T H E N I G H T W A T C H ----- ------------------- 1954 - 1955 First Show: Apr 02, 1954 Last Show: Apr 21, 1955 Number Shows: 52 Audition Show: Jan 07, 1954 Series Description: CBS brought THE NIGHTWATCH to the air for its short run on April 2, 1954. NIGHTWATCH was the first show to bring live police drama to the air. Police Reporter Don Reed accompanied Officer Ron Perkins, bringing with him a tape recorder to capture the action. Don Reed actually carried a dry-cell powered reel to reel tape machine on his back and had a concealed microphone inside a flashlight casing. Reed went on to be one of the first traffic helicopter reporters, and Perkins eventually was elected Mayor of Culver City. Log Comments: Titles describe the cases covered by the episode. Not all catalogs showed full titles, opting for one case. Some catalogs included show descriptions. These are below the title, indented. There was a note in the McCoy catalog that his dates ARE correct; the broad- casts were erratic. A five minute "uncensored" exerpt from rehersal of show 49 was listed in a number of catalogs. Jerry Hanediges listing included a 2 hour 1980 interview. Chronological Log: Date Day Num Title Avail ------------ --- --- ------------------------------------ ----- Jan 07, 1954 Thu AUD Police Recorder (Audition) yes Apr 02, 1954 Fri 1 Nude Prowler yes Suspect is caught completely nude Apr 12, 1954 Mon 2 311 Southgate yes A man is suspected of "flashing" May 03, 1954 Mon 3 Glass Breaker yes Break-in at service station May 10, 1954 Mon 4 Peanut Butter, part 1 yes First call is traffic accident May 17, 1954 Mon 5 Shoplifter, Sidewinder, Peanut yes Butter, part 2 May 24, 1954 Mon 6 Santa Baby, Lover yes First call is an abandoned child Jun 04, 1954 Fri 7 Kid Explosives yes Teenagers involved in robbery of movie studios. Jun 11, 1954 Fri 8 Paper Hanger yes Man passes a bad check, next a suicide attempt. Jun 18, 1954 Fri 9 Kenny Narco & Headplate yes Narcotics investigation Jun 25, 1954 Fri 10 Big Search, Musical Psycho yes 8 year old boy is missing Jul 02, 1954 Fri 11 Slugger, Baby 211 yes A woman is beating her husband's brains out. Jul 10, 1954 Sat 12 Hammer 211, Junk Tree yes Hold-up by a man with a hammer Jul 17, 1954 Sat 13 Car Winos & Floor Sleepers yes Jul 24, 1954 Sat 14 Old Bat & Crowbar yes Jul 31, 1954 Sat 15 Boy Go Home, Flower Pot & Glow Worm yes Aug 07, 1954 Sat 16 Three Time Loser & Shotgun Boy yes Aug 14, 1954 Sat 17 Old Fashioned Suicide, Talk Jack & yes Santa Baby (repeat) Aug 21, 1954 Sat 18 Shock yes Aug 28, 1954 Sat 19 Weeper, Silly Sal & Hot Pants yes Sep 04, 1954 Sat 20 Fence 447 & Western Union Raid yes Sep 11, 1954 Sat 21 Inhalator & Jawbreaker yes Sep 18, 1954 Sat 22 Strippers & Pix Stash yes Sep 25, 1954 Sat 23 Motel sheets & Lock-Out yes Oct 07, 1954 Thu 24 Pick-Up and "Who's Crazy?" yes Oct 14, 1954 Thu 25 Triangle & Peacemaker yes Starts with A.P.B., blonde male, possible gun involved. Oct 21, 1954 Thu 26 Orange Balls & Bridge Jumper yes An alcoholic is questioned Oct 28, 1954 Thu 27 Mississippi, Psycho 288 & Kingston yes Drunk tries to turn in a drug dealer Nov 04, 1954 Thu 28 Grandma, Shoe Shine & Wife Beater yes Elderly woman thinks her family wants to kill her. Nov 11, 1954 Thu 29 Kidnap yes Woman claims someone has stolen her child. Nov 18, 1954 Thu 30 Child Desertion, Cabby & Kicker yes Woman menacing people on street with a knife. Nov 25, 1954 Thu 31 Bleeder Safe yes A drunken hemophiliac. Dec 02, 1954 Thu 32 Rolling Pin & Lugar yes A woman has beat up her boyfriend Dec 09, 1954 Thu 33 ... title not known ... Dec 16, 1954 Thu 34 Scum, Breastwork & Phone Burglar yes A drunken brawl involves two neighbors. Dec 23, 1954 Thu 35 Goldie 211 yes Robbery in progress at liquor store. Dec 30, 1954 Thu 36 Beer Can yes Jan 06, 1955 Thu 37 ... title not known ... Jan 13, 1955 Thu 38 Aunt Suicide yes A family dispute Jan 20, 1955 Thu 39 Smash, Turkey & Larry yes Unit 56 responds to a hit & run Jan 27, 1955 Thu 40 Polio & Fog yes Young girl with polio is in urgent need of oxygen. Feb 03, 1955 Thu 41 CARE & Jug yes Perkins & Reed bust a robbery suspect. Feb 10, 1955 Thu 42 Ma & Pa Heinz & Chase yes 80 yr. old couple are having a lover's quarrel. Feb 17, 1955 Thu 43 Bra yes Perkins & Reed on narcotics stake-out. Feb 24, 1955 Thu 44 Knife, Dead boy & Get-away yes A woman has stabbed her husband. Mar 03, 1955 Thu 45 ... title not known ... Mar 10, 1955 Thu 46 Bubble Gum & Baby yes Be on the look-out for man with explosives. Mar 17, 1955 Thu 47 Crazy & Buy yes Woman thinks her husband is crazy. Mar 24, 1955 Thu 48 Whiskers & Black Eye yes A cat is caught in a washing machine. Mar 31, 1955 Thu 49 Goddamn Lady & Mr. Peepers yes Man & woman involved in brawl on the street. Apr 07, 1955 Thu 50 ... title not known ... Apr 14, 1955 Thu 51 ... title not known ... Apr 21, 1955 Thu 52 ... title not known ... .......... related shows ........... Bike Swipe yes Recorded but never broadcast Uncensored excerpts from show of yes 03-31-55, #49 ??? ??, 1980 A Look Back: a 2 hour Interview yes about the series. References: * "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514 * OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites: * McCoy's Recordings, PO Box 1069, Richland, Wash. 99352 * Vintage Broadcasts, Andy Blatt, PO Box 50065, Staten Island, NY 10305 * Great American Radio, Gary Kramer, PO Box 504, Genesee, MI 48437 * AVPRO, Don Aston, PO Box 1392, Lake Elsinore, CA 92531-1392 * Jerry Haendiges Productions, Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 Reader Feedback: * Max Schmid supplied some background information for the Description section. Other Logs or Books: * THE NIGHTWATCH log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com) Last Update: May 20, 2004 This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows may still be protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from authorized dealers. The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis. Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M. Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).