Classic TV Themes: The Adventurer / The Protectors

In 1972, with the feds having decreed that local stations should program the 7:30 pm half hour, there was a need for something the fill that slot. Instead of the locally produced programming that the FCC hoped for, stations just bought syndicated shows. Like these, both ITC productions from England. A far cry from local programming! Gene Barry as 'The Adventurer' played a world-famous actor ('Gene Bradley') whose sideline gig was being a spy. In a handful of episodes he has two cohorts (one of them Catherine Schell) to help him trap the bad guys. The show lasted one season. Fun fact: In the opening titles Barry throws a punch right at the camera in exactly the same fashion as he did in 'Amos Burke, Secret Agent'. Bonus fun fact: In an episode of 'Amos Burke' Barry is asked what do you really do? He answers: You might say I'm an adventurer. Not so fun fact: Apparently everyone on the show hated working with Amos Burke. The theme by John Barry sounds a little like 'The Persuaders' and more than a little like 'Orson Welles Great Mysteries', both Barry creations.
00:00 The Adventurer.
'The Protectors' were a trio of agents, but only two were billed in the opening titles: Robert Vaughn and Nyree Dawn Porter. A third guy is shown but they don't put his name on the screen. Strange people, those Brits. This show ran for two seasons; Nyree's chauffeur and Suki, Vaughn's martial-arts trained assistant, disappeared in season two (and the dog only got one appearance). The theme 'Avenues and Alleyways' (by Mitch Murray and Peter Callandar) was a hit for singer Tony Christie.
01:23 The Protectors.
Enjoy syndicated programming, ITC-style, from the 70s.