The Rocky King Detective

The Rocky King, Detective

One of DuMont's most popular and lasting programs, this live crime series was set in New York. It not only kept Roscoe Karns from retirement but cast him opposite his son Todd. The DuMont offices and corridors were used as sets. At the end of each program, Rocky King would exchange telephone small talk with his unseen wife Mabel and, after hanging up, say to no one in particular, "Great girl, that Mabel."
At the end of each show, Rocky King (Roscoe Karns) calls his wife, Mable, and says, "Case is closed Mable, I'm coming home".
I must have seen a different television series than the three previous reviewers. I have seen several early 50s t.v. shows and this one was the only real stinker in the bunch. I've seen a couple of episodes, most recently Murder Scores a Knockout. First of all, the music has to be the absolute worse ever heard on a show - melodramatic organ music that is so bad it's laughable. The sets are flimsy, the supporting actors give pathetic performances and production values are sub- standard in every way. I watched this because of Roscoe Karns and his performance was passable except that he kept flubbing his lines, at one point calling one of the characters by the name of another character (and then quickly correcting himself) and then when asking the coroner about the poison used says "Does it have any special smell or odor?" His actor partner tries to cover up the mistake and they just move on with the dialog. No retakes in this show. It is a nice touch hearing Inspector King's conversation with his unseen wife Mabel (wonderful girl, that Mabel) but this is hardly enough to save this abysmal production. Even though I enjoyed the story of the one reviewer who so fondly remembered the series from when he was a young boy, I doubt if I could suffer through any more of these episodes.
The DuMont Television Network. A cheap, low-budget but fun network, whose cheaply produced shows kick the ass of many "Big budget" programs made years later. "Rocky King, Detective", also known as "Inside Detective", is a true DuMont Network classic, airing from 1950 to 1954. DuMont ceased broadcasting in 1956. I have recently seen kinescopes of 4 episodes, three with Roscoe Karns, one with his son as Roscoe was sick. These were treasures are among the finest examples I have ever seen of early television. Episode starts: Rocky walks down long hall-way, lights up a cigarette, to which the announcer says "Rocky King, Detective. An Exciting fight against crime!". However, the show was never sponsored by a tobacco company. Scene starts: Rocky is talking to his wife, when he hears the phone ring. A man claims that a guy recently put on death row is innocent, and that he (the guy on the phone) is the REAL murderer! OK, a cliché plot for an episode, but the writing is good, and the cast is strong. Plus, the critics at the time liked it, and it did run for 5 seasons. What's really remarkable, though, is how the series combines gritty crime drama with comedic scenes at home, which at the time was an unusual technique. Overall, a DuMont Network classic.

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