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Broderick Crawford and ZIV Television attempted to repeat the success
of Highway Patrol without much luck.
King of Diamonds
ran for 1 season [1961-1962] and 39 episodes.
Broderick played John King, international diamond theft investigator
[specifically Chief of Security for Continental Diamonds Industries]
with a young side kick Al Casey, played by Ray Hamilton.
John King's recurring enemy was the
Illicit Diamond Buyers (IDB) syndicate.
In the the show Brod tried to be debonair.
He always worn a trench coat, with lots of night shots in bars,
jazz music, mean mob-like crooks, lots of murders, and shifty dames of course!
King met the the thieves, smugglers and fences with a great deal
of violence, even beating up some of the shadier women
(while making passes at the others).
In later episodes of KOD, the closing theme song
(written by Ziv executive Maurice Unger) includes the line
"When Johnny King breaks the door down, he's not saying 10-4 now!".
For the complete lyrics, see below.
Art Gilmore narrated the show.
| Theme Song and Trailer |
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Look for the night people roamin' When the good folks are home in And you'll find Johnny King Where there is music of diamonds He will be where there's diamonds And of diamonds he's king His majesty is a travesty to every other crown Romantically he's as solid as steel, like Achille's heel When Johnny King breaks a door down He's not saying 10-4 now He's romancing a queen - he's the king ! |
| some video captures | ||
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| A rare PR shot |
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| A rare PR shot |
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| From Baltimore - 1962 |
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| From Baltimore - 1962 |
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| One episode on 16mm film | ||
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