77 Sunset Strip
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
77 Sunset Strip was an American television private detective drama series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Roger Smith, Richard Long (from 1960 to 1961) and Edd Byrnes (billed as Edward Byrnes). Each episode was one hour long including commercials. The show ran from 1958 to 1964.
Description
Initial set-up and characters
Private detective Stuart ("Stu") Bailey (Zimbalist) was a former government secret agent. Jeff Spencer (Smith) also was a former government agent, and a nonpracticing attorney. The duo worked out of stylish offices at 77 Sunset Boulevard, Suites 101 and 102. The street address was colloquially known as Sunset Strip, and was located between La Cienega Boulevard and Alta Loma Road on the south side of the strip next door to Dean Martin's real-life lounge, Dino's Lodge. Typically, the two detectives would alternate as leads, with a Stuart Bailey case being featured one week, and a Jeff Spencer case the next -- although depending on the nature of the case, sometimes the two would team up.
Suzanne Fabry, the beautiful French switchboard operator played by Jacqueline Beer, handled the phones for Sunset Answering Service located in suite 103. The firm of Bailey & Spencer employed her answering service, as did other clients. Although not technically an employee of the firm, Suzanne would be involved in casework from time to time, especially in season two.
Comic relief was provided by Roscoe the racetrack tout (played by Louis Quinn). Roscoe was forever hanging around the offices, giving horse racing tips. However, he was sometimes used as an operative, and was an ever-informed source concerning the word on the street.
The firm's most frequently seen police contact was Lt. Roy Gilmore (Byron Keith), who was almost never called by his first name.
The 'breakout' character, who had not been included in the pilot film, was Gerald Lloyd "Kookie" Kookson III (Edd Byrnes), the rock and roll-loving, wisecracking, hair-combing hipster and aspiring PI who initially worked as the valet parking attendant at Dino's, the club next door to the detectives' office. "Kookie" often found a way to get himself involved in the firm's cases, and was eventually made a full partner in the firm with his own office.
Also seen relatively frequently were The Frank Ortega Trio, playing themselves as the jazzy house band at Dino's Lodge.
Tone and cultural impact
Huggins intended the show to be a hard-edged drama, but beginning with the 23rd episode, "The Pasadena Caper," the tone started to become much lighter, with a strong element of self-deprecating humor and "caper" frequently used in episode titles. The catchy theme song, written by the accomplished team of Mack David and Jerry Livingston, typified the show's breezy, jazzed atmosphere. The song became the centerpiece of an album of the show's music in Warren Barker orchestrations, which was released in 1959, a top-10 hit in the Billboard LP charts.
The Kookie character became a cultural phenomenon, with his slang expressions such as "ginchy" (cool) and "piling up Zs" (sleeping). When Kookie helped the detectives on a case by singing a song, Edd Byrnes began a singing career with the novelty single "Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)" (Warner Bros. 5047), based on his frequent combing of his hair; this featured Connie Stevens on vocals in the chorus and the song, with words and music by Irving Taylor, became the first hit single for the recently established Warner Bros. Records. Kookie was also used to provide product placement for Harley-Davidson, appearing on their Topper motor scooter in the show and in Harley-Davidson advertisements.
