87th Precinct Episode Guide

1. The Floater

First aired: 9/25/1961
Writer: Winston Miller
Director: Herschel Daugherty
Guest star: Dal McKennon (Dr. Blaney) , Helen Mayon (Mrs. Donovan), Kim Hamilton (Black Woman), Ralph Manza (Cab Driver), Robert Culp (Curt Donaldson), Natalie Norwick (Priscilla Ames), Victor Sen Yung (Charlie Chan), Paul Bryar (Bartholdi), Wally Brown (Ambrose)
Global rating: 9.7

Carella gets on the trail of Curt Donaldson, a sadistic con man who preys on lonely women.

2. Lady in Waiting

First aired: 10/2/1961
Writer: Evan Hunter
Director: Alan Crosland Jr.
Guest star: Constance Ford (Virginia Colt), Jackie Russo (Danny), Helen Mayon (Mrs. Donovan), Mike Flatley (Chuck), Rusty Lane (Sgt. Murchison), Miguel Ángel Landa (Miscolo), Emile Meyer (Captain Howard), Margarita Cordova (Angelica Galindo)
Global rating: 8.6

Virginia Colt, whose late husband was sent to prison on Detective Carella's testimony, barges into the 87th precinct house carrying a gun and wanting to use it on the detective.

3. Lady Killer

First aired: 10/9/1961
Writer: John Hawkins
Director: Dick Moder
Guest star: Michael Fox (Grossman), Dennis McCarthy (Richards) , Barbara Perkins (Mary), Billy Halop (Samalson), Penny Santon (Mrs. Annuci), Vito Scotti (Donner), Ralph Smiley (George Angelo), Harlan Warde (Dr. Ben Daniels), Doris Kemper (Harriet Horn), Billy E. Hughes (Frankie Annuci), Laurie Mitchell (Marcia Polenski), Lee Krieger (Joe Cort), Patricia Donahue (Joy Astor), Marian Collier (Felicia Pannett), Peter Leeds (George Ladonna), Roger Mobley (Danny)
Global rating: 8.3

The detectives follow up on an anonymous note that says only "I will kill the lady tonight at 8." Slim clues indeed.

4. The Modus Man

First aired: 10/16/1961
Writer: Finlay McDermid
Director: James Wong Howe
Guest star: Dennis McCarthy (Richards) , Eddie Quillan (Blinky Smith), Juney Ellis (Landlady), Jimmy Jarratt (Bartender), Joe Higgins (Jovial George), Sheila Bromley (Mrs. Hoffman), Jean Engstrom (Mrs. Renfrew), John Anderson (I) (Phil Brewster)
Global rating: 7.0

A disgruntled former detective who quit the police force out of frustration begins committing robberies using the modus operandi of known thieves. The 87th Precinct detectives are completely baffled--at first.

5. Line of Duty

First aired: 10/23/1961
Writer: Evan Hunter
Director: Don Weis
Guest star: Dennis McCarthy (Richards), Margie Regan (Claire Townsend), Dal McKennon (Dr. Blaney), Michael Fox (Grossman) , John Clarke Bowman (Bobby Matfield), Richard Lepore (Karl Harrod), Vivi Janiss (Mrs. Matfield), Anita Sands (Terry), King Calder (Monoghan), Ben Hammer (Brecht), Walter Burke (Danny Gimp)
Global rating: 7.6

Detective Kling is forced to shoot and kill a holdup man and is emotionally devastated by the event.

6. Occupation, Citizen

First aired: 10/30/1961
Writer: Winston Miller
Director: Alan Crosland Jr.
Guest star: Ross Martin (Joe Czepreghi), Lillian O'Malley (Elderly Woman), J. Pat O'Malley (Elderly Man), Edward G. Robinson Jr. (Stranger), Jonathan Hole (Higgins), John Day (Plainclothesman), William Georgio (Singing Willie), Jack Carol (Cagliano), Stanley Kahn (Herman Walters), Fred Schweiller (Mack), John Dennis (Johnny Boy), Caren Lenay (Rose Czepreghi), Fern Barry (Chambermaid)
Global rating: 8.8

Fearing for the health of his pregnant wife, an immigrant locksmith refuses to co-operate with the police in identifying two robbers who beat a man to death on orders of a crime boss.

7. Killer's Payoff

First aired: 11/6/1961
Writer: Norman Katkov
Director: John Brahm
Guest star: Terry Burnham (Jane Mencken), Beverly Garland (Nancy Johnson), John Archer (James Mencken), Jack Albertson (Edward Schlesser), William Fawcett (Archie Glotter), Joseph Mell (Desk Clerk #1), Paul Richards (I) (Marty Torr), Jeanne Cooper (Lucy Mencken)
Global rating: 8.5

When a slimy blackmailer is murdered, the detectives have to sort through an entire army of suspects including the dead man's mistress, a horse trainer, the wife of a wealthy man, a bottling plant owner, and an ex-convict mechanic.

8. The Guilt

First aired: 11/13/1961
Writer: David Lang
Director: William D. Faralla
Guest star: Dal McKennon (Dr. Blaney), Ruth Storey (Sarah Meyer) , Adam Stewart (Patrolman), Ralph Gary (Harris), Kathryn Card (Mrs. Coons), Pat Goldin (Joe), Sandra Gould (Mrs. Stradling), Herb Vigran (Detective Reinhold), Mike Kellin (Artie Sanford), Norma Crane (Estelle Vernolla), Stafford Repp (Harry), Joe Downing (Clem Peterson), Billy Curtis (Willy), John McLiam (Menlo), Eve McVeagh (Mrs. Como)
Global rating: 7.8

Detective Meyer arrests an old friend on a robbery charge but the man escapes--and is bitten by a rabid dog.

9. The Empty Hours

First aired: 11/20/1961
Writer: Richard Collins
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Guest star: Tom Fadden (Sidney Courtney), Pat Crowley (Josie Thompson), Stanley Adams (Howard Oblinsky), William Schallert (Eric Blough), Frances Robinson (Mrs. Miller), John Zaremba (Anderson), Pitt Herbert (Mr. Paul), Malcolm Atterbury (Police Chief), Hank Patterson (Cy), Gail Bonney (Mrs. Courtney), Lewis Charles (Bradvek), Hank Brandt (George), Grandon Rhodes (McClintock)
Global rating: 9.2

Josie Thompson hopes to benefit financially by assuming the identity of her deceased friend. She's unaware that she's placing herself in deadly danger. It appears as though there's a hit man on the friend's trail.

10. My Friend, My Enemy

First aired: 11/27/1961
Writer: Anne Howard Bailey
Director: Don Weis
Guest star: Stephen Mines (Mike Rainey), Gary Clarke (Jerry Fisher), Nicky Blair (Young Man), Delores Wells (Clerk), Joseph Corey (Sailor), Anne Whitfield (Joy), Carol Rossen (Nancy), Michael Hart (Barbara Davis), Mitzi McCall (Girlfriend of Sailor), Dennis Hopper (Andrew Mason), Harlan Warde (Dr. Ben Daniels), Jocelyn Brando (Mrs. Mason)
Global rating: 8.0

A young man with a domineering mother is the prime suspect in the murder of a pretty coed.

11. The Very Hard Sell

First aired: 12/4/1961
Writer: Helen Nielsen
Director: Paul Stewart
Guest star: Michael Fox (Grossman), Dal McKennon (Dr. Blaney) , Tom Greenway (Glenn Cornell), Chet Stratton (Hamilton), Jack Searl (Fuller), Arte Johnson (Hotel Clerk), Charlene Whitman (Stella), Jack Collins (Gorcey), Bill Zuckert (Sam Donnigan), Alice Frost (Mrs. Cornell), Leonard Nimoy (Barrow), Peter Helm (Andy Cornell)
Global rating: 9.5

Used-car salesman Glenn Cornell takes one of the cars off the lot and drives out to see a prospective buyer named Barrow. Then the car is found with Cornell slumped over the wheel. Is it suicide or did a dissatisfied customer off the used car man?

12. 'Til Death

First aired: 12/11/1961
Writer: Norman Katkov
Director: Alan Crosland Jr.
Guest star: Margie Regan (Claire Townsend) , Corey Allen (Ben Darcy), Steven Geray (Anton Pavilic), Naomi Stevens (Louisa Pavilic), Johnny Seven (Marty Kellogg), Judi Meredith (Angela Pavilic), Darryl Hickman (Tommy Palmer)
Global rating: 6.3

Detectives Carella and Kling investigate when an about-to-be married couple begin receiving threatening letters in the mail.

13. The Heckler

First aired: 12/18/1961
Writer:
Director:
Guest star: Robert Vaughn (Sordo), Joseph Perry (Chuck), Mary La Roche (Lotte), Wally Cassell (Rafe)
Global rating: 8.5

A wily crook named Sordo spreads a series of false alarms to keep the police busy while he tunnels into a bank vault.

14. Run, Rabbit, Run

First aired: 12/25/1961
Writer: Donn Mullally
Director: Tay Garnett
Guest star: Paul Genge (Lt. Byrnes) , Alvy Moore (Giddon), Ken Lynch (Red Chambers), Paul Keast (Trent Morgan), Joe Di Reda (Smith), Chris Alcaide (Sgt. Briggs), Barbara Stuart (Yvonne English), Alfred Ryder (Toots Brendon), Marjorie Bennett (Mrs. Turner), Dave Barry (Doug Quinn)
Global rating: 9.5

About to be executed, former underworld czar Doug Quinn announces that when he goes the men who helped convict him will die too. This is bad news for Toots Brendan--he was the state's key witness against Quinn.

15. Main Event

First aired: 1/1/1962
Writer: William Fay
Director: Herman Hoffman
Guest star: Dennis McCarthy (Richards) , Brad Weston (Sonny Fitzgerald), Henry Corden (Cyril), Nesdon Booth (Max Glittman), Maggie Pierce (Martha), Arch Johnson (Bobo), Myron McCormick (Scotty Thompson), Robert Carricart (Frankie Spain)
Global rating: 6.0

The detectives investigate threats against the life of boxer Sonny Fitzgerald.

16. Man in a Jam

First aired: 1/8/1962
Writer: Donn Mullally
Director: James Sheldon
Guest star: Paul Genge (Lt. Byrnes), Michael Fox (Grossman) , Mel Jass (Jim), Jerry Dexter (Pat), Robert Sampson (Jerry Young), Pamela Curran (Miss Barnes), Ed Peck (Mike Waring), Howard Wendell (Ben Lake), Jean Carroll (Model), Joey Walsh (Joey Holt), Lin McCarthy (Cleve Thompson), Sheila Bromley (Mrs. Holt)
Global rating: 6.7

Cleve Thompson is arrested for murder but then engineers a series of clever legal maneuvers in hopes of beating the rap.

17. Give the Boys a Great Big Hand

First aired: 1/15/1962
Writer: Shimon Wincelberg
Director: Don Weis
Guest star: Dal McKennon (Dr. Blaney), Dennis McCarthy (Richards) , Theodore Marcuse (Captain Comer), George N. Neise (Piat), Suzi Carnell (Millie Andrade), Asa Maynor (Receptionist), Michael Forest (Karl Andrade), Roxanne Arlen (Taffy), Lorna Thayer (Mrs. Livingston), Barry Atwater (Charles Tudor)
Global rating: 9.2

A severed hand found in a dumpster leads the detectives to conclude that a murder has been committed and that the killer might be preparing to strike again.

19. The Pigeon

First aired: 1/29/1962
Writer: Raphael Hayes, Hendrik Vollaerts
Director: Don Weis
Guest star: Marjorie Bennett (Old Lady), Isabelle Devan (Mrs. Lester), Morgan Woodward (Matty), Frank Sutton (Tully), Arthur Batanides (Clay), Louise Lorimer (Margaret Brovane), Richard Deacon (Asst. D.A. Martin), E.J. André (Sammy), Harlan Warde (Dr. Ben Daniels), Harry Swoger (Station Attendant), Clark Howat (Operator), Nora Marlowe (Rosalie Pender), Roxane Berard (Peggy Brovane), Peter Falk (Greg Brovane)
Global rating: 9.1

Smalltime hood Greg Brovane has delusions of grandeur and thus is easy pickings for three murderers looking for a fall guy.

20. A Bullet for Katie

First aired: 2/12/1962
Writer: Richard Collins, James Bloodworth
Director: Herman Hoffman
Guest star: Della Sharman (Katie Miller), Patty Gerrity (Wendy), Catherine McLeod (Mrs. Connors), John Fiedler (Cole), William Keene (Oxman), Rusty Lane (Sgt. Murchison), Robert Brubaker (Fred Connors), Ed Nelson (Bill Miller), Harold J. Stone (Gantry), Roger Mobley (Lane Connors)
Global rating: 9.5

A ten year old boy might hold the key to the shooting of the new bride of police officer Bill Miller who thinks the shooter is an ex-con named Gantry who once threatened him.

21. King's Ransom

First aired: 2/19/1962
Writer: Evan Hunter
Director: James Sheldon
Guest star: Virginia Vincent (Kathy Folsom), John McLiam (Charles Reynolds), Dan Tobin (I) (Adrian Score), Buzz Martin (Jeff Reynolds), James Johnson (Bobby King), Nancy Reagan (Diane King), Charles Aidman (Eddie Folsom), Antony Carbone (Cy Bernard), John Astin (Cassidy), Charles McGraw (Douglas King)
Global rating: 9.5

Two kidnappers plot to snatch the son of millionaire Douglas King but they grab the son of King's chauffeur by mistake.

22. Feel of the Trigger

First aired: 2/26/1962
Writer: John Hawkins
Director: Maury Geraghty
Guest star: Ruth Storey (Sarah Meyer) , Bernie Hamilton (Officer Kendall), Jerry Hausner (Nathan Kosofsky), Renata Vani (Emma Kosofsky), Ellen Corby (Mrs. Brodek), Maudie Prickett (Nurse Crowley), Jean Inness (Agnes Burton), Dick Wessel (Howard Pitt), Tucker Smith (Ralph Dale), John Alvin (Dr. Fairchild), Neil Nephew (Danny Brodek), Ted de Corsia (John Brodek)
Global rating: 8.7

Detective Meyer, who's battling with health problems, goes after a burglar who shot and killed a grocery store owner.

23. Killer's Choice

First aired: 3/5/1962
Writer: Luther Davis, Richard Collins
Director: Don Weis
Guest star: Mike Mahoney (Monaghan), Georgia Schmidt (Hotchkiss), Berniece Dalton (Party Guest), Gloria Talbott (Amy Boone), Clancy Cooper (Monroe), Nancy Kulp (Miss Fitzhenry), Sidney Clute (Baldy), Jonathan Hole (Morgan), Rosemary DeCamp (Mrs. Phelps), Katherine Warren (Mrs. Travail), Jennifer Gillespie (Monica Boone), Nico Minardos (Frank Kyros), Sally Bliss (Miss Tillson), R. G. Armstrong (Franklin Phelps), John Lasell (Ted Boone)
Global rating: 8.6

The detectives have to weave their way through a maze of conflicting clues to apprehend the murderer of a pretty young woman.

24. Square Cop

First aired: 3/12/1962
Writer: Robert Hardy Andrews
Director: James Sheldon
Guest star: Paul Genge (Lt. Byrnes), Dennis McCarthy (Richards) , Faye Michael Nuell (Millie Haines), Paul Smith (Ed), Allen Jung (Mike), Jack Hogan (Johnny Forman), Gene Roth (Cassidy), Dorothy Kingston (Mrs. Somers), William Bakewell (Somers), Mary Tsien Clay (Mary), Lee Tracy (Otto Forman), Victor Creatore (Eddie Haines), James Hong (Mike II)
Global rating: 7.7

Veteran patrolman Otto Forman, who is due to retire in a few days, is out on the beat showing the ropes to his replacement, Eddie Haines, when a burglar alarm sends them running to a supermarket where Eddie is gunned down by a fleeing thief. The thief happens to be Forman's son.

26. Idol in the Dust

First aired: 4/2/1962
Writer: Donn Mullally
Director: Don Taylor
Guest star: Frank Bank (Young Hood), David Kent (Richards), Joseph Mell (Sol), Robert Biheller (Ben Kramer), John Sebastian (Harrison), Paddi Edwards (Betty Brooks), Al Ruscio (Joe Brooks), Jeanette Nolan (Mrs. Brooks), Howard Caine (Georgie Meinig), Michael Dante (Larry Brooks)
Global rating: 7.7

Baseball star Larry Brooks puts his career and life on the line to shield his fugitive brother from the police.

27. Ramon

First aired: 4/9/1962
Writer: David Lang
Director: Maury Geraghty
Guest star: Walter Reed (Walters), Danny Bravo (Ramon Morales), Jess Kirkpatrick (Officer Grimes), Willis Bouchey (Jim Spencer), Rico Alaniz (Rafael Bencosme), Edward Colmans (Villeda Morales), Joe Raciti (Luis Rico), Alex Montoya (Emiliano Guavasos)
Global rating: 7.0

Detective Havilland befriends a young man named Ramon Morales unaware that the lad's father is involved in a plot to assassinate a visiting South American dignitary.

28. New Man in the Precinct

First aired: 4/16/1962
Writer: Robert C. O'Brien, James E. Gunn
Director: Don Taylor
Guest star: Paul Genge (Lt. Byrnes), Dal McKennon (Dr. Blaney), Ruth Storey (Sarah Meyer), Margie Regan (Claire Townsend) , Jack Albertson (Maxie Carroll), Robert Colbert (Matt Murdock), Ray Montgomery (Frank Kanin), Elizabeth Perry (Linda Walters), Joe Downing (Dr. Stegler), Max Slaten (Dave Evans), Joan Patrick (Chris Hawes), Kay Stewart (Harriet Byrnes), John Aniston (Police Officer), Jerry Adler (Hotel Clerk), David McMahon (Cop in Patrol Car), Tom Anthony (Ambulance Driver), Terry Gekler (Norma Meyer), Robert Bailey (Social Security Officer), Fred Beir (Cotton Hawes)
Global rating: 7.9

Detective Cotton Hawes faces a period of adjustment when he's transferred from the relatively sedate 30th Precinct to the rough and tumble 87th.

29. The Last Stop

First aired: 4/23/1962
Writer: Donn Mullally
Director: Maury Geraghty
Guest star: Paul Genge (Lt. Byrnes) , Marya Stevens (Laura Tobin), Victor Jory (Mike Power), Bern Bassey (Stu Tobin), Charles Tannen (Peterson)
Global rating: 7.2

Mike Power is an embittered detective demoted to the 87th Precinct shortly before his scheduled retirement. He then proceeds to drive the rest of the squad bonkers.

30. Girl in the Case

First aired: 4/30/1962
Writer: Richard Collins
Director: Herschel Daugherty
Guest star: Russell Collins (Raymond Masters), Addison Richards (Windrow), S. John Launer (Warner), Joan Staley (Monica), Audrey Swanson (Nurse), Bill Erwin (George), Janis Paige (Cheryl Anderson), Thomas Browne Henry (Lawyer), Kathleen Freeman (Ruth Wilson), Jerry Paris (Douglas Masters)
Global rating: 8.3

Detective Havilland becomes attracted to a stenographer whose life is being threatened by a person or persons unknown.