- THE COUNTESS
Original Air Date: September 27, 1974
Synopsis. Socialite Deborah Ryder (played by Susan Strasberg) hires Rockford to stop Carl Brego (Dick Gautier), an extortionist who knows that Deborah was once linked to a numbers racket in Chicago. As part of his surveillance, Rockford videotapes a meeting between Deborah and Carl. Then, while pretending to be another blackmailer who wants a piece of the action, he confronts Carl and threatens to turn the tape over to the police unless Carl cuts him in. The ploy backfires, however, when Carl is shot to death—Rockford becomes the prime suspect.
Susan Strasberg, daughter of legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg, played the wife of Tony Musante in Toma, the ABC police drama inextricably linked to the creation of The Rockford Files. We’ll see her again in “A Bad Deal in the Valley.” Dick Gautier, aka Hymie the Robot on Get Smart, earned a Tony nomination for his performance as Elvis-like rock ’n’ roll star Conrad Birdie in the original Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
Ed Robertson
Author ● Journalist ● Radio Host ● Collaborative Writer
Lindsay Wagner
This Date in THE FBI History: Vera Miles, Peter Donat, and William Schallert star in “The Swindler,” airing Sept. 26, 1969
- THE SWINDLER
Original Air Date: Sept. 26, 1969
Synopsis. The death of a federal bank employee who had embezzled $83,000 puts Erskine and Colby on the trail of Jack Pollard and William Quine, the two swindlers who had roped the man into embezzling the funds in the first place. Erskine must nab the duo before they bilk their latest mark, Ohio banking executive Kate Burke, out of $200,000.LEARN MORE about this episode in THE FBI DOSSIER, everything you wanted to know—and more— about the long-running ABC-TV series produced by Quinn Martin and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. THE FBI DOSSIER is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in THE FBI History: John McIntire and Jeanette Nolan star in “The Last Job,” airing Sept. 26, 1971. THE FBI DOSSIER is now available from Black Pawn Press
- THE LAST JOB
Original Air Date: Sept. 26, 1971
Synopsis. Legendary bank robber Doc Lacy (played by John McIntire) masterminded a series of thefts that netted him nearly a million dollars—all before the age of twenty-six. Though incarcerated for the past twenty-seven years, he has been a model prisoner for the past ten years, likely due to a heart condition. When Lacy escapes from a prison work project near McComb, Louisiana, Erskine surmises—correctly—that Lacy has one last score in mind: an army payroll in Seattle, Washington that’s worth more than a million dollars.LEARN MORE about this episode in THE FBI DOSSIER, everything you wanted to know—and more— about the long-running ABC-TV series produced by Quinn Martin and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. THE FBI DOSSIER is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in THE FBI History: Jack Klugman and Brett Somers Klugman star in “Image in a Cracked Mirror,” airing Sept. 26, 1965
- IMAGE IN A CRACKED MIRROR
Original Air Date: Sept. 26, 1965
Synopsis. After embezzling $20,000 from a bank in El Paso, Texas, Charles Emery Gates (played by Jack Klugman) flees for Mexico, along with his adopted son, Billy. Gates makes it across the border—without realizing that he had left his son behind after the boy had stepped out of their station wagon when Gates stopped for gas at a filling station near the border. With the help of Gates’ sister (played by Brett Somers), Erskine tries to use Gates’ love for his son as part of an effort to lure the embezzler back into the United States.LEARN MORE about this episode in THE FBI DOSSIER, everything you wanted to know—and more— about the long-running ABC-TV series produced by Quinn Martin and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. THE FBI DOSSIER is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: Part 1 of the two-part episode “Gearjammers!” airs on Sept. 26, 1975. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- GEARJAMMERS! (Part 1)
Original Air Date: September 26, 1975
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. Guest stars include Ted Gehring and Scott Brady, both of whom were both originally under consideration for the role of Dennis Becker in the Rockford Files pilot, and Bucklind Beery, the real-life son of series star Noah Beery Jr.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
This Week in THE FBI History: Jacqueline Scott stars in “Edge of Desperation,” airing Sept. 24, 1972. THE FBI DOSSIER is now available from Black Pawn Press
- EDGE OF DESPERATION
Original Air Date: Sept. 24, 1972
Synopsis. Insurance claims adjustor Alan Graves engineers his own kidnapping, forcing his wife (played by Jacqueline Scott) to ask her wealthy father to put up the ransom. Graves plans to use the ransom money to run off to Europe with a younger woman. But he soon discovers that leading a double life can be far more dangerous than anticipated.LEARN MORE about this episode in THE FBI DOSSIER, everything you wanted to know—and more— about the long-running ABC-TV series produced by Quinn Martin and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. THE FBI DOSSIER is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Week in THE FBI History: Jacqueline Scott stars in “Edge of Desperation,” airing Sept. 24, 1972
- EDGE OF DESPERATION
Original Air Date: Sept. 24, 1972
Synopsis. Insurance claims adjustor Alan Graves engineers his own kidnapping, forcing his wife (played by Jacqueline Scott) to ask her wealthy father to put up the ransom. Graves plans to use the ransom money to run off to Europe with a younger woman. But he soon discovers that leading a double life can be far more dangerous than anticipated.LEARN MORE about this episode in THE FBI DOSSIER, everything you wanted to know—and more— about the long-running ABC-TV series produced by Quinn Martin and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. THE FBI DOSSIER is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: Sharon Gless, Michael Bell, and John McMartin star in “The Fourth Man,” airing Sept. 24, 1976. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- THE FOURTH MAN
Original Air Date: September 24, 1976
Synopsis. Rockford’s neighbor Lori Jenevein (played by Sharon Gless) becomes the target of a hitman named Timpson Farrell (John McMartin). Lori, an airline flight attendant, recognizes Farrell as a regular passenger on the commuter flight. Farrell fears that Lori will link him to the recent deaths of three witnesses who were scheduled to testify before a Senate committee on organized crime—murders that all took place within the past month in cities serviced by the commuter flight.Sharon Gless previously appeared in “This Case is Closed,” an episode from the first season that is at the center of one of the most storied chapters in Rockford Files history. Her character in this episode, Lori Jenevein, was named after Rockford sound effects editor Walter Jenevein.
LEARN MORE about “The Fourth Man” and “This Case is Closed” in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
This Date in THE FBI History: Louis Jourdan and Nancy Kovack star in “Wind It Up and It Betrays You,” airing Sept. 22, 1968
- WIND IT UP AND IT BETRAYS YOU
Original Air Date: Sept. 22, 1968
Synopsis. A noted Communist spy plots to steal the plans for Operation Bouquet, a missile project that is under development at Meridian, a defense institute in Connecticut. When the Bureau suspects that a scientist employed by Meridian may be in cahoots with Tabor, Erskine poses as the company’s chief security officer to thwart the plot.LEARN MORE about this episode in THE FBI DOSSIER, everything you wanted to know—and more— about the long-running ABC-TV series produced by Quinn Martin and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. THE FBI DOSSIER is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: “Heartaches of a Fool,” featuring two songs performed by Willie Nelson, airs on Sept. 22, 1978. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- HEARTACHES OF A FOOL
Original Air Date: September 22, 1978
Synopsis. Country-western recording star Charlie Strayhorn is beset with financial and personal problems: production on his new album has been delayed; he has tax troubles; and his marriage is ending. The only thing Charlie has going for him is the popular brand of smoked sausages that bears his name—but even that’s a fraud. Charlie doesn’t realize that his unscrupulous business partner, Clement Chen, has been circumventing the FDA and the Teamsters by producing the sausages in Mexico and arranging for non-union transportation of the product into the United States. Rocky becomes victimized by Chen’s operation after he innocently agrees to pick up a load of the sausages in San Diego. Rocky not only has his truck overturned and destroyed by two men, but loses his drivers license and has his union pension and medical benefits suspended. After Rockford confronts Charlie with the truth about his sausage company, the singer helps the private eye investigate the matter.LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details