Waterfront (1955 TV series)

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Waterfront is a syndicated half-hour American television drama series that starred Preston Foster as the captain of the harbor tug Cheryl Ann. [1] The series was filmed 1954-1955 by Roland Reed Productions, Inc., for the Ziv Company, in part on location at the Port of Los Angeles. Although Foster had been a Broadway, Vaudeville, and Hollywood actor since his 20's, he grew up in coastal cities in New Jersey, worked as a clerk for a shipping company when he was 20, and was an officer in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. He was quoted as insisting on authenticity where possible in the production.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Production

Preston Foster portrayed Captain John Herrick, a tugboat captain at Los Angeles Harbor, operating from Berth 14 in San Pedro, in 78 episodes, production of which concluded in 1955. It also starred Douglas Dick, Lois Moran, Willie Best [2] and Harry Lauter. Moran portrayed Herrick's wife. Lauter and Dick played his sons, and Billy Chapin portrayed his grandson. Best was seen as the tugboat's cook. Others in the cast were Pinky Tomlin as deckhand Tip Hubbard and Eddy Waller as lighthouse keeper Jonathan Beal. [1]

Foster said, “On Waterfront, I insisted that we use the real locale. We went down to Los Angeles harbor and got a lot of good background shots. The Coast Guard supplied the equipment we needed, and I even learned how to handle the tugboat myself.” [3]

The actor left the program to make the pilot for a new program, “Test Pilot,” which, ultimately, did not make it into series production. Foster explained that the end of Waterfront was a financial decision.

“We’ve made 78 of them,” he said. “That’s enough for two years, including 26 weeks of reruns. The show is still riding high, and we could probably make more." [3]

“But the profit is in the second runs. It’s important to sell them in the second-run market while the show’s popularity is high; you get a better price for them." [3]

“Now is when the producers cash in on the investment. So far they haven’t made a profit. I’m the only one who has - because I was under salary.” [3]

Episodes

Season 1 (1954)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"The Skipper's Day" John Brahm Teleplay by: M. Bernard Fox and Jesse L. Lasky Jr. August 21, 1954 (1954-08-21)
22"Sunken Treasure Of San Pedro" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: Warren WilsonAugust 28, 1954 (1954-08-28)
33"Lighthouse"Phil KarlsonTeleplay by: Robert J. Shaw September 5, 1954 (1954-09-05)
44"A New Whistle For The Cheryl Ann" Hollingsworth Morse Teleplay by: Warren WilsonSeptember 12, 1954 (1954-09-12)
55"Cap'n Long John"Hollingsworth MorseStory by: Warren Wilson
Teleplay by: Marjorie Hunt Pierson
September 19, 1954 (1954-09-19)
66"Term Paper" John Brahm Teleplay by: M. Bernard Fox and Robert J. Shaw September 26, 1954 (1954-09-26)
77"Cap'n John's Dilemma" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: Arthur Hoerl October 3, 1954 (1954-10-03)
88"Family Problems" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: M. Bernard Fox, Eugene Ling, and Robert J. Shaw October 10, 1954 (1954-10-10)
99"Sea Bells" John Brahm Teleplay by: Norman Reilly Raine 1954 (1954)
1010"Tug O'War" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: Charles Belden 1954 (1954)
1111"Tailor-Made Trouble" Hollingsworth Morse Teleplay by: Burt Sims and Arthur Hoerl 1954 (1954)
1212"Troubled Waters" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: Frank L. Moss and Lee Berg1954 (1954)
1313"The Rift" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: Lillie Hayward 1954 (1954)
1414"First Mate"Ted PostStory by: Robert C. Dennis
Teleplay by: Arthur Hoerl and Louis Vittes
1954 (1954)
1515"Warehouse Incident" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: David Dortort 1954 (1954)
1616"High Water" Ted Post Story by: Charles Belden
Teleplay by: Charles Belden and Louis Vittes
1954 (1954)
1717"Floating Mine" Ted Post Teleplay by: Sidney Biddell and Frederic M. Frank1954 (1954)
1818"Fog Bound" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: Frank L. Moss and Lee Berg1954 (1954)
1919"Live Cargo"Ted PostTeleplay by: David Dortort 1954 (1954)
2020"Cap'n Christopher"Ted PostTeleplay by: James O'Hanlon1954 (1954)
2121"Tension"Ted PostStory by: Adrian Spies
Teleplay by: Arthur Hoerl and Louis Vittes
1954 (1954)
2222"Back Wash"Ted PostTeleplay by: Lillie Hayward 1954 (1954)
2323"Diamonds In The Rough" Ted Post Story by: John Tucker Battle
Teleplay by: John Tucker Battle, Louis Vittes, and Warren Wilson
1954 (1954)
2424"The Long Beach Pier" Ted Post Story by: John Tucker Battle
Teleplay by: John Tucker Battle, Louis Vittes, and Warren Wilson
1954 (1954)
2525"Portia Of The Sea" Ted Post Teleplay by: Frank L. Moss and Lee Berg1954 (1954)
2626"Anchors Of The Past"Ted PostTeleplay by: Eugene Vale and Frank L. Moss1954 (1954)
2727"Driftwood"Ted PostTeleplay by: Frank L. Moss and Lee Berg1954 (1954)
2828"Drawbridge Incident"Ted PostTeleplay by: Sidney Biddell and Frederic M. Frank 1954 (1954)
2929"Tuna Clipper" Ted Post Teleplay by: Frederic M. Frank1954 (1954)
3030"The White Ducks" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: David Dortort 1954 (1954)
3131"Star Bright"Ted PostTeleplay by: Frank L. Moss1954 (1954)
3232"Harbor Piracy" Phil Karlson Teleplay by: David Lang1954 (1954)
3333"The Sea And Captain Taggart"Ted PostTeleplay by: Bernie Giler1954 (1954)
3434"Ghost Tug"Ted PostTeleplay by: Elizabeth Wilson 1954 (1954)
3535"F.O.B. Vera Cruz" Ted Post Teleplay by: Robert J. Shaw 1954 (1954)
3636"Night At The Lighthouse"Ted PostTeleplay by: James O'Hanlon1954 (1954)
3737"Live Bait"Ted PostTeleplay by: Jack Laird 1954 (1954)
3838"Oil Island"Ted PostTeleplay by: Douglas Morrow 1954 (1954)
3939"Christmas In San Pedro"Ted PostTeleplay by: Eugene Ling1954 (1954)

Season 2 (1954-1955)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
401"Fisherman's Fiesta" Ted Post Teleplay by: Elizabeth Wilson 1954 (1954)
412"Yellow Flag"Ted PostTeleplay by: Charles Belden and Frank L. Moss1954 (1954)
423"Floating Bottle"Ted PostTeleplay by: Endre Bohem and Louis Vittes 1954 (1954)
434"The Reluctant Guest"Ted PostTeleplay by: Douglas Morrow 1955 (1955)
445"Homing Flight"Ted PostTeleplay by: Endre Bohem and Louis Vittes 1955 (1955)
456"Farnum's Folly"Ted PostTeleplay by: Bernie Giler, Endre Bohem, and Louis Vittes1955 (1955)
467"Trial By Fire"Ted PostTeleplay by: David Dortort 1955 (1955)
478"Shipper, Beware" Ted Post Teleplay by: Bernie Giler1955 (1955)
489"Captain Without a Ship" Frederick Stephani Teleplay by: Frank L. Moss1955 (1955)
4910"The Man"Ted PostStory by: Curt Siodmak
Teleplay by: John A. Kneubuhl
1955 (1955)
5011"The Skipper and The Padre"Ted PostTeleplay by: James and Jean O'Hanlon1955 (1955)
5112"The Sea Rustler"Frederick StephaniTeleplay by: David Lang and Stan Jones1955 (1955)
5213"Shakedown Cruise"Ted PostTeleplay by: John Kneubuhl 1955 (1955)
5314"Trestle Point"Frederick StephaniTeleplay by: David Dortort 1955 (1955)
5415"The Search" Ted Post Teleplay by: Douglas Morrow 1955 (1955)
5516"The Artful Horse" Paul Landres Teleplay by: Endre Bohem and Louis Vittes 1955 (1955)
5617"Tuna Bound"Ted PostTeleplay by: Lee Perenchio and Violet Atkins1955 (1955)
5718"The Semi-Private Room"Ted PostTeleplay by: Douglas Morrow 1955 (1955)
5819"Beyond The Line" Frederick Stephani Teleplay by: Frank L. Moss1955 (1955)
5920"The Angel Louise"Ted PostTeleplay by: Violet Atkins and Lee Perenchio1955 (1955)
6021"Stand By All Stations"Paul LandresStory by: Stan Jones
Teleplay by: David Dortort
1955 (1955)
6122"Ferry Boat Ride"Ted PostTeleplay by: John Kneubuhl 1955 (1955)
6223"The Seal"Ted PostTeleplay by: Douglas Morrow 1955 (1955)
6324"Safe Harbor" Paul Landres Teleplay by: James and Jean O'Hanlon1955 (1955)
6425"The Race"Ted PostTeleplay by: Douglas Morrow1955 (1955)
6526"The Rescue"Ted PostTeleplay by: Douglas Morrow1955 (1955)
6627"Double Exposure"Ted PostTeleplay by: Bernie Giler1955 (1955)
6728"Mike"Ted PostTeleplay by: John Kneubuhl1955 (1955)
6829"The Hideout"Ted PostTeleplay by: Douglas Morrow1955 (1955)
6930"Captain For A Day" Ted Post Teleplay by: Endre Bohem and Louis Vittes 1955 (1955)
7031"Catalina Swim" Paul Landres Teleplay by: Lee Perenchio and Violet Atkins1955 (1955)
7132"Beached"Ted PostTeleplay by: Bernie Giler1955 (1955)
7233"Red Label Cargo"Ted PostTeleplay by: John Kneubuhl1955 (1955)
7334"Sea Explorers" Paul Guielfoyle Teleplay by: Bernie Giler1955 (1955)
7435"Bait Cruise"Ted PostTeleplay by: Violet Atkins and Lee Perenchio1955 (1955)
7536"The Yacht Race"Ted PostTeleplay by: Douglas Morrow1955 (1955)
7637"Trouble Ship"Ted PostTeleplay by: David Dortort and Douglas Morrow 1955 (1955)
7738"The Rivals"Ted PostTeleplay by: Douglas Morrow1955 (1955)
7839"Harbor Bound"Ted PostTeleplay by: David Dortort1955 (1955)

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References

  1. 1 2 "'Waterfront' Returns to KSLA Sept. 8". The Shreveport Times. September 4, 1955. p. 12-C. Retrieved October 30, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 732–733. ISBN   978-0-7864-6477-7.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Thomas, Bob (January 22, 1956). "Foster Turns In Tug for Jet". The San Bernardino County Sun. Associated Press. p. 4. Retrieved October 30, 2023 via Newspapers.com.