The D.A.'s Man

The D.A.'s Man
GenreCrime Drama
Based on"The D.A.'s Man", by James D. Horan and Harold R. Danforth
Starring
Theme music composerFrank Comstock
ComposerFrank Comstock
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producerJack Webb
ProducerFrank La Tourette
CinematographyEdward Colman
Running time30 minutes
Production companyMark VII Limited
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseJanuary 3 (1959-01-03) –
August 29, 1959 (1959-08-29)

The D.A.'s Man is an American television crime drama, produced by Jack Webb, that aired on NBC from January 3, 1959, to August 29, 1959.[1]

Premise

The central character, who went by the single name Shannon, was a private detective who worked for the Manhattan district attorney.[2] Topics that Shannon investigated included hijacking rings, narcotics, prostitution, and other illegal activities that provided money to the underworld.[3] His investigations led him to use "a variety of guises to ferret out criminals".[4]

Shannon was not allowed to carry a gun or identification of any kind, and police were not aware of his position.[5]

Cast

Episode list

Nº Title Air date
1"Sammy's Friend[5]"January 3, 1959 (1959-01-03)
2"Guns for Hire"January 10, 1959 (1959-01-10)
3"Inside Track"January 17, 1959 (1959-01-17)
4"The Unlucky Dutchman"January 24, 1959 (1959-01-24)
5"The Mob Versus O'Hara"January 31, 1959 (1959-01-31)
6"The Pushers"February 7, 1959 (1959-02-07)
7"Iron Mike Benedict"February 16, 1959 (1959-02-16)
8"Find Ezra Kane"February 21, 1959 (1959-02-21)
9"A Girl's Best Friend"March 7, 1959 (1959-03-07)
10"The Witness"March 14, 1959 (1959-03-14)
11"Two for Shakespeare"March 21, 1959 (1959-03-21)
12"Moonshine in Manhattan"March 28, 1959 (1959-03-28)
13"Iron Star"April 4, 1959 (1959-04-04)
14"Jail Watch"April 11, 1959 (1959-04-11)
15"Shakedown"April 18, 1959 (1959-04-18)
16"Corky"April 25, 1959 (1959-04-25)
17"The Club Fighter"May 2, 1959 (1959-05-02)
18"The Triangle"May 9, 1959 (1959-05-09)
19"Mr. Respectable"May 16, 1959 (1959-05-16)
20"Bajour"May 23, 1959 (1959-05-23)
21"Mr. Santa Claus"May 30, 1959 (1959-05-30)
22"The Actress"June 6, 1959 (1959-06-06)
23"Manhattan Gigolo"June 13, 1959 (1959-06-13)
24"Out of Town"June 20, 1959 (1959-06-20)
25"The Duke"June 27, 1959 (1959-06-27)
26"Flight 729"July 4, 1959 (1959-07-04)

Production

The program was based on the book The D.A.'s Man by Harold Danforth and James B. Horan,[6] which was "a nonfiction novel based on Danforth's real-life experiences as a special investigator for the NYC Special Rackets Prosecutor and the Manhattan DA's office."[5] It was produced by Mark VII Limited.[7] It replaced The Ed Wynn Show[8] at 10:30 to 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturdays.[3]

Webb was the executive producer, and Frank LaTourette was the producer.[5] Danforth was the technical advisor.[5] Webb and Ben Alexander were among the directors. Writers included Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson.[5]

Liggett & Myers, for Chesterfield King and L&M cigarettes, sponsored the program. George Stevens Jr. and Webb were among the directors.[6]

References

  1. ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 203. p. 267. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
  2. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  3. ^ a b c d Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 311. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Thomas, Bob (January 17, 1959). "'D. A.'s Man' Talks Like TV Western Star". The Evening Sun. Pennsylvania, Hanover. p. 12. Retrieved May 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Erickson, Hal (September 29, 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About Judges, Lawyers and the Courtroom, 1948-2008. McFarland. pp. 76–77. ISBN 978-0-7864-3828-0. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Hayde, Michael J. (2001). My Name's Friday: The Unauthorized But True Story of Dragnet and the Films of Jack Webb. Cumberland House Publishing. ISBN 9781581821901. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  7. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 191. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  8. ^ Adams, Val (November 27, 1958). "N. B. C. Will Drop 2 TV Shows Soon: 'Ed Wynn Show' and 'Brains and Brawn' to Be Canceled -- Union Talk Held". The New York Times. p. 71. Retrieved May 29, 2023.


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