CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Crime Series
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Starring James Garner
Season 3 (NBC) (1976-77)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox
references:
TV Guide /   Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive

############ The Rockford Files ##############
############# season 3 1976-77 ###############
##############################################
NBC Fridays 9:00 PM Eastern
22 episodes

xp MR/ sp SJC
Produced by David Chase and Chas. Floyd Johnson

3.01 [---] The Rockford Files: THE FOURTH MAN
24Sep76
xp: MR / supp.pr: SJC
Produced by Chas. Floyd Johnson and David Chase
Written by Juanita Bartlett
Directed by William Wiard
Director of Photography, Andrew Jackson A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
John McMartin
Sharon Gless
Michael Bell
And:
Stuart Margolin (as Angel)(recurring)
Special Guest Star:
Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport)(recurring)
*
With: (end credits)
Jack Garner ........... Mailman
Dianne Harper ......... Susan
Candace Howerton ...... Airline Clerk
Barbara Collentine .... Maid
A stewardess hires Rockford when a coin dealer tries to kill her.

3.02 [--] The Rockford Files: THE ORACLE WORE A CASHMERE SUIT
01-Oct-1976
xp: MR / supp.pr: SJC
Produced by Chas. Floyd Johnson and David Chase
Written by David Chase
Directed by Russ Mayberry
Director of Photography, Andrew Jackson A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Robert Webber
James Luisi
Pepe Serna
Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport)(recurring)
Special Guest Star:
Robert Walden
*
Co-Starring: (end crdits)
Terrence O'Connor ...... Eileen
With:
Diane Sommerfield ...... Secretary
John Furlong ........... Detective Caselli
James Hong ............. Forensic Expert
Bonnie Bartlett ........ Casey Patterson
A psychic claims that Rockford knows more about a double
disappearance than he will admit.

3.03 [--] The Rockford Files: THE FAMILY HOUR
8Oct76
xp: MR / supp. pr. SJC
Produced by Chas. Floyd Johnson and David Chase
Written by Gordon Dawson
Directed by William Wiard
Guest Stars:
Burt Young
Ken Swofford
Kim Richards
Paul Koslo
And:
Stuart Margolin (as Angel)(recurring)
*
With: (end credits)
Janice Carroll ...... Duty Clerk
Marged Wakely ....... Cecil Goss
Adrian Ricard ....... Receptionist
Rockford postpones a fishing trip to help a kid whose father is hiding from narcotics agents.

3.04 [--] The Rockford Files: FEEDING FRENZY
15-Oct-1976
xp: MR / supp. pr. SJC
Produced by David Chase and Chas. Floyd Johnson
Teleplay by Stephen J. Cannell
Story by Lester Wm. Berke and Donald Gold
Directed by Russ Mayberry
Director of Photography, Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Susan Howard
Eddie Firestone
Luke Askew
Pepper Martin
Richard Le Pore
Bill Phipps
And:
Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport)(recurring)
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
George Wyner ........... Max Steinberg
Roger Aaron Brown ...... Officer
Carmen Argenziano ...... Orin Wilson
Jon Cedar .............. Agent Ravel
Joseph Della Sorte ..... Lucy Carbone
John Dennis Johnston ... Grady
Jack Garner ............ Accountant
A friend of Rockford's, who wants to make up for his past, asks
Jim to return the half-million dollars he stole years earlier,
since the statue of limitations has run out.

3.05 The Rockford Files: DROUGHT AT INDIANHEAD RIVER
05-Nov-1976
xp: MR / supp. pr. SJC
Produced by Chas. Floyd Johnson and David Chase
Written by Stephen J. Cannell
Directed by Lawrence Doheny
Director of Photography, Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Cast:
Robert Loggia
Vincent Baggetta
And:
Stuart Margolin (as Angel)(recurring)
Special Guest Star:
Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport)(recurring)
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Anthony Carbone ........ Brad Charlette
Ronda Copland .......... Delores
Nick Georgiade ......... Danny
Jerome Guardino ........ Carl Dorado
With:
Laurence Haddon ........ Dr. Sager
Buddy Foster ........... Terry
Judith Searle .......... Norma
George Fisher .......... Low-Ball Pete
Angel gets himself and Jim caught in the middle of a land swindle.

3.06 [---] The Rockford Files: COULTER CITY WILDCAT
12Nov76
xp MR/ sp SJC
Produced by David Chase and Chas. Floyd Johnson
Written by Don Carlos Dunaway
Directed by Russ Mayberry
Director of Photography, Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
John Anderson
Dennis Burkley
and:
Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport)(recurring)
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Patricia Stich ........ Phyliss
Noble Willingham ...... Orzeck
Jerry Hardin .......... Link
Sharon Compton ........ Beehive
Thugs force Rocky to sign over the rights to an unpromising
oil lease he won.

3.07 [--] The Rockford Files: SO HELP ME GOD
19-Nov-1976
xp: MR / supp. pr. SJC
Produced by Chas. Floyd Johnson and David Chase
Written by Juanita Bartlett
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc
Director of Photography, Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
William Daniels
Sandy Ward
And:
Stuart Margolin (as Angel)(recurring)
Special Guest Star:
Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport)(recurring)
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Ted Gehring .......... Warden Futrell
Jason Wingreen ....... Clarence Rohrs
Vernon Weddle ........ Mike Prescott
Robert Ray Sutton .... Carl
John Lupton .......... Henry Pranks
With:
Lieux Dressler ....... Margaret Raucher
Cliff Carnell ........ Gordy
John D. Gowans ....... Doctor
Angelo Gnazzo ........ Pervis
Jack Garner .......... Bailiff
The faults of our grand jury system are exposed as a grand jury
throws Jim in jail when they don't believe his truthful responses
to their questions regarding a kidnapping.

3.08 [--] The Rockford Files: RATTLERS' CLASS OF '63
26-Nov-1976
xp: MR / supp. pr. SJC
Produced by David Chase
Written by David Chase
Directed by Meta Rozenberg
Director of Photgraphy Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Stuart Margolin (as Angel)(recurring)
Elayne Heilviel
Avery Schreiber
John Durren
James Luisi (as Lt. Chapman) (recurring)
Gerald McRaney
Special Guest Star:
James Wainwright
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Rudy Ramos ........... Bobby Boyajian
Sandra Kerns ......... Robin Seidlitz
Stacy Keach, Sr. ..... Reverend
With:
Stanley Brock ........ Elliott Deutch
Ed Vasgersian ........ Hank Boyajian
Luis Delgado ......... Officer Billings (recurring)
Angel plans to extort money from a garbage concern.

3.09 [--] The Rockford Files: RETURN TO THE 38TH PARALLEL
10-Dec-1976
xp: MR / supp. pr. SJC
Produced by Chas. Floyd Johnson and David Chase
Written by Walter Dallenbach
Directed by Bruce Kessler
Director of Photgraphy Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Ned Beatty
Veronica Hamel
Paul Stevens
Normann Burton
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Robert Karnes ......... Captain Hulette
James Congdon ......... Alvin Thomas
Jeff David ............ Funeral Director
Michael Ebert ......... Lee Nejman
John Mahon ............ Lt. Hayes
Bart Burns ............ Fire Department Chief
With:
Chuck Winters ......... Kevin Lindsey
Tom Stewart ........... Aarons
Michael Allridge ...... Cab Driver
Sam Vlahos ............ Deck Hand
Ted Noose ............. Agent
Rockford is conned by an old Army buddy (Ned Beatty) with a hard luck
story, who uses him in an art swindle.

3.10 [--] The Rockford Files: PIECE WORK
17Dec76
xp: MR sp: SJC
Produced by David Chase and Chas. Floyd Johnson
Written by Juanita Bartlett
Directed by Lawrence Doheny
Director of Photgraphy Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Michael Lerner
James Luisi
Ned Wilson
Simon Scott
Ben Frank
Frank Maxwell
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Jack Bannon .......... Herbert Deane
Michael Mancini ...... Angie Pictaggi
with:
Deborah Landes ....... Lilian Rosner
Harvey Vernon ........ Jerry Leedy
Ricky Powell ......... Junior Rosner
Luis Delgado ......... Officer Jack Billings
Synopsis #1
An insurance company hires Rockford to investigate a claim.
He uncovers a gunrunning caper that makes him the target of
the underworld and federal agents.
Synopsis #2
While investigating a health club accident, Rockford stumbles onto an illegal arms deal.

3.11 [--] The Rockford Files: THE TROUBLE WITH WARREN
24Dec76
xp: MR sp: SJC
Produced by Chas. Floyd Johnson & David Chase
Written by Juanita Bartlett
Directed by Christian I. Nyby II
Director of Photgraphy, Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Ron Rifkin
Paul Jenkins
James Luisi
Joe Maross
John Dullaghan
Tom Bower
Gretchen Corbett as Beth Davenport (recurring)
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Anne Randall Stewart ... Catherine Lefcourt
M.P. Murphy ............ Janitor
With:
Jan Stratton ........... Hilda
Tom Williams ........... Wedding Guest
Ed Crick ............... Parking Attendant
Vince Howard ........... Kleinschmidt
Shirley Anthony ........ Secretary
The police get after Jim when he helps his attorney, Beth
Davenport's dippy cousin who's been accused of murdering his boss.

3.12 [--] The Rockford Files: THERE'S ONE IN EVERY PORT
07Jan77
xp: MR sp: SJC
Produced by Chas. Floyd Johnson & David Chase
Written by Stephen J. Cannell
Directed by Meta Rosenberg
Director of Photography, Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Joan Van Ark
John Dehner
Steve Landesberg
John Mahon
Jack Riley
George Memmoli
Michael Delano
Ric Mancini
Special Guest Stars:
Howard Duff
And:
Stuart Margolin (as Angel)(recurring)
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Byron Morrow .......... George Greenleaf/Ray Fahasateur
Kenneth Tobey ......... Captain
With:
Stanley Brock ......... Morris
Christopher Winfield .. Waiter
David Pansari ......... Ski Mask
A friend of Rockford's sets him up as the fall guy in a poker
game holdup.

3.13 [--] The Rockford Files:
STICKS & STONES MAY BREAK YOUR BONES, BUT WATERBURY WILL BURY YOU
14Jan77
xp: MR sp: SJC
Produced by David Chase (NO Chas)
Written by David Chase
Directed by Jerry London
Director of Photgraphy, Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Simon Oakland
Cleavon Little
Val Bisoglio
Anthony Costello
Robert Riesel
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
James Karen .......... John LaPointe
With:
Jack Garner .......... Bartender
Katharine Charles .... Susan Hanrahan
George Pentecost ..... Carl Colavito
Linda Dano ........... Gwen Molinaro
Fritzi Burr .......... Receptionist
Hank Stohl ........... Guard
Brian Libby .......... Garth McCreery
Henry Gayle Sanders .. Hardhat
An elusive woman has set up several gumshoes for felony raps,
and Jim appears to be her next target.

3.14 The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers (Part 1/2) (1977.01.21)
Strother Martin
Karen Machon
Alex Rocco
Scott Brady
Richard Venture
Fred Stuthman
Paul Sylvan
Rocky's friend is declared incompetent and forcibly hospitalized,
by people who want his land.

3.15 The Rockford Files: THE TREES, THE BEES AND T.T. FLOWERS Part 2
28-Jan-1977
xp: MR sp: SJC
Produced by David Chase & Chas. Floyd Johnson
Written by Gordon Dawson
Directed by Jerry London
Director of Photography, Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Strother Martin
Karen Machon
Scott Brady
Roy Jenson
Robert Doqui
And:
Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport)(recurring)
Special Guest Star:
Alex Rocco (as Sherman Royle)
*
Co-Starring: (end credits - pt 2)
Tom Rosqui .......... Brockmeyer
Fred Stuthman ....... Homer Hodgson
Jack Stauffer ....... Brubaker
David Shelley ....... Division Commander
With:
Linda Ryan .......... Maid
June Whitley Taylor .. Nurse
Ric Carrott ......... Attendent
Michael Laurence .... Newscaster
Fred Lerner ......... Lou
Dave Cass ........... Mort
Rocky's friend is declared incompetent and forcibly hospitalized, by people who want his land.

3.16 The Becker Connection (1977.02.11)
Jack Carter
William Jordan
A dope ring steals confiscated heroin from the police and sets
up Becker as the fall guy.

3.17 The Rockford Files: JUST ANOTHER POLISH WEDDING
18-Feb-1977
xp: MR sp: SJC
Produced by Chas. Floyd Johnson & David Chase
Written by Stephen J. Cannell
Directed by William Wiard
Director of PhotOgraphy, Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
*
Guest Stars:
Lou Gossett (Jr.)
Marcus Hayes
Pepper Martin
Special Guest Star:
Isaac Hayes (as Gandolph Fitch)
Co-Starring: (opening credits)
Walter Brooke
Dennis Burkley
Anthony Charnota
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Barney McFadden ........ Fred Kaska
Jack Collins ........... Frank Martin/Finn O'Herlihy
George Skaff ........... Maitre'D
Melendy Britt .......... Musicians Union Secretary
Sidney Clute ........... Funeral Administrator
Raymond Singer ......... Johnny Goodbie
With:
Alfred Dennis .......... Mr. Koska
Boni Enten ............. Hildy Mitchell
Holly Irving ........... Mrs. Martin
Jean Le Bouvier ........ Mrs. Mitchell
Bruce Tuthill .......... Yacht Club Attnedant
*
Synopsis:
A prison crony of Jim's goes to work for a former parole officer
turned detective who's trying to deprive Rockford of a large fee.

3.18 [--] The Rockford Files: NEW LIFE, OLD DRAGONS
25Feb77
Teleplay by David C. Taylor
Story by Bernard Rollins and Leroy Robinson
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc
Director of Photgraphy Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Kathleen Nolan
Irene Yah-Ling Sun
Charles Napier
Charles Siebert
Luke Askew
James Callahan
*
Co-Starring (end credits)
Clyde Kusatsu ......... Nuyen
Al Stevenson .......... L.J.
Luis Delgado .......... Officer Billings (recurring)
With:
Bruce Tuthill ......... Officer
Jim Ishida ............ Pham Van Vinh
Herb Kayde ............ Guard
Jay Gerber ............ Deputy Chief
Robert Whalen ......... Will Dunning
A Vietnamese emigre disappears after leaving a relocation center.

3.19 [--] The Rockford Files: TO PROTECT AND SERVE Part I
11Mar77
xp: MR sp: SJC
Produced by David Chase and Chas. Floyd Johnson
Written by David Chase
Directed by William Wiard
Director of Photgraphy Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Joyce Van Patten
James Luisi
Leslie Charleson
Jon Cypher
George Loros
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Pat Finley ........... Peggy Becker
Luke Andreas ......... Syl
James Coleman ........ Officer Haydu
With:
Luis Delgado ......... Officer Billings (recurring)
Charles Parks ........ Officer Drum
Jason Ledger ......... Sergeant Salcedo
Bob Peterson ......... Bartender
A police "groupie" interferes with efforts to find a client's
fiance within the 24 hours he has allotted to do so.

3.20 [--] The Rockford Files: TO PROTECT AND SERVE Part II
18Mar77
xp: MR sp: SJC
Produced by David Chase and Chas. Floyd Johnson
Written by David Chase
Directed by William Wiard
Director of Photgraphy Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Joyce Van Patten
James Luisi
Leslie Charleson
Jon Cypher
George Loros
Lou Frizzell
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Luke Andreas ......... Syl
Angus Duncan ......... John Fossler
With:
Buckland Beery ....... Officer Mazursky
Douglas Ryan ......... Deputy
Charles Bateman ...... 1st Detective
Jack Lucarelli ....... Bowling Alley Customer
Nick Dimitri ......... Dorsey
A police "groupie" interferes with efforts to find a client's  fiance within the 24 hours he has allotted to do so.

3.21 [--]The Rockford Files: CRACK BACK
25Mar77
xp: MR sp: SJC
Produced by David Chase and Chas. Floyd Johnson
Written by Juanita Bartlett
Directed by Reza Badiyi
Director of Photgraphy Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
Joseph Mascolo
Howard McGillin
John Calvin
Sondra Blake
Conchata Ferrell
Special Guest Star:
Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport)(recurring)
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Nick Ferris ............ Cab Driver
Bo Kaprall ............. Willie Gunter
Robert Miller Driscoll .. Defence Attorney
With:
Jack Garner ............ Court Deputy
Norman Bartold ......... Judge Carroll
Glenn Robards .......... Doorman
Robert Ward ............ Reporter #1
Bill Woodard ........... Football Player
Gloria Dixon ........... Reporter #2
Bill Baldwin ........... Jury Foreman
Synopsis 1:
Jim needs to find a missing witness for Beth's client a football
star charged with murder, while Beth receives a series of bizarre gifts.
Synopsis 2:
A man is on trial in connection with the slaying of a bartender.
He claims he was on a date with a married woman. Rockford investigates

3.22 [66] The Rockford Files: DIRTY MONEY, BLACK LIGHT
1Apr77
xp: MR / supp.pr: SJC
Produced by David Chase and Chas. Floyd Johnson
Written by David C. Taylor
Directed by Stuart Margolin
Director of Photography Andrew Jackson, A.S.C.
Guest Stars:
John P. Ryan
Wesley Addy
Roger E. Mosley
Joshua Bryant
John Chappell
Diana Ewing
And:
Stuart Margolin (as Angel)(recurring)
Special Guest Star:
Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport)(recurring)
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Martin Kove ......... Harry Smick
Victor Argo ......... Jud Brown
Michael Lane ........ Tony
Mary Carver ......... 1st Receptionist
Dick McGarvin ....... Bank Teller
with:
Craig Wasson ........ Steve
Edward Knight ....... Fed
Naomi Grumette ...... 2nd Receptionist
Charles Hutchins .... Trainer
Dani Heath .......... Switchboard Operator
When Rocky goes on a vacation he wins, his address gets used
as a cash drop by racketeers skimming a casino's take, who don't
know the mail is being forwarded to Jim.