O'HARA
(CBS)
-------------
1951 & 1956
By: Stewart Wright
Initial Compilation: 02/14/2003
Copyright 2003 by Stewart Wright
Audition Show: 1
First Show: 05/20/1956
Last Show: 10/29/1956
Number of Shows: 12
Length: 25 and 30 minutes
AUDITION SHOW:
The audition show for O'HARA was unusual in that it was recorded
nearly FIVE YEARS before the series aired on CBS.
SERIES DESCRIPTION:
O'HARA was a crime drama series that had two short, separate runs
during 1956. The main character was Bob O'Hara, a foreign
correspondent, who was based in Hong Kong.
While the O'Hara character was ostensibly a reporter, he usually
became involved in investigating and solving some crime. O'Hara
was essentially a detective in reporter's clothing.
The O'Hara character also functioned as the narrator.
During the late Spring - early Summer run, Jack Moyles starred as
O'Hara. In the early Fall run, Stacy Harris played O'Hara.
Standard Openings:
Both runs used a song called "Hong Kong Blues" as their theme
song.
Each of two runs of the series had somewhat different openings.
Here are sample openings:
>From the MOYLES run:
O'HARA: "From O'Hara - Hong Kong to Interconpress,
San Francisco. Check Southeast Asia files
for quote Mister Marco unquote and advise.
If I'm right you'll have two thousand words
for tomorrow's front page. If I'm wrong
you're going to need a new boy in Hong Kong.
Signed - - O'Hara.
MUSIC: HONG KONG BLUES MAIN TITLE
ANNCR: "O'Hara, starring Jack Moyles, a new series
of adventure, action and danger in the life
of a free lance foreign correspondent.
MUSIC: GONG HITS and FADES
ANNCR: Tonight, O'Hara cables his first story from
Hong Kong.
>From the HARRIS run:
BIZ: O'HARA WHISTLING HONG KONG BLUES
SOUND: INSERT PAPER INTO TYPEWRITER. SLIDE CARRIAGE
TO STARTING POSITION. BEGIN TYPING.
O'HARA: O'Hara. . . Hong Kong. . . October 1st. Here
is the story of a beautiful girl who got into
trouble just waiting for a friend.
MUSIC: HONG KONG BLUES IN AND TO B.G.
ANNCR: "O'Hara! Transcribed reports, from one of
America's noted foreign correspondents. . .
whose syndicated columns appear in newspapers
throughout the world.
MUSIC: GONG AND UNDERSCORE TO B.G.
SPONSORSHIP:
Sustained
CAST AND CREW:
CAST:
Jack Moyles as Bob O'Hara (audition and episodes 001-007)
Stacy Harris as Bob O'Hara (episodes 008-012)
Byron Kane as Commissioner Phelps (audition and episodes 001-007)
Ben Wright as Ah Chang (episodes 001-007)
GUEST CAST:
Tony Barrett, Richard Beals, Herb Butterfield, Lillian Buyeff,
John Dehner, Don Diamond, John Dodsworth, Fritz Feld, Virginia
Gregg, Betty Harford, Lou Krugman, Jack Kruschen, Peg La Centra,
Raymond Lawrence, Charlie Lung, Shep Menken, Ralph Moody, Ellen
Morgan, Jeanette Nolan, Peter Rankin, Alan Reed, Tracey Roberts,
Eric Snowden, Larry Thor, Lurene Tuttle, Peggy Webber, Miriam
Wolfe, and Ben Wright.
CREW:
PRODUCERS:
Tommy Tomlinson and Sterling Tracy (Audition)
William N. Robson (Episodes 001 - 007)
Antony Ellis (Episodes 008 - 012)
DIRECTORS:
Tommy Tomlinson and Sterling Tracy (Audition)
William N. Robson (Episodes 001 - 007)
Antony Ellis (Episodes 008 - 012)
WRITERS:
Gilbert Thomas (Audition)
Les Crutchfield (Episode 001)
Irene Winston (Episode 002)
William N. Robson (Episodes 003, 005, 007)
Tony Barrett (Episodes 004 and 006)
Antony Ellis (Episodes 008 and 010)
Charles B. Smith (Episodes 009, 011, and 012)
MUSIC:
Jerry Goldsmith (Episodes 001 - 003)
Jerry Goldsmith & Don Ray (Episodes 004)
Don Ray (Episodes 005 - 008)
Amerigo Marino (Episodes 009)
Carl Fortina (Episodes 010 - 012)
ANNOUNCERS:
Art Gilmore (Audition)
Hugh Douglas (Episodes 001 - 007)
George Walsh (Episodes 008 - 010)
Gil Warren (Episode 011)
Dan Cubberly (Episode 012)
SOUND EFFECTS:
Bill James and Vic Livoti (Episode 001)
Gus Bayz and Vic Livoti (Episodes 002 - 003)
Gus Bayz and Bill James (Episodes 004 - 007)
Tom Hanley and Ray Kemper (Episodes 008 & 012)
Tom Hanley and Bill James (Episodes 009 - 010)
Gus Bayz and Bill James (Episodes 011 - 003)
LOG:
The log is divided into sections with the day and time of
broadcast listed at the beginning of each section.
All airing dates, times, and titles, except for the Audition
Show, are from the series scripts. Episode Numbers (EP) are
based on the chronological order of episode airing.
All times are for the Eastern Zone.
AUDITION SHOW
Date Title
1951 The Judas Face
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUNDAY 6:05 - 6:30 PM
Date EP Title
05/20/1956 001 Visa Vice Versa
05/27/1956 002 The Woman Who Had Everything
06/03/1956 003 Celestial Celestine
06/10/1956 004 The Legend
06/17/1956 005 Godfathers' Day In Old Hong Kong
06/24/1956 006 The Set-Up
07/01/1956 007 The Purloined Mig
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MONDAY 8:30 - 9:00 PM
Date EP Title
10/01/1956 008 The Girl Who Waited
10/08/1956 009 The Story of Sister Mary
10/15/1956 010 Mother's Little Darling
10/22/1956 011 Red October
10/29/1956 012 The Lost Boy
INFORMATION SOURCES:
O'HARA Scripts and other documents pertaining to the series.
KNX Collection
American Radio Archives
Grant R. Brimhall Library
Thousand Oaks, CA
http://www.tol.lib.ca.us
New York Times 1956 Radio listings.
Please send error corrections or additional
information to:
Stewart Wright
stewwright@att.net
(used with permission)