The success of 77 Sunset Strip prompted both its producers (Warner Bros) and its network (ABC) to try a series of cookie-cutter copies.
This one featured a trio of sexy, young private detectives (Ken, Dave and Sandy) who lived on a houseboat at Miami Beach and spent much time with beautiful women (Daphne and Cha Cha). All that was missing was a jive-talking parking lot attendant . . .
‘Surfside 6’ was the Miami telephone exchange that included the number of the houseboat which served as both home and office to the detectives.
Anchored next to it was the yacht of kooky socialite Daphne Dutton, and across from it was the fabulous Fontainebleau Hotel, where Cha Cha worked as an entertainer in the Boom Boom Room.
Heartthrob Troy Donahue featured as Sandy Winfield II (pictured at right), while Ken Madison (Van Williams) was a survivor of another private eye show that had been seen in the same time slot during the previous season – Bourbon Street Beat.
His Bourbon Street partner, Rex Randolph, latched on to another job too, joining the team on 77 Sunset Strip.
Warner Bros certainly made the most of its characters . . .
Ken Madison Van Williams Dave Thorne
Lee Patterson
Sandy Winfield II
Troy Donahue Daphne Dutton
Diane McBain Cha Cha O’Brien
Margarita Sierra Lt. Snedigar
Donald Barry Lt. Gene Plehan
Richard Crane Mousie
Mousie Garner
