Oldtime TV Revolver Question

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Ithacaman

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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.
 
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).
 
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
 
"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.
 
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!
 
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
 
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.
 
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.

bc-vid07.gif

bc-vid08.gif
 
I wuz robbed.

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