T.H.E. Cat

The main review hit it on head. I was a 9 or 10 kid in Portville California watching the cool Cat Loggia. He was more gutsy ( cat-gutsy?) than anything on TV. I stole my mom's black leotards and god-awful hot black sweater then rush out into the mid day heat to scale our walnut tree as if it was a high rise condo. I always imagined rescuing Annette Funicallo from her penthouse under siege from international thievies, some guys I did time with but those dorks turned on me. Yup, it was perfect fodder for a growing pre-teen tired of the unacrobatic honey thief Winnie the Pooh.

Whenever I see post-Cat Loggia performances, I remember his earlier invincible feline incarnation, expecting him to leap tall buildings with a single grappling hook, and I wonder if he longs for his old powers, too. I had power to rally a dark macho persona in me, ready to stalk the alleys of injustice to right the woeful wrongs, accompanied Lao jazz themes,...but alas, my bedtime in 1966 was 10 pm on THE nights.

Thanks Robert. Now I'm a mystery writer in SW Florida, created equally dark yet hopeful characters who defend the undefensible and get the girl eventually. It was great to see this IMDb listing to provide reference for my cherished times watching T.H.E. at the Gato Cafe.

Best regards, Will Lloyd willmation@comcast.net

T.H.E. CAT was created for television by Harry Julian Fink, who a few years later was the creator of the DIRTY HARRY character and wrote the story for the 1st film that became a legendary series starring CLINT EASTWOOD. It's just too bad that T.H.E. CAT has become a forgotten gem due to it's one season run that never went into syndication. But due to surviving 16mm prints, practically every episode is in the hands of video collectors that enable fans of 60's TV to enjoy over and over this dark and brooding show that proves why late 60's television was the most exciting and best time to be growing up.

Alas, I was about 9 years old when this show aired. So I was hardly ever allowed to watch it because it was a) too 'adult' in nature and b) way past my bedtime. So my memories of it are somewhat skimpy. But I vividly remember the way Loggia would introduce himself as 'T. Hewitt Edward Cat', and the way he would scale walls and make impossible leaps. He also seemed to play for keeps. He was sleek, dangerous, and cooler than hell. But he wasn't invincible - I remember shows where things went wrong and a client or friend would get hurt or killed, and Cat would be seriously angry or stressed or worried. That added to the suspense and believability considerably.

There was a later TV series with a similar theme, featuring Robert Wagner, 'It Takes A Thief'. Nothing against Wagner, but his show couldn't hold a candle to 'T.H.E. Cat', at least the way I remember it.

I too, would love to have a chance to see (or buy) some of those old episodes.

I can't add much, but I want to echo the comments of the person below. I thought this was the coolest show ever when I was 12, and was disappointed when it was canceled. There was a drum rhythm that was played during each tense scene that I still play in my mind nearly 40 years later. And like the person below, I can't find anybody who remembers it! I liked the way the star answered when anybody asked his name: "Cat, T. Hewitt Edward Cat." That's all I can remember, other than how cool he was with his black turtleneck sliding down wires from one building to the next. How come I never see this on late night cable? I'm getting sick of the Munsters and Leave it to Beaver.

Allow me to add my voice to those who consider this T.H.E. COOLEST TV show ever. It's amazing, judging by the comments here, how many 9- and 10-year-olds took to this show, which was supposed to be for grown-ups. It is still my dream, at age 50, to open a small night club with a flashing neon sign, and call it "Casa Del Gato." Beaded curtains, waitresses dressed 60's go-go style, live jazz seven nights a week...and I would be in the corner booth wearing a black turtleneck, talking to some guy with an eye-patch, or missing a hand. Oh, yes, it would be a nominally private club, so that smoking would be allowed (yup, I'm in one of THOSE states).