* Regis Toomey
* Jan Arvan

Composers|

* Emil Cadkin
* Arthur Morton

Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 1
No. of episodes| 36
Production
Executive producer| Robert Sparks
Producer| Jerry Briskin
Camera setup| Single-camera
Running time| 22-24 minutes
Production companies| Columbia Pictures
Screen Gems Television
Original release
Network| Syndication
Release| October 2, 1961 (1961-10-02)[1] –
May 2, 1962 (1962-05-02)

Shannon is an American crime drama series created by John Hawkins that aired in first-run syndication from October 2, 1961, to May 2, 1962. The series starred George Nader as insurance investigator Joe Shannon.[1]

## Plot

[edit]

Joe Shannon (George Nader) is an insurance investigator in Los Angeles for the Denver-based Transport Bonding and Surety Company. Shannon investigates losses of items in transit that are insured under the company, the losses of which are often tied to crime. He reports to his Denver-based boss Bill Cochran (Regis Toomey), and sometimes involves Los Angeles branch manager Elliot Mills (Jan Arvan).

While the series is typical for the early 1960s detective series, it is also unique in that Shannon heavily utilizes his 1961 Buick Special equipped with advanced gadgetry for the period. The car has its own phone and a dictation machine for his notes. Shannon often uses a personal recording device hidden in his jacket while questioning suspects.

## Cast

[edit]

* George Nader as Joseph "Joe" Shannon
* Regis Toomey as Bill Cochran
* Jan Arvan as Elliot Mills

### Guest stars

[edit]

* Chris Alcaide as Jack O'Hare in "Duke of the Valley"
* King Calder as John Millard in "The Sports Car Story"
* Francis De Sales as Ray Petri in "Cold Trail"
* Jerry Douglas as Larry Engstrom in "The Florentine Prince"
* Robert Duvall as Joey Nolan in "The Big Fish"
* Paul Fix as Royer in "Desert Crossing"
* Harold Gould as Jess Dowling in "Ironclad Alibi"
* Raymond Guth as Bill Winter in "End of the Line"
* DeForest Kelley as Carlyle in "The Pickup"[2]
* Ann McCrea as Phyllis Gray in "Never Help a Lady" (1962)
* Joseph Mell as Papa Brogano in "The Big Fish"
* Lee Meriwether as Evelyn Hoxy in "Bonds of Friendship"
* Candy Moore as Donna Humphrey in "The Embezzler's Daughter"
* Gilman Rankin as Dave Barker in "Ironclad Alibi"
* Stephen Roberts as Jenkins in "The Deadly Homecoming"
* Mickey Sholdar as Shad in "Desert Crossing"
* Hal Smith as Artie Shawn in "The King Leal Report"
* John Zaremba as Lloyd Garvin in "The Zendee Report"

## Production

[edit]

As the Network era began in the late 1950s, first-run syndication programming began faltering. By this time, film studios such as Columbia (which owned Screen Gems) had begun to recognize more value in creating series for the broadcast networks as opposed to the first-run market, the reach of which were often relegated to only larger cities. The three major networks - ABC, CBS, and NBC - increased broadcast time, with audiences preferring the higher quality of their programming over the lower-budgeted fare of syndication programming. This was compounded by increasing production costs, which were limited by the larger viewership base and finances associated with the networks.[3][4]

The series was created by John Hawkins (who often co-wrote with his brother Ward Hawkins) for Screen Gems Television.[5] Jerry Briskin served as producer.[6] Gene Roddenberry wrote two of the teleplays while under contract to Screen Gems.[7] Screen Gems formally announced the series on June 2, 1961.[4]

As opposed to the then-usual schedule of three-day shoots for one episode per week, Shannon utilized a six-day shoot for three episodes per week. This schedule plus on-location shoots lowered costs for the series. Most notably, co-star Regis Toomey wore a hat to avoid time needed for makeup on his bald head.[5] By September 18, the series had completed its first thirteen episodes.[1]

Although it only produced one season of 36 episodes, Shannon experienced some success. It was sold to 87 markets within its first two months, which had expanded to 109 markets by February 1962.[4] In 1963, it was the top-rated syndicated series in Detroit.[5]

## Episodes

[edit]

No.| Title| Written by| Original release date| Prod.
code

|
|
|
|

1| "The Embezzler's Daughter"| Story by : Ward Hawkins
Teleplay by : Gene Roddenberry| October 2, 1961 (1961-10-02)| 102
2| "Ironclad Alibi"| John O'Dea| October 3, 1961 (1961-10-03)| 104
3| "The King Leal Report"| Norman S. Hall| October 4, 1961 (1961-10-04)[8]| 103
4| "Decoy"| Unknown| October 4, 1961 (1961-10-04)[9]| 105
5| "The Zendee Report"| John Hawkins| October 5, 1961 (1961-10-05)[10]| 101
6| "The Jade Tortoise"| Jesse L. Lasky, Jr. & Pat Silver| October 11, 1961 (1961-10-11)[11]| 107
7| "Desert Crossroads"| Don Ingalls| October 18, 1961 (1961-10-18)[12]| 109
8| "The Big Fish"| Don Ingalls| October 31, 1961 (1961-10-31)| 110
9| "The Porcelain Egg"| Charles B. Smith| November 1, 1961 (1961-11-01)[13]| 106
10| "The Pickup"| Gene Roddenberry| November 20, 1961 (1961-11-20)[14]| 108
11| "Lady on the Rocks"| Paul Schneider| November 21, 1961 (1961-11-21)| 111
12| "Duke of the Valley"| David Chandler| November 23, 1961 (1961-11-23)[15]| 113
13| "Cold Trail"| John Hawkins| November 25, 1961 (1961-11-25)[16]| 112
14| "The Hyatt Fund"| Story by : Milt Rosen
Teleplay by : John Hawkins| November 30, 1961 (1961-11-30)[17]| 114
15| "The Professional Widower"| Story by : Seymour Friedman
Teleplay by : Todhunter Ballard| December 13, 1961 (1961-12-13)[18]| 115
16| "Legacy in G"| Charles B. Smith| December 18, 1961 (1961-12-18)[19]| 116
17| "Fallers"| Story by : George Fass & Gertrude Fass
Teleplay by : Todhunter Ballard| January 2, 1962 (1962-01-02)[20]| 117
18| "Dolphin and the Mermaid"| Paul Schneider| January 9, 1962 (1962-01-09)[21]| 118
19| "The Man from Yesterday"| Don Ignalls| January 31, 1962 (1962-01-31)[22]| 120
20| "The Jungle Kid"| John Hawkins| February 1, 1962 (1962-02-01)[23]| 122
21| "Bonds of Friendship"| Philip Saltzman| February 5, 1962 (1962-02-05)[24]| 119
22| "Tarnish on the Badge"| Norman S. Hall| February 7, 1962 (1962-02-07)[25]| 121
23| "The Deadly Homecoming"| Joseph Vogel & Lou Lantz| February 9, 1962 (1962-02-09)[26]| 123
24| "Saints and Sinners"| Jack Jacobs| February 16, 1962 (1962-02-16)[27]| 124
25| "The Patriarch"| Story by : Herb Purdom
Teleplay by : Todhunter Ballard| March 14, 1962 (1962-03-14)[28]| 126
26| "License to Steal"| Unknown| March 19, 1962 (1962-03-19)[29]| 125
27| "The Sports Car Story"| Story by : Robert Alan Miller
Teleplay by : Todhunter Ballard| March 22, 1962 (1962-03-22)[30]| 127
28| "Play with Fire"| Unknown| March 28, 1962 (1962-03-28)[31]| 130
29| "The Florentine Prince"| Unknown| April 4, 1962 (1962-04-04)[32]| 128
30| "Delayed Delivery"| Story by : Seymour Friedman
Teleplay by : Todhunter Ballard| April 4, 1962 (1962-04-04)[33]| 132
31| "The Gideon Leap"| Don Ignalls| April 5, 1962 (1962-04-05)[34]| 129
32| "Never Help a Lady"| Steven Ritch| April 6, 1962 (1962-04-06)[35]| 131
33| "Uneasy Debt"| John Hawkins| April 11, 1962 (1962-04-11)[36]| 133
34| "End of the Line"| John Hawkins| April 25, 1962 (1962-04-25)[37]| 135
35| "The Medal"| Don Ignalls| April 27, 1962 (1962-04-27)[38]| 134
36| "Conspiracy of Silence"| Don Ignalls| May 2, 1962 (1962-05-02)[39]| 136

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "13 Episodes Ready". Los Angeles Times. September 18, 1961. pp. 15 (Pt. II).
2. ^ "Episode List of Shannon (1961)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
3. ^ Erickson, Hal (October 9, 2024). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987. McFarland (published 1989). p. 10\. ISBN 9781476613819.
4. ^ a b c Shonk, Michael (June 10, 2013). "A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: SHANNON (1961-62)". Mystery File. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
5. ^ a b c Erickson, Hal (October 9, 2024). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987. McFarland (published 1989). p. 115\. ISBN 9781476613819.
6. ^ "Jerry Briskin Collection, 1946-1968". The Online Archive of California. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
7. ^ Alex McNeil, Total Television, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, 4th ed., p. 747
8. ^ "Today's Complete T.V. Programs". The Record. October 4, 1961. p. 63.
9. ^ "Television Highlights of the Week". The Morning Union. October 1, 1961. pp. 12C.
10. ^ "'Where We Stand' Reports World Reaction On Crisis". The Charlotte Observer. October 5, 1961. p. 14.
11. ^ "New Fall Highlights on 9 Tonight". The Evening Review. October 11, 1961. p. 28.
12. ^ "Wednesday's TV Programs". The Atlanta Constitution. October 18, 1961. p. 22.
13. ^ "TV's Best Bets for Tonight As Announced by Networks". The Scranton Times-Tribune. November 1, 1961. p. 40.
14. ^ "November 20 Evening". Los Angeles Times. November 19, 1961. p. 13.
15. ^ "Thursday on TV". Waco Tribune-Herald. November 19, 1961. pp. 9-D.
16. ^ "Wednesday TV". The Scranton Times-Tribune. November 25, 1961. p. 22.
17. ^ "Thursday, November 30". The Ledger-Star. November 25, 1961. pp. TV-11.
18. ^ "Wednesday Television Programs". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 13, 1961. p. 37.
19. ^ "Television Programs". Standard-Examiner. December 18, 1961. p. 20.
20. ^ "Tuesday Television". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 2, 1962. p. 11.
21. ^ "TV Program Notes". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 9, 1962. p. 11.
22. ^ "Wednesday, January 31". The Record. January 27, 1962. p. 45.
23. ^ "Thursday, Feb. 1". The Cincinnati Post. January 27, 1962. pp. 10 (Times-Star TV Section).
24. ^ "Monday Night". Santa Barbara News-Press. February 3, 1962. p. 23.
25. ^ "Wednesday, February 7". The Record. February 3, 1962. p. 46.
26. ^ "Sentinel TV Log". Santa Cruz Sentinel. February 9, 1962. p. 10.
27. ^ "Sentinel TV Log". Santa Cruz Sentinel. February 16, 1962. p. 14.
28. ^ "Wednesday, March 14". The Record. March 9, 1962. p. 5.
29. ^ "Monday, March 19". Daily Breeze. March 17, 1962. pp. 5A.
30. ^ "Hope Pokes Fun At Jackie's Tour". The Charlotte Observer. March 22, 1962. p. 14.
31. ^ "Wednesday, March 28". The Record. March 24, 1962. p. 5.
32. ^ "Daily Radio And Television Programs". The Evening Standard. April 4, 1962. p. 24.
33. ^ "TV's Best Bets...". The Scranton Times-Tribune. April 4, 1962. p. 22.
34. ^ "Crackerjacks Honor Easter". The Charlotte Observer. April 5, 1962. p. 14.
35. ^ "TV Today". San Francisco Examiner. April 6, 1962. pp. 9F.
36. ^ "Wednesday TV". The Scranton Times-Tribune. April 7, 1962. p. 22.
37. ^ "Wednesday Evening". The Burlington Free Press. April 21, 1962. p. 7.
38. ^ "Friday". San Francisco Examiner. April 22, 1962. pp. 14 (Examiner TV Log).
39. ^ "TV Program". The Burlington Free Press. May 2, 1962. p. 7.

## External links

[edit]

* Shannon at IMDb
* Shannon 1961-62 at CVTA

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