- ALIAS BART MAVERICK
Original Airdate: October 5, 1958
Synopsis. Outside Crescent City, Bart encounters Gentleman Jack Darby (played by Richard Long), a fugitive wanted for embezzlement by the Missouri Surety Company. Although innocent of that charge (a dishonest bank clerk stole the money), Darby is no angel―in order to collect the $1,000 reward money, Darby convinces the Crescent City sheriff that Bart really is Gentleman Jack. While Bart sits in jail, Darby wins $2,600 playing poker, but leaves town after he kills one of the troublemaking Plummer brothers in self-defense. Darby then frees Bart, only to rob him later. With an assist from entertainer Cindy Lou Brown, Darby’s charming but not-too-bright girlfriend, Bart trails Gentleman Jack to Deadwood.
This episode marks Richard Long’s first appearance as Gentleman Jack Darby, another all-out grafter meant to contrast Maverick’s gentle grafter. Series creator Roy Huggins devised the Darby character to replace Dandy Jim Buckley once Efrem Zimbalist began production of 77 Sunset Strip (which, of course, precluded him from making further appearances as Buckley). While Darby and Buckley are essentially the same character, there are a few differences. Unlike Buckley, for example, Darby has some semblance of a conscience, because he helps Bart fend off the Plummer brothers at the end of this episode.
Synopsis. Rockford’s old flame Janet Carr hires him to tail her philandering husband Prentiss. Rockford locates Prentiss at the Bay City Motel, but he finds the man dead—an apparent murder victim. Though Rockford reports the matter to the authorities, he does not tell them that he’s already investigated the scene of the crime (a fact that could implicate Jim and his client to Prentiss’ death). When Lieutenant Furlong and Sergeant Larsen of the Bay City Police report that Prentiss apparently committed suicide, Rockford accuses them of tampering with the evidence. After the cops throw him out of town, Rockford surreptitiously continues to probe. Soon he discovers a link between Prentiss’ death and an embezzlement scheme at the insurance company where Prentiss worked.This episode features character actors Warren Kemmerling and Mills Watson, both of whom were among the early considerations for the role of Dennis Becker in the Rockford Files pilot.
Synopsis. Rocky’s life becomes endangered after he inadvertently witnesses an illegal business transaction between his trucker friend Johnny LoSalvo and LoSalvo’s ruthless boss Hammel, who has plotted to hijack six of his own trucks as part of a master plan to steal an incoming cargo of valuable sable furs. Although Rocky has no idea what’s going on, Hammel wants the old man eliminated simply because Rocky can identify him. LoSalvo tries to save Rocky, but Hammel has him killed. Rockford protects his father from danger—while Rocky helps his son solve the case.
