Broadside
Starring: Edward Andrews, Dick Sargent, Sheila James, Kathleen Nolan, Joan Staley
First Aired: September 20, 1964
Number of Seasons: 1
Estimated Production Cost: $65,000* per episode with inflation
As a result of the overwhelming number of war dramas that center on the masculine perspective, it was a welcome break when Broadside premiered in 1964. The musical was about the ladies of the Navy during World War II, and Kathleen Nolan had a prominent role in the production. The show’s ratings remained strong throughout its existence, which is why its cancellation came as such a surprise. Most military-themed television episodes (particularly Navy shows) have the appearance of being advertising for Huntington Ingalls or Boeing, but Broadside was an exception. It was the creative ideas, excellent direction, and enthusiastic cast that made the show a hit on the big screen. In a fun tidbit, the entire ensemble was given honorary Teamsters memberships, which allowed them to legally drive the show’s cars and trucks. After 32 episodes, the production company realized that they didn’t have enough area to utilize the tropical exteriors of the set, and so they opted to stop the show altogether.
Broadside
Convoy
Starring: John Gavin
First Aired: September 17, 1965
Number of Seasons: 1
Estimated Production Cost: $12 million*
The broadside wasn’t the only war-themed television show to be canceled in the mid-60s. Commander Dan Talbot (John Gavin) and his crew on a cargo ship were the subjects of NBC’s Convoy, which followed them as they helped supply troops with food and other supplies during World War II. One of the most significant challenges for the show was that it was shot in black and white to enable the usage of archival combat footage. Audiences were more interested at the time in fresh, thrilling technicolor presentations than in older shows. Before he became an actor, John Gavin worked as a naval officer in the United States Navy. He stated that he, too, had concerns about the way NBC depicted naval life on Convoy in its first broadcast. NBC was reportedly concerned that women would not enjoy the show until it was pointed out to them that women traveled in convoys during World War II. The show’s ratings were low from the beginning since it couldn’t compete with other programs that were airing at the same time. Instead of becoming the breakout dramatic smash that the network hoped it would be, Convoy fell to the ocean’s depths like a heavyweight, despite the network’s best efforts.
Convoy
