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Obit: Gene Barry at 90
- Thread starter Ultimajock
- Start date
On-screen at least that guy exuded class. "Bat
Masterson" and the original "Burke's Law" (before they
transformed him into a spy, and the less said about the
'90s revival, the better) were two favorites in my house
when I was a kid. It was kinda fun to see the Starz Westerns
channel rerunning "Bat Masterson" a couple of years ago.
I think the real loss, though, will be when James Garner goes--
like Barry, he clicked in two formats: "Maverick" (a Western)
and "Rockford Files" (a detective show), and he did it with a
likability Barry didn't quite project.
Masterson" and the original "Burke's Law" (before they
transformed him into a spy, and the less said about the
'90s revival, the better) were two favorites in my house
when I was a kid. It was kinda fun to see the Starz Westerns
channel rerunning "Bat Masterson" a couple of years ago.
I think the real loss, though, will be when James Garner goes--
like Barry, he clicked in two formats: "Maverick" (a Western)
and "Rockford Files" (a detective show), and he did it with a
likability Barry didn't quite project.
I slightly remember Bat Masterson, being the youngester I was back then.
However I do remember "Burke's Law" and liked the show until some "network genius" decided to change the show to "Amos Burke, Secret Agent."
I knew Barry had to be up there in age, but wow 90! He lived a long life.
However I do remember "Burke's Law" and liked the show until some "network genius" decided to change the show to "Amos Burke, Secret Agent."
I knew Barry had to be up there in age, but wow 90! He lived a long life.
About a year go, I saw a couple of Bat Masterson episodes on the Encore Western Channel. I can't seem to access their current schedule to see if it's still running. The show was only 30 minutes long, so it's a typical hokey 50s comedy/drama in which the conflicts are resolved easily and too conveniently. Also very low budget by modern standards. But it's fun watching Gene Barry play with the character.
Encore Western also runs Big Valley and The Rifleman.
Encore Western also runs Big Valley and The Rifleman.
...odd that so few folks are mentioning The Name of the Game in remembering Barry, either here or elsewhere in cyberspace...
Barry also had a short-lived syndicated series,
"The Adventurer," back around 1972 or '73; I
seem to remember it airing briefly on WXIA.
"Name Of The Game" was as successful as "Bat
Masterson" and "Burke's Law," and I guess it's
because I associate Barry with those two shows
that I forgot to include it.
Another movie you should watch for to see him
in action is Robert Mitchum's "Thunder Road."
Barry plays a "revenooer" who's out to destroy
all the illegal liquor activity in the Southern mountains,
and that's all I'll say for those who've never seen the
movie.
"The Adventurer," back around 1972 or '73; I
seem to remember it airing briefly on WXIA.
"Name Of The Game" was as successful as "Bat
Masterson" and "Burke's Law," and I guess it's
because I associate Barry with those two shows
that I forgot to include it.
Another movie you should watch for to see him
in action is Robert Mitchum's "Thunder Road."
Barry plays a "revenooer" who's out to destroy
all the illegal liquor activity in the Southern mountains,
and that's all I'll say for those who've never seen the
movie.
When and how did NBC get hold of "Bat Masterson?" I thought it was a ZIV syndicated production for its whole first-run life. Are we talking about the first cycle of reruns or exclusive syndication to NBC affiliates?
By the way, "Burke's Law" was a must-watch in my household on ABC. The theme song was a good one, too!
By the way, "Burke's Law" was a must-watch in my household on ABC. The theme song was a good one, too!
Ziv produced "Bat Masterson" but NBC carried it in first run for
three years (1958-61); I suppose it was a rare foray into network
TV for that successful syndication company. The show occupied
three timeslots in as many years:
1958-59 Wed 9:30-10:00
1959-60 Thu 8:00-8:30
1960-61 Thu 8:30-9:00
"Burke's Law" was also must viewing in my house, especially the
first year when it ran on Friday nights. My dad still talks about
ABC's changing Amos Burke from a cop to a spy and still thinks
it was a gruesome mistake. Judging from the ratings he's right;
"Amos Burke, Secret Agent" lasted from September 1965 to
January 1966. And on against it was "I Spy," with Robert Culp
and Bill Cosby working great together as a team--both of spies
and of actors.
three years (1958-61); I suppose it was a rare foray into network
TV for that successful syndication company. The show occupied
three timeslots in as many years:
1958-59 Wed 9:30-10:00
1959-60 Thu 8:00-8:30
1960-61 Thu 8:30-9:00
"Burke's Law" was also must viewing in my house, especially the
first year when it ran on Friday nights. My dad still talks about
ABC's changing Amos Burke from a cop to a spy and still thinks
it was a gruesome mistake. Judging from the ratings he's right;
"Amos Burke, Secret Agent" lasted from September 1965 to
January 1966. And on against it was "I Spy," with Robert Culp
and Bill Cosby working great together as a team--both of spies
and of actors.
bpatrick said:
Off the main topic (but you brought it up) -- I, for one, am enjoying the hell out of I Spy reruns on RTN. It's probably the first I've seen the show since the 60's. Some damn fine plots and scripts, great banter and chemistry between the leads. I had forgotten how GOOD Cosby was in this, his first TV role (and a dramatic one at that) -- for someone who was a neophyte actor, he just seemed to come by it naturally.
While I fondly remember Gene Barry on Bat Masterson, Amos Burk, Name of the gamer but he was also in the 1953 version of War of the Worlds. But I remember reading an interview several years ago where Barry's fondness was doing song and dance roles. In fact he played Richard Nixon in "Watergate: The Musical". He also originated the role in the play "The Birdcage" of the role Robin Williams had in the film version.
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