Rare TV Detectives - Volume 1: Martin Kane / Boston Blackie / I'm The Law / Follow That Man

MARTIN KANE, PRIVATE EYE - Movie Theater Murder: Martin Kane, Private Eye aired live on NBC from 1949-'54 and earned an Emmy nomination in 1953 as Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program. In 1957, the series was revived as a syndicated series with William Gargan reprising the title role. Starring William Gargan, Walter Greaza, Walter Kinsella and Harold J. Stone.

BOSTON BLACKIE - So Was Goliath: Boston Blackie had been a popular film series throughout the 1940s, so it was only natural that the crime-fighting character come to television. With Kent Taylor in the title role of the dashing sleuth, the series ran from 1951-'53 in syndication. Starring Kent Taylor, Lois Collier, Frank Orth and Emory Parnell.

I'M THE LAW - The Killer: In 1953, legendary Hollywood tough guy George Raft headlined his own syndicated series as hard-boiled Lt. Kirby of the New York Police Department. This episode features an early appearance by actor Joe Turkel, who later co-starred in three Stanley Kubrick classics: The Killing (1956), Paths of Glory (1957) and The Shining (1980). Starring George Raft, June Vincent, Lawrence Dobkin, Nestor Paiva and Joe Turkel.

FOLLOW THAT MAN - The Victim Is Venus: Fans of vintage television crime dramas undoubtedly remember the machine-gun title sequence of Follow That Man (a.k.a. Man Against Crime), which ran for five seasons, first on CBS and then on NBC, starring Hollywood favorite Ralph Bellamy as tough, trenchcoat wearing private investigator Mike Barnett. Starring Ralph Belamy.

• television