Tightrope is an American crime drama series that aired on CBS from September 1959 to September 1960, under the alternate sponsorship of the J.B. Williams Company, and American Tobacco. Produced by Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene in association with Screen Gems, the series stars Mike Connors as an undercover agent named "Nick" who was assigned to infiltrate criminal gangs. The show was to have originally been titled Undercover Man but it was changed before going to air.
Tightrope (Season 1)
Getaway Day (Episode 1)
Air date: 1959-09-08
Runtime: 30 min
The Casino (Episode 2)
Air date: 1959-09-15
Runtime: 30 min
The Frame (Episode 3)
Air date: 1959-09-22
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Undercover agent Nick Stone infiltrates a gang of jewel thieves to find evidence that a man convicted of murder during a jewel robbery is actually innocent.
Stand on Velvet (Episode 4)
Air date: 1959-09-29
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The agent joins the gang of William Kane, their objective is to run the leader of the numbers racket out of town.
The Cracking Point (Episode 5)
Air date: 1959-10-06
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The undercover agent joins in on a robbery.
Thousand Dollar Bill (Episode 6)
Air date: 1959-10-13
Runtime: 30 min
Music and Mink (Episode 7)
Air date: 1959-10-20
Runtime: 30 min
Man in the Middle (Episode 8)
Air date: 1959-11-03
Runtime: 30 min
The Patsy (Episode 9)
Air date: 1959-11-10
Runtime: 30 min
The Money Fight (Episode 10)
Air date: 1959-11-17
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: After a boxer is killed for not throwing a fight as ordered, Nick goes undercover by taking over as manager for another young prizefighter, planning eventually to get him to turn evidence against the crooked promoter who ordered the killing.
Black Tie Kill (Episode 11)
Air date: 1959-11-24
Runtime: 30 min
The Perfect Circle (Episode 12)
Air date: 1959-12-01
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Barney MacCready puts his train-robbery plan into action. First he kidnaps a detective, then he has two of his henchmen board the train one posing as the missing detective the other as his prisoner.
The Lady (Episode 13)
Air date: 1959-12-08
Runtime: 30 min
Cold Kill (Episode 14)
Air date: 1959-12-15
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: An undercover agent assumes the identity of a killer hired to rub out a murder witness. But the intended victim is hiding, and the first task is to smoke him out.
The Neon Wheel (Episode 15)
Air date: 1959-12-22
Runtime: 30 min
Two Private Eyes (Episode 16)
Air date: 1959-12-29
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Sam Keely and Jeff Stewart are a bit on the shady side. The undercover agent's strategy is to muscle in on their racket.
Night of the Gun (Episode 17)
Air date: 1960-01-05
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Dan Hawley and David Johnson, witnesses to a murder committed by gangster Jimmy Farrow, are a target for Larry Maddox, a hired killer. After Maddox kills Hawley, police take Johnson's wife and children into protective custody. Johnson, fearing for his life, goes into hiding. Nick is put on the case.
Broken Rope (Episode 18)
Air date: 1960-01-12
Runtime: 30 min
Cold Ice (Episode 19)
Air date: 1960-01-19
Runtime: 30 min
Appointment in Jericho (a.k.a. Assignment in Jericho) (Episode 20)
Air date: 1960-01-26
Runtime: 30 min
Three to Make Ready (Episode 21)
Air date: 1960-02-02
Runtime: 30 min
The Model and the Mobster (Episode 22)
Air date: 1960-02-09
Runtime: 30 min
The Long Odds (Episode 23)
Air date: 1960-02-16
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: A detective assigned to investigate a phoney health club is killed by one of the club owners. An undercover agent follows up, convincing the gangsters that he's a gambler on the run.
The Brave Pigeon (Episode 24)
Air date: 1960-02-23
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Underworld leader Max Rommey wants Paul Anderson dead. To protect Anderson, the undercover agent becomes part of Rommey's gang.
First Time Out (Episode 25)
Air date: 1960-03-01
Runtime: 30 min
Park Avenue Story (Episode 26)
Air date: 1960-03-08
Runtime: 30 min
Big Business (Episode 27)
Air date: 1960-03-15
Runtime: 30 min
The Chinese Pendant (Episode 28)
Air date: 1960-03-29
Runtime: 30 min
Achilles and His Heels (Episode 29)
Air date: 1960-04-05
Runtime: 30 min
The Gangster's Daughter (Episode 30)
Air date: 1960-04-12
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The first step for Nick in infiltrating Vince Baron's gang is foiling the attempted kidnapping of Baron's daughter. He must also contend with a young upstart who wants to push Baron out as leader. What Nick was not expecting was to fall for the daughter.
The Penthouse Story (Episode 31)
Air date: 1960-04-19
Runtime: 30 min
The Shark (Episode 32)
Air date: 1960-04-26
Runtime: 30 min
The Horse Runs High (Episode 33)
Air date: 1960-05-03
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The undercover agent is assigned to break up a gambling ring that bets heavily on certain horses--and then makes sure they win by doping them.
The Hired Guns (Episode 34)
Air date: 1960-05-10
Runtime: 30 min
Borderline (Episode 35)
Air date: 1960-05-17
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The undercover agent is assigned to smash a dope ring that sells to Americans from a base in Mexico.
A Matter of Money (Episode 36)
Air date: 1960-05-24
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Nick is assigned to break up a gang headed by Steve Taylor. This particularly unsavory gang uses threats and violence to force small shopkeepers to pay for protection.
Bullets and Ballet (Episode 37)
Air date: 1960-05-31
Runtime: 30 min
Seasons
Episodes 37