*Post originally appeared on Bionic Disco January 31, 2013.*
‘1-Adam-12, 1-Adam-12. See the post at Bionic Disco. A disturbance.’ (Kent McCord & Martin Milner, 1973)
Show Toppers is now in session. Today, we take a look at a cop classic featuring a pair of L.A.’s finest, patrolling the streets in Adam-12. Created by Dragnet‘s Jack Webb (along with R.A. Cinader,) Adam-12 originally ran for seven seasons from September, 1968 to May, 1975. The series had a healthy re-run life throughout the 1970s and beyond.
William Boyett is Sgt. ‘Mac’ MacDonald (Adam-12, 1973)
Adam-12 starred Martin Milner as the seasoned pro, Officer Pete Malloy, and Kent McCord as the fresh, young rookie, Officer Jim Reed. William Boyett co-starred as the pair’s station sergeant, “Mac” MacDonald. Gary Crosby (Bing’s son) made frequent guest appearances as the somewhat smug, Officer Wells.
In recent months, I’ve been re-watching Adam-12 (the whole shebang is available on Netflix) and have been enjoying the blast of nostalgia. I’m currently midway through 1971 and the rapport between Malloy and Reed is still a decent reason to watch. However, I take particular pleasure in recognizing various Los Angeles locations and noting what changes the ensuing decades have brought. The hippy-holdover fashions and hip lingo of the youthful citizens is smile-inducing as well.
Two clips are up for you to spy below. The first is the season 6 intro from 1973 and the second is a rather cool and rare promo from around 1975. See the woman. Shots fired…
‘ADAM-12’ SEASON 6 TV INTRO (1973)
RARE ‘ADAM-12’ NBC PROMO (1975)
Previously, on Show Toppers: The Streets of San Francisco