Street Hawk
Encyclopedia
Street Hawk is an American
television series that aired for 13 episodes on ABC
in 1985. The series was a Limekiln and Templar Production in association with Universal Television
. Its central characters were created by Paul M. Belous and Robert "Bob" Wolterstorff, and its core format was developed by Bruce Lansbury, who had initially commissioned the program's creation. This series was originally planned for the fall of 1984, Mondays at 8:00PM Eastern/7:00PM Central. However, ABC executives changed their minds when the summer series Call to Glory
did well, and Street Hawk was pushed to mid-season. Street Hawk made its debut on January 4, 1985 on ABC at 9:00PM Eastern/8:00PM Central and ran until May 16, 1985.
Reruns aired on the USA Network
on Saturdays at 10:00AM from 1990-91.
) who was secretly chosen to test a top-secret project—an all-terrain attack motorcycle capable of speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour. Backing the motorcycle was a computerized command system that allowed its operator to provide the motorcycle's rider with real-time information from various sources, and even operate the motorcycle on "autopilot" during its high-speed runs, achieved through a process (presumably achieved through the usage of fuel turbines
mounted on its chassis, since using piston engines for the purpose would have been impractical) called "hyperthrust," after clearing traffic along the intended route. Norman Tuttle (Joe Regalbuto
), an engineer employed with the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
of the Department of Justice
, was the designer of the motorcycle and reluctantly chose Mach to test it. Mach began to lead a double life
, a police public relations
officer by day, and crime-fighter by night.
The Street Hawk, as he came to be known, was regarded as a lawless vigilante, and hence a fugitive from justice, by the police.
The musical theme was composed by Tangerine Dream
and produced by Christopher Franke
, and a modified version (which was featured in the pilot episode during the sequence where Mach took the bike out for the first time) appeared on their album Le Parc
, titled "Le Parc (L.A. - Streethawk)."
The opening-titles narration, voiced by Ernie Anderson
, runs:
in the pilot episode was based on a 1983 Honda XL500 trailbike. The motorcycles used in the series were based on 1984 Honda XR500s. The motorcycles used for the stunt shots were based on Honda CR250s. Overall, fifteen motorcycles were used in the show. The whereabouts of fourteen of these are unknown, but the fifteenth now resides in the Cars of the Stars Motor Museum
in Keswick, Cumbria
, England
, restored by stuntman Chris Bromham
. The pilot motorcycle was designed by Andrew Probert
and the series motorcycles were redesigned by Ron Cobb
.
There is also evidence that a second motorcycle survived, but the whereabouts of this motorcycle are now unknown. It is known, however, that a motorcycle was displayed at "Star Cars" in America in the 1980s or 1990s. It is believed that that particular motorcycle is now missing.
"Tonnerre Mécanique" - BTV
- VTM
- Rede Globo
, Rede Record
"Moto Laser" - Canal 9
"El Condor" was the local name of the series. - Mainos-TV
"Katuhaukka" - La 5 "Tonnerre Mécanique" - SciFi "Street Hawk" - Doordarshan
- Italia 1
- "Il Falco Della Strada" - XHGC "El condor" - NTV
- TVNZ - NTM
- GMA Network
- TV Polsat - SABC TV1 "Straat Valk" - TVE1 "El Halcón Callejero" - SBC CH5 - Rupavahini - TRT "Şahin" - ITV
, Bravo - ZBC TV1 - TVRI
On July 13, 2010, Shout! Factory
released Street Hawk: The Complete Series, a 4 DVD Box-Set featuring all 13 episodes of the series. Special features include an all new 41 minute documentary entitled 'The Making Of A Legend' and an unaired pilot featuring different Street Hawk firepower.
:
brand name. Neither the motorcycle nor its driver are show-accurate. Instead, the cycle uses a repainted 1982 American G.I. Joe R.A.M. motorcycle, and the driver is a repainted, "kit-bashed" G.I. Joe figure.
In Brazil the Street Hawk toys were produced by Glasslite. One item was the "Moto Laser MRX-1", a slot track with two slot bikes: the Street Hawk and a yellow model. A Jesse Mach action figure was also released.
In the United Kingdom and some countries, a Street Hawk "stunt bike" was released by ERTL
. Roughly the same size as standard minature ERTL vehicles, the toy had a plastic rider, on the motorcycle powered by a friction wheel. The packaging suggested various stunts thats the owner could attempt to perform with the toy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series that aired for 13 episodes on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in 1985. The series was a Limekiln and Templar Production in association with Universal Television
Universal Television
Universal Television is the television production arm of the NBCUniversal Television Group, and by extension, the NBC television network...
. Its central characters were created by Paul M. Belous and Robert "Bob" Wolterstorff, and its core format was developed by Bruce Lansbury, who had initially commissioned the program's creation. This series was originally planned for the fall of 1984, Mondays at 8:00PM Eastern/7:00PM Central. However, ABC executives changed their minds when the summer series Call to Glory
Call to Glory
Call to Glory was an American television series that aired 23 episodes during the 1984-1985 TV season on the ABC-TV network. Starring Craig T. Nelson as a USAF pilot, Colonel Raynor Sarnac. In the course of its production run, it drifted away from its original reasonably authentic setting and...
did well, and Street Hawk was pushed to mid-season. Street Hawk made its debut on January 4, 1985 on ABC at 9:00PM Eastern/8:00PM Central and ran until May 16, 1985.
Reruns aired on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
on Saturdays at 10:00AM from 1990-91.
Plot
The show was about a police officer and former amateur dirt-bike racer named Jesse Mach (Rex SmithRex Smith
Rex Smith is an American actor and singer. Smith debuted in the Broadway play Grease in 1978. He is noted for his role as Jesse Mach in the 1985 television series Street Hawk, as well as being a singer and stage actor. During the late 1970s, Smith was popular as a teen idol...
) who was secretly chosen to test a top-secret project—an all-terrain attack motorcycle capable of speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour. Backing the motorcycle was a computerized command system that allowed its operator to provide the motorcycle's rider with real-time information from various sources, and even operate the motorcycle on "autopilot" during its high-speed runs, achieved through a process (presumably achieved through the usage of fuel turbines
Jet engine
A jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
mounted on its chassis, since using piston engines for the purpose would have been impractical) called "hyperthrust," after clearing traffic along the intended route. Norman Tuttle (Joe Regalbuto
Joe Regalbuto
Joe Regalbuto is an American actor and director known for his role as Frank Fontana on the CBS television comedy Murphy Brown. He also starred in the 1986 TV movie Fuzz Bucket and the short-lived series Street Hawk. He played a supporting role in the critically acclaimed film Missing in 1982...
), an engineer employed with the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration was a U.S. federal agency within the U.S. Dept. of Justice. It administered federal funding to state and local law enforcement agencies, and funded educational programs, research, state planning agencies, and local crime initiatives.The LEAA was...
of the Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, was the designer of the motorcycle and reluctantly chose Mach to test it. Mach began to lead a double life
Double Life
Double Life is a 2-CD compilation album of songs by Värttinä. It includes the entire 6.12 live album, and songs from studio albums Seleniko, Aitara and Ilmatar...
, a police public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
officer by day, and crime-fighter by night.
The Street Hawk, as he came to be known, was regarded as a lawless vigilante, and hence a fugitive from justice, by the police.
The musical theme was composed by Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
and produced by Christopher Franke
Christopher Franke
Christopher Franke is a German musician and composer. From 1971 to 1988 he was a member of the electronic group Tangerine Dream. Initially a drummer with The Agitation, later renamed Agitation Free, his primary focus eventually shifted to keyboards and synthesizers as the group moved away from its...
, and a modified version (which was featured in the pilot episode during the sequence where Mach took the bike out for the first time) appeared on their album Le Parc
Le Parc (album)
-Personnel:* Christopher Franke* Edgar Froese* Johannes Schmoelling* Clare Torry– vocals on "Yellowstone Park"* Katja Brauneis– vocals on "Zen Garden"* Robert Kastler– trumpets on "Bois de Boulogne"* Christian Gstettner– computer programming...
, titled "Le Parc (L.A. - Streethawk)."
The opening-titles narration, voiced by Ernie Anderson
Ernie Anderson
Ernie Anderson was an American disc jockey, and television and radio announcer/voiceover artist...
, runs:
This is Jesse Mach, an ex-motorcycle cop, injured in the line of duty. Now a police troubleshooter, he's been recruited for a top secret government mission to ride Street Hawk--an all-terrain attack motorcycle designed to fight urban crime, capable of incredible speeds up to three hundred miles an hour...and immense firepower. Only one man, federal agent Norman Tuttle, knows Jesse Mach's true identity. The man...the machine...Street Hawk.
The motorcycle
The motorcycleMotorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
in the pilot episode was based on a 1983 Honda XL500 trailbike. The motorcycles used in the series were based on 1984 Honda XR500s. The motorcycles used for the stunt shots were based on Honda CR250s. Overall, fifteen motorcycles were used in the show. The whereabouts of fourteen of these are unknown, but the fifteenth now resides in the Cars of the Stars Motor Museum
Cars of the Stars Motor Museum
The Cars of the Stars Motor Museum was in the English town of Keswick, Cumbria, and owned a collection of celebrity television and film vehicles...
in Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick is a market town and civil parish within the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It had a population of 4,984, according to the 2001 census, and is situated just north of Derwent Water, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake, both in the Lake District National Park...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, restored by stuntman Chris Bromham
Chris Bromham
Chris Bromham , is a retired Welsh stunt man. Bromham is the current World Record holder of the motorbike jump obstacle record, having jumped over 18 double decker buses on 29 August 1983.-Biography:...
. The pilot motorcycle was designed by Andrew Probert
Andrew Probert
Andrew Probert is an artist who is best known for designing the USS Enterprise for Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the Enterprise-D for Star Trek: The Next Generation....
and the series motorcycles were redesigned by Ron Cobb
Ron Cobb
Ron Cobb is an American cartoonist, artist, writer, film designer, and film director.By the age of 18, with no formal training in graphic illustration, Cobb was working as an animation "inbetweener" artist for Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He progressed to becoming a breakdown artist on...
.
There is also evidence that a second motorcycle survived, but the whereabouts of this motorcycle are now unknown. It is known, however, that a motorcycle was displayed at "Star Cars" in America in the 1980s or 1990s. It is believed that that particular motorcycle is now missing.
International broadcasters
- ENTVEntreprise nationale de télévision
' is the Algerian national public television network. The group manages the television channel with the same name, Canal Algérie, Algérie 3 and Tamazight TV.-Programs:...
"Tonnerre Mécanique" - BTV
Bangladesh Television
Bangladesh Television , also known by the acronym BTV, is the state-owned Television network in Bangladesh. It started broadcasting as Pakistan Television in what was then East Pakistan on 25 December 1964. It was renamed Bangladesh Television after the independence in 1971. Broadcasts in full...
- VTM
VTM
The abbreviation VTM may refer to::* Vampire: The Masquerade, a popular role-playing game* Virginia Tech massacre* vtm, the main commercial television station in Flanders, Belgium...
- Rede Globo
Rede Globo
Rede Globo , or simply Globo, is a Brazilian television network, launched by media mogul Roberto Marinho on April 26, 1965. It is owned by media conglomerate Organizações Globo, being by far the largest of its holdings...
, Rede Record
Rede Record
Rede Record de Televisão is a Brazilian television network, founded in 1953 by Paulo Machado de Carvalho, also founder of Rádio Record. Currently it is owned by businessman Edir Macedo, founder and bishop of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Since 2007 it is Brazil's second largest...
"Moto Laser" - Canal 9
Canal 9
Canal Nou is a public television station in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is run by Ràdio Televisió Valenciana which operates from Burjassot. It is broadcast in Valencian and Spanish and it can be watched in the Valencian Community and adjacent areas...
"El Condor" was the local name of the series. - Mainos-TV
MTV3
MTV3 is a Finnish commercial television station owned by Bonnier. It had the biggest audience share of all Finnish TV channels until Finnish Broadcasting Company’s YLE1 took the lead. The letters MTV stand for Mainos-TV , due to the channel getting its revenue from running commercials...
"Katuhaukka" - La 5 "Tonnerre Mécanique" - SciFi "Street Hawk" - Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
- Italia 1
Italia 1
Italia 1 is an Italian commercial television channel on the Mediaset network. It is oriented especially at young people.Italia 1 was launched in January 1982 and, originally, was owned by Rusconi; after a few months, however, due to the aggressive dumping practices of Silvio Berlusconi's rival...
- "Il Falco Della Strada" - XHGC "El condor" - NTV
Nepal Television
Nepal Television is the oldest and most watched television channel in Nepal.Nepal Television was for many years the only television channel native to Nepal, but several others have begun operation in recent years....
- TVNZ - NTM
Network Television Marketing
NTM - A former Shalimar Television Network ChannelThe Network Television Marketing was Pakistan's first ever private sector Television Channel. NTM had started its transmission in 1990 under a 3-year agreement with Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company . NTM succeeded in acquiring much...
- GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
- TV Polsat - SABC TV1 "Straat Valk" - TVE1 "El Halcón Callejero" - SBC CH5 - Rupavahini - TRT "Şahin" - ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, Bravo - ZBC TV1 - TVRI
List of episodes
- Street Hawk (1.5-hour pilot) (January 4, 1985)
- A Second Self (January 11, 1985)
- The Adjuster (January 18, 1985)
- Vegas Run (January 25, 1985)
- Dog Eat Dog (February 1, 1985)
- Fire on the Wing (February 8, 1985)
- Chinatown Memories (February 15, 1985)
- The Unsinkable 453 (February 22, 1985)
- Hot Target (March 1, 1985)
- Murder is a Novel Idea (March 8, 1985)
- The Arabian (May 2, 1985)
- Female of the Species (a.k.a. The Assassin) (May 9, 1985)
- Follow the Yellow Gold Road (May 16, 1985).
VHS & DVD releases
There have been at least two official releases of the Street Hawk pilot movie on VHS. One was from MCA Canada and contained the full 90-minute pilot (actually 76 minutes or so without commercials), and the other was the U.S. MCA release that ran about 60 minutes. There are short bits of footage that are unique to each release (i.e., even though the U.S. version is shorter, it does include a line or two of dialogue not present in the Canadian version). Other differences include a "blue lightning"-style primary weapon in the Canadian version (whereas the red "laser beam" from the rest of the series appears on the U.S. release) and actual stunt jumps on the U.S. tape instead of "matted-in" fake jumps in the Canadian version.On July 13, 2010, Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
released Street Hawk: The Complete Series, a 4 DVD Box-Set featuring all 13 episodes of the series. Special features include an all new 41 minute documentary entitled 'The Making Of A Legend' and an unaired pilot featuring different Street Hawk firepower.
Novelisations
Despite the small number of episodes produced, in Britain four novels based on the series were published by Target BooksTarget Books
Target Books was a British publishing imprint, established in 1973 by Universal-Tandem Publishing Co Ltd, a paperback publishing company. The imprint was established as a children's imprint to complement the adult Tandem imprint, and became well known for their highly successful range of...
:
- Street Hawk by Jack Roberts, adapted from the pilot
- Cons At Large by Jack Roberts, adapted from the episodes "The Adjuster" and "The Unsinkable 453"
- Golden Eyes by Charles Gale, adapted from the episodes "Follow The Yellow Gold Road" and "Dog Eat Dog"
- Danger On Targer by David Deutsch, adapted from the episodes "Murder is a Novel Idea" and "Hot Target"
Toy
An unlicensed Street Hawk toy was produced by Funskool Toys in India, under the G.I. JoeG.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
brand name. Neither the motorcycle nor its driver are show-accurate. Instead, the cycle uses a repainted 1982 American G.I. Joe R.A.M. motorcycle, and the driver is a repainted, "kit-bashed" G.I. Joe figure.
In Brazil the Street Hawk toys were produced by Glasslite. One item was the "Moto Laser MRX-1", a slot track with two slot bikes: the Street Hawk and a yellow model. A Jesse Mach action figure was also released.
In the United Kingdom and some countries, a Street Hawk "stunt bike" was released by ERTL
Ertl
-People:* Gerhard Ertl, the 2007 Nobel Prize laureate for chemistry* Hans Ertl , German cameraman active during the 1930s* Hans Ertl , Austrian ice hockey player* Harald Ertl, an Austrian motorsport journalist and driver...
. Roughly the same size as standard minature ERTL vehicles, the toy had a plastic rider, on the motorcycle powered by a friction wheel. The packaging suggested various stunts thats the owner could attempt to perform with the toy.
See also
- AirwolfAirwolfAirwolf is an American television series that ran from 1984 until 1987. The program centers on a high-tech military helicopter, code named Airwolf, and its crew as they undertake various missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War theme....
- AutomanAutomanAutoman is an American science fiction superhero television series produced by Glen A. Larson. It aired for only 12 episodes on ABC between 1983 and 1984.-Synopsis:...
- Blue ThunderBlue Thunder (TV series)Blue Thunder is a 1984 ABC TV series based on the movie of the same title featuring the Blue Thunder helicopter.The series used the converted Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopter and large portions of stock footage from the 1983 film. A ground unit named "Rolling Thunder" backed up the helicopter in...
- Knight Rider
- ViperViper (TV series)Viper is an action-adventure TV series about a special task force set up by the federal government to fight crime in the fictional city of Metro City, California that is perpetually under siege from one crime wave after another. The weapon used by this task force is an assault vehicle that...
- The HighwaymanThe Highwayman (TV series)The Highwayman is an action-adventure themed television series starring Sam J. Jones, set in "the near future." It was created by Glen A. Larson and Douglas Heyes. The pilot aired in September 1987, and was followed by a short-lived series of nine episodes, with significant changes to the cast and...
- Street Hawk (video game)Street Hawk (video game)Street Hawk is a video game featuring the Street Hawk TV series. It was developed by Ocean Software in the eighties....