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Series · 1960–1962Ended

Checkmate

4.8·2 seasons·69 episodes·60 min avg.

Checkmate is an American detective television series starring Anthony George, Sebastian Cabot, and Doug McClure. The show aired on CBS Television from 1960 to 1962 for a total of 70 episodes and was produced by Jack Benny's production company, "JaMco Productions" in co-operation with Revue Studios. Guest stars included Charles Laughton, Peter Lorre, and Lee Marvin, among many other commensurately prominent performers.

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01
Death Runs Wild
Death Runs WildUp next
Sep 17, 1960

Story tells of a demented woman out to kill private eye Anthony George. The instrument of death, as it turned out, was, a wild stallion she stocked on her ranch. Her motive was revenge. On a previous case, the private eye had brought her lover to justice and the gas chamber.

02
Interrupted Honeymoon
Interrupted Honeymoon
Sep 24, 1960
03
The Cyanide Touch
The Cyanide Touch
Oct 1, 1960
04
Lady on the Brink
Lady on the Brink
Oct 15, 1960

Checkmate comes to the aid of a woman with a traumatic past when it becomes evident that someone is trying to make it appear she's mentally unstable. discrediting her eye-witness testimony at a murder trial.

05
Face in the Window
Face in the Window
Oct 22, 1960
06
Runaway
Runaway
Oct 29, 1960

A girl shows up at Corey's apartment, claiming that she is running from someone who is trying to kill her. However, the detectives all find that nothing she has said checks out, including her numerous aliases, and that she's actually an heiress running from a controlling grandmother. But it does appear that the part about someone trying to kill her may be the truth.

07
Target: Tycoon
Target: Tycoon
Nov 5, 1960
08
The Deadly Shadow
The Deadly Shadow
Nov 12, 1960
09
The Dark Divide
The Dark Divide
Nov 19, 1960

Barbara Rush plays a dual role in The dark divide. Why should Margaret Russell's life be threatened? Her aunt keeps getting phone calls from a woman named Nikki Garnett, threatening Margaret. What motive could the woman have?

10
Moment of Truth
Moment of Truth
Nov 26, 1960
11
The Mask of Vengeance
The Mask of Vengeance
Dec 3, 1960
12
The Murder Game
The Murder Game
Dec 17, 1960

Attorney Emory Olivant invites Corey, Sills and Dr. Hyatt to a party. Once all the guests have arrived, Olivant announces that they are going to play a game—a murder game in which he will be the killer.

13
The Princess in the Tower
The Princess in the Tower
Dec 31, 1960
14
The Terror from the East
The Terror from the East
Jan 7, 1961
15
The Human Touch
The Human Touch
Jan 14, 1961

Arguably the finest episode of the series, featuring guest star Peter Lorre as an ex-con criminal mastermind determined to wreak revenge on master criminologist Sebastian Cabot. An intricate series of cat and mouse moves between the two geniuses culminates in a surprise and ultimately poignant ending, befitting the episode title. This episode stresses the close friendships between the three detectives of CHECKMATE INCORPORATED as it contrasts with that of the brilliant, but soulless Lorre. Directing, writing and acting are all exemplary.

16
Hour of Execution
Hour of Execution
Jan 21, 1961
17
Don't Believe a Word She Says
Don't Believe a Word She Says
Jan 28, 1961
18
Laugh Till I Die
Laugh Till I Die
Feb 4, 1961
19
Between Two Guns
Between Two Guns
Feb 11, 1961
20
A Matter of Conscience
A Matter of Conscience
Feb 18, 1961
21
Melody for Murder
Melody for Murder
Feb 25, 1961
22
Phantom Lover
Phantom Lover
Mar 4, 1961

A woman believes her husband has killed her male friend, who can not be found. She hires Checkmate to investigate.

23
The Gift
The Gift
Mar 11, 1961

Lola Tuscany, a temperamental lady soprano, is having premonitions of her death. After her concert she is almost poisoned and Checkmate Inc. is hired to keep her safe. Don Corey is skeptical, believing it is a publicity stunt, until he is nearly killed when a bomb explodes in the car he and Lola are driving in.

24
One for the Book
One for the Book
Mar 18, 1961
25
The Paper Killer
The Paper Killer
Mar 25, 1961
26
Jungle Castle
Jungle Castle
Apr 1, 1961

After two attempts on his life, big game hunter Lee Tabor brings Dr. Hyatt and Carl to his home in the Malayan jungle. He asks for their help in finding out which of his three house guests is trying to kill him.

27
The Deadly Silence
The Deadly Silence
Apr 8, 1961
28
Goodbye Griff
Goodbye Griff
Apr 15, 1961

""Ex-convict Griff Nolan is jealous because his wife Libby earns more as a magazine editor than he does as a mechanic. More domestic strife develops when Griff becomes jealous of Libby's boss Lewis Bates --- and buys a gun."" -- TV Guide

30
Voyage Into Fear
Voyage Into Fear
May 6, 1961
31
Tight As a Drum
Tight As a Drum
May 13, 1961
32
Death by Design
Death by Design
May 20, 1961

Eve Arden, plays a fashion designer, worried that someone is out to destroy her and her business. Checkmate have two main suspects.

33
The Thrill Seeker
The Thrill Seeker
May 27, 1961
34
Hot Wind in a Cold Town
Hot Wind in a Cold Town
Jun 10, 1961
35
A Slight Touch of Venom
A Slight Touch of Venom
Jun 17, 1961
36
State of Shock
State of Shock
Jun 24, 1961

Cast

3 credited
Anthony George
Don Corey
Doug McClure
Jed Sills
Sebastian Cabot
Dr. Carl Hyatt

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