British star Roger Moore (ex-Ivanhoe) landed his first American-produced series (Screen Gems, which co-produced Ivanhoe, had contracted with a British producer), paired with Jeff York and Dorothy Provine. What you'll see is a side of Moore we wouldn't see much of in his later series or movies. You'll see what I mean near the end of the show.
Some of the plots seemed to have been lifted from another WB series, Maverick, which Moore would move to after The Alaskans was cancelled, coupled with James Garner's departure from Maverick. Maybe that lack of originality was what cost Alaskans a 2nd season. Dorothy Provine would move on to The Roaring 20's.
Right now, let's scope out the episode, "Big Deal", with guest stars John Dehner and Jesse White.
Edit, 6/28/21: Had to change the video. Here's a sampler clip from the same episode:
Did you see Moore with the guitar? That in itself is a rare treat! Mack David & Jerry Livingston's theme, though, was one of their cheesiest.
Rating: B.
History Time!:
ReplyDeleteIn 1959, ABC was campaigning to get Hollywood studios to make film series for them; the network still owned the Paramount Theatre chain (recently divested from the film company) and Leonard Goldenson, the big boss of the movie houses, struck sweetheart deals with Warner Bros. and Walt Disney for series product (among many others, but those are other stories).
Warners never threw anything away; Jack Warner gave the TV operation to his son-in-law, William T. Orr, who in his turn mobilized every soundstage and backlot to churn out Westerns (Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, Maverick, et al.), detective shows (77 Sunset Strip and its sibling shows), and anything else the crew could think of - like The Alaskans, in sort of a tribute to our new 49th State.
Anything that Warners had ever filmed was up for adaptation/remaking/plaigiarism/whatever; Warner writers were famed for being able to turn Westerns into private eye shows ... and back again, on demand - and they did just that, for years.
The Alaskans was a "bubble" show that year (most ABC series were, anyway), and Roger Moore hated it - and so one day he went to Jack Warner's office to complain.
Moore marched right up to J.L.'s big desk, where he was deep into a phone gab with Somebody Big.
While cooling his heels, Moore stared at a huge map of the world behind Warner's desk - noting that his native England was colored a pale shade of pink.
Finally, the phone call ended, and Jack L. Warner turned to Roger Moore:
J.L.: "So what do you want?"
Moore: "Mr. Warner, I don't like your series.
I don't like your studio.
I don't like your son-in-law.
AND I DON'T LIKE YOUR BLOODY MAP!"
Roger Moore left Jack Warner's office, expecting to be fired.
Instead, he was assigned to Maverick.
(J.L. liked it when the hired hands stood up to him.)
Warners used archived Western footage during the 1st season open of F-Troop. That I knew. I think they did the same thing with old movie footage for part of the intro to the Roaring 20's.
ReplyDeleteWilliam T. Orr was no longer an executive producer at WB after the 1965-6 season. For example, Hy Averback replaced him in that role on F-Troop. Maybe he left the family?
History Time - Part II:
ReplyDeleteIn the '64-'65 season, Warner TV and Bill Orr had three primetime series - Hank, Mister Roberts, and F Troop.
At season's end, F Troop was the only survivor; Bill Orr left Warners to go Independent, while Hy Averback, who was the showrunner anyway, added 'Executive' to his title.
The above executive suite-quake was a major factor in F Troop's abbreviated run, but that's another story ...
Part II and a half:
Wm T. Orr's marriage to Jack Warner's daughter broke up - but that happened five years later, so that's another story ...
By the way:
Warner Bros. was selling its old movies to TV syndication during this whole period.
Anybody who didn't spot the stock footage (not to mention the recycled scripts) in the TV shows - frankly , they weren't even trying ...
But the thing was, everybody did notice - it was one of the big inside jokes of Hollywood TV for years.
Orr went independent, eh? So why haven't I heard of anything he did beyond 1966?
ReplyDeleteI'll be looking for some Mister Roberts to put up here, if any clips are available. I recall seeing the movie it was based on with my dad back in the day. As for Hank, well.....!