Checkmate (Season 1)

Death Runs Wild (Episode 1)

Writer: James Gunn

Air date: 1960-09-17

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Story tells of a demented woman out to kill private eye Anthony George. The instrument of death, as it turned out, was, a wild stallion she stocked on her ranch. Her motive was revenge. On a previous case, the private eye had brought her lover to justice and the gas chamber.

Interrupted Honeymoon (Episode 2)

Air date: 1960-09-24

Runtime: 60 min

The Cyanide Touch (Episode 3)

Air date: 1960-10-01

Runtime: 60 min

Lady on the Brink (Episode 4)

Writer: Howard Browne

Air date: 1960-10-15

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Checkmate comes to the aid of a woman with a traumatic past when it becomes evident that someone is trying to make it appear she's mentally unstable. discrediting her eye-witness testimony at a murder trial.

Face in the Window (Episode 5)

Writer: Leigh Brackett

Air date: 1960-10-22

Runtime: 60 min

Runaway (Episode 6)

Writer: James Gunn

Air date: 1960-10-29

Runtime: 60 min

Target: Tycoon (Episode 7)

Air date: 1960-11-05

Runtime: 60 min

The Deadly Shadow (Episode 8)

Writer: William P. McGivern

Air date: 1960-11-12

Runtime: 60 min

The Dark Divide (Episode 9)

Writer: James Gunn

Air date: 1960-11-19

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Barbara Rush plays a dual role in The dark divide. Why should Margaret Russell's life be threatened? Her aunt keeps getting phone calls from a woman named Nikki Garnett, threatening Margaret. What motive could the woman have?

Moment of Truth (Episode 10)

Writer: Jameson Brewer

Air date: 1960-11-26

Runtime: 60 min

The Mask of Vengeance (Episode 11)

Air date: 1960-12-03

Runtime: 60 min

The Murder Game (Episode 12)

Writer: Douglas Heyes

Air date: 1960-12-17

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Attorney Emory Olivant invites Corey, Sills and Dr. Hyatt to a party. Once all the guests have arrived, Olivant announces that they are going to play a game—a murder game in which he will be the killer.

The Princess in the Tower (Episode 13)

Air date: 1960-12-31

Runtime: 60 min

The Terror from the East (Episode 14)

Air date: 1961-01-07

Runtime: 60 min

The Human Touch (Episode 15)

Writer: James Gunn

Air date: 1961-01-14

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Arguably the finest episode of the series, featuring guest star Peter Lorre as an ex-con criminal mastermind determined to wreak revenge on master criminologist Sebastian Cabot. An intricate series of cat and mouse moves between the two geniuses culminates in a surprise and ultimately poignant ending, befitting the episode title. This episode stresses the close friendships between the three detectives of CHECKMATE INCORPORATED as it contrasts with that of the brilliant, but soulless Lorre. Directing, writing and acting are all exemplary.

Hour of Execution (Episode 16)

Air date: 1961-01-21

Runtime: 60 min

Don't Believe a Word She Says (Episode 17)

Air date: 1961-01-28

Runtime: 60 min

Laugh Till I Die (Episode 18)

Air date: 1961-02-04

Runtime: 60 min

Between Two Guns (Episode 19)

Air date: 1961-02-11

Runtime: 60 min

A Matter of Conscience (Episode 20)

Air date: 1961-02-18

Runtime: 60 min

Melody for Murder (Episode 21)

Air date: 1961-02-25

Runtime: 60 min

Phantom Lover (Episode 22)

Air date: 1961-03-04

Runtime: 60 min

The Gift (Episode 23)

Air date: 1961-03-11

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Lola Tuscany, a temperamental lady soprano, is having premonitions of her death. After her concert she is almost poisoned and Checkmate Inc. is hired to keep her safe. Don Corey is skeptical, believing it is a publicity stunt, until he is nearly killed when a bomb explodes in the car he and Lola are driving in.

One for the Book (Episode 24)

Air date: 1961-03-18

Runtime: 60 min

The Paper Killer (Episode 25)

Air date: 1961-03-25

Runtime: 60 min

Jungle Castle (Episode 26)

Air date: 1961-04-01

Runtime: 60 min

The Deadly Silence (Episode 27)

Air date: 1961-04-08

Runtime: 60 min

Goodbye Griff (Episode 28)

Air date: 1961-04-15

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: ""Ex-convict Griff Nolan is jealous because his wife Libby earns more as a magazine editor than he does as a mechanic. More domestic strife develops when Griff becomes jealous of Libby's boss Lewis Bates --- and buys a gun."" -- TV Guide

Voyage Into Fear (Episode 29)

Air date: 1961-05-06

Runtime: 60 min

Tight As a Drum (Episode 30)

Air date: 1961-05-13

Runtime: 60 min

Death by Design (Episode 31)

Air date: 1961-05-20

Runtime: 60 min

The Thrill Seeker (Episode 32)

Air date: 1961-05-27

Runtime: 60 min

Hot Wind in a Cold Town (Episode 33)

Air date: 1961-06-10

Runtime: 60 min

A Slight Touch of Venom (Episode 34)

Air date: 1961-06-17

Runtime: 60 min

State of Shock (Episode 35)

Air date: 1961-06-24

Runtime: 60 min