FORGOTTEN FILMS: TV TRANSITION

Though typically overshadowed by Hollywood's A-list, there were respectable performances by numerous actors and actresses who never became major film stars. A common occurrence was their transition to the new medium of television, often becoming familiar faces in homes across America. These periodic posts offer insight into their transition.

John Bromfield: Farron Bromfield (1922-2005)

John Bromfield was a leading man in B-movies during the mid to late 1950s who possessed a fine voice and a square-jawed handsomeness. While still in his mid-twenties he became a contract player for Paramount Pictures. His early acting gigs placed him shoulder-to-shoulder with some big names in Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) and Rope of Sand (1949). Bromfield was an obvious candidate for leading man status by mid-century. His brief career churned out such forgotten films for Bel-Air Productions as, The Big Bluff (1955), Three Bad Sisters (1956), and Crime Against Joe (1956), co-starring another transition to television, actress-singer Julie London. Like most of these features, the film possessed some unintentionally funny moments in between London’s comatose performance. A decent script and on-location filming helped make Hot Cars (1956) his most authentic of the era. His role for Universal International Pictures, Revenge of the Creature (1955),  “earned” him cult status, after a fashion.

Bromfield’s transition to television was instant, bringing him notoriety from living rooms across America. The syndicated modern-day western series, The Sheriff of Cochise (1956-60) was a big success as officer Frank Morgan chased bandits by station wagon, not on horseback. The Chrysler Corporation was a sponsor and late episode viewers could see a DeSoto Fireflite Explorer station wagon complete with a shotgun clipped to the driver's side door panel. Due to the show’s success—thanks to Bromfield, location filming and accurate portrayal of law enforcement—he was made an honorary deputy by the real sheriff of Cochise County. Morgan was promoted to U.S. Marshall status and the entire state of Arizona was under his purview and the third season gained a new title, U.S. Marshal. Bromfield embraced the television medium and the show wholeheartedly. His co-star for one season, Stan Jones, playing Deputy Harry Olson, was the creator of the series.

Note: Bromfield was born in South Bend, Indiana, and soon developed strong athleticism. Hollywood knew him as a health enthusiast. Female fans knew him as a hunk. After leaving acting abruptly in 1960, he produced sports shows. Before being discovered by an acting agent he was a tuna fisherman. He returned to those roots in retirement as a commercial fisherman off Newport Beach.