The Silent Service (TV series)
| The Silent Service | |
|---|---|
| Presented by | Thomas M. Dykers |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 78[1] |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | George M. Cahan |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
California National Productions Twin Dolphin Productions, Inc. |
| Distributor | NBCUniversal Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syndication |
| Picture format | Black and white (1957–1958) |
| Original release | 1957 – 1958 |
The Silent Service is an American syndicated anthology television series based on actual events in the submarine section of the United States Navy. The Silent Service was narrated by Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers, who retired from the Navy in 1949 after twenty-two years of service.[2] He began each episode with this refrain: "Tonight, we bring you another thrilling episode of Silent Service stories, of warfare under the sea."
Many of the episodes focused on the history of specific submarines, including:
- USS Sculpin (SS-191)
- USS Nautilus (SS-168)
- USS Guardfish (SS-217)
- USS Perch (SS-176)
- USS Tang (SS-306)
- USS S-38 (SS-143)
- USS Dace (SS-247)
- USS Darter (SS-227)
- USS Tirante (SS-420)
- USS Trigger (SS-237)
- USS Sunfish (SS-281)
- USS Bergall (SS-320)
- USS Spearfish (SS-190)
- USS Triton (SS-201)
- USS Flier (SS-250)
- USS Hawkbill (SS-366)
- USS Growler (SS-215)
- USS Bowfin (SS-287)
- USS Wahoo (SS-238), and
- USS Gato (SS-212), subject of the series finale.[3]
Many of these episodes have been uploaded to YouTube.
Actors appearing on The Silent Service included Russell Johnson, cast three times in the role of the character "Beach". DeForest Kelley appeared in three episodes as Lieutenant Commander James Dempsey and Leonard Nimoy appeared in two episodes as Sonarman. Jerry Paris and Liam Sullivan each guest starred twice. Wright King played "Bony" in the 1957 episode "The Squallfish". Eric Morris appeared in nineteen episodes, identified only as "Soldier".[2]
Other guest stars included Joe Conley, Jack Lord, Chuck Connors, Lawrence Dobkin, Ron Hagerthy, Adam Kennedy, Robert Knapp, Paul Richards, Bing Russell, Craig Stevens, Dennis Weaver, and Stuart Whitman.[3]
The Silent Service was produced by California National Productions and Twin Dolphin Productions, Inc.[2]
Comedian Bob Newhart spoofed the program with "The Cruise of the U.S.S. Codfish", a routine from his 1960 live album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.[4]
References
- ↑ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1070. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
- 1 2 3 "The Silent Service (1957)". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
- 1 2 "Episode List for The Silent Service". IMDB. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
- ↑ http://monologues.co.uk/Bob_Newhart/USS_Codfish.htm