T.V. :Martin Kane Private Eye

William Gargan, Lloyd Nolan and Lee Tracy played the title role in Martin Kane, Private Eye on live television. It ran on NBC-TV from September 1, 1949 until June 17, 1954. The series, sponsored by the United States Tobacco Company, integrated commercials into the detective drama by having Martin Kane enter his favorite tobacco shop where he discussed pipe tobaccos and cigarettes with the tobacconist Happy McMann (Walter Kinsella), before leaving to continue the mystery narrative.

Walter Greaza portrayed Captain Leonard. Captain Evans was played by Loring Smith, Captain Burke by Frank M. Thomas, King Calder as Lieutenant Gray, Sgt Ross by Nicholas Saunders and Sgt Strong by Michael Garrett. Frank Burns produced and directed shows scripted by Harry Kane and Lawrence Young. Charles Paul provided the music. At the start and finish of the show, Kane was shown in shadow, lighting his pipe. Six episodes of this show have been released in the "Best of TV Detectives" box set.

Mark Stevens had the title role in the 1953 filmed series, The New Adventures of Martin Kane. Gargan returned to the role in 1958 with a syndicated series, The Return of Martin Kane, filmed in Europe for United Artists.

The radio-TV series had a 1950 tie-in comic book, Martin Kane, Private Eye, published by Fox and illustrated by Wally Wood, Joe Orlando and Martin Rosenthal. The series was satirized in Mad 5 (June-July 1953) as "Kane Keen, Private Eye", illustrated by Jack Davis.

According to Jay Hickeron's Ultimate Guide, the television scripts were cleverly written so the audio portion of the drama could be used as a radio broadcast from 1949 to 1952. Only 29 radio broadcasts are known to exist.

Nightclub murder (1952)

Episode of the "Live" TV series "Martin Kane, Private Eye" in which a "Crooner is murdered".
Originally aired 31 January 1952. With Lloyd Nolan in the role of "Martin Kane".
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Black Pearls

Episode "Black Pearls" of the "Live" 50's TV series "Martin Kane, Private Eye", which ran from 1949 to 1954.
Original Air Date: 27 March 1952 and starring Lloyd Nolan.
"Martin Kane" was also played by William Gargan 1949-51, Lee Tracy 1952-53 and Mark Stevens 1953-54.

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Rest home murder (1951)

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A jockey is murdered (1951)

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The District Attorney Killer

Original Air Date: 1 March 1951

Series 2 Episode 20

William Gargan as Martin Kane

Ads, credits and network logos intact.
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Doctored Will

Episode "Doctored Will" of the classic TV series "Martin Kane, Private Eye".
This is from the 1949-1950 season.
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Reclusive Sisters

Another episode of the crime-drama "Martin Kane, Private Eye". In this
episode, three sisters (one of which is criminally insane) create
trouble after the victims body is shown to have been mutilated *after*
the murder. (Note: contains original advertising. It should be noted
this style of advertising was not that common then)
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ReclusiveSisters.mp4

Hotel Con Game, 1951

An episode of the 1950's crime television series "Martin Kane, Private
Eye". This episode is called "Hotel Con Game". With original
advertising for Pipe Tobacco (Note: this kind of product-placement was
fairly rare on prime-time TV, despite what hopeless TV critics may say).
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Murder in the Court

Another episode of "Martin Kane, Private Eye", a live crime drama from the early days of television. In this episode, a murder during a court hearing makes everyone unsure who supplied the weapon. Not a bad episode, though it does feature a couple of stereotypes, a few missed cues and some unusual camera angles. Though it features product placement for pipe tobacco, the amount of actual advertising is less than you'd assume.
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