Biff Baker, U.S.A.
Biff Baker, U.S.A. | |
---|---|
Alan Hale, Jr. and Randy Stuart in 1952. | |
Genre | Crime drama |
Written by |
Fenton Earnshaw Lawrence Kimble Howard J. Green Jerome Gary Barry Shipman |
Directed by |
Richard Irving Herschel Daugherty John English |
Starring |
Alan Hale, Jr. Randy Stuart |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 26 (5 syndicated) |
Production | |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 25 minutes |
Production company(s) | Revue Productions |
Distributor | NBCUniversal Television Distribution |
Release | |
Original network | CBS |
Picture format | Black-and-white |
Audio format | Monaural |
Original release | November 6, 1952 – March 26, 1953 |
Biff Baker, U.S.A. is an American crime drama television series that aired on CBS from November 6, 1952, to March 26, 1953[1] starring Alan Hale, Jr. as Cold War spy Biff Baker.
Synopsis
Set in the early years of the Cold War, the series stars Alan Hale, Jr. in the title role as an espionage agent posing as an import-export dealer. Randy Stuart plays his wife, Louise, his partner in spying, usually behind the Iron Curtain.
Hale was cast as Biff Baker twelve years before he began playing the role of "the Skipper" opposite Bob Denver in CBS's fantasy situation comedy, Gilligan's Island, and five years before he portrayed railroad engineer Casey Jones in the syndicated adventure series, Casey Jones.[1] Hale's lookalike father Alan Hale, Sr. had enjoyed a major career as a Warner Bros. supporting actor in major vehicles such as It Happened One Night and The Adventures of Robin Hood.
Scheduling
The first twenty-one episodes of Biff Baker, U.S.A. aired on CBS, with the final five segments airing in syndication. The series aired on CBS at 9 p.m. Eastern on Thursdays, opposite Jack Webb's Dragnet crime drama on NBC. Biff Baker followed on CBS the alternation of the sitcom Amos 'n' Andy and the anthology series, Four Star Playhouse. Biff Baker was filmed by Revue Productions, which has since become Universal Television.[1]
Notable guest stars
(In alphabetical order)
- Charles Bronson
- Lawrence Dobkin
- Carl Esmond
- Lee Marvin
- Mort Mills
- Jay Novello
- Ann Robinson
- Victor Sen Yung
DVD release
Alpha Video released two volumes featuring select episodes of the series on Region 1 DVD in the United States.
References
- 1 2 3 "Biff Baker, U.S.A.". Classic TV Archives. Retrieved August 6, 2011.