AS SEEN ON TV: RALPH "DUTCH" HENNINGS

RALPH "DUTCH" HENNINGS

AS SEEN IN:
"The Big Story"

AS PLAYED BY:
Frank Marth

This may be the most O'Bscure subject that will be done for the "As Seen On TV" showcase.....

"Dutch" Hennings was a reporter in Indiana whose best friend was a state trooper. In fact, Dutch was going to be the best man at his friend's upcoming wedding.

The trooper invited Dutch for a ride-along, which could always be good publicity for law enforcement, and who knows? Dutch might end up getting a story out of the night's work.

But that night, they ran into two brothers, local farm boys on a crime spree. The brothers killed the state trooper, but Hennings was able to run away. Working with his friend's fellow troopers, Dutch Hennings was able to be there at the shoot-out when the surviving brother was captured; and he identified the low-life as his friend's killer. When the guy was strapped into the electric chair, Dutch was there as a witness. At the end of this episode of the anthology series (hosted by Burgess Meredith), the audience got to meet the real Dutch Hennings who told about what happened after the killer was apprehended. (Yeah, too bad we didn't get to see him executed!) BCnU!

PS:
One reason I'm posting this today is because New York City is currently celebrating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's arrival in the NY harbor. Surprisingly, I can find no indication that anybody ever played Henry Hudson on TV - so if I have to have somebody who's "Dutch", it may as well be Ralph Hennings.....