Saturday, March 2, 2013

Looking for video of The Highwayman starring Lous Hayward. Can TV Banter readers help?


Lous Hayward

A reader named Terry has written to me for assistance.  He (or maybe a she) is trying to find a recording of a 30-minute 1958 television production of The Highwayman starring Louis Hayward in the title role.  Terry was advised to contact Schlitz Playhouse, but had no luck.  He now wonders if a recording of this show even exists. I suggested that he search for stores that deal with rare and vintage videos. I also sent him a link to a list of rare video and DVD dealers that I found online.

The Highwayman is the story of an 18th-century English aristocrat, James MacDonald, who becomes a highwayman at night.  A sort of Robin Hood, he seeks vigilante justice for all the wrongs perpetrated against the poor and the farmers.by landlords and government.  It was written by Anthony Haslett and directed by Robert Day.  Its lead actor, Louis Hayward, was a South-African born actor who was educated in Britain and began his career in British films.  He is particularly remembered for his portrayal of Simon Templar in the 1938 crime film, The Saint in New York.  Hayward, who died of lung cancer in 1985 at the age of 75, was once married to actress/director Ida Lupino.

Readers, I'm asking for your assistance if  you have any further information that may help Terry.  He really wants a recording of this show and is willing to pay for it.  He's been searching for a long time.  If you have any knowledge about obtaining a copy of The Highwayman, you can contact Terry by e-mail at
elelijacomes@hotmail.com.  Someone out there must know something!

- Joanne

2 comments:

  1. Louis Hayward may have been born in South Africa but was a British national until he became an American citizen just prior to U.S. involvement in the Second World War.

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  2. Yes, Louis Hayward was a South African-born British actor who became an American citizen on December 6, 1941, the day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II, he joined the United States Marine Corps.

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