Listen to “The Great Detectives Present Rocky Fortune” on Spreaker.
One of many detective programs NBC tried to make a go of during the mid-1950s, Rocky Fortune starred Frank Sinatra in the title role of a “footloose and fancy-free” temp. On each and every one of his odd jobs, he found mystery and adventure.

The series aired as Sinatra’s career was back on the upswing following a slight downturn in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was a sustaining series without commercial sponsor that ran in a half-hour time slot along with five minutes of NBC News. The resulting stories were fast-paced, full of action, humor, and Frank Sinatra’s snappy dialogue and narration.

Star Bio:

Frank Sinatra (1915-98): He was a legendary singer who sold 150 million records and won multiple Grammies and is known for such hits as “My Way.” He was also an Oscar and Golden Globe award-winning actor known for his performances in films such as From Here to Eternity, Pal Joey, and Ocean’s Eleven. Sinatra was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Episode log:

• Oyster Shucker at the Fifty Fathoms (Original Air Date: October 6, 1953)
• Double Identity (Original Air Date: October 20, 1953)
• Shipboard Jewel Robbery (Original Air Date: October 27, 1953)
• The Pint-Sized Payroll Bandit (Original Air Date: November 3, 1953)
• Messenger for Death (Original Air Date: November 10, 1953)
• Some Cat’s Killed the Canary (Original Air Date: November 17, 1953)
• Murder on the Aisle (Original Air Date: November 24, 1953)
• Murder Among the Statues (Original Air Date: December 1, 1953)
• Murder on the Midway (Original Air Date: December 8, 1953)
• Companion to a Chimp (Original Air Date: December 15, 1953)
• The Prize Fight Fix (Original Air Date: December 29, 1953)
• On the Trail of a Killer (Original Air Date: January 5, 1954)
• The Rodeo Murder Mystery (Original Air Date: January 12, 1954)
• The Museum Murder (Original Air Date: January 19, 1954)
• Hollywood or Boom (Original Air Date: January 26, 1954)
• The Football Fix (Original Air Date: February 2, 1954)
• The Catskills Cover-Up (Original Air Date: February 9, 1954)
• One Husband Too Many (Original Air Date: February 9, 1954)
• A Sitting Duck for Death (Original Air Date: February 23, 1954)
• Honor Among Thieves (Original Air Date: March 2, 1954)
• The Twice-Murdered Man (Original Air Date: March 9, 1954)
• Psychological Murder (Original Air Date: March 16, 1954)
• Rocket Racket (Original Air Date: March 23, 1954)
• Boarding House Doublecross (Original Air Date: March 30, 1954)
• Portrait of Rocky (Original Air Date: April 3, 1949)
• The Fall Guy (Original Air Date: May 1, 1949)
• The While Beetle (Original Air Date: March 12, 1950)
• The Word of a Bishop (Original Air Date: June 4, 1950)
• Valley of the Dead (Original Air Date: July 25, 1951)

Christmas Episode Played Out of Order:

The Plot to Murder Santa Claus

End of log.

Log source: Digital Deli FTP