Book Review: Tune In For Action

Television history is quickly coming into its own regarding books and various studies. Media historian David C. Tucker's latest from McFarland publishers is one of the recent best.

There were many action shows during TV's first big commercial decade of the 1950s, and, as the author cites, it included police shows, westerns, doctor shows, courtroom dramas, and other such genres. Often noted stars of earlier motion pictures would headline these programs.

This book gathers 34 shows that were in production during a two year period, carefully including those that are lesser known and have rarely been revived, but with a great deal of history as well as merit.

Stars like Preston Foster, Brian Donlevy, Beverly Garland, Jackie Coogan, and George Raft are among those appearing in shows like I'm The Law, Cowboy G-Men, and Waterfront. Each show is given a full chapter in which the author provides details and analysis to help us better understand and appreciate each program.

The author has chosen to explore the bypaths rather than the main shows that have benefitted from reruns that allowed them to achieve immortality. These are TV shows that are give little or no attention in other studies, making this book truly essential for anyone interested in early television.

Recommended for libraries, research centers, and fans of TV history, this book can be purchased at this link: ACTION