Big Town (American TV series)

[2] The series was set in fictious Big Town, with stories centered around The Illustrated Press newspaper, the largest and most influential paper in the city.

[3] Guest stars included Dennis Weaver,[5] Tommy Kirk,[6] Russell Thorson,[7] Marianne Stewart,[8] Richard Kiley, and Audra Lindley.

From February 1953 through July 1953, Dumont carried reruns of the CBS episodes with the title City Assignment on Fridays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. E. T.[3] McVey eventually grew tired of working in the series.

TV Guide reported, "McVey, who played Steve Wilson on Big Town until the sight of a front page made him wince, had decided ... to get out from under and look for something new.

"[14] Glasser began by composing music for specific kinds of scenes (such as chases, romance, driving, and fighting) with scripts determining his concept of the score.

[14] Glasser said that the show's main theme was an effort to convey "the exciting rhythms of traffic in the big city, with a sweeping melodic line.

Other additions to the show included Lyn Stalmaster as Rush, an "ambitious young cub reporter"; John Doucette as Lieutenant Tom Gregory; and Barry Kelly as Charlie Anderson.

The April 20, 1955, episode dealt with the "problem of regular, full-time employment for persons over 45, many of whom are dismissed through arbitrary regulations, while still at the peak of their work capacity.

[20] On December 20, 1955, Stevens interviewed General Omar Bradley, a member of President Dwight Eisenhower's committee on employment of the physically handicapped, following a drama on that topic.

[21] Other problems that the series addressed included "black-market traffic in blood plasma, crookedness in the boxing business, [and] the low pay of school teachers.

[3] Big Town was owned by Lever Brothers[19] (for Good Luck Margarine, Lifebuoy Soap, and Rinso Blue[31]) which alternated sponsorship with General Motors's A. C. Spark Plugs.

[33] The NBC version debuted in October 1954, seen on Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11 p.m. E. T. Effective September 20, 1955, it was moved to Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11 p.m. E. T.[34] The program was filmed at American National Studios in Hollywood.

[36] TV Guide magazine described the CBS version of Big Town as "a routine cops-and-robbers show in which the managing editor and the girl reporter were forever chasing after gangsters and replating Page One.