Open Culture:
The Rockford Files hit the airwaves in September 1974, and until the show ended in 1980, each episode began in the same way. During the title sequence, you’d hear a phone ring, and then an answering machine would start to play, “This is Jim Rockford. At the tone, leave your name and message. I’ll get back to you.” With each new episode, a caller would leave a different message after the beep.
The short messages told you pretty much everything you needed to know about Jim Rockford. He’s a private detective living paycheck to paycheck. He cuts corners and bends rules when he needs to. He has friends among women, and enemies among men. He’s a quintessential private dick.
How many of you will say, “Cool!” and how many will say, “Who’s Jim Rockford?”
Cool! 🙂
Ah, to hear the saga of Jim’s root canal again…
Many of the messages were left by celebrity friends of Garner
…guess I could have looked at the article first 😉
A brilliant way to introduce one of the few private-detective shows I ever loved. Those messages were mostly hilarious.
I’d watch anything with James Garner in it.
James Garner was great in everything. The dude was a national treasure.
Greatest theme song ever! I’m young enough that I could say “who”, but my Mom loved the show so I saw many episodes as a kid. I remember the answering machine bit well. Thanks for the share!
Cool
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