San Francisco Beat

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Does anyone remember the old TV series Called San Francisco Beat. It was filmed in the early 50's in the city. I would like to know of any video or access to watch the old series again. Thanks

-- Ron Burreson (R2wrr@aol.com), July 09, 2004

Answers

I saw a posting on the Western Neighborhoods Project stating old episodes were available on video from robertsvideo.com

Good hunting!

-- John Martini (jamartini@slip.net), July 10, 2004.


Yes, I loved that program. It was like having our own local version of Dragnet.. And I think it was frequently better!

The S.F. Beat detectives sometimes used the police telephones that are mounted inside blue boxes all over San Francisco.

It was additional eye candy for the viewer whenever they used one on a particularly steep hill overlooking the bay.

Diane Feinstein resorted to using one of these long forgotten telephones right after the Loma Prieta earthquake, when most of the more modern telephone systems were knocked out of service.

If anyone wants to see one of these old police telephone boxes, examine the wooden pole on the southeast corner of 7th Avenue and Warren ( aka Lawton and Laguna Honda Blvd.)

-- Hamilton Barrett (mimereader2@Yahoo.com), July 12, 2004.


My father worked for many years during the 50s and 60s as an appraiser for the U.S. Customs and had an office in the Appraisers' Building on Sansome Street just behind the Customs House on Battery. Every time we finished watching 'San Francisco Beat' we kids would stay hovering around the TV set as the final credits scrolled because behind the credits the camera was slowly panning across the SF skyline from L-R (N to S). When the camera reached the big, white Appraisers' Building, with it's distinctive vertical stripe windows, we would scream out in unison, "There's Daddy's building!!" Then we'd run off and, uh, tease the cat or something.

-- Daniel Ferguson (ferguson6552@hotmail.com), July 20, 2004.

Very interesting. I would watch San Francisco Beat at my Grandpa's house on Otsego Street (Balboa Park), and had forgotten about it completely until last week. I've been listening to an old radio show called Pat Novak For Hire, set in the city and with many local references. The later episodes starred Jack Webb. So, is SF Beat available on video? If anyone finds them, please give me a shout. -- Paul DeLucchi (pauldelucchi@earthlink.net)

-- Paul DeLucchi (pauldelucchi@earthlink.net), August 28, 2004.

Classic T.V. show.Loved the shots of the city in the 50's,The cars,The building's that are long gone,the hats and the stories.Great show!Hope someone brings it back to T.V.!!!Cheer's .Chris

-- chris johnson (cabazaba@netzero.net), October 10, 2004.


Yes, I remember the show and would love to get information about some of the locales used. I just moved here after 40 years of trying and am eager to look up some of the old shows as well. I'll always remember the black and white coming up over the hill with the cable car.

Who else besides Tom Tully were the two detectives?

-- John B. Champion (johnbchampion@mail2john.com), November 03, 2004.


I have always been convinced that the other detective on SFB is Asa on one life to live. one Life is on the web but does not mention his part in SFB.He is from New York and played in John Wayne movies. Thanks for mentioning one of my mystery hunts. Roy

-- Roy L. Laws (sueleelaws@wmconnecy.com), November 20, 2004.

I think it was Tom Tully and Warner Anderson

-- Billie Jo Jones (BeeJay@141.aol.com), January 11, 2005.

Tom Tully was the second partner of Warner Anderson. Who was the first? He was the guy with Anderson in the movie version "The Lineup"

-- Mike Mahoney (S30DF@AOL.COM), January 13, 2005.

OK, guys, here's what I've discovered. Apparently the "San Francisco Beat" we all remember is the syndication title of "The Line-up", which I don't remember at all. Here's a website with an astonishing amount of information about it: http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Stage/2950/Crime/LineUp.htm. But that doesn't get us any closer to being able to see any of the episodes again. Surely someone has this stuff in cans in a warehouse someplace. How can we find out who and where?

-- Paul DeLucchi (pauldelucchi@earthlink.net), January 14, 2005.


San Francisco Beat was one of the best shows ever however my perception could be a tad blurred considering the show was on fifty years ago. Loved those old ford squad cars which I assume were black.I think about the theme song often. I thought it was eerie and beckoning. Would love to see those shows again. It's good to see that other people remember The Streets of San Fran and that I'm not hallucinating about my childhood memories.

-- geo. m. larson (glarson1@new.rr.com), January 19, 2005.

Try hollywoodhero@worldnet.att.net The tapes aren't always the best quality but the prices are very reasonable.

The original show around 1951 was called Lineup. It was brought back around 1957 with new episodes as San Francisco Beat.

-- Bruno (bbskip@netzero.net), February 18, 2005.


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