The Witness (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Witness was a television show broadcast on the CBS
network in the United States within the 1960-61 television season, in which a fictional "Committee" of lawyers cross-examined actors portraying actual people from the recent past of the United States who had been considered criminal or suspicious.
was the Executive Producer; Murray Susskind (David's brother) and Nick Mayo were line producers—the production company was Talent Associates
. The show was created and written by Irve Tunick, and filmed in the CBS studios in New York City.
television network — the last show was broadcast January 26, 1961. The show may have been moved to a later timeslot in November or December 1960. Seventeen episodes were produced and broadcast—the pilot episode was never aired; a planned eighteenth episode (on Huey Long) may also have never aired.
William Griffis played the Court Clerk.
The Committee Members were played by members of the New York Bar — not all of them appeared together in every episode:
However, several months later, daily newspaper television columns disagreed—for example:
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
network in the United States within the 1960-61 television season, in which a fictional "Committee" of lawyers cross-examined actors portraying actual people from the recent past of the United States who had been considered criminal or suspicious.
Production
David SusskindDavid Susskind
David Susskind was a producer of TV, movies, and stage plays and also a pioneer TV talk show host.-Personal:...
was the Executive Producer; Murray Susskind (David's brother) and Nick Mayo were line producers—the production company was Talent Associates
Talent Associates
Talent Associates, Ltd. , was a production company headed by David Susskind, later joined by Daniel Melnick, Leonard Stern and Ron Gilbert.-Origins:...
. The show was created and written by Irve Tunick, and filmed in the CBS studios in New York City.
Scheduling
The first show premiered on Thursday, September 29, 1960, in the 7:30–8:30 PM (EST) timeslot on the CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television network — the last show was broadcast January 26, 1961. The show may have been moved to a later timeslot in November or December 1960. Seventeen episodes were produced and broadcast—the pilot episode was never aired; a planned eighteenth episode (on Huey Long) may also have never aired.
Background
The premise of the show was explained in the opening narration:- "This show is not a trial, not a court of law, not a legislative inquiry, but a simulated hearing before a simulated committee representing the morality and the conscience of today, with the power to call before it the famous, the infamous, the evil and controversial figures of yesterday."
Regular Cast
Verne Collett played the Court Reporter.William Griffis played the Court Clerk.
The Committee Members were played by members of the New York Bar — not all of them appeared together in every episode:
- Paul McGrath
- William Smithers
- Frank Milan
- Charles Haydon
- Richard Steel
- William Geoghan Jr.
- Benedict Ginsberg
Episodes/stars/air dates
- Pilot episode: "Arnold Rothstein" starring Telly SavalasTelly SavalasAristotelis "Telly" Savalas was an American film and television actor and singer, whose career spanned four decades. Best known for playing the title role in the 1970s crime drama Kojak, Savalas was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Birdman of Alcatraz...
(never aired)
- Arnold "The Brain" RothsteinArnold RothsteinArnold Rothstein , nicknamed "The Brain", was a New York businessman and gambler who became a famous kingpin of the Jewish mafia. Rothstein was also widely reputed to have been behind baseball's Black Sox Scandal, in which the 1919 World Series was fixed...
(1882–1928) was a New York kingpin of organized crime, widely reputed to have been behind baseball's Black Sox Scandal, in which the 1919 World Series was "fixed" to benefit certain gamblers.- Episode 1.1: "Lucky Luciano" starring Telly Savalas (series premiere on September 29, 1960)
- Charles "Lucky" LucianoLucky LucianoCharlie "Lucky" Luciano was an Italian mobster born in Sicily. Luciano is considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States for splitting New York City into five different Mafia crime families and the establishment of the first commission...
(1897–1962) was a Sicilian-born American mobster, considered the father of modern organized crime in America. Telly Savalas' portrayal of him in this episode was considered "superb".- Episode 1.2: ? (October 6, 1960)
- Episode 1.3: ? (October 20, 1960)
- Episode 1.4: ? (October 27, 1960)
- Episode 1.5: Roger 'The Terrible' Touhy starring Telly Savalas (November 3, 1960)
- Roger TouhyRoger TouhyRoger Touhy was an Irish-American mob boss and prohibition-era bootlegger from Chicago, Illinois. He is best remembered for having been framed for the 1933 faked kidnapping of gangster John "Jake the Barber" Factor, a brother of cosmetics manufacturer Max Factor, Sr...
(1898–1959), a Prohibition-era bootlegger and a Chicago rival of Al CaponeAl CaponeAlphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
, died a year before this broadcast, gunned down by unknown assailants twenty-two days after his release from prison where he had spent most of his adult life.- Episode 1.6: "Police Lt. Charles Becker" starring Nehemiah PersoffNehemiah PersoffNehemiah Persoff is an American film and television character actor. He was born in Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate.Born in what is now part of Israel, Persoff emigrated with his family to the United States in 1929...
(November 10, 1960)
- Episode 1.6: "Police Lt. Charles Becker" starring Nehemiah Persoff
- Charles BeckerCharles BeckerCharles Becker was a New York City police officer in the 1890s-1910s and who was tried, convicted and executed for ordering the murder of a Manhattan gambler, Herman Rosenthal in the Becker-Rosenthal trial. Becker was the first American police officer to receive the death penalty for murder...
(1870–1915) was a corrupt New York City police lieutenant who had been tried, convicted, and electrocuted in 1915 for the murder of Herman Rosenthal. Rosentahl was an underworld bookmaker and part-time gambler who had been forced to make Becker a partner in his gambling operation. Rosenthal was killed when he threatened to reveal Becker's role as an underworld figure.- Episode 1.7: ? (November 17, 1960)
- Episode 1.8: Jimmy Hines starring Albert DekkerAlbert DekkerAlbert Dekker was an American character actor and politician best known for his roles in Dr. Cyclops, The Killers, Kiss Me Deadly, and The Wild Bunch. He is sometimes credited as Albert Van Dekker or Albert van Dekker...
(November 24, 1960)
- James Joseph HinesJames Joseph HinesJames Joseph Hines was one of the most powerful leaders of Tammany Hall in New York City.-Biography:...
(1876–1957) was one of the most powerful leaders of the Tammany HallTammany HallTammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
political operation in New York City. He was accused of being involved in a "policy" racket with Dutch SchultzDutch SchultzDutch Schultz was a New York City-area Jewish American gangster of the 1920s and 1930s who made his fortune in organized crime-related activities such as bootlegging alcohol and the numbers racket...
and Dixie DavisDixie DavisJ. Richard Davis , also known as Dixie Davis, was the lawyer for Dutch Schultz.-Biography:He was born in 1905. He attended Syracuse University Law School and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1927...
in 1938, was tried, convicted, and sent to prison in 1939, and paroled 1944.- Episode 1.9: Al Capone (December 1, 1960)
- Al CaponeAl CaponeAlphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
(1899–1947) was an American gangster involved in smuggling, bootlegging, and other illegal activities during the 1920s and 1930s.- Episode 1.10: ? (December 8, 1960)
- Episode 1.11: ? (December 15, 1960
- Episode 1.12 Kid Twist starring Peter FalkPeter FalkPeter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo...
(December 22, 1960)
- The film "Murder, Inc." had been released the previous summer (June 28, 1960), and had starred Peter Falk in this same role of gangster Abe RelesAbe RelesAbe "Kid Twist" Reles was a New York mobster who was widely considered the most feared hit man for Murder, Inc., the enforcement contractor for the National Crime Syndicate. Reles later turned government witness and sent several members of Murder, Inc...
.- Episode 1.13: ? (December 29, 1960)
- Episode 1.14: ? (January 5, 1961)
- Episode 1.15: Ma Barker starring Joan BlondellJoan BlondellRose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
(January 12, 1961)
- Ma BarkerMa BarkerKate "Ma" Barker was the mother of several criminals who ran the Barker gang from the "public enemy era", when the exploits of gangs of criminals in the U.S. Midwest gripped the American people and press...
(1873–1935) was an American criminal of the 1930's, best-known for taking motherly care of her adult gangster children. - Background on casting for "Ma Barker" episode
- From a 1961 interview with Joan Blondell:
- I think Ma Barker is interesting. She was very plain, dressed severely, deplored swearing, and quoted the Bible. She must have been mad.
- From a 1964 interview with Joan Blondell:
- That part got even for all the sweetness and light I've portrayed for years. She was the most vicous woman alive. I chewed that role up—even scared the camera crew.
- Episode 1.16 Dillinger (January 19, 1961)
- That part got even for all the sweetness and light I've portrayed for years. She was the most vicous woman alive. I chewed that role up—even scared the camera crew.
- John DillingerJohn DillingerJohn Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
(1903–1934) was an American bank robber in the Midwest during the early 1930s.- Episode 1.17 Shoeless Joe starring Biff McGuireBiff McGuireWilliam "Biff" McGuire is an American actor. In recent years he has used the name William Biff McGuire professionally....
(January 26, 1961)
- Episode 1.17 Shoeless Joe starring Biff McGuire
- "Shoeless Joe JacksonShoeless Joe JacksonJoseph Jefferson Jackson , nicknamed "Shoeless Joe", was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball in the early part of the 20th century...
" was a baseball player implicated in the Black Sox Scandal of 1919, in which World Series players were paid off by gamblers to lose games. - Background on Shoeless Joe episode (from a 2004 interview with Biff McGuire):
- What was most interesting to learn, was that Biff said that the actors in Witness used no script. This was live TV, too! He recalled being given material to read to prepare for his role -- and he still had what he was given: Warren Brown's history from the 1952 Putnam series, The Chicago White Sox. Biff wound up playing Shoeless as "caught up in things ... ashamed of what he did ... and very underpaid." Biff also recalled that his portrayal of Jackson won him the sympathy of the people working on the production: "Everyone on the crew was on my side."
- Episodes with unknown airdates:
- Jimmy WalkerJimmy WalkerJames John Walker, often known as Jimmy Walker and colloquially as Beau James , was the mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932...
was a popular mayor of New York City, 1926-1932, during the Jazz AgeJazz AgeThe Jazz Age was a movement that took place during the 1920s or the Roaring Twenties from which jazz music and dance emerged. The movement came about with the introduction of mainstream radio and the end of the war. This era ended in the 1930s with the beginning of The Great Depression but has...
; because of a corruption scandal, he was forced to resign. - Dutch SchultzDutch SchultzDutch Schultz was a New York City-area Jewish American gangster of the 1920s and 1930s who made his fortune in organized crime-related activities such as bootlegging alcohol and the numbers racket...
was a Jewish-American gangster of German ancestry during the 1920s and 1930s in New York City. - Bugsy SiegelBugsy SiegelBenjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was an American gangster who was involved with the Genovese crime family...
was a Jewish-American gangster of Russian ancestry who was involved with Italian-American organized crime and the large-scale development of Las Vegas. - Huey LongHuey LongHuey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
(scheduled for February 2, 1961, but may have never aired ) was the 40th Governor of Louisiana (1928-1932), and a U.S. senator 1932-1935 — noted for his radical populist policies, he was shot to death in the Louisiana State Capitol building in 1935.
- Jimmy Walker
Critical reception
When the show first came on the air, TIME magazine said:- "The Witness (CBS) is one of the more exciting shows to appear on TV in a long time. Packaged by David Susskind, it effectively utilizes a formula first laid out by more modest shows like Day in Court and The Verdict Is Yours: the simulated hearing or trial. The first episode grilled a fictional "Lucky" Luciano. While the case did not unfold too coherently, and the crowd noises in the simulated hearing room were badly overdone, the program spectacularly captured the disorderly drama of committee hearings, with all their rambling language and flashing anger. Telly Savalas, a comparatively unknown actor, was superb as Luciano—full of gutter cynicism, arrogance, brutality, and yet at moments pathetic. The show's spontaneity derived partly from the fact that the lawyers involved were real, some of the best courtroom performers in New York (Richard Steel William Geoghan Jr., Charles Haydon,' Benedict Ginsberg), who ad-libbed much of their argument."
However, several months later, daily newspaper television columns disagreed—for example:
- Despite medical care and extensive surgery, CBS' "The Witness" series will succumb after the Feb. 2 show. The end, when it comes, is the result of faulty ratings which even a change of climate—from an earlier to a later slot in the Thursday night schedule—failed to improve.
External links
- "The Witness" webpage at the IMDB website
- "The Witness" webpage at the TV.COM website