M Squad

From Wikipedia:

M Squad was an American police drama television series that ran from 1957 to 1960 on NBC. Its format (and opening credits) would later inspire the creation of spoof TV show Police Squad!. Its sponsor was the Pall Mall cigarette brand, of which Lee Marvin, the program's star, appeared in its commercials during the episodes.

Set in Chicago, Illinois, it starred Marvin as Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger, a member of "M Squad," a special unit of the Chicago Police, assisting other units in battling violent crime city-wide. Paul Newlan co-starred as his boss, Captain Grey. Although Marvin had been appearing in feature films since 1951, it was this series that made him a star and he later went on to an even bigger film career afterward.

Starring

Lee Marvin

Composer(s)

Main theme by

Count Basie

Stanley Wilson

Incidental music and arrangements by

Sonny Burke

Pete Carpenter

Benny Carter

John T. Williams

Orchestra conducted by

Stanley Wilson

Country of origin United States

Language(s) English

No. of seasons 3

No. of episodes 117

Production

Executive producer(s)

John Larkin

Richard Lewis

Producer(s)

Robert Bassler

Maxwell Shane

Editor(s)

Lee Huntington

John B. Moss

Stanley Rabjohn

Running time 30 mins.

Broadcast

Original channel NBC

Original run September 20, 1957 – June 28, 1960