The Du Mont Television Network was America's fourth television
network which
operated from 1946 to 1955. It was started by Dr. Allen B. Du Mont, who
also owned an electronics company by the same name. The network gave
many now-legendary performers their start. Du Mont is best known for
low-budget shows that were full of mistakes. However, there is just
something about a Du Mont show that programs from other networks in
this era just don't have (or maybe they have something Du Mont doesn't).
The network went off the air in 1955. Despite a crooked lawyer who
succeeded in throwing away most of these classics, over 300 programs
still exist
"Public
Prosecutor" (DuMont Network) (1947-52) aka "Crawford Mystery
Theatre"
Jerry Fairbanks Productions for
Syndication (1947-48) - 26 episodes x 20 minutes
DuMont Network (6Sep 1951-28 Feb 1952) - ? episodes x 30 min
Sponsor: Crawford Clothes
US Mystery Drama series/ Panel Show 1947-52
Starring:
John Howard as Stephen Allen, Prosecuting Attorney
Anne Gwynne as his assistant
Walter Sande as Police Lieutenant
Warren Hull as Host (1951)
Bob Shepard as Announcer
Premise/Background:
In 1947-48 this was the first filmed series made especially for television.
26 episodes x 20 min were made for Syndication.
In 1951 the DuMont Network acquired the rights and turned it into a panel show
to fill out to 30 minutes.Each week 3 guest panelists watched an episode along
with the home audience, which was halted just before the climax - each
panelist then tried to guess the identity of the guilty party.
Famous Jury Trials (DuMont Network)
(1949-52)
TransAmerican Production
for
the Dumont Network (Wednesdays 9:30-10pm)
October 12, 1949 - March 12, 1952
30 min live courtroom drama
cast
James Bender ... Prosecuting Attorney
Truman Smith ... Defense Attorney
Narrator Donald Woods
Director Charles Herold
Aired on WGN-TV in Chicago
Based on the radio program of the same name which aired January 5, 1936 until
June 25th 1949.
(You can listen to the radio broadcasts at archive.org)
Premise: Re-enactments of real-life criminal trials.
"Hands of Murder / Hands of Destiny / Hands of Mystery"(DuMont Network) (1949-52)
Created by Lawrence Menkin
Producer James Caddigan
Director Frank Bunett
Written by Lawrence Menkin and Charles Speer
US Mystery / Anthology Series 1949-52
"The
Plainclothesman"(DuMont Network) (1949-54)
Sponsor: Edgeworth tobacco.
Produced by John L. Clark
US Crime Drama 1949-54 ? episodes x 30 min (live?)
(12Oct49 Wed - 12Sep54 Sun)
Starring
Ken Lynch as The Lieutenant, (face never seen on screen)
Jack Orrison as Segeant Brady
Premise:
The subjective camera is used to detail the investigations of a never-seen
lieutenant with the N.Y.P.D. By the use of the subjective camera, which enacts
emotion and becomes the eyes of the lieutenant, the viewer hears the actor's
voice and experiences situations as if he were actually present.
"Charlie
Wild, Private Detective"(DuMont
Network) (1950-52)
(also known as "The Affairs of Charlie Wild")
Dumont "live" presentation in association with
L. White and E. Rosenberg Productions
CBS (Fridays 9:00-9:30 pm)(22Dec50-Mar51)(season 1a)
CBS (Wednesdays 9:00-9:30 pm)(Apr51-27Jun51)(season 1b)
ABC (Tuesdays 8:00-8:30 pm EST)(11Sep51-04Mar52)(season 2)
DuMont (Thursdays 10:00-10:30)(13Mar52-19Jun52)(season 3)
Produced by Carlo De Angelo, Herbert Brodkin
Writer: Peter Barry
Director: Leonard Valenta
US Detective Series 1950-52 69 episodes approx x 30 min bw (live)
(22Dec50-19June52)
Starring
Kevin O'Morrison as Charlie Wild #1 (1950-51)
John McQuade as Charlie Wild #2 (1951-52)
Cloris Leachman as Effie Perrine
Premise:
Cases of Charlie Wild, a New York Private Detective.
"Rocky
King, Inside Detective"(DuMont
Network) (1950-54)
Stark-Layton Production
for the
DuMont Network
Produced by Lawrence Menkin, Charles Spear, Jerry Layton
Sponsored by Clorets Gum
US Detective series 1950-54
(14Jan50 Sat- 26Dec54 Sun)
Starring:
Roscoe Karns as Det. Rocky King
Grace Carney as Mabel King (Rocky's wife)(heard but never seen)
with:
Earl Hammond as Sgt. Lane (1950-53)
Todd Karns as Det. Hart (1953-54) (Roscoe Karn's son)
Announcer: Ken Roberts
Premise:
The exploits of Rocky King, a plainclothes detective with the
Homicide Division of the Manhatten 24th Precinct.
"Ellery Queen" (DuMont
Network)(1950-52)
Production Company not known
for
Dumont Network (Thursdays) (19Oct50-06Dec51)
ABC Network (Sundays -then- Wednesdays 9:00pm ET)(16Dec51-26Nov52)
Produced by Norman and Irving Pincus
Created by Frederic Dannay & Manfred B. Lee,
US Detective Series 1950-52 91 episodes x 30 min bw (Live?)
Starring:
Richard Hart as Ellery Queen #1 (1950-51) (DuMont)
Lee Bowman as Ellery Queen #2 (1951-52)(ABC)
Florenz Ames as Inspector Richard Queen (1950-52)
Premise:
Investigations of Ellery Queen, a gentleman detective and writer
livng in New York City.
Background:
There have been a number of versions of this series, going back to the
radio days. This is the earliest TV version. Hugh Marlowe played
Ellery Queen in a 1954 syndicated series "Mystery is my Business".
George Nader then Lee Phillips appeared as Ellery Queen in
the 1958-59 NBC series "The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen",
and finally Jim Hutton played the detective in the 1975-76 series
again on NBC.
"Not for Publication"
(DuMont
Network)(1951-52)
a.k.a. "Reporter Collins"
Production Company not known
for the
DuMont Network
Produced by Charles J. Parson and Barry Shear
US Reporter Drama series 1951-52 ? episodes x 15/30 min
Starring:
William Adler as Collins #1 (27Apr51-27Aug51) (15 min.)
Jerome Cowan as Collins #2 (21Dec51-27May52) (30 min.)
with:
Jon Silo as Luchek (1952)
Premise:
Stories of human interest, and later facts behind the headline-making
stories as seen through the eyes of Collins a reporter for the New York "Ledger"
It's A Business (DuMont Network) (1952)
DuMont Network (Wednesdays)
Produced by Paul Rosen
Directed by Frank Bunetta
Written by Bob Weiskpof (later produced "Maude")
US comedy series 1952 10 episodes x 30 min
19Mar52-21May52
Starring
Bob Haymes as Song Composer/Publisher
Leo DeLyon as Song Composer/Publisher
Dorothy Loudon as their Secretary
Premise: Situation Comedy with a Tin Pan Alley setting.
"Hollywood
Offbeat" (DuMont
Network) (1952-53)
a.k.a Steve Randall
Marion Parsonnet production for
First Run Syndication (early 1952) (season 1) ?
DuMont network (07Nov52-30Jan53) (season 2)
CBS network (16Jun53 - 11Aug53) (season 3
Produced by Marlon Parsonett & Lester Lewis
US Detective series 1952-53 14 episodes x 30 min bw
Starring:
Melvyn Douglas as Steve Randall
Premise:
Smooth disbarred lawyer Steve Randall takes up private detective work so that
he may be permitted to practice law again. He is finally reinstated as a
lawyer after 13 weeks of solving blackmail and murder.
Background:
Marion Parsonnet also produced the medical drama series "The Doctor"
(1952-53) starring Warner Anderson.
Jimmy Hughes Rookie Cop (DuMont
Network)(1953)
DuMont Network
1953
Starring:
William Redfield as Jimmy Hughes
with:
Rusty Lane as Inspector Ferguson
Wendy Drew as Jimmy's sister
Directed by Barry Shear
"Night Editor"(DuMont
Network) (1954)
DuMont
Network (Sundays) (14Mar54-Jul54)
DuMont Network (Wednesdays) (Jul54-08Sep54)
Produced by Irving Mansfield, Ward Byron
Directed by Dick Sandwick
US Reporter Anthology series 1954 ? episodes x 15 min
(14Mar54 Sun - 08Sep54 Wed )
Hosted & Narrated by
Hal Burdick
Premise:
The work of newspapermen as seen through the eyes of Hal Burdick,
the night editor of a newspaper, would read short crime stories
or human interest stories.
The Stranger (DuMont Network)(1954-55)
DuMont Network
Produced and Directed by Frank Telford
US Drama series 1954-55 ? episodes x 30 min
Starring
Bob Carroll as The Stranger
The Stranger, a mysterious individual appears every week to help
someone in distress.
Similar format to CBS' "The Millionaire"
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