WBBM Channel 2 - Hunter - "The Costa Rican Connection" (Opening, Preview Breaks & Ending, 1977)

Here's the opening, preview breaks and ending moments of an episode of the TV series Hunter.

And no, folks, this is not the 1984-91 series on NBC (and thus, seen by Chicagoans on WMAQ Channel 5) with Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer, but a virtually forgotten, short-lived series - "A Lorimar Production" (the company famous at the time for The Waltons and, later, for Dallas and Knots Landing) - that ran on the CBS Network and therefore aired in Chicago via WBBM Channel 2.

The title character on this show was an undercover espionage agent, James Hunter, played by James Franciscus (formerly of Mr. Novak and Longstreet), and among the supporting cast was Linda Evans (four years before landing the role of Krystle Carrington on the ABC nighttime soap Dynasty) and Ralph Bellamy. The show was about two secret agents for a fictitious government agency, the GIA.

This was from the fifth episode of the series, "The Costa Rican Connection," with guest star Donald O'Connor.

Includes:

Station ID / tease for upcoming inflation story by Walter Jacobson for The Ten O'Clock News at 10:00pm

Preview of upcoming episode with key scenes

Opening title sequence

First moments of episode:
The Costa Rican Connection - Copyright (C) MCMLXXVII Lorimar Productions, Inc.
Guest Stars - Gary Lockwood, Ken Swofford, Susan Anton, Pat Renella
Special Guest Stars - Donald O'Connor, Stephen Boyd (one of the last roles for the co-star of the 1959 Charlton Heston version of "Ben-Hur," prior to his death on June 2nd 1977)
Written by Gregory S. Dinallo
Directed by Barry Crane

Ending moments of episode, with Hunter (Franciscus) and Marty Shaw (Evans) at an airport restaurant table, talking about their plans before the plane arrives

Executive Producer - Lee Rich

Hunter bumper, with "Stay tuned..." voiceover by James Franciscus

Commercial: Gillette Trac II double-edged razor blades - with three guys speaking of their experiences with single-edged razors - "No One-Blade Razor Comes Close" (ending voiceover by Joel Crager)

Commercial: Soft & Dri deodorant for women - "Nervous Is Why There's New Soft & Dri" (voiceover by ??)

Commercial: Chevy Blazer pickup truck (voiceover by Tom T. Hall of "I Love" fame) - "Chevy Trucks - Built to Stay Tough"

Preview of next episode ("The K Group - Part 1" which aired on April 8th 1977)

Closing credits (with voiceover promo for CBS Sports Spectacular on Saturday, March 19th, and upcoming The Sonny & Cher Show with highlights of the season, by Bill Martin):

Executive Story Consultant - David Shaw
Story Editor - George Bellak
Associate Producer - Fred Gerber
Music by Richard Shores
Director of Photography - Fred Jackman
Art Director - Phil Barber
Edited by David Blangsted
Editorial Supervisor - Gene Fowler, A.C.E.
Co-Starring - Naomi Stevens (Mrs. Teller), Ivan Bonar (1st Senator), Laurence Haddon (The Attorney), Tony Martin (The Bodyguard), Lester Fletcher (Stanley) and Dick Whittington (as TV Reporter)
Featuring - Jan Peters (The Bar Patron), Hal Riddle (2nd Senator)
Production Manager - Lynn H. Guthrie
Casting by Barbara Miller
First Assistant Director - William I. Young
Set Decorator - Theodore Lake
Costume Supervisor - Jeanne Malone
Women's Costumer - Linda Henrikson
Men's Costumer - Bill Tiegs
Production Sound Mixer - Harlan Riggs
Sound Effects Editor - Victor Guarnier
Music Editor - Richard Lapham
Hair Stylist - Gloria Algeo
Property Master - Earl Gawthorpe
Make-Up Artist - John Inzerella
Script Supervisor - Judy March Rosenthal
Production Coordinator - Connie Sanchez
Construction Coordinator - Al Rohm
Camera Operator - Frank R. Hale
Electrical Gaffer - Earl Williman, Jr.
Key Grip - Cliff Kitchen
Panavision
Color by Movielab (R)
Production Facilities by The Burbank Studios, Burbank, California (the old Warner Bros. lot)
In Charge of Production - Neil T. Maffeo

Followed by "A Lorimar Production" logo which, in those days, almost resembled a redesign of the old Columbia Records "long playing" logo

Promo for showing of the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz" and Bing! special with special guests including Pearl Bailey, starting Sunday (March 20th) at 7:00pm / 6:00pm Central (voiceover by Alan Berns)

Promo for the series finale ("The Last Show") of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, for Saturday (March 19th) at 8:00pm / 7:00pm Central, leading to "fireworks" animation of CBS eye (main voiceover by ??) (ending voiceover by Bill Martin)

Commercial: Illinois State Lottery's new "Winning Moments" instant game - "Let your fingers do the talking" (voiceover by ??)

Partial commercial: Wrigley's Big Red chewing gum, with Western motif - "Built by strong men with a taste of adventure" - before tape cuts out (voiceover by ??)

This aired on local Chicago TV on Friday, March 18th 1977 during the 8:00pm to 9:00pm timeframe.

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