''Waterfront'' is an American syndicated television drama series that starred

Preston Foster Preston Stratton Foster (August 24, 1900 – July 14, 1970), was an American actor of stage, film, radio, and television, whose career spanned nearly four decades. He also had a career as a vocalist. Early life Born in Ocean City, New Jersey ...

as a harbor tug captain of the ''Cheryl Ann'' that was filmed, in part, at Los Angeles Harbor in 1954-1955 by Roland Reed Productions, Inc., for the

Ziv Company Frederic W. Ziv Company (also given as Frederick W. Ziv Company) produced syndicated radio and television programs in the United States. Horace Newcomb's ''Encyclopedia of Television'' described the company as "by 1948 ... the largest packager and ...

. Foster was an officer in the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...

during World War II.

Production

Preston Foster portrayed Captain John Herrick, a tugboat captain at Los Angeles Harbor, operating from Berth 14 in San Pedro, in 78 episodes, production of which concluded in 1955. It also starred

Douglas Dick Douglas Harvey Dick (November 20, 1920 – December 19, 2015) was an American actor and occasional screenwriter. His most famous role came in the 1948 film ''Rope''. In 1971, Dick left the entertainment industry to work as a psychologist. Early ...

Lois Moran Lois Moran (born Lois Darlington Dowling; March 1, 1909 – July 13, 1990) was an American film and stage actress.

Willie Best William Best (May 27, 1913 – February 27, 1962), known professionally as Willie Best or Sleep n' Eat, was an American television and film actor. Best was one of the first African American film actors and comedians to become well kn ...

and

Harry Lauter Herman Arthur "Harry" Lauter (June 19, 1914 – October 30, 1990) was an American character actor. Early years Lauter was born in White Plains, New York. He worked as a model for a professional photographer and was a rodeo rider before m ...

. Stated Foster, “On ''Waterfront'', I insisted that we use the real locale. We went down to Los Angeles harbor and got a lot of good background shots. The

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...

supplied the equipment we needed, and I even learned how to handle the tugboat myself.” The actor left the program to make the pilot for a new program, “Test Pilot,” which, ultimately, did not make it into series production. Foster explained that the end of ''Waterfront'' was a financial decision. “We’ve made 78 of them,” he said. “That’s enough for two years, including 26 weeks of reruns. The show is still riding high, and we could probably make more. “But the profit is in the second runs. It’s important to sell them in the second-run market while the show’s popularity is high; you get a better price for them. “Now is when the producers cash in on the investment. So far they haven’t made a profit. I’m the only one who has - because I was under salary.”Thomas, Bob, Associated Press columnist, On Hollywood Beat, “Foster Turns In Tug For Jet,” ''The Sun-Telegram'', San Bernardino, California, Sunday 22 January 1956, Volume 9, Number 42, page 4.

Episodes

Season 1 (1954)

Season 2 (1954-1955)

References

External links

*
(1954-55)'' at CVTA
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waterfront (1955 TV series) First-run syndicated television programs in the United States 1954 American television series debuts 1955 American television series endings Black-and-white American television shows English-language television shows 1950s American drama television series Nautical television series Television shows filmed in Los Angeles Television shows set in Los Angeles