Car 54 Where Are You?

by Martin Grams Jr.

CAR 54, Where Are You? is considered one of the best television comedies ever produced. From 1961 to 1963, Officers Toody and Muldoon were among the most unlikely patrol-car partners ever seen on a police force. Toody was short, stocky, and just a it nosy, a marked contrast to the tall, quiet Muldoon. Although they were assigned to New York's fictional 53rd precinct -- a run down area of the Bronx not generally considered a hotbead of hilarity -- they always seemed to encounter more comedy than crime. From the episode "Something Nice for Sol" to the classic Christmas episode of 1961, this light-hearted comedy offered a heart-warming approach to our police force at work. The comedy was invariably of the broad slapstick variety reminiscent of Mack Sennett -- and one episode even saluted the Keystone Cops! Created by Nat Hiken, this television program now receives a superb review including biographies on the lead actors, the creation of the series, detailed listings of all 60 television episodes, broadcast history, cast list, plot summaries and lots of behind-the-scenes stories.

244 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Martin Grams is an author and old-time radio enthusiast whose more than twenty books on the subject have qualified him as an expert. He is generous and helpful to his fans and colleagues and his name can often be found in the credits of books dedicated to radio and early television.

While he is one of the younger fans of old-time radio, Martin does not like to talk about his youth, as it proved a hindrance to him when he tried to get his first book published. Determined, Grams decided to self-publish his book about Suspense and has done so several times subsequently.

In addition to writing and researching, Martin and his wife Michelle run the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Reviews

[P.J. Taylor]

An essential read for anybody who enjoyed the comedy show, Car 54 Where Are You? There's a great episode guide with some side notes on certain episodes. I just wish the character biographies had been a bit more in-depth.