To the old bar tune “One for my Baby (One More For The Road)” we “Meet McGraw.” He’s a crime fighter played by Frank Lovejoy (1912-1962). Frank’s best known for noir movies (“In a Lonely Place,” “The Hitch Hiker”) and radio fans might remember “Night Beat.” The Bronx born tough guy lasted battled “Broken Arrow” and “To Tell The Truth” for viewers, and a hard boiled detective show seemed like a good alternative. After 42 episodes (1958-59) the show ended, and oddly, few of them have survived in good condition.
Lovejoy said at the time, “I kind of like this guy McGraw. He’s not a superman. He’s just a guy who tries to do the best he can, and is interested in saving his own neck quite frequently….I don’t win all the fights I get into….I don’t always knock out the villain. Sometimes he knocks me out.”
To the interviewer, Dorothy Roe, he offered a gallant remark about ladies: “I don’t treat all women as if they were just bodies. I prefer to view them as people. Some of them can even be good companions, with a sense of humor, and an understanding of fair play. Lots of women are regular guys.” At the time, he was married to “regular guy” actress Joan Banks.
Our McGraw sample is “The Ballerina,” about a dancer and the shady guy she loves. It features Hans Conried, Ainslie Pryor, Joyce Vanderveen, Ron Hargrave, Darlene Fields and Glen Vernon.