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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 1980s, 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, and Fred
Williamson the "Express To Terror" story essentially focuses on Lawrence, Meredith
and Char Fontane's characters. Fontane 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.
Steve Lawrence received $50,000 for four weeks work on this episode of "Supertrain," plus provided a day
of looping and the show could air twice. Vicki Lawrence received $15,000 for nine days work, plus provided
a day of looping, the show could air twice, and she received a pair of roundtrip tickets to Hawaii. George Hamilton
received $27,500 for ten days work, provided a day of looping, and the contract included two runs of the episode. Don
Meredith received $75,000 for four weeks work and his deal included a day of looping and two runs of this episode.
Char Fontane's deal provided $20,000 in compenstation for four weeks work, plus a day of looping and two
airings were included. Stella Stevens received $20,000 for 13 days and provided one day of looping
and two airings were included in her deal. Don Stroud got $40,000 for 4-1/2 weeks work and included
a day of looping and two runs of the episode. Fred Williamson's deal gave the actor $12,500 for 2-1/2
weeks, a day of looping, and two airings. Keenan Wynn received $20,000 for 19 days, plus provided a
day of looping and two airings. Wynn also received $5,000 for 3 days in New York, plus $100 per diem
and roundtrip airfare.
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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.
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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.
Actress Char Fontane, pictured on the right, received one of the larger roles
in "Supertrain's" pilot. At the time, she had just starred in a failed NBC sitcom Joe & Valerie.
Don Meredith, former Dallas Cowboys football player, served as Steve
Lawrence's buddy in "Supertrain's" pilot. Meredith's post-football career included color commentary for ABC's "Monday
Night Football," as well as a semi-regular role on NBC's "Police Story" and numerous Lipton Tea commercials.
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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.
Singer and actor Steve Lawrence received the biggest role and serves as the
focal point for "Supertrain's" pilot episode.
Fred Williamson played a supporting role in "Supertrain's" pilot. Williamson
came to acting from professional football. He played in the 1960s for Pittsburgh's Steelers, Oakland's Raiders, and
Kansas City's Chiefs. His long film and TV career spans more than four decades.
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