The first episode aired 61 years ago yesterday.
Highway Patrol was a very low-budget series, but it was entertaining nevertheless. I have the series on DVD. On a related note, a friend asked me the other day, what happens whenever the laws of any state are broken?
Well, I said, whenever the laws of any state are broken, a duly authorized organization swings into action. It may be called the State Police, State Troopers, Militia, the Rangers... or the Highway Patrol.
Ten four.
Broderick Crawford was great.
Astounds me that I’m old enough to have watched this on the tube....
broderick crawford was great!
one of my favorite actors - had some wonderful movie roles as well.
Old enough to remember this on TV ( born in 1952 ) and have been watching episodes on Youtube for the past year and half or so . Coincidentally , just the other night saw Broderick Crawford in an episode of Kraft Mystery Theater ( again Youtube ) entitled “ Shadow Of A Man “ also starring Jack Kelly and Ed Begley . Excellent television .
I remember the Highway Trooper show but we were never allowed to watch it - mom thought it was too violent. Not sure how she concluded that tho. LOL, how things have changed in todays TV! Anyway I recall turning it on a time or two in defiance of her instructions with my brother and sister. That was very risky behavior in our house. :) For the record we never could firgure out why she thought it was more violent than any other COP show...guess it was Broderick’s always scowling mug that put her off.
Thanks for the reminder as it’s also the 97th anniversary of my dad’s birth. As to Broderick Crawford’s 10-4 role in Highway Patrol, I mostly tune in to see the cars. Observing the other classic elements like the cop gear (swivel holster) and two-way radios also interest me.
Loved how he could squeal his tires on a dirt road
I thought it ironic that so many episodes had to be filmed off of public roads due to Crawford’s own license being suspended for drunk driving.
Watched the show as a kid. Crawford was a good actor.
My favorite Broderick Crawford moment is during an episode of TV’s Banacek (”No Sign of the Cross”, 1972 starring George Peppard). At one point Crawford calls him “Banana-chek”. I don’t know if that was in the script or a blooper, but I loved it.
One episode I still remember was the one where they busted a marijuana farm. At the end Dan Mathews was walking through a field of plants about 8 inches high and stated: “Good thing we got them when we did, they were just getting ready to harvest”