Series synopsis
Route 66 is an American drama crime action & adventure mystery television series that premiered on CBS on October 7, 1960. It ended on March 20, 1964. It was created by Stirling Silliphant, Herbert B. Leonard. It stars Glenn Corbett, George Maharis, Martin Milner and Rip Torn.
After discovering that his late father has gone through most of the family fortune, Tod Stiles hits the title trans-America highway in his Corvette in search of adventure with friend Buz Murdock, a survivor of New York's mean streets. The two work odd jobs as they meet and interact with colorful characters and find themselves plunged into one situation after another, some of them romantic, some of them very dangerous. Later, Linc Case, a Vietnam war hero trying to find himself, takes over as Tod ...
Premise
After discovering that his late father has gone through most of the family fortune, Tod Stiles hits the title trans-America highway in his Corvette in search of adventure with friend Buz Murdock, a survivor of New York's mean streets. The two work odd jobs as they meet and interact with colorful characters and find themselves plunged into one situation after another, some of them romantic, some of them very dangerous. Later, Linc Case, a Vietnam war hero trying to find himself, takes over as Tod's travel companion.
Premise: The adventures of two young drifters across America
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Glenn Corbett as Linc Case
- George Maharis as Buz Murdock
- Martin Milner as Tod Stiles
- Rip Torn as Alvah Clayhorne
- Peter Graves
- Elizabeth Allen
- Richard Basehart
- Zina Bethune
Supporting cast
- Barnard Hughes
- John Litel
- Kathryn Hays
- Lee Philips
- Alejandro Rey
- Jacqueline Courtney as Binky Klein
- Natalie Schafer
- Phyllis Hill
- Glenda Farrell
- Robert Walker Jr.
- Tammy Grimes
- Dolores Michaels
Guest cast
- Rip Torn as Alvah Clayhorne
- Peter Graves
- Elizabeth Allen
- Richard Basehart
- Zina Bethune
- Barnard Hughes
- John Litel
- Kathryn Hays
- Lee Philips
- Alejandro Rey
- Jacqueline Courtney as Binky Klein
- Natalie Schafer
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 116 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 30 | October 7, 1960 | June 16, 1961 |
| Season 2 | 32 | September 22, 1961 | June 1, 1962 |
| Season 3 | 31 | September 21, 1962 | May 24, 1963 |
| Season 4 | 23 | September 27, 1963 | March 20, 1964 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Black November Tod's father dies leaving Tod the Corvette. Buz worked for Tod's father and the two decide to start driving. The Corvette breaks down in a small Mississippi town with some very nasty residents. The boys discover that the town hosted a POW camp during WW II and that the town boss had an escaped prisoner lynched when his son was killed in action. The boss plans to lynch Tod and Buz to keep the town's secret. Filming Location: Concord, Kentucky |
October 7, 1960 |
| 2 |
A Lance of Straw Shrimp boat captain Charlotte Duval hires Tod and Buz as a crew for her boat. Suitor Jean Boussard gets very jealous of the male crew members. Buz falls in love with the captain. Filming Location: Grand Isle, Louisiana |
October 14, 1960 |
| 3 |
The Swan Bed Tod and Buz arrive in New Orleans during a parrot-fever epidemic. They meet a girl named Carrie Purcell and ask her out for a date. Carrie doesn't have money to afford nice clothes. Filming Location: New Orleans, Louisiana |
October 21, 1960 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Month of Sundays Buz falls in love with actress Arlene Sims who has a fatal disease and has returned to her home town to die. Filming Location: Butte, Montana |
September 22, 1961 |
| 2 |
Blue Murder Tod and Buz deliver ""Blue Murder"", a wild rodeo stallion, to Jim Bludge's ranch. Later Bludge is found dead with the mark of a horse hoof on him. Filming Location: Butte, Montana |
September 29, 1961 |
| 3 |
Good Night, Sweet Blues Ethel Waters is a dying blues singer who asks Tod and Buz to locate her old jazz band for one last show. Filming Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
October 6, 1961 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
One Tiger to a Hill Buz and Tod hire out as deck hands on Anna Gustafson's salmon fishing trawler where Tod becomes involved with Anna's daughter. Filming Location: Astoria, Oregon (From a contributor) The opening scene is unforgettable. Buz and Tod are driving along a sandy beach in their classic corvette while Nelson Riddle's theme song is playing in the background. Buz and Tod land jobs as fishermen and deck hands for a widower named Anna Gustafson. While at her home they get a glimpse of her beautiful daughter, Toika, who has a ""bounce in her step"" as she walks by them. Immediately Anna takes a liking for both Buz and Tod but she notices their differences. It is evident to her that Tod is college educated and the type of guy for Toika. Meanwhile, Karno, played by David Janssen, is a veteran and also the boyfriend of Toika. He despises Tod because Tod went to college while he was drafted into the war. Furthermore, Toika, who has been rejected by Karno, is drawn to Tod. When Karno sees the |
September 21, 1962 |
| 2 |
Journey to Nineveh Tod and Buz ride into Harleyville. They meet some old comedians, including Jonah Butler, the town jinx. Filming Location: Harleyville (state?) |
September 28, 1962 |
| 3 |
Man Out of Time In Chicago, Tod and Buz encounter Harry Wender, a frightened 1930's gangster who has outlived his time. Filming Location: Chicago, Illinois |
October 5, 1962 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Two Strangers and an Old Enemy While in a Florida swamp, Tod and Linc meet Major Barben, an American World War II ace and Takasuka, a Japanese officer who are still fighting the war. Filming Location: Everglades and Cape Coral, Florida |
September 27, 1963 |
| 2 |
Same Picture, Different Frame Tod and Linc encounter Morgan Harper who is back to reopen an estate. Her psycho husband Eric is back to kill her. Filming Location: Poland Springs, Maine |
October 4, 1963 |
| 3 |
Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are In Maine, Tod and Linc work at a sawmill and board with a French Canadian one-armed former logger Poppa and his beautiful daughter Marie. Marie tries to be what ever a man wants her to be. Marie and Link are having a romance and Marie tells Tod "I'm going to hurt your friend". Sailor Jack arrives in town between ships and has a fling with Marie. Marie decides to leave home to "find herself" but Tod and Linc talk her out of it. |
October 11, 1963 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 7, 1960 |
| Last aired | March 20, 1964 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Friday at 20:30:00 |