Express To Terror

Episode One

Express To Terror

2-Hour Premiere

Wednesday February 7, 1979 8pm (Eastern)

Starring
Steve Lawrence
Char Fontane
Don Stroud

Keenan Wynn
Deborah Benson

Ron Masak

Special Guest Star

Don Meredith
Special Guest Appearances By
Vicki Lawrence
George Hamilton

Stella Stevens

Fred Williamson

Director of Photography Dennis Dalzell

Produced by Anthony Spinner

Teleplay by Earl W. Wallace

Story by Donald E. Westlake & Earl W. Wallace

Directed by Dan Curtis

The first sighting of "Supertrain" is found in the form of this painting presented to the Trans-Allied board by its chairman Winfield Root (Keenan Wynn) announcing the new New York to Los Angeles rail service.

This is the two-hour series premiere episode for "Supertrain." There is no on-screen episode title, and it does not include series' standard opening credit sequence. In the 1980's, this installment was released on videocassette by PRISM Video under its episode title "Express To Terror." For further details regarding the VHS issue, please check the Home Video section of this site.

After all that money, the rushed production schedule and the heavy frequency of on-air promos, Steve Lawrence and Don Meredith was the best they could muster to carry the premiere "Supertrain" episode?!? Though other names are found in the credits as guests, George Hamilton, Vicki Lawrence, Stella Stevens, the "Express To Terror" story essentially focuses on Lawrence, Meredith and Char Fontane's characters. Fontane seems a weak choice, among this group. She had been in NBC's "Joe & Valerie" series in 1978, check out Char's entry in the Passengers section of this site for more credits.

Keenan Wynn guest stars in the first "Supertrain" episode as the eccentric head of the Trans-Allied Corporation that built the train. Wynn is pictured here with cast regular Edward Andrews as Harry Flood

She may have received Special Guest Appearance billing, but they could have also spelled her name correctly. There is no "e" at the end of Vicki Lawrence's first name.

This title card is found only the Prism VHS video release. When aired on NBC in 1979 and when shown on Lifetime TV in the late '80s, the simple title "Supertrain" appears here instead of the episode title.

The original "Supertrain" logo as it appears during the opening credits of the early episodes. The "Express To Terror" episode however does not include the regular series credits, but runs its opening titles over the prepartions of the train to depart Grand Central in New York.

-TV Guide February 7, 1979 featuring Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrade of NBC's "CHiPs" series

TV Guide "Express To Terror" Episode Synopsis:

The inaugural run of the trans-continental "Supertrain," an
atomic-powered express with facilities befitting an ocean liner, is marked by intrigue when a mysterious assassin makes repeated attempts on the life of a passenger.

"Express To Terror" Competiton:

ABC aired a special 2-hour episode of "Charlie's Angels" which moved the series ahead one hour to the 8pm slot that night.

CBS aired bought a full-page TV Guide ad to tell viewers about its airig of "The Incredible Hulk" series starring Bill Bixby. "Hulk" on Wednesdays was a recent move for the series at this time.