Based on a 1939 episodic novel by Paul Gallico, The Adventures of Hiram Holliday (1956-1957) told the story of a newspaper proofreader whose publisher rewarded him with a world tour after the proofreader saved the publisher a large amount of money (by inserting a comma into some news copy, no less). Cox, as Holliday, journeyed the world with his reporter sidekick, Joel Smith (played by Ainslie Pryor). Holliday, who had secretly trained himself in many physical skills, solved crimes and thwarted foreign spies at every port of call. Several times, he encounter criminal mastermind Sebastian Cabot (under different names; in this episode, Gemel). What I remember most from the series was Holliday's skill with his umbrella, using it as a sword in encounters with the bad guys.
The program aired only 20 if its 23 episodes during its first run in the United States. The remaining three episodes premiered on British television. All 23 episodes were later briadcast in America,
In "The Sea Cucumber," Holliday's search for a rare sea cucumber convinces foreign spies that it is simply a cover for espionage.
Actor Wally Cox (1924-1973) starred for three years (1952-1955) in the popular comedy Mr. Peepers as junior high school science teacher Robinson J, Peepers. He was then featured in the title role in The Adventures of Hiram Holliday. He was the very recognizable voice of Underdog (1964-1967). He is also remembered as the upper left corner of the square in the game show Hollywood Squares frpm 1966 to 1973. A popular character actor and comic, Cox appeared in many television programs and was featured in 20 films, including The Bedford Incident, Morituri, and The Yellow Rolls-Royce. He was a life-long friend of Marlon Brando and was once his roommate (leaving because he could not stand Brando's per raccoon). Brando once said that if "Wally had been a woman, I would have married him and we would have lived happily ever after;" and once, while under the influence of marijuana, Brando said that Cox had been the love of his life. Another close friend was actor Robert Blake. Cox, meanwhile, was thrice-married. His mild and meek persona was belied by his physical abilities and his real-life hobby was riding motorcycles. He had a strong intellectual bent and, at one time had outfitted his own scientific lab in his home. Although he reportedly died of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills, Brando insisted that Cox had succumbed to a heart attack. Brando kept Cox's ashes hidden in a closet for three deacades and they were eventually scattered at the same time after Brando's death.
I loved The Adventures of Hiram Holliday as a kid. I hope you like this episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1vVBBh4fC0
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