CAR 54 REPLICA - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

CAR54LIVES · 01-20-2013, 09:14 AM

I am a big fan of the show, enough so that I built a replica of the Car from the show

could not post any photos yet I guess?

I am selling the car now and would love it go to a fan of the show somewhere!

ajgenard · 01-22-2013, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAR54LIVES

I am a big fan of the show, enough so that I built a replica of the Car from the show

could not post any photos yet I guess?

I am selling the car now and would love it go to a fan of the show somewhere!

Wow that's pretty cool. Glad to see this hidden gem of a show has at least a few dedicated followers. I believe you must have 5 posts before you can post pictures or links as some kind of preventative measure against spammers.

CAR54LIVES · 01-22-2013, 06:52 AM

Just realized, so 5,4............!

CAR54LIVES · 01-22-2013, 06:53 AM

3

CAR54LIVES · 01-26-2013, 10:31 PM

Owning the car I actually became friendly with actor Hank Garrett who played officer Ed Nicholson in the original show. I had picked him up in the car and drove him to a car show I ran to sign autographs. We spent some time with him talking about the show!

CAR54LIVES · 02-16-2013, 07:49 PM

GEDC0702.JPG (600×338)[/IMG]

CAR54LIVES · 02-16-2013, 07:56 PM

I was unable to post photos here, but put 2 in the Car 54 photos section.

ajgenard · 02-17-2013, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAR54LIVES

Owning the car I actually became friendly with actor Hank Garrett who played officer Ed Nicholson in the original show. I had picked him up in the car and drove him to a car show I ran to sign autographs. We spent some time with him talking about the show!

That's pretty impressive. From the photos it looks even better than I imagined. What was used for reference? I've never seen any color photos of the car but I'm aware it was red to show up properly on B&W film. Also read they had it red & white to avoid alarming the public.

Mr. Television · 02-17-2013, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAR54LIVES

I was unable to post photos here, but put 2 in the Car 54 photos section.

I saw them over there. That's a pretty nice car. Welcome to Sitcoms Online BTW.

CAR54LIVES · 02-17-2013, 09:19 AM

Even pre-internet it was a rather simple to research as the show was well promoted and marketed. A series of car 54 comic books had a color photo of the car on the cover showing the car was red. Many publicity shots were distributed and some actually in color. Several articles explained the car was filmed in the streets of the Bronx and Biograph studios was made to look like the precinct that you would see in the show as they pulled up. The police commissioner at the time thought it made police officers look bad so to avoid any confusion the cars were red and white. Same issue on The Naked City the cars were also not green, in The Naked City the police cars were red and yellow to avoid mix ups. Today because its not like black and white where you can't tell the difference on screen the officers and cars are usually assigned to fictional precincts- the 27 is most used, there is no 27 today. Movie/Tv productions get car number assignments outside of the actual car numbering system so if a complaint is made they know its a movie car. Yes I have had my other cars in movies and Tv, having owned several old NYPD cars from the 50's, 60's and 70's. In the episode "Paint Job" a big error occurred, the thieves pull up in the police car and the guy says, "but we wanted green, we like green!" OOPS!! As we all know the car was supposed to be green, but the writers were so used to it being red they slipped!! When the DVD set was announced I contacted the folks at Shanachie and presented the idea of doing a promotional or extra segment using my car and driving around some of the locations, sort of recreating scenes from the show in the Bronx because I live nearby in Brooklyn. I even told them I knew Hank Garrett and maybe we can drive him around in the car as they interviewed him and offered my part at no expected compensation and they just ignored the offer. When I got the DVD it was great to have the show, but mixing the order up and the poorly done interviews were a big disappointment. I think it may have been discussed that the 1st released episodes were aired out of order as they were actually filmed! From memory I think the 3rd episode aired was the actual pilot. Hank Garrett did not join the cast until the 3rd show, but is in the 1st episode aired. Here is an interesting fact Hank Garrett who played officer Nicholson actually became a NYC Police officer just as he signed on the show, but in 1961 an officer could not moonlight so he resigned from NYPD! Another great fact, Hank Garrett to this day never had a drivers license and could not drive, but in Who's for Swordfish rolls up in the car and he had no answer for me on that, I am guessing they just said hit the brake and push that button (push button transmission! ) it only rolled into frame.

01-20-2013, 09:14 AM	#1
CAR54LIVES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2013 Location: BROOKLYN NY Posts: 10	CAR 54 REPLICA I am a big fan of the show, enough so that I built a replica of the Car from the show could not post any photos yet I guess? I am selling the car now and would love it go to a fan of the show somewhere!

01-22-2013, 06:52 AM	#3
CAR54LIVES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2013 Location: BROOKLYN NY Posts: 10	Just realized, so 5,4............!

01-22-2013, 06:53 AM	#4
CAR54LIVES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2013 Location: BROOKLYN NY Posts: 10	3

01-26-2013, 10:31 PM	#5
CAR54LIVES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2013 Location: BROOKLYN NY Posts: 10	Owning the car I actually became friendly with actor Hank Garrett who played officer Ed Nicholson in the original show. I had picked him up in the car and drove him to a car show I ran to sign autographs. We spent some time with him talking about the show!

02-16-2013, 07:49 PM	#6
CAR54LIVES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2013 Location: BROOKLYN NY Posts: 10	GEDC0702.JPG (600×338)[/IMG]

02-16-2013, 07:56 PM	#7
CAR54LIVES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2013 Location: BROOKLYN NY Posts: 10	I was unable to post photos here, but put 2 in the Car 54 photos section.

02-17-2013, 09:19 AM	#10
CAR54LIVES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2013 Location: BROOKLYN NY Posts: 10	Even pre-internet it was a rather simple to research as the show was well promoted and marketed. A series of car 54 comic books had a color photo of the car on the cover showing the car was red. Many publicity shots were distributed and some actually in color. Several articles explained the car was filmed in the streets of the Bronx and Biograph studios was made to look like the precinct that you would see in the show as they pulled up. The police commissioner at the time thought it made police officers look bad so to avoid any confusion the cars were red and white. Same issue on The Naked City the cars were also not green, in The Naked City the police cars were red and yellow to avoid mix ups. Today because its not like black and white where you can't tell the difference on screen the officers and cars are usually assigned to fictional precincts- the 27 is most used, there is no 27 today. Movie/Tv productions get car number assignments outside of the actual car numbering system so if a complaint is made they know its a movie car. Yes I have had my other cars in movies and Tv, having owned several old NYPD cars from the 50's, 60's and 70's. In the episode "Paint Job" a big error occurred, the thieves pull up in the police car and the guy says, "but we wanted green, we like green!" OOPS!! As we all know the car was supposed to be green, but the writers were so used to it being red they slipped!! When the DVD set was announced I contacted the folks at Shanachie and presented the idea of doing a promotional or extra segment using my car and driving around some of the locations, sort of recreating scenes from the show in the Bronx because I live nearby in Brooklyn. I even told them I knew Hank Garrett and maybe we can drive him around in the car as they interviewed him and offered my part at no expected compensation and they just ignored the offer. When I got the DVD it was great to have the show, but mixing the order up and the poorly done interviews were a big disappointment. I think it may have been discussed that the 1st released episodes were aired out of order as they were actually filmed! From memory I think the 3rd episode aired was the actual pilot. Hank Garrett did not join the cast until the 3rd show, but is in the 1st episode aired. Here is an interesting fact Hank Garrett who played officer Nicholson actually became a NYC Police officer just as he signed on the show, but in 1961 an officer could not moonlight so he resigned from NYPD! Another great fact, Hank Garrett to this day never had a drivers license and could not drive, but in Who's for Swordfish rolls up in the car and he had no answer for me on that, I am guessing they just said hit the brake and push that button (push button transmission! ) it only rolled into frame.