I Led 3 Lives
I Led 3 Lives (also known as I Led Three Lives) is an American drama series syndicated by Ziv Television Programs from October 1, 1953, to January 1, 1956. The series stars Richard Carlson. The show was a companion piece of sorts to the radio drama I Was a Communist for the FBI, which dealt with a similar subject and was also syndicated by Ziv from 1952 to 1954.
| I Led 3 Lives | |
|---|---|
 Opening title screen | |
| Also known as | I Led Three Lives |
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Lee Berg Frank Burt Stuart Jerome Norman Jolley Gene Roddenberry |
| Directed by | Eddie Davis Leslie Goodwins Jack Herzberg Henry S. Kesler Herbert L. Strock |
| Starring | Richard Carlson |
| Narrated by | Richard Carlson |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 117 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Frederick W. Ziv |
| Producers | Leon Benson Julius J. Epstein Jack Herzberg Henry S. Kesler Lew Landers Herbert L. Strock Maurice Unger |
| Cinematography | Monroe P. Askins Curt Fetters Robert Hoffman |
| Editors | Ace Clark Charles Craft John B. Woelz |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company | Ziv Television Programs |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syndication |
| Original release | October 1, 1953 – January 1, 1956 |
Synopsis
The series was loosely based on the life of Herbert Philbrick, a Boston advertising executive who infiltrated the U.S. Communist Party on behalf of the FBI in the 1940s and wrote a bestselling book on the topic, I Led Three Lives: Citizen, 'Communist', Counterspy (1952). The part of Philbrick was played by Richard Carlson. The "three lives" in the title are Philbrick's outward life as a white-collar worker, his secret life as a Communist agent, and his even more secret life as an FBI operative helping to foil Communist plots.[1] I Led 3 Lives lasted 117 episodes. Philbrick served as a technical consultant,[2]: 37 with Carlson narrating each episode.[2]: 86
The episodes often had very little to do with the actual events of Philbrick's life as related in his book—Philbrick is credited with only 5 of the 117 screenplays. Screenplays gradually became more and more outlandish, featuring, for example, such supposed "Communist plots" as the conversion of household vacuum cleaners (1942-1954 Electrolux) into tactical missile launchers with which the Communists intended to destroy America's Nike anti-aircraft defensive missiles, and the manufacturing of untraceable "ghost guns" (unserialized Colt M1911 .45 cal semi-automatics) with which the Communists intended to assassinate their political enemies.
The series was honored by the Freedoms Foundation as the best television program of 1955.[3]
Main cast
- Richard Carlson – Herbert A. Philbrick
- Virginia Stefan – Eva Philbrick
- Patricia Morrow – Constance Philbrick
- Charles Maxwell – Special Agent Joe Carney
- William Hudson – Special Agent Mike Andrews
- John Beradino – Special Agent Steve Daniels
- John Zaremba – Special Agent Jerry Dressler
- Ed Hinton – Special Agent Henderson
Guest stars
- Vivi Janiss as Comrade Elaine in "Gun Running" and Comrade Endora in "Counterfeit"
- Eve McVeagh as Miss Cutler in "Commie Dies"
- Ewing Mitchell as Mr. Collins in "Defense Plant Security"
- Victor Rodman as Comrade Arthur in "Commie Dies"
Episodes
Season 1 (1953–54)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Secret Call: Part 1" | Eddie Davis | Donn Mullally | October 4, 1953 |
| 2 | 2 | "Bess: Part 2" | Eddie Davis | Unknown | October 11, 1953 |
| 3 | 3 | "Dope Photographic" | Eddie Davis | Donn Mullally | October 18, 1953 |
| 4 | 4 | "Baited Trap" | Lew Landers | Frank Burt | October 25, 1953 |
| 5 | 5 | "Railroad Strike Attempt" | Eddie Davis | Gene Levitt | November 1, 1953 |
| 6 | 6 | "Campus Story" | Lew Landers | Robert Yale Libott | November 8, 1953 |
| 7 | 7 | "Army Infiltration" | Leslie Goodwins | Frank Burt | November 15, 1953 |
| 8 | 8 | "The Spy" | Eddie Davis | Donn Mullally | November 22, 1953 |
| 9 | 9 | "Jet Engine" | Lew Landers | Stuart Jerome | 1953 |
| 10 | 10 | "Helping Hand" | Eddie Davis | Gene Levitt | 1953 |
| 11 | 11 | "Parcels for Poland" | Leslie Goodwins | Frank Burt | 1953 |
| 12 | 12 | "Captured Congressman" | Eddie Davis | Don Brinkley & Stuart Jerome | 1953 |
| 13 | 13 | "Purloined Printing Press" | Eddie Davis | Donn Mullally | 1953 |
| 14 | 14 | "The Wife" | Eddie Davis | Donn Mullally | 1954 |
| 15 | 15 | "Civil Defense" | Leslie Goodwins | Gene Levitt | 1954 |
| 16 | 16 | "Communist Cop" | Eugene Forde | Frank Burt | 1954 |
| 17 | 17 | "Defense Plant Security" | Eddie Davis | Frank Burt | 1954 |
| 18 | 18 | "Gun Running" | Leslie Goodwins | Gene Levitt | 1954 |
| 19 | 19 | "Passports" | Herbert Strock | Gene Levitt | 1954 |
| 20 | 20 | "Map of the City" | Lambert Hillyer | Jack Rock | 1954 |
| 21 | 21 | "Caviar" | Lambert Hillyer | Gene Levitt | 1954 |
| 22 | 22 | "The Kid" | Herbert Strock | Arthur Fitz-Richard | 1954 |
| 23 | 23 | "Youth Movement" | Lambert Hillyer | Donn Mullally | 1954 |
| 24 | 24 | "Infra Red Film" | Eddie Davis | Stuart Jerome and Curt Siodmak | 1954 |
| 25 | 25 | "The Editor" | Lewis Allen | Stuart Jerome | 1954 |
| 26 | 26 | "Confused Comrade" | Leigh Jason | Jack Rock | 1954 |
| 27 | 27 | "Communication Disruptions" | Herbert Strock | Maurice Stoller | 1954 |
| 28 | 28 | "Phantom Labor Leader" | Henry S. Kesler | Robert Libott | 1954 |
| 29 | 29 | "Progressive" | Leigh Jason | Gene Levitt | 1954 |
| 30 | 30 | "Old Man" | Herbert Strock | Arthur Fitz-Richard | 1954 |
| 31 | 31 | "Birthday" | Tim Whelan | Jack Rock | 1954 |
| 32 | 32 | "Cell Leader" | Herbert Strock | Stuart Jerome | 1954 |
| 33 | 33 | "Dry Run" | Henry S. Kesler | Arthur E. Orloff | 1954 |
| 34 | 34 | "Comrade Wants Out" | Herbert Strock | Bob Mitchell | 1954 |
| 35 | 35 | "Depression" | Lambert Hillyer | Jack Rock | 1954 |
| 36 | 36 | "The Boss" | Eddie Davis | Stuart Jerome | 1954 |
| 37 | 37 | "Love Story" | Leon Benson | Arthur Fitz-Richard | 1954 |
| 38 | 38 | "Unexpected Trip" | Tim Whelan | Tim Whelan | 1954 |
| 39 | 39 | "Strategic Material" | Herbert Strock | Jack Rock | 1954 |
Season 2 (1954–55)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 1 | "Counterfeit" | Lew Landers | Jack Rock | 1954 |
| 41 | 2 | "Martyr" | Eddie Davis | Donn Mullally | 1954 |
| 42 | 3 | "Close Factory" | Leigh Jason | Stuart Jerome | 1954 |
| 43 | 4 | "Relatives" | Eddie Davis | Ellis Marcus | 1954 |
| 44 | 5 | "Homing Station" | Leon Benson | Arthur Fitz-Richard | 1954 |
| 45 | 6 | "Infiltration" | Lew Landers | Jack Rock | 1954 |
| 46 | 7 | "Assassination Plot" | Eddie Davis | Stuart Jerome | 1954 |
| 47 | 8 | "The Bomb" | Eddie Davis | Frederick Stephani | 1954 |
| 48 | 9 | "Atomic" | Herbert Strock | Leonard Heideman | 1954 |
| 49 | 10 | "Day Camp" | Leon Benson | Robert Libott | 1954 |
| 50 | 11 | "The Guest" | Henry S. Kesler | Arthur Fitz-Richard | 1954 |
| 51 | 12 | "Narcotics" | Henry S. Kesler | Stuart Jerome | 1954 |
| 52 | 13 | "Fifth Amendment" | Herbert Strock | Donn Mullally | 1954 |
| 53 | 14 | "Rest Home" | Eddie Davis | Jack Rock | 1954 |
| 54 | 15 | "Deportation" | Leon Benson | Robert Libott | 1954 |
| 55 | 16 | "The Switch" | Henry S. Kesler | Rik Vollaerts | 1954 |
| 56 | 17 | "Servicemen" | Leon Benson | Leonard Heideman | 1954 |
| 57 | 18 | "Asylum" | Herbert Strock | Richard G. Taylor | 1954 |
| 58 | 19 | "Moving" | Leon Benson and Herbert Strock | Arthur Fitz-Richard and Stuart Jerome | 1954 |
| 59 | 20 | "Minority Control" | Herbert Strock | Jack Rock | 1954 |
| 60 | 21 | "Camera" | Leon Benson | Ellis Marcus | 1954 |
| 61 | 22 | "Comic Strip" | Herbert Strock | Stuart Jerome | 1954 |
| 62 | 23 | "Goon Squad" | Henry S. Kesler | Donn Mullally | 1954 |
| 63 | 24 | "Mailing List" | Leon Benson | Arthur Fitz-Richard | 1954 |
| 64 | 25 | "Convicts" | Lew Landers | Rik Vollaerts | 1954 |
| 65 | 26 | "Investments" | Henry S. Kesler | Leonard Heideman | 1954 |
| 66 | 27 | "The Son" | Herbert Strock | Arthur Fitz-Richard | 1955 |
| 67 | 28 | "Vandalism" | Henry S. Kesler | Jack Rock | 1955 |
| 68 | 29 | "Revolt" | Henry S. Kesler | Ellis Marcus | 1955 |
| 69 | 30 | "Brainwashed" | Herbert Strock | Donn Mullally | 1955 |
| 70 | 31 | "Boss" | Henry S. Kesler | Stuart Jerome | 1955 |
| 71 | 32 | "Mr. and Mrs. Club" | Lambert Hillyer | Richard G. Taylor | 1955 |
| 72 | 33 | "Oilfield" | Herbert Strock | Rik Vollaerts | 1955 |
| 73 | 34 | "Lost Report" | Herbert Strock | Arthur Fitz-Richard | 1955 |
| 74 | 35 | "Church" | Henry S. Kesler | Jack Rock | 1955 |
| 75 | 36 | "Commie Dies" | Henry S. Kesler | Ellis Marcus | 1955 |
| 76 | 37 | "Child Commie" | Henry S. Kesler | Leonard Heideman | 1955 |
| 77 | 38 | "Comrade Eva" | Herbert Strock | Stuart Jerome | 1955 |
| 78 | 39 | "Christmas Charity Bracket" | León Benson | Donn Mullally and Baruch J. Cohon | 1955 |
Season 3 (1955–56)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 1 | "Housebreaking" | Henry S. Kesler | Stuart Jerome | 1955 |
| 80 | 2 | "Attack Area" | Henry S. Kesler | Jack Rock | 1955 |
| 81 | 3 | "Rendezvous" | Eddie Davis | Ellis Marcus | 1955 |
| 82 | 4 | "Sacrificed" | Leon Benson | Donn Mullally | 1955 |
| 83 | 5 | "Eva Sick" | Eddie Davis | Stuart Jerome | 1955 |
| 84 | 6 | "Project Athlete" | Henry S. Kesler | Leonard Heideman | 1955 |
| 85 | 7 | "Lawyer" | Jack Herzberg | Ellis Marcus | 1955 |
| 86 | 8 | "Newsreel" | Henry S. Kesler | Rik Vollaerts | 1955 |
| 87 | 9 | "Ex G.I." | Jack Herzberg | Stuart Jerome | 1955 |
| 88 | 10 | "Common Denominator" | Lambert Hillyer | Donn Mullally | 1955 |
| 89 | 11 | "Stolen Passport" | Eddie Davis | Leonard Heideman | 1955 |
| 90 | 12 | "Exchange Student" | Leslie Goodwins | Jack Rock | 1955 |
| 91 | 13 | "Prisoner" | Lambert Hillyer | Rik Vollaerts | 1955 |
| 92 | 14 | "Instruction Camp" | Herbert Strock | Herbert Strock | 1955 |
| 93 | 15 | "Second Courier" | Herbert Strock | Stuart Jerome | 1955 |
| 94 | 16 | "Phony Brother" | Herbert Strock | Leonard Berg | 1955 |
| 95 | 17 | "Trapped" | Jack Herzberg | Ellis Marcus | 1955 |
| 96 | 18 | "Mother-in-Law" | Henry S. Kesler | Leonard Heideman | 1955 |
| 97 | 19 | "Central American Assignment" | Henry S. Kesler | Ellis Marcus | 1955 |
In popular culture
The show was a favorite of Lee Harvey Oswald, according to his brother.[4]
The title of the TV series I Had Three Wives, which aired briefly in 1985, is a pun on the name of the original; it was an otherwise unrelated comedy-drama about a private detective's three ex-wives, who cooperate on cases.
References
- "Herbert Philbrick, 78, F.B.I. Spy Who Inspired TV Series in the 50s". The New York Times. August 18, 1993. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- Grams, Martin Jr. (2007). I Led 3 Lives: The True Story of Herbert A. Philbrick's Television Program (PDF). BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1593930929 – via martingrams.biz.
- "Freedom Awards Given To Host Of Americans". Sandusky Register. Sandusky, Ohio. February 22, 1956. p. 23. Retrieved November 27, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- Geerhart, Bill (January 23, 2011). "The Best of 'I Led Three Lives'". CONELRAD Adjacent. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
Further reading
- Grams, Martin Jr. (2007). I Led 3 Lives: The True Story of Herbert A. Philbrick's Television Program. BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1593930929.
- Kackman, Michael (1998). "Citizen, Communist, Counterspy: I Led 3 Lives and Television's Masculine Agent of History" (PDF). Cinema Journal. 38 (1): 98–114. doi:10.2307/1225737. JSTOR 1225737 – via Middlebury College Language Schools.