The Blue Angels
Starring: Dennis Cross, Don Gordon, Morgan Jones, Warner Jones, Michael Galloway, Robert Knapp, Ross Elliott
First Aired: September 26, 1960
Number of Seasons: 1
Estimated Production Cost: Unknown
As Commander Arthur Richards in The Blue Angels, Dennis Cross was known for taking names and kicking buttocks. The show took a critical stance toward the United States Navy, turning fictional circumstances into a dramatic drama. Chuck Corman was played twice by the legendary actor Burt Reynolds, who appeared in the film on both occasions. The Blue Angels were far from being a glorified advertisement for Boeing or Lockheed Martin when it came to the equipment that they used on their missions. In reality, the Blue Angels receive $37 million each year from the Department of Defense’s annual budget. Although less well-funded, the television show of the same name was less exciting as a result. Despite the fact that the show was well-liked by enthusiasts of the genre, it remained under the radar and was unable to draw in the audiences it required to survive. After 39 episodes and one season on the air, the Blue Angels were no longer in production.
The Blue Angels
Death Valley Days
Starring: Stanley Andrews, Ronald Reagan, Rosemary DeCamp, Robert Taylor, Dale Roberton
First Aired: March 1, 1952
Number of Seasons: 18
Estimated Production Cost: $40,000*
The Death Valley Days television series, in contrast to some of the other short-lived shows we’ve discussed, was one of the longest-running programs of its period. The historical anthology series, which premiered in 1952 and ran for 18 seasons and 452 episodes, came to an end in 1970 after 452 episodes. In 1955, NBC broadcasted a similar anthology called Frontier, which included this Western (which is currently available to watch on Hulu for those who have a premium subscription). The Western series, presented by Walter Coy in 1955, was nominated for an Emmy award despite the fact that it only lasted for one season on television. The majority of the episodes of Death Valley Days were filmed in Los Angeles, with a few episodes being filmed in Kanab, Utah.
Death Valley Days
