Firehouse
From left: Bill Overton, James Drury, Brad David (in back), Richard Jaeckel (in front), Michael DeLano
StarringJames Drury
Michael Delano
Bill Overton
Scott Smith
Brad David
Richard Jaeckel
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersAaron Spelling
Leonard Goldberg
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesDick Berg Productions for the Stonehenge Company
Metromedia Producers Corporation
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 17 (1974-01-17) –
August 1, 1974 (1974-08-01)

Firehouse is a half-hour American drama/adventure series that aired on ABC. A mid-season replacement, it started airing on January 17, 1974, and was cancelled after its 13-episode run.[1] The series ran on Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m., with the last rerun episode aired on August 1, 1974.[2] The series starred James Drury as Captain Spike Ryerson.

Pilot movie

The series pilot was broadcast in 1973 on the ABC Movie of the Week and starred Richard Roundtree and Richard Jaeckel. The pilot concerned a formerly all-white firehouse learning to accept a black rookie firefighter.[3] All racial difficulties were dropped from the series.[4]

Richard Jaeckel was the only actor to appear in both the pilot movie and the series.[3][2]

Cast

Synopsis

Capt. Spike Ryerson acted as a father-figure to the young firefighters[2] of Engine Company Number 23, of the Los Angeles Fire Department.[4] Each episode had two stories, a fire to fight, and a rescue. Because of the 30 minute length there was not time to give depth to the characters, develop friendships, or discus family life.[5]

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"Burst of Flame"January 17, 1974 (1974-01-17)
Capt. Ryerson and his men race against time to save six people caught in an elevator in a blazing office building.
2"Sentenced to Burn"January 24, 1974 (1974-01-24)
After rescuing a man from a mudslide, Capt. Ryerson and his men fight a fire at a prison and several are taken hostage by the convicts.
3"The Hottest Place in Town"January 31, 1974 (1974-01-31)
Capt. Ryerson's men fight a devastating fire in a crowded new nightclub as well as the threat of rip-off artists in their own station house.
4"Trapped"February 7, 1974 (1974-02-07)
After saving a man's new dump truck from fire, Capt. Ryerson and his men rush to a tunnel project.
5"Implosion"February 14, 1974 (1974-02-14)
Capt. Ryerson and his men rescue a boy stuck in a heating duct, and then battle a spectacular oil refinery blaze.
6"The Treasure"February 21, 1974 (1974-02-21)
After saving a pregnant woman trapped by downed high tension wires, Capt. Ryerson and his men rush to an old decaying mansion which is ablaze.
7"Strike, Spare and Burn"February 28, 1974 (1974-02-28)
Capt. Ryerson and his men respond to a fire at an old theater building where a vault filled with potentially explosive nitrate film threatens the entire neighborhood.
8"Tide of Terror"March 7, 1974 (1974-03-07)
After an ill-fated date with his girlfriend, Caputo joins his colleagues to help rescue a young woman trapped in swirling water under an ocean pier.
9"No Way Out"March 14, 1974 (1974-03-14)
Capt. Ryerson and his men save a boy from being buried alive, and also fight a potentially devastating fire in a laundry.
10"A Gift for Grumper"March 21, 1974 (1974-03-21)
Capt. Ryerson and his men struggle to save priceless art from a museum fire, not realizing that their friend, arson inspector "Grumper" Barkham is trapped in the blaze.
11"Randall's Pride"March 28, 1974 (1974-03-28)
Capt. Ryerson's men save a girl who has driven over a cliff after an argument with her boyfriend, then respond to a fire which is destroying a horse stable.
12"The Watches of the Night"April 4, 1974 (1974-04-04)
Capt. Ryerson's men battle a blaze in a slum apartment, then rescue partygoers at a top dress designer's first night celebration.
13"False Alarm"April 11, 1974 (1974-04-11)
Capt. Ryerson is hospitalized for a possible heart ailment, and his worried men are called upon to save a young man suffering from a drug overdose, as well as battle a blaze in a junk-filled garage.

References

  1. ^ Aaker, Everett, Television Westerns Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary, McFarland, page 1911, 2017
  2. ^ a b c Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946 – Present (first edition), pages 200-201, Ballantine, 1979
  3. ^ a b Maltin, Leonard, Leonard Maltin's TV Movies Video Guide, 1991 Edition, page 372, Plume, 1990
  4. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent, Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed., page 343, McFarland, 2014
  5. ^ Lewis, Dan, The Virginian's Back, Pottsville Republican, January 26, 1974, page 21

External links


Works produced by Aaron Spelling
Categories