Bill Sullivan
The mission of the FBI is to protect the innocent and identify the enemies of the Government of the United States.The proclamation above opened many episodes of The FBI, Quinn Martin’s longest running television series (airing nine seasons on ABC, from 1965 to 1974), and one of the most popular shows of the late 1960s, reaching more than 25 million viewers a week worldwide at its peak. Based on actual cases from the files of the FBI, the series starred Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Philip Abbott, Stephen Brooks, and William Reynolds and combined authentic elements of investigation with compelling characters and stellar writing, week after week after week. At a time when there were only three networks, The FBI was a bona fide Sunday night viewing event for nine years, knocking off another powerhouse, The Ed Sullivan Show, in the process. And yet, despite its tremendous impact on television, this landmark series is almost completely forgotten today. Until now.The definitive go-to bible for information about the classic ABC series, The FBI Dossier features 898 pages packed with facts about the series, its stars, storylines, a complete breakdown of all 241 episodes - including 'The Hiding Place,' the only episode that never aired on television (either on ABC or in syndication), and 'All the Streets Are Silent,' the episode that Quentin Tarantino immortalized in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - plus hundreds of photos, and a fabulous array of exclusive interviews with many of the stars and guest stars including Richard Anderson, Anne Archer, Ed Asner, Michael Bell, Eric Braeden, Beau Bridges, Henry Darrow, Jack Garner, Walter Grauman, Robert Hooks, Jerry Houser, Ketty Lester, Donna Mills, Stefanie Powers, Suzanne Pleshette, Peter Mark Richman, Roy Thinnes, Joan Van Ark, Lindsay Wagner, Dawn Wells, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., and William Reynolds. Seven years in the making, The FBI Dossier is not just a veritable who’s who of the entertainment industry, but an important look at an unheralded chapter of television history.
