Checkmate (American TV series)

Checkmate is an American detective television series created by Eric Ambler, starring Anthony George, Sebastian Cabot, and Doug McClure. The show aired on CBS Television from 1960 to 1962 for a total of 70 episodes. It was produced by Jack Benny's production company, "JaMco Productions" in co-operation with Revue Studios. Guest stars included Charles Laughton, Peter Lorre, Lee Marvin, Mickey Rooney and many other prominent performers.

Checkmate
Sebastian Cabot, Carolyn Craig, and Doug McClure in "Trial by Midnight" (1962)
GenreDetective/Mystery
Created byEric Ambler
Directed byFrank Arrigo
Jules Bricken
Herschel Daugherty
Walter Doniger
Robert Florey
William A. Graham
Tom Gries
Douglas Heyes
James Wong Howe
Robert Ellis Miller
Alexander Singer
Don Taylor
Don Weis
StarringAnthony George
Sebastian Cabot
Doug McClure
Theme music composerJohn Williams
ComposersMarty Paich
Pete Rugolo
Morton Stevens
John Williams
Stanley Wilson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes70
Production
ProducersRichard Berg
Herbert Coleman
Joseph T. Naar
CinematographyJoseph F. Biroc
Dale Deverman
Ray Flin
Lionel Lindon
Fred Mandl
John L. Russell
Bud Thackery
John F. Warren
EditorsHoward Epstein
Lee Huntington
Tony Martinelli
Running time60 mins.
Production companiesJaMco Productions
Revue Studios
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 17, 1960 (1960-09-17) –
September 1, 1962 (1962-09-01)
Mickey Rooney and Sebastian Cabot in "The Paper Killer" (1961)[1]
Anthony George and Eve Arden in "Death by Design" (1961)

Synopsis

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The program chronicles the cases of the San Francisco detective agency called Checkmate, Inc. Don Corey and Jed Sills run the agency, which specializes in preventing crimes before they happen, from Corey's stylish apartment supposedly at 3330 Union Street. Sebastian Cabot portrays Dr. Hyatt, a college professor whom they employ as an adviser. Dr. Hyatt's dachshund, Bismarck, occasionally appears. Ken Lynch is frequently seen as police dept. contact Lt. Thomas Brand.

Cast

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Notable guest stars

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  • "The Yacht Club Gang" (1962),
  • "So Beats My Plastic Heart" (1962)
  • "Moment of Truth" (1960),
  • "An Assassin Arrives Andante" (1962)
  • "Moment of Truth" (1960),
  • "Hot Wind in a Cold Town" (1961)
  • "Deadly Shadow" (1960),
  • "To the Best of My Recollection" (1961), and
  • "Side by Side" (1962)
  • "The Thrill Seeker" (1961), and
  • "So Beats My Plastic Heart" (1962)

Production

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Some exterior scenes were filmed[2][3] in San Francisco.[4][5]

Series star Anthony George left his recurring role as Federal Agent Cam Allison on The Untouchables (starring Robert Stack), to front this series.

Episodes

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Season 1 (1960–61)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Death Runs Wild"Jules BrickenStory by : John Kneubuhl
Teleplay by : James Gunn & John Kneubuhl
September 17, 1960 (1960-09-17)
22"Interrupted Honeymoon"Herschel DaughtertyMichael MorrisSeptember 24, 1960 (1960-09-24)
33"The Cyanide Touch"Don WeisStirling SilliphantOctober 1, 1960 (1960-10-01)
44"Lady on the Brink"Frank ArrigoStory by : Howard Browne
Teleplay by : Howard Browne & Joel Murcott
October 15, 1960 (1960-10-15)
55"Face in the Window"Robert FloreyStory by : Leigh Brackett
Teleplay by : Leigh Brackett & Harold Clements
October 22, 1960 (1960-10-22)
66"Runaway"Don MedfordStory by : Richard Nelson & Steve Fisher
Teleplay by : James Gunn & Richard Nelson
October 29, 1960 (1960-10-29)
77"Target: Tycoon"Frank ArrigoStory by : Johnathan Latimer
Teleplay by : Robert Yale Libott
November 5, 1960 (1960-11-05)
88"Deadly Shadow"Don WeisStory by : William McGivern
Teleplay by : Harold Clements & William McGivern
November 12, 1960 (1960-11-12)
99"The Dark Divide"Don WeisStory by : Robert Bloomfield
Teleplay by : James Gunn & Robert Bloomfield
November 19, 1960 (1960-11-19)
1010"Moment of Truth"Walter DonigerStory by : Leonard Heideman
Teleplay by : Jameson Brewer & Leonard Heideman
November 26, 1960 (1960-11-26)
1111"The Mask of Vengeance"Ted PostWarner LawDecember 3, 1960 (1960-12-03)
1212"The Murder Game"Douglas HeyesDouglas HeyesDecember 17, 1960 (1960-12-17)
1313"The Princess in the Tower"Herschel DaughertyStory by : Betty Ulius
Teleplay by : Halsey Melone
December 31, 1960 (1960-12-31)
1414"Terror from the East"Herschel DaughertyHarold ClementsJanuary 7, 1961 (1961-01-07)
1515"The Human Touch"Don WeisStory by : John Falvo & Pete Mamakos
Teleplay by : James Gunn
January 14, 1961 (1961-01-14)
1616"Hour of Execution"John EnglishStory by : Helen Nielsen
Teleplay by : Robert Yale Libott
January 21, 1961 (1961-01-21)
1717"Don't Believe a Word She Says"Sidney LansfieldStory by : William Lindsay Gresham
Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis
January 28, 1961 (1961-01-28)
1818"Laugh Till I Die"Don WeisBernie GilerFebruary 4, 1961 (1961-02-04)
1919"Between Two Guns"John EnglishHarold ClementsFebruary 11, 1961 (1961-02-11)
2020"A Matter of Conscience"Richard IrvingStory by : Leonard Heideman
Teleplay by : Edmund Morris
February 18, 1961 (1961-02-18)
2121"Melody for Murder"Don TaylorStuart JeromeFebruary 25, 1961 (1961-02-25)
2222"Phantom Lover"Herschel DaughertyRaphael HayesMarch 4, 1961 (1961-03-04)
2323"The Gift"Jules BrickenStory by : Robert Blees
Teleplay by : Irwin and Gwen Gielgud
March 11, 1961 (1961-03-11)
2424"One for the Book"Don EnglishStory by : Curtis Kenyon
Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis
March 18, 1961 (1961-03-18)
2525"The Paper Killer[1]"Don TaylorStory by : Stuart Jerome
Teleplay by : James Dunn
March 25, 1961 (1961-03-25)
2626"Jungle Castle"Ted PostStory by : Bernie Giler and Robert C. Dennis
Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis
April 1, 1961 (1961-04-01)
2727"The Deadly Silence"Paul StewartStory by : Rik Vollaerts
Teleplay by : Harold Clements
April 8, 1961 (1961-04-08)
2828"Goodbye Griff"Allen H. MinerStory by : Steven Thornley
Teleplay by : Steven Thornley and Sheldon Stark
April 15, 1961 (1961-04-15)
2929"Dance of Death"Paul StewartRobert Yale LibottApril 22, 1961 (1961-04-22)
3030"Voyage Into Fear"Jules BrickenStory by : Edmund Morris
Teleplay by : Edmund Morris & Harold Clements
May 6, 1961 (1961-05-06)
3131"Tight as a Drum"Herschel DaughertyStory by : Edwin Blum
Teleplay by : Edwin Blum and Robert C. Dennis
May 13, 1961 (1961-05-13)
3232"Death by Design"John NewlandStory by : Bob & Wanda Duncan
Teleplay by : Sheldon Stark and Bob & Wanda Duncan
May 20, 1961 (1961-05-20)
3333"The Thrill Seeker"Don TaylorStuart JeromeMay 27, 1961 (1961-05-27)
3434"Hot Wind in a Cold Town"Don WeisStory by : James Lee Barrett
Teleplay by : James Lee Barrett and Dick Berg
June 10, 1961 (1961-06-10)
3535"A Slight Touch of Venom"Earl BellamyStory by : James Gunn
Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis
June 17, 1961 (1961-06-17)
3636"State of Shock"James Wong HoweStory by : William P. Templeton and Finlay McDermid
Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis
June 24, 1961 (1961-06-24)

Season 2 (1961–62)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
371"Portrait of a Man Running"Elliot SilversteinRichard FielderOctober 4, 1961 (1961-10-04)
382"The Button Down Break"Paul StewartStory by : William Shatner
Teleplay by : Lewis Reed
October 11, 1961 (1961-10-11)
393"The Heat of Passion"Ron WinstonStory by : Sonya Roberts & Mann Rubin
Teleplay by : Mann Rubin
October 18, 1961 (1961-10-18)
404"Waiting for Jocko"Don TaylorJuarez RobertsOctober 25, 1961 (1961-10-25)
415"Through a Dark Glass"Robert Ellis MillerRichard DeRoyNovember 1, 1961 (1961-11-01)
426"Juan Moreno's Body"Tom GriesAnthony SpinnerNovember 8, 1961 (1961-11-08)
437"Kill the Sound"James Wong HoweAlfred BrennerNovember 15, 1961 (1961-11-15)
448"The Crimson Pool"Alan Crosland, Jr.Richard DeRoyNovember 22, 1961 (1961-11-22)
459"The Two of Us"Paul StewartLewis ReedNovember 29, 1961 (1961-11-29)
4610"Nice Guys Finish Last"Alan Crosland, Jr.Larry CohenDecember 13, 1961 (1961-12-13)
4711"To the Best of My Recollection"Paul StewartJohn McGreeveyDecember 27, 1961 (1961-12-27)
4812"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Game"Don TaylorStory by : Lewis Reed
Teleplay by : Lewis Reed & Don Taylor
January 3, 1962 (1962-01-03)
4913"The Star System"William GrahamRichard DeRoyJanuary 10, 1962 (1962-01-10)
5014"The Renaissance of Gussie Hill"Ron WinstonStory by : Oliver Gard
Teleplay by : Oliver Gard & Mark Rodgers
January 17, 1962 (1962-01-17)
5115"A Very Rough Sketch"Ron WinstonMann RubinJanuary 24, 1962 (1962-01-24)
5216"The Yacht Club Gang"Alex SingerRobert J. ShawJanuary 31, 1962 (1962-01-31)
5317"Death Beyond Recall"Herman HoffmanMax EhrlichFebruary 7, 1962 (1962-02-07)
5418"The Sound of Nervous Laughter"Paul StewartStory by : Jonathan Latimer
Teleplay by : Jonathan Latimer & Mark Rodgers
February 14, 1962 (1962-02-14)
5519"An Assassin Arrives, Andante"Tom GriesStory by : Anthony Spinner
Teleplay by : Sy Salkowitz
February 21, 1962 (1962-02-21)
5620"Remembrance of Crimes Past"William GrahamRichard DeRoyFebruary 28, 1962 (1962-02-28)
5721"Heart Is a Handout"Tom GriesSy SalkowitzMarch 7, 1962 (1962-03-07)
5822"A Brooding Fixation"Robert Ellis MillerStory by : Oliver Crawford
Teleplay by : Mark Rodgers & Oliver Crawford
March 14, 1962 (1962-03-14)
5923"A Chant of Silence"William GrahamRichard McCrackenMarch 21, 1962 (1962-03-21)
6024"Trial by Midnight"Alex SingerMark RodgersMarch 28, 1962 (1962-03-28)
6125"Ride a Wild Horse"Byron PaulStory by : Harold Jack Bloom
Teleplay by : Harold Jack Bloom & Dick Nelson
April 4, 1962 (1962-04-04)
6226"So Beats My Plastic Heart"Bernard GirardMark RodgersApril 11, 1962 (1962-04-11)
6327"In a Foreign Quarter"Robert Ellis MillerSy SalkowitzApril 18, 1962 (1962-04-18)
6428"Referendum on Murder"Lewis AllenJohn MantleyApril 25, 1962 (1962-04-25)
6529"The Someday Man"Robert Ellis MillerRichard DeRoyMay 2, 1962 (1962-05-02)
6630"Rendezvous in Washington"William GrahamMark RodgersMay 9, 1962 (1962-05-09)
6731"The Bold and the Tough"Don TaylorStory by : Reuben Bercovitch & Dick Nelson
Teleplay by : Dick Nelson
May 16, 1962 (1962-05-16)
6832"Will the Real Killer Please Stand Up?"Ron WinstonMark RodgersMay 23, 1962 (1962-05-23)
6933"Down the Gardenia Path"Ralph SenenskyRobert J. ShawJune 6, 1962 (1962-06-06)
7034"Side by Side"Robert Ellis MillerRichard FielderJune 20, 1962 (1962-06-20)

Broadcast

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CBS aired the series on Saturday in the 8:30-9:30 PM time slot from its début on September 17, 1960, until June 24, 1961. The series finished at #21 among all series.[6] It was then reprogrammed[2] to Wednesday in the same time slot from October 4, 1961, to June 20, 1962, where it fell in the ratings opposite The Perry Como Show on NBC.[7] CBS replaced it with The Beverly Hillbillies.

The series was also seen in Canada from 1961 on CTV during that network's initial season.[8]

By 1963, it was re-run in syndication.[3]

Home media

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Timeless Media Group has released two "Best of..." collections on DVD in Region 1. Checkmate: The Best of Season 1[9] was released on October 30, 2009, and Checkmate: The Best of Season 2 was released on March 25, 2008.[10] Timeless Media Group released Checkmate: The Complete Series on 14 DVDs on June 22, 2010 (Region 1).[11][4][5]

Response

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The series was a critical favorite.[citation needed] In 1961, John J. Lloyd won the show's sole Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction and Scenic Design.[12] The icon for this series is swirling liquid shapes at the opening and closing of each episode with theme music by John Williams.

Comics

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In 1962, Gold Key Comics published a two-issue comic book run based on the series.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Murray, Noel (28 April 2011). "Checkmate, "The Paper Killer"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b Television-Digest-1961-Q2 (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. p. 31. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec). Washington D.C.: Television Digest, Inc. 1963. p. 72. Retrieved 7 December 2022. archive.org
  4. ^ a b "Checkmate: The Complete Series (DVD)". Amazon.com. Shout! Factory. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Checkmate: The Complete Series - DVD". Shout! Factory. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  6. ^ "1960-1961". TV Ratings. ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  7. ^ "1961-1962". TV Ratings. ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  8. ^ Braithwaite, Dennis (2 October 1961). "Filmed Accolades Put Private TV Network on the Air". The Globe and Mail. p. 4.
  9. ^ "Best of CHECKMATE". Timelessvideo.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  10. ^ "Best of CHECKMATE Season Two". Timelessvideo.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  11. ^ "CHECKMATE: The Complete Series". Timelessvideo.com. 2010-06-22. Archived from the original on 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  12. ^ "Checkmate". Awards & Nominations: Outstanding Achievement In Art Direction And Scenic Design - 1961. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
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