[Ithacaman]

What make, model and caliber revolver did the actor Broderick Crawford use in the 1950s TV Series, Highway Patrol? According to one source, his character, Lt. Dan Matthews, carried a 38 special but I am unable to find out any further information.

Any and all details would be greatly appreciated.

[Tijeras_Slim]

http://www.highwaypatroltv.com/crawford7.jpg

It's a 6 shot snubby, so I'd guess it's either a Colt Detective Special or a 2" M&P Smith (less likely IMO).

[Cosmoline]

What a face!

[EddieCoyle]

What a face!

In tonight's episode, Broderick Crawford's face was brought to you by Jim Beam.

That's a cool revolver. I like the antenna on it.

[swampgator]

I don't know...That's more of an Old Granddad face or possibly a George Dickel.

[jlundy46]

Here are a couple more pics of the revolver.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264/jlundy46/toy-gun-badge.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264/jlundy46/crawford6.jpg

2150 Bye!

[Sistema1927]

Trigger, Trigger, TRIGGER!

[pawncop]

Thanks for this tread, that show was one of my favorites. According to the "Highway Patrol TV" site, Chief Mathews carried a S&W Model 10 snub nose. In one of the publicity shots for the pilot he carried a 4" 38 Spl (looked like a Colt as best as I could tell).

[jlundy46]

I have a couple of episodes that I bought on eBay. I am not sure if you can get the entire series on DVD or not. I know you can get Hawaii 5-O now. Good stuff:D

John

[4fingermick]

"A lot of people die defending their right of way!" I like the bit at the end where he leant over the roof of his cruiser and imparted a pearl of highway patrol wisdom. We watched it every week when I was a young' un.

[Sport45]

How does he keep that hat on when he's leaning out of the helicopter? Is it stapled to his head?

[The Real Hawkeye]

Chief Mathews carried a S&W Model 10 snub nose.

[DonP]

October 4th, every year.

10 - 4!

[CornCod]

Hooray for Broderick Crawford! Why are male TV and movie stars such a buncha "pretty-boys" nowadays? We ugly guys need more role models like B.C. and Bogart to look up to!

[Cosmoline]

How does he keep that hat on when he's leaning out of the helicopter? Is it stapled to his head?

The helicopter is afraid to knock it off.

[Hutch]

When the laws of any State are broken...Wish I could remember the rest of the opening monologue. I can still hear the theme music, tho'.:D

[jlundy46]

Whenever the laws of any state are broken, a duly authorized organization swings into action.
It may be the called the State Police, State Troopers, Militia, the Rangers, or the Highway Patrol.
These are the stories of the men whose training, skill, and courage, have enforced and preserved our state laws.

Go to www.highwaypatroltv.com and you can hear the theme song and sound bites from the show.

John

[deputy tom]

Great link.Ten-fowah!tom.:cool:

[JohnBT]

I loved that show as a kid.

And he won the 1949 Oscar for Best Actor for his role in All The King's Men.

Bogart didn't win his until 1952 - for The African Queen.

[jlundy46]

Here are a couple more pictures of Chief Matthews. Different gun. In the lower one he looks like he is willing the bullet to speed to the target, or he desperately needs a stool softener.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264/jlundy46/bc-vid07.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264/jlundy46/bc-vid08.jpg

[Iggy]

In all the years I spent on the Highway Patrol, they never gave one of those hats!!!:(

[Cosmoline]

That's just the modified Edward Robinson stance. It's where you make a face and flip the barrel down while firing to give the bullet a little more speed.

The Cagney/Bogart stance is a little different. You hold the snub nose close to your belly, fire without looking down, then smile as your foe falls.

"You wouldn't kill me in cold blood, will you?"

"Nah, I'll let you warm up a little."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTNqcqBabwk

There's also the judo move known as "When you're slapped you'll take it and like it!"

[Joe Gunns]

Back then real men knew how to keep their hats on under all kinds of adverse conditions. In fact, you could always tell the wimps cause their hats fell, blew, were shot or knocked off when the chips were down. I think they buffed up the muscles on the roots of their hair and could puff it out on demand to create more tension against the sweatband.

I remember one episode when Crawford was gonna go to a crime scene in a chopper, he came up to the chopper from the passenger side, ducked and ran around to the pilot-side, shouted, "Let's go!" then ran over to the passenger-side again to get in, all without losing his hat. Obviously a real man who knew his way "around" a chopper. :D

[ocharry]

i remember that show too,,,, my dad called him BIG CHEEZE i get a chuckle out of that when i remember it:D


ocharry

[EddieCoyle]

He looks a little like Randy Quaid, doesn't he?
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264/jlundy46/bc-vid08.jpg

[Ithacaman]

Glad to see so many agree with me.

Ithacaman

[1557]

Man,do I ever remember that show! Didn't miss it when I was a kid.
Crawford was in a parade downtown once.I had just gotten pink eyes but I went anyway.It was late in the evening and I was having to wear sunglasses.He saw me and yelled"Hey,kid,take off those sunglasses,don't you know the suns already gone down?"
Tickled me to death because a movie star had actually spoken to me.

[FPrice]

It may be the called the State Police, State Troopers, Militia, the Rangers, or the Highway Patrol.

I can understand "the State Police, State Troopers, the Rangers, or the Highway Patrol". But has anyone ever heard of the "Militia" being called out to enforce the laws of the state? :scrutiny:

When was the last time a THR member was called out to enforce the laws? Which gun (and hat) did you bring to the party?

[Cosmoline]

When was the last time a THR member was called out to enforce the laws? Which gun (and hat) did you bring to the party?

It happens up here from time to time. I've helped out troopers at accident scenes before. Back in the old days before WWII, state trooper forces were small operations and when outside the cities the locals *were* the law enforcement. They could be deputized as needed by the sheriff. In the bush up here, that's still the case. A trooper may come by if needed (weather permitting), but otherwise there's just a local public safety officer who may not even be armed.

People in more "civilized" parts of the nation have just gotten used to 24/7 nanny state protection. I'm not sure it's been a change for the good.

[jimmy]

Highway Patrol is a blast from the past, all right. As a kid I never missed an episode, though after 50 (!) years my memories of it are about gone. I also remember a follow-up show called 10-4--maybe reruns of Highway Patrol?

Crawford later acted in a TV series I dimly remember called King of Diamonds. I'm trying to think what other series I watched around then: Whirlybirds, State Trooper, Coronado 9, Sea Hunt, ....

[jlundy46]

Jimmy,
Those were all great shows. I remember Rescue 7 as well. Never missed an episode of Sea Hunt and Mike Nelson got me into diving. Nevermind that he broke all the rules every week:eek:

Watched a couple of episodes of Highway Patrol last night. A little light on the proper procedure in terms of getting confessions, etc, but the good guys always won.

Good wholesome TV in those days - what happened?

John

[Shawnee]

LOLOLOLOL!!!


Today they don't wear hats and somehow they can get in or out of the helicopter without a hair being blown out of place. Steve MCQueen on the Hawaii 5-0 show started that phenomena, I think.

One of the goofiest TV cop-type show I've seen is an old episode of "Frank Cannon, P.I." Don't remember the name of the guy who played Cannon but he was about 5'6" no matter which direction you measured him.
Show begins with the bad guy, up on a hill above a race track, shooting the tire out of a speeding race car which causes the death of the driver. At the end of the show Cannon is chasing the bad guy on foot through the desert - never more than about 35-40 yards behind him. The bad guy misses the 5'6" x5'6" Mr.Cannon with 6 shots and then has to surrender.

PUHLEEEEEEEEEEZE !:banghead:

[FPrice]

I had to check, it was William Conrad. He did a surprisingly good job in this role.

http://www.thrillingdetective.com/cannon.html

[Martini13]

Here's a little trivia:

William Conrad played Marshal Dillon on radio. Great Voice, but when it came to TV, His rotund body just wouldn't pass muster. They wanted John Wayne to play him, but the Duke was busy and he suggested James Arness. The rest is history.:evil:

I think BC looks like Tony Soprano.:cool: