Crime and Peter Chambers
Rocky Fortune starring Frank Sinatra was one of the star mystery and adventure shows for NBC. The abrupt departure of Frank Sinatra during the Spring of 1954 left a big hole in NBC's Tuesday night mystery lineup. Mystery novelist Henry Kane approached NBC to pitch his Peter Chambers character from his detective novels as a candidate. He wisely enlisted the popular Film tough guy, Dane Clark to pitch the idea to NBC. This worked out well for all parties. NBC got a name Film actor for their Tuesday night mystery lineup to follow Dragnet, and Henry Kane got full control over the production, credits as creator, writer and producer, and was able to promote his Peter Chambers character. The show debuted Tuesday, April 6, 1954. A New York based private detective, Peter Chambers was a detective that actively participated with and supported the detectives of the NYPD, much in the mold of Philip Marlowe. Peter Chambers apparently lived quite comfortably in the upper east side of Manhattan. Detective Lieutenant Louie Parker played by William Zuckert had not only a respectful professional relationship with Peter Chambers but the two had apparently become friends of some seventeen years.
