About this season
Checkmate is an American detective television series starring Anthony George, Sebastian Cabot, and Doug McClure. The show aired on CBS Television from 1960 to 1962 for a total of 70 episodes and was produced by Jack Benny's production company, "JaMco Productions" in co-operation with Revue Studios. Guest stars included Charles Laughton, Peter Lorre, and Lee Marvin, among many other commensurately prominent performers.
Episodes (35)
1. Death Runs Wild
Aired 17 September 1960 • 60 min
Story tells of a demented woman out to kill private eye Anthony George. The instrument of death, as it turned out, was, a wild stallion she stocked on her ranch. Her motive was revenge. On a previous case, the private eye had brought her lover to justice and the gas chamber.
2. Interrupted Honeymoon
Aired 24 September 1960 • 60 min
3. The Cyanide Touch
Aired 1 October 1960 • 60 min
4. Lady on the Brink
Aired 15 October 1960 • 60 min
Checkmate comes to the aid of a woman with a traumatic past when it becomes evident that someone is trying to make it appear she's mentally unstable. discrediting her eye-witness testimony at a murder trial.
5. Face in the Window
Aired 22 October 1960 • 60 min
6. Runaway
Aired 29 October 1960 • 60 min
A girl shows up at Corey's apartment, claiming that she is running from someone who is trying to kill her. However, the detectives all find that nothing she has said checks out, including her numerous aliases, and that she's actually an heiress running from a controlling grandmother. But it does appear that the part about someone trying to kill her may be the truth.
7. Target: Tycoon
Aired 5 November 1960 • 60 min
8. The Deadly Shadow
Aired 12 November 1960 • 60 min
9. The Dark Divide
Aired 19 November 1960 • 60 min
Barbara Rush plays a dual role in The dark divide. Why should Margaret Russell's life be threatened? Her aunt keeps getting phone calls from a woman named Nikki Garnett, threatening Margaret. What motive could the woman have?
10. Moment of Truth
Aired 26 November 1960 • 60 min
11. The Mask of Vengeance
Aired 3 December 1960 • 60 min
12. The Murder Game
Aired 17 December 1960 • 60 min
Attorney Emory Olivant invites Corey, Sills and Dr. Hyatt to a party. Once all the guests have arrived, Olivant announces that they are going to play a game—a murder game in which he will be the killer.
13. The Princess in the Tower
Aired 31 December 1960 • 60 min
14. The Terror from the East
Aired 7 January 1961 • 60 min
15. The Human Touch
Aired 14 January 1961 • 60 min
Arguably the finest episode of the series, featuring guest star Peter Lorre as an ex-con criminal mastermind determined to wreak revenge on master criminologist Sebastian Cabot. An intricate series of cat and mouse moves between the two geniuses culminates in a surprise and ultimately poignant ending, befitting the episode title. This episode stresses the close friendships between the three detectives of CHECKMATE INCORPORATED as it contrasts with that of the brilliant, but soulless Lorre. Directing, writing and acting are all exemplary.
16. Hour of Execution
Aired 21 January 1961 • 60 min
17. Don't Believe a Word She Says
Aired 28 January 1961 • 60 min
18. Laugh Till I Die
Aired 4 February 1961 • 60 min
19. Between Two Guns
Aired 11 February 1961 • 60 min
20. A Matter of Conscience
Aired 18 February 1961 • 60 min
21. Melody for Murder
Aired 25 February 1961 • 60 min
22. Phantom Lover
Aired 4 March 1961 • 60 min
A woman believes her husband has killed her male friend, who can not be found. She hires Checkmate to investigate.
23. The Gift
Aired 11 March 1961 • 60 min
Lola Tuscany, a temperamental lady soprano, is having premonitions of her death. After her concert she is almost poisoned and Checkmate Inc. is hired to keep her safe. Don Corey is skeptical, believing it is a publicity stunt, until he is nearly killed when a bomb explodes in the car he and Lola are driving in.
24. One for the Book
Aired 18 March 1961 • 60 min
25. The Paper Killer
Aired 25 March 1961 • 60 min
26. Jungle Castle
Aired 1 April 1961 • 60 min
After two attempts on his life, big game hunter Lee Tabor brings Dr. Hyatt and Carl to his home in the Malayan jungle. He asks for their help in finding out which of his three house guests is trying to kill him.
27. The Deadly Silence
Aired 8 April 1961 • 60 min
28. Goodbye Griff
Aired 15 April 1961 • 60 min
""Ex-convict Griff Nolan is jealous because his wife Libby earns more as a magazine editor than he does as a mechanic. More domestic strife develops when Griff becomes jealous of Libby's boss Lewis Bates --- and buys a gun."" -- TV Guide
30. Voyage Into Fear
Aired 6 May 1961 • 60 min
31. Tight As a Drum
Aired 13 May 1961 • 60 min
32. Death by Design
Aired 20 May 1961 • 60 min
Eve Arden, plays a fashion designer, worried that someone is out to destroy her and her business. Checkmate have two main suspects.
33. The Thrill Seeker
Aired 27 May 1961 • 60 min
34. Hot Wind in a Cold Town
Aired 10 June 1961 • 60 min
35. A Slight Touch of Venom
Aired 17 June 1961 • 60 min
36. State of Shock
Aired 24 June 1961 • 60 min