Inspired by the success of
77 Sunset Strip, Warner Bros. launched three other TV detective series over the next two years. They all featured the same formula: attractive performers, exotic locales, straightforward mysteries, and a healthy dose of humor. Characters often crossed over from one series to another, a nifty way to promote the less successful shows on the more popular ones.
The biggest hit of the new series was
Hawaiian Eye (1959-63), which starred Anthony Eisely and Robert Conrad (whose character was supposed to be half-Hawaiian) as private investigators in Honolulu. They worked out of the posh Hawaiian Village Hotel. They were often aided--even when they didn't want it--by Cricket (Connie Stevens), a nightclub singer/photographer, and ukulele-playing cabbie Kim (Poncie Ponce). One of the running gags of the show was that Kim had relatives all over the island. That often proved handy when looking for a missing person or gathering evidence to solve a murder.
Later in the first season, the agency hired another investgator played by Grant Williams (
The Incredible Shrinking Man). When Eiseley left after three years, Troy Donahue joined the cast as the social director of the hotel for the fourth and final season.
Although it never captured the public fancy to the extent of
77 Sunset Strip,
Hawaiian Eye was a solid hit and laid the groundwork for future private eye shows set in the islands (e.g.,
Hawaii Five-O, Magnum, P.I.).
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| Duggan, Howell, Williams, and Long. |
Bourbon Street Beat (1959-60) starred Andrew Duggan and Richard Long as private detectives in New Orleans. They operated the agency Randolph and Calhoun Special Services on the second floor of The Old Absinthe House restaurant in the French Quarter. Kenny Madison (Van Williams), a young law student, assisted them on some cases and Melody Lee Mercer (Arlene Howell) keep the office running. When the series was cancelled after one season, Richard Long's character, Rex Randolph, joined
77 Sunset Strip. Van Williams returned as Kenny Madison the following year in a new series called
Surfside 6. Ironically, his new show even stayed in the same slot of Monday, 0830-9:30.
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Sierra, Donahue, Patterson, McBain,
and Williams. |
Set in Miami
, Surfside 6 (the title is a telephone exchange) cast Van Williams with Lee Patterson and Troy Donahue as a trio of young private detectives who worked out of a houseboat that doubled as their digs. They also received their share of unwanted help from ditzy socialite Daphne Dutton (Diane McBain), whose yacht was anchored next door, and Cha Cha O'Brien (Margarite Sierra), who sang in the Boom Boom Room in the ritzy Fountainebleau Hotel.
Surfside 6 lasted for two seasons.
While these TV series were still on the air, Warner Bros. capitalized on the popularity of its young stable of stars by casting them in theatrical films--even at the risk of overexpose. Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, and Diane McBain all appeared in
Parrish (1961). Stevens and Donahue paired up again for
Susan Slade (1961), with Grant Williams making a brief appearance as well. Donahue and Conrad played adversaries in
Palm Springs Weekend. And Diane McBaine got a starring role (and was very good) as
Claudelle Inglish (1961), an Erskine Caldwell Southern tale about a girl with a bad reputation.
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| Diane McBain. |
While none of the Warner Bros. detective series could be described as great television, they were all diverting and provided great experience for a number of likable young actors who continued to appear on the big screen and small screen. Richard Long surfaced opposite Barbara Stanwyck in the TV series
The Big Valley. Robert Conrad landed his most famous role in
Wild, Wild West. Connie Stevens had a #3 hit song with "Sixteen Reasons" and parlayed that into a long-lasting career as an entertainer. Troy Donahue's film career gradually declined, though he later appeared in a supporting role in
The Godfather Part II. Finally, Van Williams starred in
The Green Hornet TV with Bruce Lee. The show only lasted a season and Williams retired from acting shortly afterwards. However, he used his business savvy to amass a tidy fortune.
