Checkmate

[TBDowns]

Collector -- since you seem to enjoy TV history, perhaps you know who wrote and performed the theme to CHECKMATE? "Johnny Williams and His Orchestra." Yeah -- THAT John Williams !

[Blairpark]

This series was a cut above; I always thought the swirling paint and great theme song combined for a special intro. The three leads were well cast and I could never figure out why it died after only two seasons.

[suir52]

@cutandpaste1 I have the boxed sets brought out two years ago and the quality is very good considering it's a 50 year old show. There are one or two occasional cuts, but that is to be expected.

[ladythatsmyskull]

Ambler created it, but unhappy with network changes, pulled out from the show. His name remained attached to the show anyways.

[eldercurt53]

This show intrigued me in my youth. I'm glad it's out on DVD!

[truegritwayne]

Finally coming to DVD on June 22!

[audiophile55]

Anthony George, seated with Cabot, starred in a daytime gothic soap opera called Dark Shadows.

[dlsofsetx]

This was a really good detective series.Cabot a;lways hoped to be remembered for this,not Family Affair.

[NikDanger99]

That was great! What happens next? Is there any more of this?

[zekepig]

Oh, did I mention that I first thought, as a kid, that "Checkmate" was a game show? Of course I was found wrong on that, but it was still mind-stimulating TV.

[fromthesidelines]

"CHECKMATE", co-produced by Jack Benny (through his "JaMco Productions" unit) and MCA/Revue, was initially seen on Saturdays, then moved to Wednesdays at 8:30pm(et) in the fall of 1961. This episode, "The Gift", first aired on March 11, 1961...

[steve7138]

The fatman--bearded Sebastian Cabot--his first major TV role before "Family Affair" several years later.

[GOOSEYGOOSE9]

This Picture made under the jurresdiction of IATSEIA Affilliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.,ATFP,NAB Seal of Good practice Code affilliate. I Used to watch this series as a toddler in the 1960's i will start buying the series on DVD.

[zekepig]

Didn't each episode have a different swirling paint pattern in the opening montage?

[vinylsingleman]

I was a toddler when this show was on, and don't remember much about it except that swirling paint image that stuck in my head through the years

[translationwiz]

yes,me too. I judged the show by that image. It made me sick. I thought the entire cast were bad people doing bad things. that swirling thing was scary.

[dlsofsetx]

Yes.

[22beegees]

Dear Classictvcollector, how wonderful to come across this video. I was born in 1951 & remember watching the series Checkmate & enjoying it very much. Also read all of Eric Ambler's books. In the years since this series ended I've hoped that it would make a return to TV. I agree with all your remarks & to this day think that Checkmate was one of the most classy & well-crafted TV shows of all time. Thank you very much for posting this nostalgic piece of TV at its finest. Regards, Darlene

[Juliaflo]

I remember having one heck of a crush on Doug McClure.

[suir52]

Thanks, Classictvcollector, for that. Any chance you could post some clips from the show featuring my favourite actor, Doug McClure?

[CDU916]

Until seeing the credits I didn't realize the series was created by the fine crime writer Eric Ambler. No wonder it had such polish and a very dramatic opening. It was a pleasure to view. Thank you very much for posting.

[Classictvcollector]

My pleasure. Great series.