A Noted Television Theme

 

The ever-popular Murdoch Mysteries (2008-) is a Canadian television drama series set in Toronto beginning in 1895 and progressively follows Detective William Murdoch, who solves murder cases using methods of detection that were ahead of its time, alluding to future commonly used detection methods. These might include "finger marks" (fingerprinting), blood testing, surveillance, and trace evidence. The detective may use existing technology of his time to improvise a crude prototype that would help a 21st-century audience relate. For the same purpose, modern social issues are addressed. As with most modern historical interpretations, the show is a blend of fiction with aspects of fact. The Murdoch character may interact with actual historical figures as if the detective existed. The episodes can range from near slapstick to dark and gruesome murder investigations. 

Supporting excellent opening graphics, Robert Carli composed a contemporary synthesized electronic "steampunk" arrangement. Listen to it HERE

Reel Character Series

 

Frank Lovejoy (1912-1962) was an American actor in radio, film, and television, best known for his supporting roles as the “everyman” caught up in challenging circumstances. He was one actor not needing to change his last name just to stand out from the Hollywood crowd. Whether in military uniform, as a detective, or common laborer, he handled a variety of roles with near-flawless performances, from tough cop to sensitive husband. Lovejoy had the voice of someone who spent the day in the stands yelling for his NFL playoff team and has not yet recovered. A smokey, nasal sound like few others, it lent intrigue to his radio characters or the narrator for his radio crime show, Night Beat. Somewhat surprisingly, the 1950s was his only full decade of work, starting out that decade with a strong leading role in the chilling, Try and Get Me! aka The Sound of Fury, as a struggling out-of-work family man spiraling into a life of crime with an arrogant instigator, Lloyd Bridges. In 1951, he had the title role and narrator for I Was a Communist for the FBI, going undercover to expose Communism. He was notable as a supporting player in The Hitch-hiker, the classic film noir of 1953. He crammed down a lot of scripts in 1955, his busiest year, with seven films and seven television appearances. Oddly or not, the nearest I can figure he had a total of fifty-five acting roles as well. Though he completed three more films in the late Fifties, he spent the balance of his career in television. Had he lived longer, he might have provided some interesting characters well into his seventies. 

A Noted Television Theme

 

Stone is an American police drama that aired on ABC Monday nights for nine episodes in 1980, not including a television pilot movie. The series focused on Det. Sgt. Daniel Stone, a police officer who wrote best-selling novels on police work based on his own experiences. The forgotten series was a Stephen J. Cannell Productions and Gerry Productions, Inc. for Universal Television and was created by Cannell, Richard Levinson and William Link. Mike Post and Pete Carpenter were tabbed for the cool guitar-heavy theme that remains more interesting than the series itself. A hard-hitting theme seemingly over-the-top for Weaver's acting style.