Log 23: Pig is a Three-Letter Word, aired Saturday October 11, 1969 at 8:30. Season 2, Episode 4. I liked the young actor in this episode, so I did some research on him and the other lesser-known actors in this episode.
Your viewing choices that Saturday night:
This entry will focus on the actors, and a separate post on this episode will focus on the locations. On to the actors:
Actor Byron Mabe had quite a few bit parts on TV shows of the Adam-12 era, including many of my faves (Cannon, Mannix, Police Story, Harry O), but I don't think he reached "Hey, it's that guy!" status. Here he played a most brutal child molester, and Reed was outraged. Rather shocking they had an episode where a five-year-old boy is raped to death, even if it was only talked about and nothing shown.
Byron Mabe was also the star of "The Doberman Gang" in 1972.
Mac finds out this child molester suspect is training dogs to rob banks:
This episode had three other officers with speaking parts but neglected to show their name tags or have their names spoken in conversation. Stuart Thomas and Breland Rice I found on other shows to confirm their identities. The man with the lengthy part and great close-ups didn't get a credit! He had just passed his probationary period and sits down with Reed, who doesn't bother to say his fellow officer's name. Mystery solved: It was Byron Bradley! He appears as the store detective in Season 5, Episode 16, Citizens Arrest- 484. He gets his credit in that one.
In the locker room, these two unnamed officers say much less than the man above, but somehow had character names in the credits! Breland Rice and Stuart Thomas:
The new actor who stands out in this episode is W. Alex Clarke (billed here without the W) as "Jessie Smith," a bit of a peacemaker in a time of tense Black-White relations.
Tragically, there was a fire at Ms. Cumber's Hollywood Hills home in 1967. It sounds like the people were alright, but the property damage was probably why the house was soon up for sale. The house still stands and looks great from the outside at least. Alex Clarke is mentioned in the news article on the fire.
His first big role was in a film called "The Learning Tree."
Alex Clarke earned himself an NAACP Image Award. Also, an award went to Gail Fisher of "Mannix" fame. (I love Mannix!)
Sometimes credited as W. Alex Clarke, his credits on imdb are very brief. This one in a 1970 Disney film release (with the omnipresent William Schallert) is not listed.
I would have enjoyed seeing more of this actor. He passed in 2010.
The bad guys from this bust:
A familiar face is guest star Herbert Anderson, of "Dennis the Menace" father fame (a show I've never seen.)
A father-son burglar team composed of veteran character actor Ralph Manza and late 60s child actor Tony Fraser keep taking things from Herbert Anderson's home.
Ralph Manza had three Adam-12 appearances and a "Highway Patrol," but not a Mac episode. The man worked right up until his passing at the age of 78.
Child actor Tony Fraser had quite a few credits in the second half of the 60s.
Now why didn't this featured player get a credit? And more importantly, what is his name? UPDATE! It's Bryon Bradley! He appears (with a credit) as Parlow in "Citizen's Arrest-484" Season 5, Episode 16. All of the other speaking roles got credits.
Byron Bradley, no credit this time. They already had one "Byron" in the credits. Was that what did it?
I (will) have a separate post for this episode on the locations and cars.
