Highway Patrol

[Duster76]

I have started watching the Highway Patrol episodes on METV, and taken a interest in the series backstory. The show stars the talented but difficult to deal with Broderick Crawford as Chief Dan Matthews. The show is fast paced, filmed for the most part on location, and had 156 episodes over a 4 year run. This is an amazing total, they must have done 39 episodes a season! Crawford a big drinking problem, as matter of fact his driver's license was suspended because of DUI's. In a recent episode Dan Hostage (talk about a succinct title), Crawford has obviously had one too many. In one scene he seems to be having a difficult time walking into the diner where the action of the show will take place, in another scene finding the owner seriously wounded he is seen walking slowly out to his cruiser to radio for help while the owner is bleeding to death on the floor. In another scene, he is conversing with the shooter while he is leaning against a wall (which seems to be holding him up). With 39 episodes to do they had to get everything in one take.

[1960'sTVfan]

I watched the episode titled Reckless Driving and it was pretty good, I liked it. It was cool to see the old style cars from back in the day. This series has half hour episodes so there isn't much time for plot and story development, they get right down to business and don't mess around.

I just discovered that the Highway Patrol series was issued on DVD so I imagine this is what MeTV is using when they run the episodes.

[Zebra 3]

It was my first TV pandemic project, to watch and try to find filming locations not already listed at IMDb.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Duster76

I have started watching the Highway Patrol episodes on METV, and taken a interest in the series backstory. The show stars the talented but difficult to deal with Broderick Crawford as Chief Dan Matthews. The show is fast paced, filmed for the most part on location, and had 156 episodes over a 4 year run. This is an amazing total, they must have done 39 episodes a season! Crawford a big drinking problem, as matter of fact his driver's license was suspended because of DUI's. In a recent episode Dan Hostage (talk about a succinct title), Crawford has obviously had one too many. In one scene he seems to be having a difficult time walking into the diner where the action of the show will take place, in another scene finding the owner seriously wounded he is seen walking slowly out to his cruiser to radio for help while the owner is bleeding to death on the floor. In another scene, he is conversing with the shooter while he is leaning against a wall (which seems to be holding him up). With 39 episodes to do they had to get everything in one take.

Missing from MeTV (but were shown on This TV) are Crawford's admonishments at the end to drive safely, or similar. He could have said, drive safely, unlike me. Or, don't drink and drive, or you'll lose your license, like me--cheers!

[SarahBellum]

That sounds like an old show I'd like to watch, but it's on at 5:00 am, a little too early for me. Another old show I'd like to watch is Route 66. It used to air on Retro TV a while back, but I don't see it on the current schedule.

[biffbronson]

Route 66 is a pretty violent, one-hour drama. It's a very different series than Highway Patrol. On Route 66, traveling Tod & Buz (later Tod & Linc) are always taking jobs in communities where they run into hostile people.

Highway Patrol, a half-hour crime series, tends to be pretty routine, as clues are followed-up upon to catch garden-variety criminals in southern California. Dan Mathews is pretty hands-on as he and his colleagues nab the perpetrators.

I think you will like Route 66 better, but I think the fast pace of HP makes it enjoyable too.

[SarahBellum]

Thanks for the info.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by SarahBellum

That sounds like an old show I'd like to watch, but it's on at 5:00 am, a little too early for me. Another old show I'd like to watch is Route 66. It used to air on Retro TV a while back, but I don't see it on the current schedule.

HP was back when cops could enforce the law. Criminals would be held accountable for their actions. Unlike today, when many are let back out to commit mayhem multiple times.

[MichaelKeith]

Great show. I have it on DVD and enjoy watching. That was back when the motto was shoot first and ask questions later! Now I think we've swung too far to the other side where the police are so hamstrung in their ability to enforce the law. Wish we could find more balance so as to keep both the police and the public safe.

Crawford was great in this role. No-nonsense and to the point.

[Tankeryanker]

Originally Posted by stevea

HP was back when cops could enforce the law. Criminals would be held accountable for their actions. Unlike today, when many are let back out to commit mayhem multiple times.

There is an episode in Adam-12 that has a retired officer come back on duty to see if he wants to rejoin the force.

It lasts only a short time as things are so different than they were before the civil rights. Very interesting just how much the 60s ruined a lot of things.

[Tankeryanker]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

Route 66 is a pretty violent, one-hour drama. It's a very different series than Highway Patrol. On Route 66, traveling Tod & Buz (later Tod & Linc) are always taking jobs in communities where they run into hostile people.

Highway Patrol, a half-hour crime series, tends to be pretty routine, as clues are followed-up upon to catch garden-variety criminals in southern California. Dan Mathews is pretty hands-on as he and his colleagues nab the perpetrators.

I think you will like Route 66 better, but I think the fast pace of HP makes it enjoyable too.

Hmm, somehow, I ended up at the song written by Bobby, from Emergency.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLUYf6cekMA