Jeff Regan

Jeff Regan, Investigator was one of the three detective shows Jack Webb did before Dragnet (see also Pat Novak For Hire and Johnny Modero: Pier 23). It debuted on CBS in July 1948. Webb played JEFF REGAN, a tough private eye working in a Los Angeles investigation firm run by Anthony J. Lyon. Regan introduced himself on each show "I get ten a day and expenses...they call me the Lyon's Eye." The show was fairly well-plotted, Webb's voice was great, and the supporting cast were skillful.

Regan handled rough assignments from Lion, with whom he was not always on good terms. He was tough, tenacious, and had a dry sense of humor. The voice of his boss, Anthony Lion, was Wilms Herbert. The show ended in December 1948 but was resurrected in October 1949 with a new cast; Frank Graham played Regan (later Paul Dubrov was the lead) and Frank Nelson portrayed Lion. This version ran on CBS, sometimes as a West Coast regional, until August 1950. Both versions were 30 minutes, but the day and time slot changed several times. A total of 29 episodes from this series are in trading currency.

RADIO

• JEFF REGAN, INVESTIGATOR
  (1948, CBS)
  30-minute episodes
  Director: Sterling Tracy
  Starring Jack Webb as JEFF REGAN
  and Wilms Herbert as Anthony Lion
  .
• JEFF REGAN, INVESTIGATOR
  (1949-50, CBS)
  30-minute episodes
  Starring Frank Graham as JEFF REGAN
  (later replaced by Paul Dubrov)
  and Frank Nelson as Anthony Lyon

Contributed by Jack French.