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User:Teblick/Wanted (1955 TV series)

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Wanted is an American documentary televison series that was broadcast on CBS from October 20, 1955, through January 12, 1956. It sought to locate fugitives from justice.[1]

Overview

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Walter McGraw narrated the series, in which each episode focused on a real-life criminal case (taken from the active-case files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation) from the commission of the crime "through the process of detection".[2] The show used no actors. Informants, police officers, witnesses and other people portrayed themselves as phases of the pursuit of the criminal were re-enacted[2] "clue by clue, witness by witness, hideout by hideout".[3] Those depictions were supplemented with interviews of victims and members of the family of the wanted person[2] in an effort to bring out "the fugitives' background, environment, crime motivations, social relationships and records".[3] Each episode included an appeal for the wanted person to surrender.[2]

The December 15, 1955, episode was about James Sheldon Truelove, who had escaped from the state penitentiary in North Carolina, where he was serving a life sentence. About a week later, FBI agents arrested him in Seattle, Washington.[4]

Production

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Walter and Peggy McGraw were the producers of Wanted, which was filmed and originated from WCBS-TV.[5] (Although most episodes were entirely on film, some had McGraw's narration done live.[6]) Directors included Bruce Anderson. Sponsors included Aerowax, Easy-Off oven cleaner, and Anacin.[5] It was broadcast on Thursdays from 10:30 to 11 p.m. Eastern time,[2] replacing The Halls of Ivy.[5] Its competition included Lux Video Theatre.[6] Production costs were approximately $32,500.[7]

Critical response

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A review in the trade publication Broadcasting compared Wanted to the radio program Gang Busters and said that it would "more than satisfy" the curiosity of people who wondered what the stories were behind wanted posters that they saw in Post Offices.[7] The review said that the November 3, 1955, episode depicted a murder and subsequent significant scenes with "graphic realism", and it commented, "Wanted is a welcome change from the familiar faces of the tired cop and robber routines."[7]

A brief review in the trade publication Variety commented that McGraw's change to narrating live rather than on film was not an improvement; it said that the presentation was "dull and ponderous".[8] The review called the program "30 minutes of confusing and uninteresting exposition relieved only by the Anacin commercials".[8]

References

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  1. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 895. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. ^ a b c d e Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 1095. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  3. ^ a b "Wanted". Ross Reports. September 14, 1955. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Herman, Pinky (December 28, 1955). "Television -- Radio". Motion Picture Daily. p. 6. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "This Week -- Network Debuts & Highlights". Ross Reports. October 17, 1955. p. 129. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "News - Possibilities - Comment". Ross Reports. December 21, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Wanted". Broadcasting. November 14, 1955. p. 14. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Wanted". Variety. December 7, 1955. p. 34. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
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