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Harbor Command

{{Short description|American police TV series}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Harbor Command.jpg

| caption =

| genre = Action

| creator =

| writer =

| director =

| starring = Wendell Corey
Casey Walters

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme =

| composer =

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 39

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer =

| producer =

| editor =

| cinematography =

| camera = Single-camera

| runtime = 30 mins.

| company = Ziv Television Programs

| channel = Syndication

| first_aired = {{start date|1957|10|11}}

| last_aired = {{end date|1958|07|04}}

}}

Harbor Command is an American police series that was syndicated, with 39 half-hour episodes produced in 1957-1958.{{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim|last2=Marsh|first2=Earle|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present|date=1999|publisher=The Ballentine Publishing Group|location=New York|isbn=0-345-42923-0|page=422|edition=7th}} A Spanish-language version was broadcast in Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.{{cite magazine |date=September 16, 1957 |page=15 |title=Ziv Overseas Release Click |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Harbor+Command%22+Ziv&pg=PA15 |accessdate=March 30, 2023}}

Overview

The series stars Wendell Corey as Captain Ralph Baxter, head of the Harbor Command{{cite book |last1=Irvin |first1=Richard |title=Pioneers of "B" Television: Independent Producers, Series and Pilots of the 1950s |date=November 2, 2022 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-4770-8 |pages=119–120 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZfmZEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Harbor+Command%22+Ziv&pg=PA119 |access-date=March 30, 2023 |language=en}} of a large coastal city. Baxter and the officers in his unit fought "dope smugglers, murderers, and other assorted villains".

Baxter differed from other police officers in that he had studied criminal psychology, enabling him "to figure out what the criminal mind would do under certain circumstances."{{cite news |title=TV Dramas Are Not Dreamed Up — They Take Much Planning |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121982884/harbor-command-tv-show/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |work=The Boston Globe |date=September 29, 1957 |page=62|via = Newspapers.com }}

Although series had a water setting, much of Baxter's activity occurred on land as he used his police car to track down suspects.

Production

The series was produced by Ziv Television Programs,{{cite news |title=2 New Film Series on C. B. S. Agenda |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/01/30/archives/2-new-film-series-on-cbs-agenda-tv-network-and-edward-hartman-plan.html |access-date=March 30, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=January 30, 1957 |page=59|url-access=subscription}} with the assistance of the law enforcement arms of Harbor and Port Authorities across the country. Captain Richard Storm, of the Port of San Diego's Harbor Police, was credited as the technical adviser for the series.{{Citation needed |date=March 2023}} Vernon Clark{{cite news |last1=Fiset |first1=Bill |title=Old Film Keeps Actor Laughing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121985204/wendell-corey/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |work=Oakland Tribune |date=September 27, 1957 |page=E 27|via = Newspapers.com}} and Herbert Strock were producers, and Strock directed. Vincent Forte wrote for the series.{{cite magazine |date=October 16, 1957 |page=52 |title=Harbor Command |magazine=Variety |url=https://archive.org/details/variety208-1957-10/page/n209/mode/1up?view=theater |accessdate=March 31, 2023}}

Corey said that he and Ziv received most of the revenue from sales of the show, which affected the quality of episodes. "There isn't enough left to get good supporting actors or buy good scripts," he said.{{cite news |last1=Humphrey |first1=Hal |title='If You Need Money, Don't Try TV Series' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121983717/harbor-command-tv-show/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=July 6, 1958 |page=42|via = Newspapers.com}} He added that executives in production often made bad scripts worse with their own changes.

Two episodes were filmed in San Diego, with the show otherwise being based in San Francisco.{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Howard |title=Wendell (Harbor Command) Corey Makes Personal Appearance Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121984460/wendell-corey/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |work=Deseret News and Telegram |date=October 30, 1957 |location=Utah, Salt Lake City |page=4 D|via = Newspapers.com}}

Hamm's Beer sponsored the show in 55 markets in mountain states, the Midwest and the Southwest, closing the deal in January 1957 before the show debuted that fall.{{cite magazine |date=February 2, 1957 |page=10 |title= Hamm's Buys Autumn Programming in Jan.|magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VyAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Harbor+Command%22+Ziv&pg=PA12 |accessdate=March 30, 2023}}

Ziv selected Character Merchandising of New York to create items for Harbor Command-related items for children. The first product was a four-foot fireboat that shot water.{{cite magazine |date=September 2, 1957 |page=2 |title=Character Merch. To Handle Items For Ziv 'Harbot' |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fCEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Harbor+Command%22+Ziv&pg=PA3 |accessdate=March 30, 2023}}

Production expenses led Ziv to end the series after its 39-episode initial run.

Critical response

A review in The New York Times called Harbor Command "a sea-going version of the landlubbing crime stories that float around the television screens Friday nights this season."{{cite news |title=TV Review: Corey Is Skipper in 'Harbor Command' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/10/12/archives/tv-review-corey-is-skipper-in-harbor-command.html |access-date=March 30, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=October 12, 1957 |page=39|url-access=subscription}} The review complimented the way ships and the waterfront contributed a "colorful backdrop" but added that without those elements "you have the same old whodunit stew."

The trade publication Variety's review of the premiere episode called Harbor Command "Dragnet in a nautical setting". It observed that Corey was "okay" in his role but that the episode's script should have been better. It concluded that the "generally run-of-the-mill production" had some high points, but the music reached "annoying proportions both in volume and number of repeats."

Guest stars

Episodes

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=1

|EpisodeNumber2=1

|Title=Champhor Tubes aka Cop Killer

|DirectedBy= Herbert L. Stock

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=Leo Handel|t=Vincent Forte}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|11}}

|ShortSummary=

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=2

|EpisodeNumber2=2

|Title=Murder On Pier 7 aka Camera Murder

|DirectedBy= James Sheldon

|WrittenBy=Arthur Weiss

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|18}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=3

|EpisodeNumber2=3

|Title=Boat Bomb aka Time Bomb

|DirectedBy= Leon Benson

|WrittenBy= Don Ingalls

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|25}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=4

|EpisodeNumber2=4

|Title=The Bag aka Metallic Sodium

|DirectedBy=Herbert L. Strock

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=John Kneubuhl}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|1}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=5

|EpisodeNumber2=5

|Title=Fisherman's League aka Protection Racket

|DirectedBy= James Sheldon

|WrittenBy= Don Clark

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|8}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=6

|EpisodeNumber2=6

|Title=Frightened Witness aka Silent Watchman

|DirectedBy= Leon Benson

|WrittenBy= William Driskill

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|15}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=7

|EpisodeNumber2=7

|Title= The Assassin aka Hired Killer

|DirectedBy= Leon Benson

|WrittenBy= Lee Berg

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|22}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=8

|EpisodeNumber2=8

|Title= Counterfeit Money aka Counterfeit

|DirectedBy= Sutton Roley

|WrittenBy= A. Sanford Wolfe and Irwin Winehouse

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|29}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=9

|EpisodeNumber2=9

|Title= Final Score aka Frame-Up

|DirectedBy= Sutton Roley

|WrittenBy= Don Ingalls

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|6}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=10

|EpisodeNumber2=10

|Title= Dead on 'B' Deck aka Smuggled Jewels

|DirectedBy= Lew Landers

|WrittenBy= Arthur Weiss

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|13}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=11

|EpisodeNumber2=11

|Title= Ransom At Sea aka Kidnapping

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|20}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=12

|EpisodeNumber2=12

|Title= Floating Transmitter aka Heroin

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|27}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=13

|EpisodeNumber2=13

|Title= Illegal Entry aka Crime vs. The Media

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|1|3}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=14

|EpisodeNumber2=14

|Title= Yacht Club aka Simple Burglary

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|1|10}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=15

|EpisodeNumber2=15

|Title= Trapped Pilings aka Revenge

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|1|17}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=16

|EpisodeNumber2=16

|Title= Harbor Mission aka Mission Hideout

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|1|24}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=17

|EpisodeNumber2=17

|Title= Gold Smugglers aka Suicide or Murder

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|1|31}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=18

|EpisodeNumber2=18

|Title= Contraband Diamonds aka $500,000 in Diamonds

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|2|7}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=19

|EpisodeNumber2=19

|Title= The Big Hoax aka Top Man Junkie

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|2|14}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=20

|EpisodeNumber2=20

|Title= The Witness aka Child Witness

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|2|21}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=21

|EpisodeNumber2=21

|Title= Killer On My Doorstep aka Held Hostage

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|2|28}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=22

|EpisodeNumber2=22

|Title= Four To Die aka Black Pearls

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|3|7}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=23

|EpisodeNumber2=23

|Title= Hostage aka Newlywed Hostages

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|3|14}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=24

|EpisodeNumber2=24

|Title= Rendezvous At Sea aka Kidnap-Murder

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|3|21}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=25

|EpisodeNumber2=25

|Title= Right To Die aka Self-Paid Murder

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|3|28}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=26

|EpisodeNumber2=26

|Title= Date With Eternity aka Distress Call

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|4|4}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=27

|EpisodeNumber2=27

|Title= Sunken Gold aka Gold and Murder

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|4|11}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=28

|EpisodeNumber2=28

|Title= Decoy aka Smuggled Plates

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|4|18}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=29

|EpisodeNumber2=29

|Title= Arson aka Firebug

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|4|25}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=30

|EpisodeNumber2=30

|Title= Shore Patrol aka Rolling the Navy

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|5|2}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=31

|EpisodeNumber2=31

|Title= Smallpox

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|5|9}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=32

|EpisodeNumber2=32

|Title= Ghost Ship aka Boat Adrift

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|5|16}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=33

|EpisodeNumber2=33

|Title= Bum's Rush aka Murder Extortion

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|5|23}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=34

|EpisodeNumber2=34

|Title= Lover's Lane Bandits

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|5|30}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=35

|EpisodeNumber2=35

|Title= Lobster Smuggling

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|6|6}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=36

|EpisodeNumber2=36

|Title= Clay Pigeon aka Stalking Capt. Baxter

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|6|13}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=37

|EpisodeNumber2=37

|Title= The Phychiatrist aka Imaginary Insult

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|6|20}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=38

|EpisodeNumber2=38

|Title= Sanctuary aka Internation Intrigue

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|6|27}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=39

|EpisodeNumber2=39

|Title= Desperate Men aka Armed Robbery

|DirectedBy=

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s=|t=}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|7|4}}

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

DVD release

On September 17, 2013, Timeless Media Group released Harbor Command- The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1.[http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Harbor-Command-The-Complete-Televsion-Series/18751 Package Art Docks for 'The Complete Television Series'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727121131/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Harbor-Command-The-Complete-Televsion-Series/18751 |date=2013-07-27 }}

See also

References

External links

  • {{IMDb title|0050023}}
  • [https://ctva.biz/US/Crime/HarborCommand.htm Harbor Command] at CVTA

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harbor Command}}

Category:1957 American television series debuts

Category:1958 American television series endings

Category:1950s American drama television series

Category:1950s American police procedural television series

Category:American action television series

Category:Black-and-white American television shows

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:First-run syndicated television programs in the United States

Category:Television series by Ziv Television Programs

Category:Television shows filmed in California