I LED 3 LIVES "Public Idol' 1956
This is episode 31 from season 3 of the 3 year and 115 episode run, of the Red Scare series, I LED THREE LIVES. This 1953 to 1956 series is based on the exploits of, Herbert A. Philbrick. Philbrick spent 9 years undercover for the FBI keeping tabs on the Communist party. Richard Carlson plays the title role.
Carlson is contacted by one of advertising company clients for a job. The man, Gene Roth, wants Carlson to hire a former sports star to be a spokesman for his sporting goods stores. The man he wants is Mickey Simpson. Simpson is well known as a former commie who had come clean about his involvement with the party. The FBI has cleared him and he needs a job.
Carlson gets the man hired and then reports to his own cell leader, Ann Morriss. Of course the party is more than a little hot under the collar with turncoat Simpson. They start a campaign of letter writing to the sporting goods company saying it is wrong to hire the ex-commie. Company owner, Roth sees the letters for what they are and ignores them. Simpson is doing good work promoting his products.
The party is now really upset and calls Carlson in for meeting. They have a plan to get Simpson in deep trouble with the Police. Carlson is to get Simpson away from his home the upcoming weekend. The commie types are then going to kill Simpson's wife, Jeanne Cooper. They will make it look like Simpson had done the deed.
Carlson tries to let the FBI in on the plan but he is being too closely watched. The quick thinking Carlson though manages to foil the murder without giving himself away to the party.
This is actually a better episode than my rather slipshod review is suggesting. There is some genuine suspense here and a better than normal story. This being a "ZIV" production, who were known for doing things on the cheap, that is saying a lot.
Jeanne Cooper was the mother of actor Corbin Bernsen.
This is episode 31 from season 3 of the 3 year and 115 episode run, of the Red Scare series, I LED THREE LIVES. This 1953 to 1956 series is based on the exploits of, Herbert A. Philbrick. Philbrick spent 9 years undercover for the FBI keeping tabs on the Communist party. Richard Carlson plays the title role.
Carlson is contacted by one of advertising company clients for a job. The man, Gene Roth, wants Carlson to hire a former sports star to be a spokesman for his sporting goods stores. The man he wants is Mickey Simpson. Simpson is well known as a former commie who had come clean about his involvement with the party. The FBI has cleared him and he needs a job.
Carlson gets the man hired and then reports to his own cell leader, Ann Morriss. Of course the party is more than a little hot under the collar with turncoat Simpson. They start a campaign of letter writing to the sporting goods company saying it is wrong to hire the ex-commie. Company owner, Roth sees the letters for what they are and ignores them. Simpson is doing good work promoting his products.
The party is now really upset and calls Carlson in for meeting. They have a plan to get Simpson in deep trouble with the Police. Carlson is to get Simpson away from his home the upcoming weekend. The commie types are then going to kill Simpson's wife, Jeanne Cooper. They will make it look like Simpson had done the deed.
Carlson tries to let the FBI in on the plan but he is being too closely watched. The quick thinking Carlson though manages to foil the murder without giving himself away to the party.
This is actually a better episode than my rather slipshod review is suggesting. There is some genuine suspense here and a better than normal story. This being a "ZIV" production, who were known for doing things on the cheap, that is saying a lot.
Jeanne Cooper was the mother of actor Corbin Bernsen.
