Powerful patrol cars, fast motorcycles, and superheterodyne two-way radios combine to fight crime on the rural highways of America's wide open spaces.Powerful patrol cars, fast motorcycles, and superheterodyne two-way radios combine to fight crime on the rural highways of America's wide open spaces.Powerful patrol cars, fast motorcycles, and superheterodyne two-way radios combine to fight crime on the rural highways of America's wide open spaces.
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Did you know
- TriviaBroderick Crawford played himself on CHiPs season 1 episode called Hustle (1977), being pulled over for running a stop sign and explaining to Officer Jon Baker (Larry Wilcox), "You know, I was making those Highway Patrol shows long before you were born." Baker responded with, "Yeah, they don't make television programs like that anymore."
- GoofsAlthough well known for his line via radio of "21-50 to headquarters", Broderick Crawford throughout the series failed to properly use the radio microphone. On occasion, he held it backwards and spoke into the metal clip that held it on the dashboard, and he usually did not release the push-to-talk button after speaking (this would have prevented him from hearing headquarters). Other actors such as William Boyett did not make this error when using the microphone.
- Quotes
[Repeated line]
Chief Dan Mathews: Ten-four!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Dragnet (1987)
Featured review
I could watch this show for hours!...
... and in fact I've been doing just that with the new DVD releases of the show! Each episode was built for a half-hour TV slot in the 1950's, so in fact they run about 25 minutes apiece. I think they kept things quite inventive with all kinds of different crimes, with the chief of Highway Patrol, Dan Matthews, played by Broderick Crawford, heading the investigation in each case. You've got truck hijackers stopping their prey by faking accidents, a couple of brothers robbing stores and restaurants that cash payroll checks and using a hot-rod to outrun the police, and even a typhoid carrier. You can start watching in any episode since there is really no story continuity to trip you up. Dan Matthews is a very impersonal presence as he outsmarts the crooks, questions witnesses that are often overly chatty about things that have nothing to do with the crime, and sets up road blocks that often catch the criminal. Ironically, most of the "backstory" in each episode usually involves the criminals, often one of which is rather a reluctant accomplice and wants to give himself/herself up.
The atmosphere is great with all of those shots of the open road and those late 50's cars, any one of which makes today's cars look like dixie cups on wheels. Then there are all of those independent motels, cafés, and gas stations, just a brief time before they all became just a series of plain vanilla homogenized chains. Although it is never clearly stated that this is the California Highway Patrol, it is implied by the geography and some of the cities mentioned. Check it out if you are a fan of 50's TV.
The atmosphere is great with all of those shots of the open road and those late 50's cars, any one of which makes today's cars look like dixie cups on wheels. Then there are all of those independent motels, cafés, and gas stations, just a brief time before they all became just a series of plain vanilla homogenized chains. Although it is never clearly stated that this is the California Highway Patrol, it is implied by the geography and some of the cities mentioned. Check it out if you are a fan of 50's TV.
helpful•272
- AlsExGal
- May 18, 2013
- How many seasons does Highway Patrol have?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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