"Shazam!" (1974) TV series 1974-1977

Directors:

Robert Chenault
Robert Douglas
(more)

Writers:

Susan Dworski (writer)
Donald F. Glut (writer)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

7 September 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A young boy, able to transform into the superhero Captain Marvel, travels the country fighting evil.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Shazam | Based On Comic Book | DC Comics | Based On Comic

Cast

Michael Gray	...	Billy Batson (28 episodes, 1974-1976)
Les Tremayne	...	Mentor (28 episodes, 1974-1976)
Jackson Bostwick	...	Captain Marvel (17 episodes, 1974-1975)
John Davey	...	Captain Marvel (11 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Directed by
Hollingsworth Morse		(3 episodes, 1974-1976)
Robert Chenault		(unknown episodes)
Robert Douglas		(unknown episodes)
Henry J. Lange Jr.		(unknown episodes)
Arnold Laven		(unknown episodes)
Chuck Menville		(unknown episodes)
Arthur H. Nadel		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Sidney Morse		(1 episode, 1975)
Michael Sutton		(1 episode, 1975)
Len Janson		(1 episode, 1976)
Paolo Orsini		(1 episode, 1976)
C.C. Beck		(unknown episodes)
Susan Dworski		(unknown episodes)
Donald F. Glut		(unknown episodes)
Jack Kaplan		(unknown episodes)
Jack Mendelsohn		(unknown episodes)
Chuck Menville		(unknown episodes)
Marianne Mosner		(unknown episodes)
Arthur H. Nadel		(unknown episodes)
Olga Simms		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Norm Prescott	....	executive producer (28 episodes, 1974-1976)
Lou Scheimer	....	executive producer (28 episodes, 1974-1976)
Len Janson	....	associate producer (15 episodes, 1974)
Chuck Menville	....	associate producer (15 episodes, 1974)
Arthur H. Nadel	....	producer (3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Richard M. Rosenbloom	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robert Chenault	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Ray Ellis		(28 episodes, 1974-1976)
Norm Prescott		(28 episodes, 1974-1976)

Series Cinematography by
Robert F. Sparks		(1 episode, 1976)

Series Film Editing by
Stanley Rabjohn		(unknown episodes)
Ray Williford		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Meryl O'Loughlin		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Thalia Phillips		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Robert Sidell	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Henry J. Lange Jr.	....	assistant director (1 episode, 1976)
William McGarry	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Fred Westcott	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
William Randall	....	sound (1 episode, 1976)

Series Stunts
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Kahlo	....	key grip (1 episode, 1976)
Drain M. Marshall	....	gaffer (1 episode, 1976)

Series Editorial Department
Bill Moore	....	editorial supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Dale Henry	....	transportation manager (1 episode, 1976)

Series Other crew
Don Christensen	....	creative director (28 episodes, 1974-1976)
Richard Briggs	....	production executive (unknown episodes)
Carmine Infantino	....	creative consultant: National Periodical (unknown episodes)
Thomas LaBelle	....	educational advisor (unknown episodes)
Gloria Powell	....	educational advisor (unknown episodes)
Marshall J. Wolins	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Filmation Associates

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)
• Warner Bros. Television
• World Beyond Video (video)

Special Effects

• Sonex International Corp. (electronic special effects)

Other Companies

• Horta-Mahana Corp.  music and sound effects
• National Periodical Publications  based on characters appearing in "Shazam" magazine, published by
• Open Road  motor home provided by
• Shermley Music Co.  music publishing

Runtime:

30 min (28 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Filmation Associates

Trivia:

The six letters in the word Shazam stood for the six elders who granted Billy their powers: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the camera shot was Billy and Mentor driving in their motor home, the motor home's windshield is always one large piece. In all camera shots of the motor home actually driving on the road, the windshield is a split version in two pieces.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Captain Marvel: By the Elders!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Starsky and Hutch: Murder at Sea (#2.2)" (1976)

Soundtrack:

SHAZAM

Captain Marvel On The Cheap

One of the most popular of superhero comic strip characters came to us in the middle seventies in the form of a very low budget television series that only lasted for two seasons. It had actually two Captain Marvels when Jackson Bostwick left and was succeeded by John Davey for season two.

Since the grownup Marvel was merely a manifestation of the teenage Billy Batson and since Michael Gray as Billy was the main reason most of us watched the show, that the Elders decided Marvel needed another personality would be accepted without question.

Billy and this older man Mentor played by Les Tremayne traveled around in this motor home and Billy was what we would call home schooled. But what home schooling he got. The Elders are a group of mythic heroes of the past and we only saw them as animated manifestations. Zeus, Atlas, Mercury, Achilles, Hercules from Greek religion and King Solomon from the Bible. Can't do better than that for teachers. The Elders would summon Billy through some kind of celestial pager and he would travel in his mind to see them. They'd offer him a piece of wisdom that would be necessary for a situation he'd be involved in shortly.

When things became necessary, Billy would utter the single word 'Shazam' and he'd morph into Captain Marvel. It certainly had a powerful cultural influence, but it never worked for me and Gomer Pyle never did become a superhero and he was always more than uttering 'Shazam'.

Les Tremayne came to films and television late, he cut his acting teeth in radio and that strong voice was one of the most familiar out there. Michael Gray and he never seemed to have any kind of life outside of each other which certainly could lead to all kinds of speculation about their relationship. Except for Solomon those Elders were Greek heroes and they sure had no problem with being gay.

One thing is for sure, the cheapness of the production was manifested not just by the same stock footage used over and over again, but that I don't recall Mentor or Billy ever changing their clothes through 30 episodes.

Still 'Shazam' was entertaining kid's stuff and it seem to run in syndication for years afterwards. I've seen worse out there.