January 26
HAMMER DAY
The tough-guy detective, Mike Hammer, was first created by Mickey Spillane as the central character in Spillane’s mystery series. Hammer then appeared in films, the first was I, the Jury in 1953. Mike Hammer showed up on TV in 1957. The detective was played by Darren McGavin. Variety described the syndicated series as a “mixture of blood, violence and sex.” After 78 episodes, Mike Hammer disappeared from stage and screen for some twenty-five years.
On this day in 1984, CBS television was brave enough to bring back the sexist, violent, wisecracking Hammer. Mickey Spillane’s extremely violent novels were equally as violent on TV. But this time, all the murder, extortion, kidnapping and robbery cases were solved by the handsome Stacy Keach. Not much else had changed from the original version except Velda, Mike’s secretary, played by Lindsay Bloom, was not only heard, but now was very easy on the primarily-male audience’s eyes. Tight, low-cut dresses were the rule. All female cast members were poured into their costumes.
Spillane’s many street characters came alive in this run of Mike Hammer, including Ozzie the Answer (Danny Goldman), Moochie (Ben Powers) and Jenny, the Bartender (Lee Benton). Hammer’s cop buddies, Richie and Hennessey (Eddie Barth and Eddie Egan, respectively), and Capt. Pat Chambers (Dan Stroud) hung out in every show, as did the Assistant D.A. Kent Williams played the role of the D.A. thorn in Hammer’s side.
Mike’s best friend had a woman’s name, Betsy. Betsy was Hammer’s .45 caliber pistol that helped him out of many a scrap. Although Mike Hammer seemingly could solve any mystery you threw at him, there was one mysterious, beautiful brunette who Mike could never seem to meet. He would always catch a glimpse of the unknown woman’s face and then she’d melt into the crowd. In the last, original episode, he met The Face. After one, romantic evening played to the show’s theme, Harlem Nocturne by Earle Hagen, she disappeared.
Mike Hammer disappeared, too, on September 9, 1987. However, if you look closely, you can still find Stacy Keach’s Mike Hammer lurking in the halls of syndicated TV.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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