The Silent Service (TV series)
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."
| The Silent Service | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jean Yarbrough Sobey Martin |
| Presented by | Thomas M. Dykers |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 78[1] |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers USN Ret. |
| Producer(s) | George M. Cahan |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | California National Productions Twin Dolphin Productions, Inc. |
| Distributor | NBC Television Films |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syndication |
| Picture format | Black and white (1957–1958) |
| Original release | 1957 – 1958 |
Many of the episodes focused on the history of specific submarines, including:
- U-47 (1938)
- USS Bergall (SS-320)
- USS Bowfin (SS-287)
- USS Crevalle (SS-291), season 1, episode 19.
- USS Dace (SS-247)
- USS Darter (SS-227)
- USS Flier (SS-250)
- USS Gabilan (SS-252)
- USS Gato (SS-212), subject of the series finale.[3]
- USS Grayling (SS-209)
- USS Growler (SS-215)
- USS Guardfish (SS-217)
- USS Hawkbill (SS-366)
- USS Nautilus (SS-168)
- USS Perch (SS-176)
- USS S-38 (SS-143)
- USS Sculpin (SS-191)
- USS Spearfish (SS-190)
- USS Sunfish (SS-281)
- USS Swordfish (SS-193)
- USS Tang (SS-306)
- USS Thresher (SS-200)
- USS Tinosa (SS-283)
- USS Tirante (SS-420)
- USS Trigger (SS-237)
- USS Triton (SS-201)
- USS Wahoo (SS-238)
Actors appearing on The Silent Service included Russell Johnson, cast twice as Edward L. Beach Jr. and once as "Eddie Kent". DeForest Kelley appeared in three episodes as Lieutenant Commander James C. 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, Joe Flynn, Ron Hagerthy, Adam Kennedy, Robert Knapp, Paul Richards, Edward Platt, Bing Russell, Craig Stevens, Dennis Weaver, Bob Denver, Dick Van Patten, L. Q. Jones, 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.
- "The Silent Service (1957)". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
- "Episode List for The Silent Service". IMDB. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
- http://monologues.co.uk/Bob_Newhart/USS_Codfish.htm