- Straightaway
Infobox television
show_name = Straightaway
format =Drama
picture_format =Black-and-white
runtime = 30 minutes
starring = John Ashley
Brian Kelly
country = United States
network = ABC
first_aired =October 6 ,1961
last_aired =April 4 ,1962 (repeats throughJuly 4 )
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 26
imdb_id = 0054565
tv.com_id=4392"Straightaway" was a 26-week half-hour
drama series which ran on ABCtelevision during the 1961–1962 season –the story of two young men who operate agarage and engage in auto racing. [Wisehart, Bob. (December 31, 1993)The Sacramento Bee " [http://news.google.com/archivesearch?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&q=%22Straightaway,%22+a+short-lived+ABC+series+starring+two+wooden+slabs+of+humanity+(Brian+Kelly+and+John+Ashley)+who Beware: "Viper' is a lemon futuristic supercar isn't enough to carry new series.] " Section: Scene. Page 1.] [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054565/maindetails] John Ashley and Brian Kelly played race car designers Clipper Hamilton and Scott Ross, respectively. Scott designed the vehicles, and Clipper was themechanic . Many of the episodes centered on the clients who brought a race car to the Straightaway Garage.http://www.tv.com/straightaway/show/4392/summary.html] The series was originally planned to be named “The Racers”, but the title had to be altered because of sponsor problems. "Straightaway" ran early on Friday evenings oppositeCBS ’s ‘’Rawhide’’ withClint Eastwood andEric Fleming . It was followed on ABC by another short-lived half-hour series, acomedy , "The Hathaways " starringPeggy Cass andJack Weston and theirchimpanzee s. [1961-62_American_network_television_schedule] "Straightaway" was moved to Wednesdays effectiveJanuary 10 , 1962, for the remainder of its run. [http://ctva.biz/US/Adventure/Straightaway.htm]elected "Straightaway" episodes
The premiere episode, “The Leather Dollar”, aired on
October 6 , 1961; in the story line, Scott and Clipper agree to sponsor a youngboxer , but the manager is betting against his client. New episodes ended onApril 4 , but ABC re-ran the program untilJuly 4 .Other segments included:
“The Tin Caesar” on
October 13 - Clipper picks ups ahitchhiker and drops him off at agasoline station. The next day thesheriff arrests Clipper for themurder of the station owner who described Clipper’s car with his dying words.“Die Laughing” on
November 3 - Night-clubcomedian Buddy Conway (Jack Klugman ) is accused by son Les (Scott Marlowe ) of being responsible for the death of Les’ mother.“The Stranger” on
November 17 – Scott’s friend Jeane receives threateningtelephone calls.“A Moment in the Sun” on
January 17 , 1962 – Scott and Clipper introduce a girl named Jennifer to a wealthy and charming young man, Paul, who claims to be of an aristocratic background. But doubts persist.“The Drag Strip” on
January 24 – Scott and Clipper are caught in the middle of a feud when they help a rich young man build a racing car.“Crossroad” on
January 31 -- Scott and Clipper hire a young man with a criminal record and are unaware that his friend plans for a bankrobbery .“The Longest Night” on
March 7 – The garage harbors an escaped killer.“The Craziest Race in Town” on
March 21 – Scott and Clipper build a special engine for an important race, but their competition thinks it quaint and humorous.“The Hoax”, the last episode -- Scott tries to free a young
heiress who has fallen under the influence of acharlatan .The German-TV-Title to this series: "Vollgas"
About Kelly and Ashley
Brian Kelly (1931–2005), a Detroit native, was a son of
Michigan Governor Harry F. Kelly , a Republican who served from 1944–1947 and was later a justice on theMichigan Supreme Court .Kelly considered going intopolitics himself until a screen test changed his life.Two years after "Straightaway", Kelly starred as Ranger Porter Ricks in the
NBC adventure series "Flipper (1964 TV series) ", set in southFlorida . He portrayed a young widowed father to two sons played byLuke Halpin andTommy Norden .Character actor Andy Devine also starred in the series. After he sustained an injury in amotorcycle accident in 1970, Kelly worked in the industry as afilm producer.John Ashley (1934–1997) starred in
beach films after "Straightaway" and was briefly married toactress Deborah Walley . He was later a producer of NBC’s "The A-Team " withGeorge Peppard . He succumbed to aheart attack at the age of sixty-two.References
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