The Aquanauts - TV Series - (1960/61)

The Aquanauts (later known as Malibu Run) is an American adventure/drama series that aired on September 14, 1960 - September 27, 1961. The series stars Keith Larsen, Jeremy Slate and Ron Ely, who replaced Larsen on midseason.

The hour-long series focuses on the adventures of two Southern California divers, Drake Andrews (Larsen) and Larry Lahr (Slate), who made their living salvaging sunken wrecks. In January 1961, Larsen left the series due to health problems. His character rejoined the Navy and a new character, Mike Madison (Ron Ely), replaced him. Ron Ely, as you should know, was cast as Tarzan in a TV show and who made him famous.

Ron Ely and Jeremy Slate

A month later, the format of the series was also changed with the show's characters, Larry and Mike, opening up a dive shop in Malibu Beach. While still engaged in dangerous underwater salvage dives, the partners' youthful lifestyle and romantic encounters were given more emphasis. To reflect the changes in the format, the series was retitled Malibu Run, with a lively theme performed by pianist André Previn.

The program was broadcast on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time in competition with the short-lived Hong Kong on ABC and NBC's Wagon Train. Unable to compete with the latter show, the series was canceled after one season, which was a pity because I loved the show. 

The 60s was the golden era of TV shows. The competition was very fierce considering all the TV shows of that time, unlike today in the 2020s when most TV series are a bore, with bad writing and bad concepts. Hail the 1960s! 

James Coburn, our beloved Flint, on the beach as guest star

Notable guest stars: Dyan Cannon, Russ Conway, Donna Douglas, Peter Falk,  Carroll O'Connor, Susan Oliver, Burt Reynolds, Sue Randall, Madame Spivy, Inger Stevens, Jane Withers, Keenan Wynn, James Coburn, and Jim Davis

Episodes

Episode # Episode title Original airdate

1-1 "The Aquanauts: Paradivers" September 14, 1960

1-2 "The Aquanauts: Collision" September 21, 1960

1-3 "The Aquanauts: Rendezvous: 22 Fathoms" September 28, 1960

1-4 "The Aquanauts: Safecracker" October 5, 1960

1-5 "The Aquanauts: Deep Escape" October 12, 1960

1-6 "The Aquanauts: The Stowaway" October 19, 1960

1-7 "The Aquanauts: Disaster Below" October 26, 1960

1-8 "The Aquanauts: Arms of Venus" November 9, 1960

1-9 "The Aquanauts: Night Dive" November 16, 1960

1-10 "The Aquanauts: The Cavedivers" December 7, 1960

1-11 "The Aquanauts: The Big Swim" December 14, 1960

1-12 "The Aquanauts: Underwater Demolition" December 21, 1960

1-13 "The Aquanauts: River Gold" January 4, 1961

1-14 "The Aquanauts: Niagara Dive" January 11, 1961

1-15 "The Aquanauts: Killers In Paradise" January 25, 1961

1-16 "The Aquanauts: Secret At Half Moon Key" February 1, 1961

1-17 "The Aquanauts: Stormy Weather" February 8, 1961

1-18 "The Aquanauts: The Amored Truck Adventure" February 15, 1961

1-19 "The Aquanauts: The Defective Tank Adventure" February 22, 1961

1-20 "Malibu Run: The Jeremiah Adventure" March 1, 1961

1-21 "Malibu Run: Tidal Wave Adventure" March 8, 1961

1-22 "Malibu Run: The Radioactive Object Adventure" March 22, 1961

1-23 "Malibu Run: The Double Adventure" March 29, 1961

1-24 "Malibu Run: The Margot Adventure" April 5, 1961

1-25 "Malibu Run: The Rainbow Adventure" April 19, 1961

1-26 "Malibu Run: The Frankie Adventure" April 26, 1961

1-27 "Malibu Run: The Guilty Adventure" May 3, 1961

1-28 "Malibu Run: The Landslide Adventure" May 10, 1961

1-29 "Malibu Run: The Kidnap Adventure" May 17, 1961

1-30 "Malibu Run: The Stakeout Adventure" May 24, 1961

1-31 "Malibu Run: The Scavenger Adventure" May 31, 1961

1-32 "Malibu Run: The Diana Adventure" June 7, 1961

Source: Wikipedia.