CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Legal Drama Series
The Witness
Episode Guide - January 2006
(Unaired Pilot + "Kid Twist" - 22Dec60)
compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox
references:
TV Guide
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (http://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
------------
THE WITNESS
------------
Talent Associates production
for
CBS (Thursdays 8:30PM ET)(29Sep60-Dec60)
CBS (Thursdays 9:00PM ET)(Jan61-26Jan61)
Created by Irve Tunick
Executive producer David Susskind
Produced by Murray Susskind and Nick Mayo

US Legal Drama series 1960-61 episodes x 60 min
(29Sep60-26Jan61)
Starring:
Verne Collett as Court Reporter / (Stenographer ?)
Paul McGrath as Committee Chairman
Frank Milan as Committee Member
William Smithers as Committee Member
Charles Haydon as Committee Member
William Griffis as Court Clerk

Premise:
This show is "not a trial, not a court of law, not a legislative inquiry, but a
simulated hearing before a simulated committee representing the morality and the
conscience of today, with the power to call before it the famous, the infamous,
the evil and controversial figures of yesterday.

"The Witness" was Canceled mid-season and replaced by the Western series "Gunslinger"

################# The Witness ################
################ Unaired Pilot ###############
##############################################

[--] The Witness: ARNOLD ROTHSTEIN (1959) (Unaired Pilot) [UCLA]
Recording date: 02-Sept-1959
Talent Associates production;
Created by Irve Tunick
Produced by Alfred Levy
Directed by William A. Graham.
Cast:
Telly Savalas,
Charles Haydon,
Fred Scollay,
Roxanne Arlen,
Don Fellows,
William Post Jr.,
Crahan Denton,
John McGovern,
Benedict Ginsberg,
William F.X. Geoghan, Jr.
Announcer: Paul Tremaine.
Summary:
"A simulated hearing before a simulated committee representing the morality
and the conscience of today" [UCLA/RF]
Note:
The Pilot was never broadcast, however, series did go on to broadcast on CBS
in the 1960-1961 season.

################# The Witness ################
############### season 1960-61 ###############
##############################################
CBS Thursdays 8:30PM ET (29Sep60-Dec60)

1.01 The Witness: LUCKY LUCIANO
Prod. no. 1
29Sep60 CBS Thurs
Written by Irve Tunick
Guest cast:
Telly Savalas ...... Charles 'Lucky' Luciano
Review:
The 1960 television anthology "Witness," though not a ratings success,
brought the novice actor (Telly Savalas) a great deal of acclaim for his
portrayal of racketeer Lucky Luciano, gaining attention from audiences,
producers, and even a few of Luciano's old associates (who liked the show).
[New York Times]

1.xx The Witness: ROGER "THE TERRIBLE" TOUHY
Prod. no. 5
03Nov60 CBS Thur
Producer Nick Mayo
Directed by Alex March
Written by Irve Tunick
Guest cast:
Myron McCormick
Telly Savalas
Joseph Leon
Pat Malone
Lawrence Fletcher

1.xx The Witness: JIMMY HINES
Prod. no. 15
25Nov60 CBS Thur
Producer Nick Mayo
Directed by Ralph Nelson
Written by Robert Rafelson & Irve Tunick
Guest cast:
Albert Dekker
Conrad Nagel
Bert Freed
Olive Deering
Stefan Gierasch
Stuart Germain

1.xx The Witness: POLICE LT. CHARLES BECKER
Prod. no. 5
25Nov60 CBS Thur
Producer Nick Mayo
Directed by Alex March
Written by Will Lorin
Guest cast:
Nehemiah Persoff
Henderson Forsythe
Peggy Feury
Edith Atwater
Gerald O’Loughlin
Dan Morgan
Charles Haydon
William F.X. Georghan Jr.
Benedict Ginsberg
Thomas P. Cullen

1.12 The Witness: KID TWIST
22Dec60 CBS Thur
Reporter Verne Colette
Chairman: Paul McGrath
Members: Frank Milan, William Smithers, Charles Haydon.
Guest cast:
Peter Falk ......... Abe "Kid Twist" Reles
Alfred Ryder ....... Pittsburgh Phil
Augusta Merigihi ... Midnight Rose
Frank Daly ......... Defense Attorney
Ted Beniades ....... Happy Malone
Jerry Guardino ..... Harry Rudolf
Synopsis:
Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, who blew the whistle on Murder, Inc., and died a violent
death in Brooklyn, is the figure cathechized by the committee. (60 min) [RF]

----------------------------------------
CBS Thursdays 9:00PM ET (Jan61-26Jan61)
----------------------------------------

1.xx The Witness: MA BARKER
12Jan61 CBS Thur
Produced & Directed by Nick Mayo
Written by Max Ehrlich
Story Editor Robert Rafelson
Production manager Renee Valente
Guest cast:
Joan Blondell
Howard Freeman
Roy Poole
Sheree North
Dort Clark
Gerald Prince
Douglas Herrick
Synopsis:
Here, Ma Barker is subject to scrutiny. "Joan Blondell plays Ma Barker,
the woman who brought up her children to become outlaws. Never taken
into custody, Ma chose to shoot it out with the FBI. [RF]

1.xx The Witness: DILLINGER
19Jan61 CBS Thur
Synopsis:
John Herbert Dillinger was released on parole from Indiana State Prison
in May 1933, after serving eight years for assault and battery.
Fourteen months later he was well-known - and dead. [RF]

1.xx The Witness: SHOELESS JOE (Final Episode)
26Jan61 CBS Thur (9pm EST)
Verne Collett reporter
Guest cast:
Biff McGuire ....... Joe Jackson
Royal Beal ......... Charles Comiskey
Warren Finnerty .... Evans
Frank Sutton ....... Billy Maharq
Bill Zuckert ....... William 'Kid' Gleason
Synopsis:
'Shoeless Joe' Jackson, centerfielder for the 1919 Chicago White Sox
baseball team, takes the witness stand. The panel investigates the
possible tie-up between gamblers and the pennant-winning club. [RF]

Unknown airdates

1.xx The Witness: AL CAPONE

1.xx The Witness: JAMES WALKER

1.xx The Witness: DUTCH SCHULTZ

1.xx The Witness: BUGSY SIEGEL


"The Witness" was Canceled mid-season and replaced by the Western series "Gunslinger"

################# The Witness ################
################## the end #################
##############################################

Have you any comments, corrections, episode titles, air dates,
production numbers, directors, writers, story/synopsis,
guest stars, cast lists, etc?

Have you any old videos, or tv guides? Dust them off and let
us know if you have any information on this series or any other
tv series from the 1950's, 60's, 70's, or 80's , which is missing
from any episode guides on the web.

Perhaps a certain episode of a particular series coincided with
a key moment in your life, or in world events - and has left a vivid
memory of when it was shown. Let us know.

Would you like to see any other tv series guides on this site?

If so please e-mail - see Feedback below.

This guide may be distributed and copied freely, in its entirety, for
personal use. All original author and copyright information must remain
intact. Any sales or other uses of this document are expressly forbidden,
without the specific consent of the author(s).

Copyright © 2006 by The Classic TV Archive. All rights reserved. 

Return to The Classic TV Archive Home Page
Feedback