Hennesey

I remember this show vividly from my childhood -- I was in grade school when it was on and can remember watching it every week with my parents. (I think one of the reasons I liked it was that my dad was in the Navy during WWII.) I have a vague recollection that one of the episodes featured Jackie Cooper visiting Pearl Harbor and that that show aired around December 7th. Like others who've written things here, I also remember it as a serious show (I was a serious kid) and that the theme music was very unusual.I'd love to see the entire series on DVD -- or better yet, on network TV. I keep reading that the networks have given up on Saturday evenings -- why not ditch the junk they are airing that night (nobody's watching anyway) and re-run classic series like Hennesey or The Law & Mr. Jones or The Defenders or Leslie Nielsen as the Swamp Fox (which I believe was Disney.) I think Baby Boomers would love the chance to see these "lost treasures" from the 50s and 60s again. And a whole new generation of kids would be exposed to entertaining-but-intelligent programs on network TV every Saturday night.

I totally agree with the writer's comments on the Hennesey Theme Song. I have been looking for it for years.

A couple of interesting facts: The exteriors for the show, were Balboa Naval Hospital, and 32nd St. Naval Station. In the late 50's, there was a specific section of the station that all or most all of the Pacific Fleet Destroyers tied up. Before the actual piers, was the Pacific Mine Warfare Admin Building. This long shot included an overhead view, of the access road to the piers, and the roof & grounds of the Admin building.

As I recall I used to watch it every Monday evening. Another interesting fact: Both Jackie Cooper, and Glenn Ford retired as Admirals in the Naval Reserve.

Does anybody remember which episode was done without talking? This was a milestone, set by one other series during this time. 77 Sunset Strip also did an episode without talking, the only sound at the end was a dog barking. It was written up in TV guide. I have forgotten the names of each of these incredible episodes and would appreciate any leads on them. Roger Smith was the star in the 77 Sunset Strip episode. In the Hennesey episode the whole ensemble was in it. Also, does anybody know where if DVD's of 77 Sunset Strip and Hennessey have been issued? Also, People's Choice was a great ensemble and funny show. Does anybody know if that show is available in DVD. And does anybody have current information about Jackie Cooper? As for Roger Smith, the husband of Ann Margeret, I actually flew with them when their cast was flying to Tahoe for one of her shows, back in 1979. Both of them were most gracious.

Jackie Cooper played a WWII Army vet who went to medical school and entered the Navy as a doctor. In the first episode when the new doctor reports to his new commanding officer at the naval hospital, the CO looks over his personnel record, notes the Army experience and asks Hennesey, 'Have you ever been to sea?' No, sir.' 'Have you ever been on a ship?' 'No, sir.' 'Can you identify water?' 'In daytime, I can, yes, sir.' In the series, James Komack played a hip nonconformist dentist who reputedly filled his own teeth. Henry Kulky as Max probably had the best role of his career as the sensitive Goliath who--in one episode--saved the arm of a sailor who had it caught in a machine. Max picked up the sailor and turned him over to unwind the arm from the gears. The show was blessed with a great cast and excellent writers. The show was funny without being silly and serious without sinking into melodrama.

Unfortunately neither ioffer.com nor ebay.com have any DVDs legal or otherwise to purchase as of October 2009. However the theme song can now be listened to at http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-3831

If anyone knows of a pier to pier file-sharing network sharing Hennesey episodes, or of any way at all to access episodes, please post this information. CBS.com does not even recognise the series name name in the search engine on its homepage, so it seems there's no hope there.

YouTube is devoid of Hennesey. Perhaps someone with the DVDs mentioned above could put them up there? There's a complete list of all episodes with plot synopses at http://ctva.biz/US/Comedy/Hennesey.htm

The only other source of information about potential release on DVD that I've been able to find is at http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Hennesey/1610#Links