October 5 (1961-10-05) – December 28, 1961 (1961-12-28)
The Investigators is an American drama television series starring James Franciscus and James Philbrook about a team of insurance investigators in New York City. Original episodes aired from October 5 to December 28, 1961,[1][2] on CBS.[3]
Synopsis
Investigators Inc. is a very successful private investigation firm with offices on Manhattan′s stylish Upper East Side in New York City.[2] The firm specializes in investigating very large insurance claims to root out cases of insurance fraud.[1][2] Russ Andrews and Steve Banks run the firm, Bill Davis and Danny Clayton are among the firm's investigators, and Maggie Peters serves not only as their girl Friday, but also as an investigator in her own right who sometimes goes undercover during an investigation.[2] Polly Walters is the secretary at the office.[2] As the team investigates the legitimacy of insurance claims, they become involved with criminals, the police, and others.[2]
The Investigators premiered on CBS on October 5, 1961, airing on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. throughout its 13-episode run.[1][2] CBS cancelled it after only half a season, and its last original episode aired on December 28, 1961.[citation needed]
A series of supposed accidental death cases leads to the glamorous Madame Lucia Vaillancour, the owner of a swank dance studio — and she does not suspect that her latest student is insurance investigator Russ Andrews. Rhonda Fleming, Brad Dexter, and June Dayton guest-star.
2
"The Oracle"
Unknown
Unknown
October 12, 1961 (1961-10-12)
An insurance company hires Investigators Inc. to investigate a leader who calls himself "Nostradamus" and convinces the rich women who are his followers to cash in their insurance policies and give him the money. The company wishes to stop its client, Constance Moreno, from making the same mistake and giving him $250,000. Russ, Maggie, and Danny travel to Los Angeles to protect Constance from fraud and investigate the cult. "Nostradamus," it turns out, is a drifter and con man named Walter Mimms who has a talent for getting the women he meets to fall in love with them, but also has a weakness — he tends to fall in love with them as well. Walter himself is being manipulated by an older con man, Joseph Lombard, who is using Walter as a front for his own, bigger fraudulent schemes. Constance has fallen in love with Walter, but Russ and Maggie visit her and convince her to test Walter′s love before giving him her $250,000 check. At Lombard's orders, Walter fails Constance′s test and she keeps her check. Soon Lombard′s men visit her to get the check and murder her to prevent her from causing any more problems. They throw her from her apartment′s window, and Lombard tells Walter she jumped from the window to commit suicide because of his rejection of her. After Constance′s death, Walter becomes less and less stable, and Maggie goes undercover to impersonate Walter′s next mark, discovering that Walter uses a phony séance to trick his victims. Lee Marvin, Audrey Dalton, and John Williams guest-star.
3
"New Sound for the Blues"
Unknown
Unknown
October 19, 1961 (1961-10-19)
A young athlete dies in the lobby of the insurance firm's office building. Claire Trevor and Bill Williams guest-star.
A former silent film star hires Investigators Inc. to settle a claim for the theft of her valuable art collection. Soon after taking the case, however, Andrews begins to wonder if the paintings were really stolen. Miriam Hopkins, Otto Kruger, Abraham Sofaer, and Alan Mowbray guest-star.
6
"Style of Living"
Unknown
Unknown
November 9, 1961 (1961-11-09)
A wealthy woman, Valerie Corbin, is concerned about her husband's safety. He is a heavy gambler, and his life could be in danger. Bethel Leslie, Dina Merrill, Gavin MacLeod, and Ed Binns guest-star.
7
"In a Mirror, Darkly"
Unknown
Unknown
November 16, 1961 (1961-11-16)
When a female fashion designer reports the loss of her exclusive fall line in a fire, the investigators get an anonymous tip which touches off an inquiry into her activities. Miriam Hopkins, Joanna Barnes, Diana Lynn, and Harry Townes guest-star.
A serial killer is murdering people in New York City, and almost all the victims are waitresses. The investigators decide that a shy waitress named Marla Jensen would be the perfect bait to lure the killer into a trap. Jane Wyman, Peter Leeds, Nancy Rennick, John Lasell, and Bill Zuckert guest-star.
Russ Andrews and Steve Banks persuade a down-on-her-luck woman to arrange a staged marriage with Banks in an effort to trap a large-scale, murder-for-insurance ring. Ida Lupino, Val Avery, and Linda Watkins guest-star.
^ abcMcNeil, Alex, Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming From 1948 to the Present, Fourth Edition, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, ISBN0 14 02 4916 8, p. 412.
^ abcdefgBrooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (Sixth Edition), New York: Ballantine Books, 1995, ISBN0-345-39736-3, p. 505.
^Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 509. ISBN978-0-7864-6477-7.
