Studio Publicity Photo Of Martin Kane Followed By DVD Covers Of The First Shows

Martin Kane, Private Eye Radio And TV Show 1949
America's First TV Private Eye

Martin Kane, Private Eye was the very first private eye TV show. It first aired in 1949. Sponsored by U.S. Tobacco, the show aired for three long weeks on radio before it was turned into a TV show. The TV show was done live. Here are details of both the radio and TV show.

The Radio Show
(later known as MARTIN KANE, PRIVATE DETECTIVE)
(1949-51, Mutual; 1951-52, NBC)
Approximately 175 episodes: 29 episodes are available
First Broadcast: August 7, 1949 (Mutual); July 1, 1951 (NBC)
Last Broadcast: June 24, 1951 (Mutual); December 21, 1952 (NBC)
Writers: Ted Hediger
Directors: Ted Hediger
Sponsor: U.S. Tobacco
Starring William Gargan as MARTIN KANE
(Later Lloyd Nolan)
with Nicholas Saunders as Sergeant Ross
Frank M. Thomas as The Police Captain
and Walter Kinsella as Happy McMann

The TV Show
(1949-53, NBC)
120 30-minute episodes
Writers: Paul Dudley, Alvin Boretz, Joel Sayre, Ed Sutherland
Directors: Edgar C. Kahn
Producers/Directors: Frank Burns, Ed Sutherland, Edward C. Kahan
Sponsor: U.S. Tobacco
Format: Black & White
Time: 30 Minutes
Starring William Gargan as MARTIN KANE
also Lloyd Nolan (1951-52)
Lee Tracy (1952-53)
Mark Stevens (1953-54)
with Fred Hillebrand as Lieutenant Bender (1949-50)
Horace McMahon as Captain Willis (1950-51)
Nicholas Saunders as Sergeant Ross (1950-52)
Frank M. Thomas as Captain Burke (1951-52)
Walter Greaza as Captain Leonard (1951)
King Calder as Lieutenant Gray (1952-54)
and Walter Kinsella as Happy McMann

The Movie- Dressed to Kill (1941), 1 still A great murder mystery from the days of film noir!
Lloyd Nolan plays Detective Michael Shayne in the 1941 movie Dressed to Kill.

From The Ralph D. Thomas PI Vintage Collection
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