1972, Television: “The Streets of San Francisco”

On Saturday September 16, 1972, the American police series "The Streets of San Francisco" premieres on ABC. The series, produced by Quinn Martin Productions, was developed by Edward Hume. The main roles Detective Lt. Mike Stone and Inspector Steve Keller were played respectively by Karl Malden and Michael Douglas. Michael Douglas left the series at the start of its final season and was replaced by Richard Hatch. From September 16, 1972 to June 9, 1977 (5 seasons), a total of 119 60-minute episodes and one 98-minute pilot were produced. The series theme was composed by Patrick Williams.

Michael Douglas as Inspector Steve Keller and Karl Malden as Detective Lt. Mike Stone

Karl Malden as Detective Lt. Mike Stone

The pilot episode was based on the novel “Poor, Poor Ophelia” by Carolyn Weston (1972) and starred Robert Wagner, Tom Bosley and Kim Darby.

Plot (pilot)

San Francisco Police Department (S.F.P.D.) Detective Lieutenant Michael Stone (Karl Malden) is partnered with a young Inspector, Steven Keller (Michael Douglas), as they investigate the death of Holly Jean Berry (Kim Darby) a young girl found dead in the water with David J. Farr (Robert Wagner) a lawyer she knew as the primary suspect...

Michael Douglas as Inspector Steve Keller

Karl Malden as Detective Lt. Mike Stone and Michael Douglas as Inspector Steve Keller

Main cast (pilot)

• Karl Malden as Detective Lt. Mike Stone
• Robert Wagner as David J. Farr
• Michael Douglas as Inspector Steve Keller
• Andrew Duggan Capt. A.R. Malone
• Tom Bosley as Saretti
• John Rubinstein as Lindy
• Carmen Mathews as Sally Caswell
• Edward Andrews as Joe Caswell
• Lawrence Dobkin as Gregory Praxas
• Kim Darby as Holly Jean Berry
• Brad David as Del Berry
• Mako as Kenji
• Naomi Stevens as Mrs. Saretti
• Lou Frizzell as Lou
• Bill Quinn as Medical Examiner

Karl Malden as Detective Lt. Mike Stone and Richard Hatch as Inspector Dan Robbins

Awards

• Bambi for TV Series International: Michael Douglas (Bambi Awards, Germany, 1976)
• Eddie for Best Edited Episode from a Television Series: Howard Kunin for the episode "Dead or Alive" (American Cinema Editors, USA, 1977)
• Edgar for Best Television Episode: James Johnson Sweeney for the episode "Requiem for Murder" (Edgar Allan Poe Awards, USA, 1977)
• Bambi for TV Series International: Karl Malden (Bambi Awards, Germany, 1979)

"The Streets of San Francisco" opening credits