It was the series that presented a beloved radio hero in living color on the small screen - and at the same time introduced a martial arts legend-in-the-making, Bruce Lee. It was "The Green Hornet," produced by the team that brought you the 1966 "Batman" series and starring Van Williams as the emerald-clad avenger secretly posing as a criminal to bring down the most notorious gangsters, racketeers and wrongdoers. The ABC series lasted only one TV season, 1966-67, but a wealth of information still exists on it.
Now, in this guide released just as the show turns 50, BRBTV chronicles it all, from the planning of the series in the mid-'60s, as shepherded by character co-creator George W. Trendle and executive producer William Dozier, through each and every episode, to the fandom beyond. Author and journalist Billie Rae Bates talked with series star Van Williams and other members of the cast and crew, as well as writers and other industry professionals who have been involved with the show's lore over the decades. In "Let's Roll, Kato: A Guide to TV's Green Hornet," you'll find lots of facts and fun surrounding this classic TV show:
- A history of the development of the series, as well as background on each of the principal stars
- Cast list and character guide
- Episode synopses, plus background on the storylines and scripts
- A look at the Black Beauty car, with input from owners of both screen-used and replica vehicles
- A listing of the many gadgets used by the Hornet, both inside the car and out
- An in-depth look at the books and comics that sprung from the series, with input from the writers and artists who helped produce them
- Detailed guide to the vast and varied merchandise celebrating the series, with plenty of photos
The sixth big book in the BRBTV fact book series, with beautiful cover art by Baltimore artist Dale Cuthbertson, "Let's Roll, Kato" is jam-packed -- more than 480 pages!
BRBTV has been a solid source of information on classic 1980s TV shows since 1998. You can learn more about the author and her other fun-fact reference guides, which focus on "Dallas," "Dynasty," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Wonder Woman" and "The Secrets of Isis," at BRBTV.com. Also check out the BRBTV Reports in Kindle format on Amazon, quick and snappy feature stories for several classic animated shows.
