CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US
Drama Series
The Joe Palooka Story
(1954)
Episode Guide
compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Jim Brent,
John King, NYC, Tom Alger, Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
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THE JOE PALOOKA STORY
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Guild Films production, New York
for
First-Run Syndication
Based on the Cartoon Character created by Ham Fisher
Produced by William Berke / Richard Bare
Co-producer, Joe Kirkwood
US Drama series 1954 possibly 26 episodes x 30 min
Starring:
Joe Kirkwood, Jr. as Joe Palooka, boxing champ
Cathy Downs as Ann Howe, his girlfriend
Luis Van Rooten as Knobby Walsh, his manager (in series)
Sid Tomack as Knobby Walsh, his manager (in pilot?)
"Slapsie" Maxie Rosenbloom as Clyde, his trainer/ Humphrey Pennyworth
Premise:
The ficticious story of Joe Palooka, a naive heavyweight boxer
############ The Joe Palooka Story ###########
################# season 1954 ################
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Syndicated Program
1.1 [--] The Joe Palooka Story. THE BIG BLOW-OFF
[UCLA]
(possibly the pilot episode)
Copyright notice on film: c1953 by Hammond E. Fisher.
Guild Films production
Produced by Richard Bare / Co-producer, Joe Kirkwood
Directed by Erle C. Kenton.
film Editor, Everett Sutherland; photography, John MacBurnie.
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (Joe Palooka);
with: Cathy Downs (Ann Howe, his girlfriend);
Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager);
Maxie Rosenbloom (Clyde, his trainer);
Guest Cast:
Michael O'Hara,
Emery Parnell,
Fritzi Dugan,
Frank Scannell,
Paul Newman.
Synopsis 1:
Joe's Publicity and bank account are suffering because of a lack of challengers.
Boxingdom can't produce a challenger fit to fight Joe in defense of his first
title. When one does appear, Knobby doesn't want to let him fight.
Synopsis 2:
A young Paul Newman can be seen in one scene behind the upper right
corner of Joe's trainer. [UCLA]
(synd: 23Aug58 Atlanta, GA)
1.2 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: TWO RINGS FOR EDDIE
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
Guest Cast:
Charles Buchinski (later Bronson) .... Eddie
Mary Ellen Kay ........... Doris
Ray Walker ............ Maxie
Synopsis 1:
One of Joe's proteges, a welterweight, has a problem. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
A welterweight's choice: his boxing or his girl. [RF]
Synopsis 3:
One of Joe's protégé's has a problem. His girl has given him a choice
between the ring and herself.
(synd: 10Apr54 NYC) (synd: 06Jul57 Atlanta, GA)
1.3 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: A TURKEY FOR TERRY
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
Guest Cast:
Gordon Gebert
Synopsis:
When two fighters play a practical joke on Knobby, it turns into a tragedy for
a little boy.
(synd: 14Aug54 NYC)
1.4 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: THE BIG SWICTH
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
Guest cast:
Lucille Barkley .......... Brenda Atwood
Synopsis 1:
Knobby almost loses his senses as he is informed that Joe's managerial
contract has been acquired by a society deb named Brenda Atwood as
collateral for a loan. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
A society girl (Lucille Barkley) acquires Joe's contract and decides to
manage the champ. [RF]
Synopsis 3:
A society deb gets Joe's contract as collateral for a loan. Her idealistic
attitude throws Knobby.
(synd: 10Nov54 Wilkes-Barre, PA)
1.5 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: CAREER FOR ANN
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Cathy Downs (Ann Howe, his girlfriend)
Guest cast:
Florence Auer ...... Hilda
Synopsis 1:
When Joe hires a maid to take over the housework, Ann finds herself
with nothing to do so she takes a job as a salesgirl.
Synopsis 2:
Joe hires a maid and Ann is left with nothing to do. [RF]
(synd: 30Aug55 Chicago, IL)
1.6 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: SOCIETY JOE
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
Guest cast:
Bob Lowery ......... Fletch
Hilary Brooke ...... Lorna
Synopsis 1:
In order to raise money for a boy's club, Joe accepts an invitation
to visit a wealthy couple. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Fletch is furious about wife Lorna's weekend invitation to her ex-beau Joe
Palooka. [RF]
Synopsis 3:
In order to raise money for his favorite boys' club, Joe accepts the
weekend invitation of an old flame, now married to a wealthy socialite.
(synd: 04Sep55 Topeka, KS)
1.7 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: BLACKOUT
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Cathy Downs (Ann Howe, his girlfriend)
Synopsis:
On her way to the training camp Ann has an auto accident. Joe's
concern over Ann's loss of memory from the accident affects his
fighting. [JB]
(synd: 05Dec55 NYC)
1.8 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: JOE, THE GIANT KILLER
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Guest cast:
Alvy Moore ......... Marshal
Synopsis 1:
Knobby refuses to let Joe visit army camps in Alaska. His reason is
the experience that befell the Champ during a similar visit to
Korea when Joe was captured by the Communists [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Flashbacks tell the story of Joe's visit to the troops in Korea. [RF]
Synopsis 3:
Knobby refuses to let Joe visit the army camps in Alaska because of
the experience that befell the Champ during a similar visit to Korea.
(synd: 19Dec55 Green Bay, WI)
1.9 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: THE NEUTRAL CORNER
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
Guest Cast:
Charles Buchinski (later Bronson) .... Eddie
Synopsis:
Joe's protégé, an up-and-coming middleweight, suffers a knee injury
in an accident. The champ is reluctant to tell the boy he may never
fight again. [JB]
(synd: 23Dec56 Chicago, IL)
1.10 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: THE LAST ROUND
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Maxie Rosenbloom (Clyde, his trainer)
Synopsis:
Clyde mistakenly believes he has only three months to live. He
borrows a great deal of money from Joe, intending to pay him back
with his insurance money. [JB]
(synd: 24Dec55 NYC)
1.11 [--] The Joe Palooka Story. THE LAST FIGHT
[UCLA]
Copyright notice on film: c1954 by Hammond E. Fisher.
Guild Films production
Produced and Directed by William Berke
Written by Charles R. Marion
Associate Producer, Joe Kirkwood.
Film Editor, Everett Sutherland; photography, Jack Russell.
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (Joe Palooka);
with: Cathy Downs (Ann Howe, his girlfriend);
Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom (Clyde, his trainer);
Luis Van Rooten (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Guest Cast:
Frances Osborne, Emmett Lynn, Ralph Sanford,
William Haade, William Tannen, Jerry Lucas, Jimmy Wilson,
Paul Thompson, Abel Fernandez.
Synopsis 1:
Joe decides to retire after a particularly brutal fight. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
After winning a particularly tough bout in which his opponent was
badly beaten, Joe is upset and contemplates quitting the ring. [UCLA]
Synopsis 3:
Clyde erroneously believes that he has only three months to live.
Intent on having one last fling, he borrows money from Joe to be repaid
with his insurance.
Synopsis 4:
A fighter takes a terrible drubbing from Joe until he is knocked out,
which brings on a tirade from the boxer's wife that tortures Joe's
conscience and makes him decide to retire from the ring. But Ann gets
him into a situation where he can't quit.
(synd: 07Feb57 Wilmington, DE)
1.12 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: WINNER TAKE ALL
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
Synopsis 1:
Joe tries to help a down-and-out fighter and nearly ruins his own
reputation [JB]
Synopsis 2:
A down and out fighter engaged as a sparring partner for Joe, plans to
trick the Champ and show him up. [JB]
(synd: 09Feb57 Portland, OR)(synd: 09Dec57 Manchester, NH)
1.13 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: KNOBBY'S KNOCKOUT
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Synopsis:
Knobby convinces Joe to accept a job as technical advisor to a motion
picture. [JB]
(synd: 03Jun57 Manchester NH)(synd: 24Aug58)
1.14 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: THE LAST CAR
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Cathy Downs (Ann Howe, his girlfriend)
Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Maxie Rosenbloom (Clyde, his trainer)
Synopsis:
Joe, Ann, Knobby and Clyde are riding on the last car of a train when
they suddenly realize it has been derailed. This is not an accident
but the work of a gunman. [JB]
(synd: 28Jun57 Los Angeles, CA)
1.15 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: A DATE FOR MURDER
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Cathy Downs (Ann Howe, his girlfriend)
Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Maxie Rosenbloom (Clyde, his trainer)
Synopsis:
Joe, Ann, Knobby and Clyde embark on a fishing trip that turns into a
near tragedy as they are held captive in a lonely farmhouse by killers
who are waiting to murder the absent farmer. [JB]
(synd: 29Jun57 Detroit, MI)
1.16 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: THE LONG WAIT
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Synopsis:
Despite Knobby's objections, Joe agrees to train for a coming fight at the
camp of some new friends. In this case Knobby is proved correct. [JB]
(synd: 11Aug57 Chicago, IL)
1.17 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: THE CLYDE-NAPPERS
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Maxie Rosenbloom (Clyde, his trainer)
Synopsis:
Clyde, Joe's trainer and friend, is kidnapped by gamblers who make a
deal with Joe for the return of their captive. [JB]
(synd: 18Nov57 Manchester, NH)
1.18 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: SUMMER DAZE
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Synopsis:
Knobby is worried about Joe's summer slump. The little manager soon
has much greater troubles to contend with. [JB]
(synd: 09Mar58 Atlanta, GA)
1.19 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: JOE'S SAFARI
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
Guest cast:
Laurette Luez ...... Rosita
Synopsis:
Joe agrees to do a series of exhibition matches in South America. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Joe must take over for the incompetent pilot on a flight to South America. [RF]
Synopsis 3:
Joe agrees to do a series of exhibition matches in South America. But the flight
down holds many perils for the champ.
(synd: 14May58 West Palm Beach, FL)
1.20 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: COME OUT FIGHTING
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Cathy Downs (Ann Howe, his girlfriend)
Synopsis:
Joe needs a rest, so he and Ann go to the country for a vacation. There
the champ gets some unexpected activity. [JB]
(synd: 03Aug58 Columbus, GA)
1.21 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: A TURKEY FOR TERRY
1954 Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Guest cast:
Gordon Gebert ...... Terry
Synopsis 1:
Two fighters play a practical joke on Knobby which turns into tragedy
for a little boy. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
A practical joke on Knobby almost causes a poor boy to have a
Thanksgiving minus turkey. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
A practical joke on Knobby turns into a tragedy for a little boy. [RF]
(Synd: 22Oct60 Providence, RI)
1.22 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: THE FAST TOUCH
1953 Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Guest cast:
Phil Van Zandt ..... Barden
Synopsis 1:
Joe and Knobby get involved in a phony charity drive. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Two dignified crooks use Joe in a $300,000 swindle, and almost ruin his
career. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Innocent Joe becomes front man for a phony charity drive. [RF]
(synd: 09Jan55 St. Joseph, MO) (synd: 23Apr55 NYC)
[--] The Joe Palooka Story: (No Title)
(possibly "The Fast Touch")
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Cathy Downs (Ann Howe, his girlfriend)
Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Maxie Rosenbloom (Clyde, his trainer)
Synopsis:
Knobby, Ann and Joe try to impress a very social charity director so that
she'll star the Champ on her TV show. Clyde means well but ruins the plan.
(synd: 21Jul56 Minneapolis, MN)
1.23 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: CLYDE'S MISTAKE
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Maxie Rosenbloom (Clyde, his trainer)
Synopsis:
Clyde sets out to hire a maid for the Palookas and ends up at a matrimonial
agency. [JB]
(synd: 13Mar55 St. Joseph, MO)
1.24 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: BELOW THE BORDER
Guild Films, New York
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
Guest Cast:
Tom Hernandez
Synopsis 1:
Joe and a Mexican fighter join forces to foil the attempts of subversive
groups to wreck relations between the two countries. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
While on a Nation-wide tour, Heavyweight champion Joe Palooka is asked to
fight the Mexican champ. This turns out to be a difficult task because
subversive elements try to prevent the bout.
(synd: 13Feb55 St. Joseph, MO)
1.25 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: AND STILL CHAMP
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
with: Cathy Downs (Ann Howe, his girlfriend)
Sid Tomack (Knobby Walsh, his manager)
Synopsis 1:
It's Joe's birthday and Knobby and Ann begin to worry about the champ's
age. [TA/JB]
Synopsis 2:
Knobby and Ann begin to worry about the Champ's age when they learn he
is soon to fight a young challenger.
(synd: 29Jun57 Los Angeles, CA)
(synd: 20Jan60, WISC-3, Madison, Wisconsin, Wed 5:30pm)
1.26 [--] The Joe Palooka Story: SECOND HONEYMOON
Starring: Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (as Joe Palooka)
Synopsis 1:
Going on a second honeymoon, Joe and Ann help a young couple get married. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
After Joe has successfully defended his title he secretly slips away with his
wife to the Canadian wilds for a second honeymoon. While there they become
involved in a strange series of events, and aid a young couple, the husband
of whom is accused of having been a Nazi!
(synd: 07Apr59 Los Angeles, CA)
[--] The Joe Palooka Story: THE HARD WAY
Guest Cast:
Paul Bryer.
Synopsis:
Joe is asked to work with a boy's club, but Knobby says he hasn't the time.
When Joe catches a youngster stealing the hubcaps from his car, he realizes
that the boy needs help. Joe decides to work in the boys' club and gives the
youngster a choice of either joining the club or going to jail.
############ The Joe Palooka Story ###########
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