Dats Da Name of Dat Tune!”
Few may people remember Dave Toma, was a Marine D.I, pro ball player, spent 21 years on the Newark, NJ Jersey P.D. most of the time as a detective, thwarting criminals and his P.D. upper management. He took on big crime organizations using a series of disguises. And author, he wrote these two books.
Toma appeared on the Mike Douglas Show, in the 70s and ABC decided create a TV show about him called…”Toma.” But star Tony Musante thought it too formulaic and it was canceled in one year. The shows’ production company still much intact and project-less, ABC decided to change it all over to “Baretta” with lifelong actor, one Robert Blake.
Blake was charismatic, had a pet bird, etc. and that show lasted three years. Robert Blake died this week at 89. Most people around awhile recall the Sammy Davis Jr. theme song, “Eye of the Sparrow, ” and recall the bizarre, true murder story of Blake accused of killing his “gold-digger” wife. (Toma died in 2019). Blake’s death caused me to remember the Toma TV tie-in books.
“And you can take dat to the bank!” cuz, “Dats da name of dat tune.”
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